wpotterw
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2016
Posts: 446 
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Post by wpotterw on Mar 24, 2021 13:22:49 GMT -5
I used to have a rock rascal that I used water with an additive. But, that's because you were SUPPOSED to use oil. The skilsaw is a water saw. I see no benefit really to using an additive. I've had very good blade life with it.
This is the blade I used and was happy with. It's a workhorse.
However, I wouldn't cut gaspeite or opal with it. LOL!
A blade came with the saw, and I have 2 more. I'm likely set for life. I plan to cut the crap this weekend and will report on the results. |
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Jahic
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2020
Posts: 139
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Post by Jahic on Mar 24, 2021 17:04:36 GMT -5
I’ve noticed that some slab saws also vary on blade exposure. I’ve seen a few that run the size blade but the table height or thickness of the plate can effect how much blade sticks out.
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Mar 24, 2021 18:20:33 GMT -5
Having used a Workforce 7" saw for 15 years I can say that getting a thin kerf blade is a real challenge. I bought a cheap harbor freight 4" tile saw just to trim better material and get a much thinner cut. Love my 7" saw and have worn out several blades, but I have a water thin 4" blade for my better material. I think the Skil will give you good service but thinner cuts may present a challenge
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USMC15
Cave Dweller
I feel like I just came out of the tumbler ...
Member since March 2021
Posts: 273
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Post by USMC15 on Mar 24, 2021 22:52:25 GMT -5
Everyone keeps talking about thinner cuts, this is for trimming, how important can that be? You can't really cut slabs with 4 inch blades, maybe small slabs with a 7 inch blade. I plan on getting a $400 10 inch tile saw at Harbor Freight to cut my slabs. Later upgrade to an 18 inch blade.
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 25, 2021 7:23:17 GMT -5
Everyone keeps talking about thinner cuts, this is for trimming, how important can that be? You can't really cut slabs with 4 inch blades, maybe small slabs with a 7 inch blade. I plan on getting a $400 10 inch tile saw at Harbor Freight to cut my slabs. Later upgrade to an 18 inch blade. Thinner cuts saves material. A thinner cut on preforms means you can cut closer to your line or adjacent cut. |
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USMC15
Cave Dweller
I feel like I just came out of the tumbler ...
Member since March 2021
Posts: 273
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Post by USMC15 on Mar 25, 2021 8:03:18 GMT -5
Everyone keeps talking about thinner cuts, this is for trimming, how important can that be? You can't really cut slabs with 4 inch blades, maybe small slabs with a 7 inch blade. I plan on getting a $400 10 inch tile saw at Harbor Freight to cut my slabs. Later upgrade to an 18 inch blade. Thinner cuts saves material. A thinner cut on preforms means you can cut closer to your line or adjacent cut. How do you determine the thickness of a blade? Is it advertised on the blade? I thought all blades were the same thickness. Is it the smaller the blade the thinner it is? |
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 25, 2021 8:09:23 GMT -5
Thinner cuts saves material. A thinner cut on preforms means you can cut closer to your line or adjacent cut. How do you determine the thickness of a blade? Is it advertised on the blade? I thought all blades were the same thickness. Is it the smaller the blade the thinner it is? Yes, the thickness is advertised. Really small blades tend to be thinner, but some larger ones are thinner than other larger ones. For a true trim saw, you want thin. If you are cutting very valuable stone, you don't want to waste it. Kerf size adds up. In case you don't know- the kerf is the width of the path of the blade. |
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USMC15
Cave Dweller
I feel like I just came out of the tumbler ...
Member since March 2021
Posts: 273
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Post by USMC15 on Mar 25, 2021 9:09:52 GMT -5
The thinnest blades I have seen are for the 4 in blade at 0.14 but all the 4 in trimmers have this large component on the left side. Are there any worthy 4 in machines out there that has a table top that will not bust the bank?
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Benathema
has rocks in the head
God chased me down and made sure I knew He was real June 20, 2022. I've been on a Divine Mission.
Member since November 2019
Posts: 703
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Post by Benathema on Mar 25, 2021 11:31:04 GMT -5
0.14" or 0.014"? The 7" blade I picked up was advertised as 1.6mm (~0.063"), and real rock saw blades can get thinner than that, for a price.
I don't have calipers to measure the two, but it's definitely thinner than the one that came on the skil.
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 25, 2021 17:53:31 GMT -5
The thinnest blades I have seen are for the 4 in blade at 0.14 but all the 4 in trimmers have this large component on the left side. Are there any worthy 4 in machines out there that has a table top that will not bust the bank? Can't think of any cheap ones. That's the skilsaw. |
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Mar 25, 2021 18:25:38 GMT -5
HF sells a 4 inch tile saw. I got mine (with a coupon) for $40 (not sure what they sell for these days). It is a plastic table and the motor sound like a 737 winding up, but it has a 5/8" arbor and you can find thin blades for it real cheap.
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USMC15
Cave Dweller
I feel like I just came out of the tumbler ...
Member since March 2021
Posts: 273
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Post by USMC15 on Mar 25, 2021 18:45:56 GMT -5
HF sells a 4 inch tile saw. I got mine (with a coupon) for $40 (not sure what they sell for these days). It is a plastic table and the motor sound like a 737 winding up, but it has a 5/8" arbor and you can find thin blades for it real cheap. What is HF? |
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Post by jasoninsd on Mar 25, 2021 19:53:11 GMT -5
HF sells a 4 inch tile saw. I got mine (with a coupon) for $40 (not sure what they sell for these days). It is a plastic table and the motor sound like a 737 winding up, but it has a 5/8" arbor and you can find thin blades for it real cheap. What is HF? Harbor Freight. |
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