rockbrain
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Member since January 2022
Posts: 2,513
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Post by rockbrain on May 27, 2022 18:05:33 GMT -5
I have a ring saw but I got it for stained glass work. It's lighter duty than most lapidary saws. It's almost entirely plastic. The blade is a ring made of round diamond coated steel. The ring is approxiimately 6" in diameter. It sits upright and is moved with rollers. It's like cutting on a band saw except the part of the blade where your cutting is curved. I never thought of it for cutting stones until last week when I read about people using them here. It works well for somethings but I really felt like I had to take it slow....I mean real slow.
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 2,513
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Post by rockbrain on May 27, 2022 18:11:12 GMT -5
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Post by jasoninsd on May 27, 2022 18:17:19 GMT -5
The "trim" saw I have is a 7 inch blade, and brand new only gives about a 1.5 inch depth of cut. I have been able to slice rocks thicker than that, but it takes a steady hand. Honestly it's pretty sketchy to do it that way. Managed to get through the 3 inch thick tigers eye with it. But that got tossed in the tumbler, I wasn't making slabs for cabs. The tile saw really isn't the tool for a slabbing job since it doesn't have a reliable fence or way to clamp the rock. The slab saws are where it's at if you want uniform thickness slices. Those saws have the clamps, cross feed for thickness, and even a cutting feed. I don't know what metaphor to use here, but it's like a handheld jig saw versus a proper table saw for ripping boards. Can you sort of pull it off with the jig saw? Sure, with enough prep, but the table saw is the better tool for that job. Jig saw still has it's place, but each tool is best suited to particular jobs. Edit: ring saw would be like a band saw. Example project: making a puzzle out of a rock. Clamp the rock in the slab saw and take slices until you get the piece you want. Then take the slab to the trim saw to square the sides. Then go in there with the ring saw to cut individual puzzle pieces out.Theoretically, of course .. pulling that off is another thing. That is a genius example of how each is used!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2022 22:48:13 GMT -5
Benathema jasoninsd perkins17 Pat rockbrainThank you all so much for all your help! It was very helpful. So if I was getting a saw to primary cut rocks I’ve found in half to look inside or to tumble it would be best to get a slab saw. Would that be correct?
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Post by jasoninsd on May 27, 2022 22:51:02 GMT -5
Benathema jasoninsd perkins17 Pat rockbrain Thank you all so much for all your help! It was very helpful. So if I was getting a saw to primary cut rocks I’ve found in half to look inside or to tumble it would be best to get a slab saw. Would that be correct? Short answer...yes. I got a 10" wet tile saw that I use for my slab saw...it was less expensive than a lapidary saw...and for what you're wanting it for, that's the route I personally would suggest. *And thus begins the plunge further down the rabbit hole! LOL
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2022 22:58:39 GMT -5
Benathema jasoninsd perkins17 Pat rockbrain Thank you all so much for all your help! It was very helpful. So if I was getting a saw to primary cut rocks I’ve found in half to look inside or to tumble it would be best to get a slab saw. Would that be correct? Short answer...yes. I got a 10" wet tile saw that I use for my slab saw...it was less expensive than a lapidary saw...and for what you're wanting it for, that's the route I personally would suggest. *And thus begins the plunge further down the rabbit hole! LOL Lol, yes it does! I have a birthday coming up sooo…. Gathering ideas for the husband! I was thinking about getting a cheap but decent tile saw from harbor freight just to get comfortable with cutting and just to cut some rocks open that we have and to cut some rough agate I’m buying from my rock shop lady.
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Post by jasoninsd on May 27, 2022 23:10:34 GMT -5
Short answer...yes. I got a 10" wet tile saw that I use for my slab saw...it was less expensive than a lapidary saw...and for what you're wanting it for, that's the route I personally would suggest. *And thus begins the plunge further down the rabbit hole! LOL Lol, yes it does! I have a birthday coming up sooo…. Gathering ideas for the husband! I was thinking about getting a cheap but decent tile saw from harbor freight just to get comfortable with cutting and just to cut some rocks open that we have and to cut some rough agate I’m buying from my rock shop lady. I've got a 7" wet tile saw I use as a trim saw. I think it was around $80 at Menards (Like a Home Depot). My 10" wet tile saw is from Harbor Freight...less than $400. That being said, would I love to have actual lapidary quality trim and slab saws? ABSOLUTELY! LOL - However, I'm accomplishing what I can with what I've got...and I'm okay with it for now.
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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 May 28, 2022 1:47:54 GMT -5
That reminds me, this thread gives me another excuse to show off my cabinet. Black and yellow tote is full of grits and sits on the bottom shelf. There's a Where's Waldo worth of things to spot in this image, can you find all 576 of them? And the washout sink. Also, if you're going to daisy chain the slurry like this to drain somewhere, put a lid on the main bucket in the rainy season. This funnel of a sink here washed a bit more slurry though than I'd have liked. The hole it drains into doesn't really drain anymore. That'll be a shovel project here soon, mosquito season approaches, no puddling.
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Post by Rockoonz on May 28, 2022 1:54:37 GMT -5
Watch craigslist and estate sales, I got a Ryobi tile saw in like new condition for $10.00 not long ago. My current shop configuration, the cabbing carving and polishing part anyway. Slab saws are in another building.
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Post by liveoak on May 28, 2022 6:19:37 GMT -5
What a great space you have Lee, Rockoonz, and a well done video explaining it all.
I thought I'd add in that another way to cut shapes vs the ring saw is a band saw. Which are by nature heftier then a ring saw. I have a woodworking one we rigged up to use water for rocks , but you can buy them ready to go as well.
"Example project: making a puzzle out of a rock. Clamp the rock in the slab saw and take slices until you get the piece you want. Then take the slab to the trim saw to square the sides. Then go in there with the ring saw to cut individual puzzle pieces out."
Patty
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Post by Son Of Beach on May 28, 2022 6:37:28 GMT -5
The tumbler room where I keep most of my bulk material This is where I prestage runs and keep my grit, etc. No luxury of an outdoor sink All this for the that little white box on the countertop, it's all worth it
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Post by manofglass on May 28, 2022 9:32:27 GMT -5
When the blade no longer cuts glass or stone Try it on sheet metal
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2022 9:39:33 GMT -5
Ok Son Of Beach show us what’s in the white box on the counter!
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Post by Rockoonz on May 28, 2022 11:29:45 GMT -5
What a great space you have Lee, Rockoonz, and a well done video explaining it all. That shop was a pretty big DIY for us, started as a storage/tack room with no power, insulation, or finished walls. I ran 2 20A circuits, we insulated, drywalled, and turned into a shop space that can be cooled in the summer. Not entirely finished, but in my world there seems to always be "a little more to do"...
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Post by Rockoonz on May 28, 2022 11:41:14 GMT -5
Yep, never done. Learned that the brown paper on the back of drywall is a delicacy to termites. And met the local exterminators.
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Post by Son Of Beach on May 28, 2022 17:23:03 GMT -5
Alright ashley , here you are. I keep my 50 favorite lake finds to kind of make a mini competition, always enjoyed ranking things in a way. When one goes in another comes out, the rest I emotionally move on from
Here is a link to some better photos, though the album needs some updating
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2022 17:56:26 GMT -5
Those are some beauty’s for sure! Thanks for sharing!
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markb
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Member since May 2022
Posts: 472
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Post by markb on May 28, 2022 19:59:29 GMT -5
That reminds me, this thread gives me another excuse to show off my cabinet. Black and yellow tote is full of grits and sits on the bottom shelf. There's a Where's Waldo worth of things to spot in this image, can you find all 576 of them? And the washout sink. Also, if you're going to daisy chain the slurry like this to drain somewhere, put a lid on the main bucket in the rainy season. This funnel of a sink here washed a bit more slurry though than I'd have liked. The hole it drains into doesn't really drain anymore. That'll be a shovel project here soon, mosquito season approaches, no puddling. Wow Benathema , love that washout sink! Definitely been thinking about this a lot lately and your picture helps my visualization of such a solution a LOT! Great job.
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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 May 28, 2022 20:40:47 GMT -5
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markb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2022
Posts: 472
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Post by markb on May 28, 2022 21:48:35 GMT -5
How the heck do I post a pic from Flickr Just the url link shows.
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