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Post by stardiamond on Dec 19, 2020 15:38:33 GMT -5
I need to spend money to fix my 16 inch saw and I'd rather buy a smaller saw first. I've done most of my cutting of larger rocks and looking for something to use on smaller rough with a blade with a smaller kerf. I'm looking to spend a little over $1,000.
Covington has a 10 inch that fits my parameters but I believe it uses water as a coolant. I did a lot of hand slabbing of small rough using my Genie trim saw that uses an 8 inch mk303 blade with a .032 kerf, but using it too slab the blades don't last long.
Any recommendations.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller 
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,060 
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Post by gemfeller on Dec 19, 2020 16:20:38 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 19, 2020 20:36:31 GMT -5
Thanks for the information. I'll probably order one. Do you know the arbor diameter and do you have a blade recommendation? I'm looking at a mk303 or mk301 blade, They have a .40 kerf and I'm not sure if that is too thin. I want thin.
How is the vise? I don't like the vise on my Covington because it slips. They give you a little wrench to tighten and I finally used a pair of channel locks to tighten and that worked fine until I broke the tightening knob assembly. Covington has a replacement vise that clamps vertically instead of horizontally. The cost of the vise and a new blade is not that far from getting a new saw. I may fix it later when I buy some large rough. I bought a stand with Covington that I can use for the HP. The Covington is sitting on my work bench and I don't have room for two slab saws on it.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,060
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Post by gemfeller on Dec 19, 2020 21:20:07 GMT -5
stardiamond, click on the red "specifications" button in the ad. It has all the data. It comes with a sintered diamond blade with a 1 year guarantee but there's no mention of the thickness. I like the vise on mine. Look at the pictures - it's a vertical vise and sometimes you have to get a bit creative in holding rocks. I have a collection of wooden wedges etc. that come in handy for that. It's also great if you glue heels to square wooden blocks. I hand-tighten then use a little crescent wrench to make sure everything's really solid. The feed on my old Lortone is quite slow and easy and I've never had a blade lock-up on any rock other than crown of silver psilomelane, which is a challenge on any saw.
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Dec 20, 2020 8:24:00 GMT -5
I'll second the recommendation for this type of vise. They are great - once you accumulate a big enough box of wedges. Think like a beaver... .
A blade with a .040" rim will be fine on a saw with a vise. That's what's on our HP 10" refurb, and it has the other style vise.
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 20, 2020 13:13:46 GMT -5
I ordered it. Pleased to see free shipping and no sales tax. I have no idea for delivery time. I don't need it right away, but might as well order it.
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 21, 2020 18:08:42 GMT -5
Saw shipped by UPS from Massachusetts and scheduled for delivery on December 30. I might be able to rotate my 16 inch saw 90 degrees on the work bench and put this one next to it.
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