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Post by holajonathan on Dec 15, 2020 20:21:45 GMT -5
I have an MK Diamond saw -- model # MK-2002. This is a brick / tile / concrete saw, and not a lapidary saw. As long as I can figure out a way to get rocks attached securely to the rip guide, I don't see any reason it won't make good enough cuts for amateur / hobby lapidary purposes.
I have some experience using diamond blades to cut concrete and asphalt, but the only lapidary blade I have is an 8" MK Diamond blade that I run on a Skill tile saw.
Can I use a thin kerf lapidary blade on a saw powered by a 2 HP Baldor motor and with a blade RPM of 3100? The 14" lapidary slab saws that I have seen use much smaller motors -- around 1/2 HP -- and about half the RPMs.
Any suggestions on a blade for my new MK Diamond saw? I will be slabbing some pet wood, random field stones that I pull out of the ground, pudding stones, and a few agates now and again. It is unlikely that i will make more than 50-100 cuts a year.
Thanks for the help!
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Post by holajonathan on Dec 16, 2020 12:41:17 GMT -5
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Post by oregon on Dec 16, 2020 13:19:24 GMT -5
lapidary blades recommendations...
tile
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wpotterw
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2016
Posts: 446 
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Post by wpotterw on Dec 16, 2020 15:23:35 GMT -5
I have an MK Diamond saw -- model # MK-2002. This is a brick / tile / concrete saw, and not a lapidary saw. As long as I can figure out a way to get rocks attached securely to the rip guide, I don't see any reason it won't make good enough cuts for amateur / hobby lapidary purposes. I have some experience using diamond blades to cut concrete and asphalt, but the only lapidary blade I have is an 8" MK Diamond blade that I run on a Skill tile saw. Can I use a thin kerf lapidary blade on a saw powered by a 2 HP Baldor motor and with a blade RPM of 3100? The 14" lapidary slab saws that I have seen use much smaller motors -- around 1/2 HP -- and about half the RPMs. Any suggestions on a blade for my new MK Diamond saw? I will be slabbing some pet wood, random field stones that I pull out of the ground, pudding stones, and a few agates now and again. It is unlikely that i will make more than 50-100 cuts a year. Thanks for the help! I have always found that the engineers in Covington's support group give excellent advice based on what you plan to cut. |
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Post by holajonathan on Dec 17, 2020 1:12:43 GMT -5
lapidary blades recommendations...
tile
Thanks for the info. There are no lapidary blades rated for the RPM of my saw, but there are tile blades rated for that RPM. I guess what I am wondering is if anyone has used a lapidary blade on a saw that turns around 3000 RPM? Is the manufacturer RPM rating for the lapidary blades just the speed at which the blades will cut best, or is it a safety issue? |
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 17, 2020 13:01:36 GMT -5
I would be looking for a blade for granite or perhaps porcelain, designed for wet use at the higher speeds. The tile saw people used to recommend something called a hot dog blade, but I haven't ever had a tile saw so I don't know.
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Post by holajonathan on Dec 17, 2020 13:15:29 GMT -5
I would be looking for a blade for granite or perhaps porcelain, designed for wet use at the higher speeds. The tile saw people used to recommend something called a hot dog blade, but I haven't ever had a tile saw so I don't know. Thank you. I found the hot dog blade -- looks to be the MK 225 series. Unless I get any other leads, I will get one of these. The only down sides are price (around $200), and 0.80 width, which is going to eat up a little more material than a thin lapidary blade. But I'm not exactly cutting gemstones... My first task with the saw is going to be slabbing a chunk of gowganda tillite that I found in a farmers field. |
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 17, 2020 13:26:16 GMT -5
I would be looking for a blade for granite or perhaps porcelain, designed for wet use at the higher speeds. The tile saw people used to recommend something called a hot dog blade, but I haven't ever had a tile saw so I don't know. Thank you. I found the hot dog blade -- looks to be the MK 225 series. Unless I get any other leads, I will get one of these. The only down sides are price (around $200), and 0.80 width, which is going to eat up a little more material than a thin lapidary blade. But I'm not exactly cutting gemstones... My first task with the saw is going to be slabbing a chunk of gowganda tillite that I found in a farmers field. If it's your first try, maybe just start with something less pricey from home depot or somewhere near you. When I used tile saws to cut thundereggs as a volunteer for the Rice Museum the blades were like DeWalt or similar and came in packs of more than one. I would definitely start with disposable blades to practice. |
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Post by holajonathan on Dec 17, 2020 13:33:51 GMT -5
Thank you. I found the hot dog blade -- looks to be the MK 225 series. Unless I get any other leads, I will get one of these. The only down sides are price (around $200), and 0.80 width, which is going to eat up a little more material than a thin lapidary blade. But I'm not exactly cutting gemstones... My first task with the saw is going to be slabbing a chunk of gowganda tillite that I found in a farmers field. If it's your first try, maybe just start with something less pricey from home depot or somewhere near you. When I used tile saws to cut thundereggs as a volunteer for the Rice Museum the blades were like DeWalt or similar and came in packs of more than one. I would definitely start with disposable blades to practice. Good idea. I have some cheaper 14" x 0.110" blades that fit my gas powered concrete saw. You're right that I should put a cheapo blade on there and cut up a bunch of marginal rocks to figure out how the saw behaves -- and to fine tune my vise idea -- before I screw up a $200 blade. I have a 14" Bosch blade and some Husqvarna tile blades I might try. Thanks for the good advice. Obvious, but I hadn't thought of it. |
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Post by aDave on Dec 17, 2020 13:48:28 GMT -5
I guess what I am wondering is if anyone has used a lapidary blade on a saw that turns around 3000 RPM? Is the manufacturer RPM rating for the lapidary blades just the speed at which the blades will cut best, or is it a safety issue? I use an MK 225 blade on a Ryobi tile saw, probably similar in style to your Skil tile saw. It's only 7" and the no load RPM's is 3450. I use it primarily for sizing down agates and such to throw in a tumbler. With the blade size, I don't slab with it. I don't think safety is the issue so much as it will be wear on the blade and how long it may last. Agates and other hard stones can really wear on a blade turning at high RPM's, so I have to be careful in how "gentle" I am with hand feeding. I take care to dress the blade often to help remove any glazing. Your blade on your saw is pretty big, so keep in mind that most lapidary saws with blades over 10" usually demand oil as a coolant/lubricant, even though they're turning at around 1750 RPM's. I have no idea how efficient water will be in cooling that size of a blade, so heat buildup and glazing of the blade matrix may be your biggest problem. |
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Post by manofglass on Dec 17, 2020 13:57:14 GMT -5
My brick saw run 3440 rpms I use a Dewalt XP4 10”
I also use a MK303 it will cut with water I have one on my 7” wet saw
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