standles
spending too much on rocks
Well all I got was a rock ... Cool!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 325
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Post by standles on May 21, 2021 11:31:02 GMT -5
Hello all: I am saving and planning my next equipment purchase which is a saw to take larger rocks that my 10" trim saw can handle and turn them into slabs. Size range is 18"-24" diameter blade with most likely splitting the diff at 20". I did some searching online and here to see pro/con of drop versus slab. I found little to nothing but alot of info on each. Here are main points I think I uncovered. Drop saws. - Simple Design less stuff to break
- More complicated coolant plumbing/messier
- Finding right weight difficult depending on material
- Rock is steady and saw moves laterally
Slab Saw (with carriage feed)
- More consistent cuts
- Simpler cooling design
- More parts to cause issues (half nuts/drive train)
- Rock clamping can be difficult and rock moves but saw steady
So with that stated am I wrong on what I gleaned and what are your suggestions on which path to go down.
Thanks, Steven
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darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
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Post by darrad on May 21, 2021 12:15:29 GMT -5
You can get a weight feed slab saw. That way you don't have those those auto feed parts to cause issue.
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Post by stardiamond on May 21, 2021 15:41:02 GMT -5
A smaller slab saw with a power feed and a crossfeed is a good solution. To make big rocks fit in a smaller saw, a drop saw would work. A larger saw, has a larger blade and more waste from the kerf. My only experience with a drop saw was having a large thunderegg split. It took a very long time. Slabbing using a trim saw is laborious and it takes skill to make even slabs the right thickness.
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standles
spending too much on rocks
Well all I got was a rock ... Cool!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 325
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Post by standles on May 21, 2021 16:16:13 GMT -5
... Slabbing using a trim saw is laborious and it takes skill to make even slabs the right thickness. You can say that again. This is why im considering accelerating my purchase plans. Thx for all your input
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hummingbirdstones2
fully equipped rock polisher
Vince A., 1958-2023
Member since August 2018
Posts: 1,461
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on May 22, 2021 8:47:03 GMT -5
We have both types (LS 14 and 18" Frantom) and I prefer the closed cabinet slab saw. If you can find one with a vertical-post vise get it.
Gravity feed would be great for reliability. Wouldn't be difficult to convert to gravity feed. Power feed is the best - until something goes wrong.
Only things I don't like about the drop saw are the mist, the noise, and cleanouts.
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standles
spending too much on rocks
Well all I got was a rock ... Cool!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 325
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Post by standles on May 22, 2021 9:40:14 GMT -5
We have both types (LS 14 and 18" Frantom) and I prefer the closed cabinet slab saw. If you can find one with a vertical-post vise get it.
Gravity feed would be great for reliability. Wouldn't be difficult to convert to gravity feed. Power feed is the best - until something goes wrong.
Only things I don't like about the drop saw are the mist, the noise, and cleanouts.
Yep I have had a couple of PMs discussing the mist/noise/cleanouts of drop saws. I can definately see the advantages of the closed cabinet style. I am also seeing that oil delivery seems to be mostly by pickup from spinning blade in oil bath. I figured a pumped oiil through a flex nozzle would allow better flushing of cut. That said I am a noob so what do I know// Thanks for the reply, Steven
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Post by Rockoonz on May 22, 2021 9:51:56 GMT -5
hummingbirdstones2 Vince, you prefer the clamp down bar to the bookend vice? I have both and the bar hates me 😃. While it's true that an auto feed cabinet saw is the most complicated, it's also purpose designed and the most user friendly. 20" is a good idea, and you can use the more common and affordable 18" blade mostly, saving the 20 for the larger rough. What I would do, anyway. Solid pre-owned saws are the way to go, nothing new on the market can compare. Just missed a FranTom 18 last weekend. Tony has something, no doubt.
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Post by Rockoonz on May 22, 2021 10:01:56 GMT -5
standles I have worked on regular slab saws with pump system, the better ones with baffle tanks and built in oil cleaners would be an upgrade for a serious production slab shop, but not worth the expense and added complexity for the hobbyist.
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hummingbirdstones2
fully equipped rock polisher
Vince A., 1958-2023
Member since August 2018
Posts: 1,461
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on May 22, 2021 23:01:21 GMT -5
Rockoonz - The one advantage of the clamp-down bar style vise is the it provides four "sides" for cramming wood blocks and wedges into.
Some of the rocks I've slabbed had what looked like the work of a beaver on crack wedged in around them.
A bookend style vise would not have held them solidly enough to prevent slippage and premature blade death. I've used that drop saw to square up many rocks just enough to allow me to put them in the "bookend" vise on the Frantom.
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Post by Rockoonz on May 23, 2021 8:10:14 GMT -5
hummingbirdstones2 yeah, a saw with parallel horizontal bars and a vertical cut would work like a horizontal cut with vertical jaws, hadn't considered that.
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standles
spending too much on rocks
Well all I got was a rock ... Cool!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 325
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Post by standles on May 23, 2021 8:26:19 GMT -5
standles I have worked on regular slab saws with pump system, the better ones with baffle tanks and built in oil cleaners would be an upgrade for a serious production slab shop, but not worth the expense and added complexity for the hobbyist. Thank you sir you may have just saved me over a grand on a filtration system. I am definitely not a production cutter. In either case I can start without one and if the need arises later I can add on.
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hummingbirdstones2
fully equipped rock polisher
Vince A., 1958-2023
Member since August 2018
Posts: 1,461
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on May 23, 2021 10:26:37 GMT -5
standles - yeah, I'd look for an older enclosed saw. The drop saw was just our first one larger than 10" trim saw, and the price was right.
Rockoonz - the main difference is that the bookend style vise is open at the top.
Only three sides for wedging/clamping odd-shaped rocks. Some triangular or sloped rocks just won't stay put without wedging all around.
Some just won't work no matter what. I mangle a flat spot or two onto those by hand on an old "junk" 10" saw.
I noticed a comment about adding a bar over the top of the rock in a "three-sided" vise. I'll be thinking about options for that in the future.
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