onelove318
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3
|
Post by onelove318 on Jan 5, 2022 20:43:06 GMT -5
Can anyone help me set up my bench grinder properly to polish agates and hard stones? I have the water set up and a dry box to contain the mess but I’m not sure which wheels I need to run this bench grinder in similar fashion to lap. It came with two wheels a 36 grit and 60 grit. It’s a brand new ryobi 6” 2.1 AMp bench grinder with 1/2 in arbor, max rpm 3600. I just dont want to purchase the wrong size and grit wheels if anyone can help please and thank you!
|
|
catskillrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,270
|
Post by catskillrocks on Jan 5, 2022 22:17:38 GMT -5
Are you using the "stone" wheels that come with the bench grinder? They aren't made to be used with water. I suppose that you could use it with a water set-up but I think that it would be dangerous; if you do use it (I wouldn't) then absolutely have a ground fault connection. If using those "stone" wheels you must spin dry them, otherwise severe damage to machine and yourself will happen. Perhaps I am wrong here, then someone else with better knowledge will speak up.
|
|
Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,899
|
Post by Tommy on Jan 6, 2022 7:42:05 GMT -5
Can anyone help me set up my bench grinder properly to polish agates and hard stones? I have the water set up and a dry box to contain the mess but I’m not sure which wheels I need to run this bench grinder in similar fashion to lap. It came with two wheels a 36 grit and 60 grit. It’s a brand new ryobi 6” 2.1 AMp bench grinder with 1/2 in arbor, max rpm 3600. I just dont want to purchase the wrong size and grit wheels if anyone can help please and thank you! Hi Mari, we typically highly recommend against the use of standard bench grinders because as Don said, they are not designed for use with water and the presence of water can cause serious hazards around unsealed motors as well as quickly rust surfaces that were not designed for water. That being said, you say you want to run it in similar fashion to a lap which would typically mean a circular flat surface, so I'm curious about that and maybe you can elaborate on that or show us some pictures on what you have going? My other first thought was 3600 rpm is screaming fast for a flat lap or wet grinding wheels and sounds like it would turn rocks into projectiles unless you can slow it down at least by at least half of that which typically you can't do with bench grinders. Definitely don't want to crap on your efforts without understanding it, so we'd love to see what you've got going on and maybe you can teach us something new.
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Jan 6, 2022 8:35:51 GMT -5
3600RPM is way too fast. I was knocked unconscious and got several stitches in my jaw when a grindstone came apart on me when improperly using a bench grinder. There are grinding arbors out there that can be adapted to work wet, a belt that moves the motor away from the work along with 1700-1800 RPM will get you better results. If using stone wheels, they must be okay for wet use. Even then, every time you shut off the water to a stone wheel you need to let it spin for about a minute before stopping to spin dry it. If it is stopped wet the water will move to the bottom and the next time you start it the wheel will be out of balance with higher risk of it coming apart on you. never have any part of your body in line with the wheels when starting any grinder, you can't be sure that something won't get flung.
|
|
|
Post by Starguy on Jan 6, 2022 18:35:06 GMT -5
onelove318As others have said, don’t do it. You could easily afford a rock specific cabber for the medical bills saved if one of those wheels comes apart. Imagine these chunks flying through the air at your body at high velocity.
|
|
onelove318
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3
|
Post by onelove318 on Jan 7, 2022 11:44:57 GMT -5
THANK YOU ALL!! This is why I asked to prevent all of the above from happening! I still have the box and haven’t used the grinder so I will return it and start looking into a grinder meant for lapidary. Any ideas of where to start for a beginner including cost and ability to use inside my craft room or dry box? Aka utility sink turned dry box. I’ve seen some people use high grit discs on their sanders but the more research and knowledge I’m gaining it seems flat lap or slant lap are best place to start?
|
|
|
Post by perkins17 on Jan 7, 2022 12:02:52 GMT -5
THANK YOU ALL!! This is why I asked to prevent all of the above from happening! I still have the box and haven’t used the grinder so I will return it and start looking into a grinder meant for lapidary. Any ideas of where to start for a beginner including cost and ability to use inside my craft room or dry box? Aka utility sink turned dry box. I’ve seen some people use high grit discs on their sanders but the more research and knowledge I’m gaining it seems flat lap or slant lap are best place to start? Do you have a local rock club? That was how I got started. My first (and only) grinder is a 2 wheel belt driven grinder sort of like a bench grinder but meant for rocks. I picked it up for $25 use this year. Check Craigslist and Facebook marketplace. If you are going to make cabochons, you will also want a trim saw. I use my club's saws because I don't want the mess and I haven't found one near me cheap. jasoninsd, what is your advice on flat laps? I haven't used a flat lap for cabbing so I don't know about that. Good luck and I hope this helps!
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Jan 7, 2022 12:19:59 GMT -5
THANK YOU ALL!! This is why I asked to prevent all of the above from happening! I still have the box and haven’t used the grinder so I will return it and start looking into a grinder meant for lapidary. Any ideas of where to start for a beginner including cost and ability to use inside my craft room or dry box? Aka utility sink turned dry box. I’ve seen some people use high grit discs on their sanders but the more research and knowledge I’m gaining it seems flat lap or slant lap are best place to start? Many possible starting points, and many factors to consider when selecting equipment for lapidary. What do you want to be able to do? How much bench space do you have available to use? How much time do you have free to pursue this? What's your budget? What level of DIY are you comfortable with, and will maintenance and repair be something you can do? My first suggestion to anyone is to look for a rock club and/or mentor to get a lesson or 3 and to get familiar with types of equipment, if it is available where you live. It can give you a great perspective on what tools fit your requirements and work for you. I went through several pieces of equipment that were less than optimal for me before I joined a club with a shop and had a chance to learn what works best for me. If in person isn't going to happen for you let us know some of the answers to the questions above, and there are quite a few "tool people" here that can offer some good advice.
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Jan 7, 2022 12:31:46 GMT -5
As far as flat laps, IMO metal is a lot better than plastic. But if a plastic one comes up cheap... Only get an Inland if it's free, or at least less than a fancy drink at Starbucks. Hi-Tech seems to hold up to some degree, but don't have enough power for me. Ameritool makes the best plastic one IMO. My Intarsia teacher used them and I was very pleased. The company owner who does the shows is also a friend and a great guy, product support is fantastic. I use an older faceting machine for a lap, paid $400 several years ago.
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Jan 7, 2022 19:35:01 GMT -5
perkins17 - Thanks for the shoutout. I do believe Rockoonz brought up some great questions which the OP needs to think about. onelove318 - If you do a search on "slant cabber" on the forum, I have several posts about the HiTech slant cabber that I used for the last year. If you have specific questions about it, tag me, and I'll be happy to answer them if I can.
|
|
|
Post by perkins17 on Jan 7, 2022 20:06:44 GMT -5
perkins17 - Thanks for the shoutout. I do believe Rockoonz brought up some great questions which the OP needs to think about. onelove318 - If you do a search on "slant cabber" on the forum, I have several posts about the HiTech slant cabber that I used for the last year. If you have specific questions about it, tag me, and I'll be happy to answer them if I can. Sorry to bring you in, just thought you know what your talking about with flat laps. Rockoonz did bring up great points.
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Jan 7, 2022 20:18:17 GMT -5
perkins17 - Thanks for the shoutout. I do believe Rockoonz brought up some great questions which the OP needs to think about. onelove318 - If you do a search on "slant cabber" on the forum, I have several posts about the HiTech slant cabber that I used for the last year. If you have specific questions about it, tag me, and I'll be happy to answer them if I can. Sorry to bring you in, just thought you know what your talking about with flat laps. Rockoonz did bring up great points. Don't be sorry! Like I said to the OP, if they have specific questions, I'm more than happy to answer what I can. But rockoonz really did bring up some good questions the OP needs to think about...
|
|
vwfence
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2013
Posts: 564
|
Post by vwfence on Jan 7, 2022 20:59:28 GMT -5
any of the carbide type wheels need to spin them out good so they dont have the water settle in one spot at the bottom as it throws them out of balance badley
|
|