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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 13, 2014 5:23:44 GMT -5
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Post by 1dave on Jun 13, 2014 6:05:00 GMT -5
For a beginner that is not sure about really getting involved, I recommend an inexpensive tile saw ($100 or less) from some place like Lowes or home Depot.  It will be a great trim saw for converting slabs into cabs later on when you get something bigger and better. On the other hand, If you are fully committed, want big rocks and have lots of bucks, . . .  |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2014 6:11:38 GMT -5
It would really depend on how much$$ you have to spend?then I would say how big of rocks you want to cut.as far as portable goes,that really depends on how strong your back is.ive got a ten inch raytec pro and have unscrewed it from the bench and taken it with me many times in the past.
Dave
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Post by pghram on Jun 13, 2014 10:35:06 GMT -5
I have an Inland Swop Top & in my opinion the saw is not adequate at all. It's VERY under powered in my opinion, even for trimming. I do most of my triming now w/ a tile saw. It really makes quick work of a slab. I have not tried slabbing w/ it but others here do it all the time. They are fairly inexpensive too & very portable. The main down side is you will get a little wet.
Rich
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 13, 2014 10:49:38 GMT -5
If your working in a garage or outside the tile saws will work great. My shop is in a finished area of the basement so the noise and mess of the tile saws were never an option. I totally agree with the previous comment about the inland being an under powered saw but that's then again that's why its lightweight and portable.
Chuck
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Jun 13, 2014 10:50:18 GMT -5
Ditto pgham- The Inland would disappoint you very quickly. I would also recommend a tile saw to start, as long as you use it where water spray isn't an issue- like outdoors. I also use and like the 6" Rock Rascal trim saw, can be used with oil or water, is portable (motor being the heavy part, but doable)
I've slabbed small rocks with it, about 1" in diameter feeding by hand, but this is pretty tough on the blade. Good luck in your quest.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Jun 13, 2014 12:14:58 GMT -5
I agree with Dave about the Raytech Deluxe model 10" saw. It is a little more expensive but is a good dual purpose saw. It has a large table for trimming large slabs and has an automatic power feed and a plexiglass cover hood to contain the mist and splash when slabbing (a nice feature to have). Most of it's metal components are made of steel and it is designed for use with oil but can be used with water and a water additive as long as you dry it off good immediately after use and empty the water out of the removable plastic coolant reservoir. The table top is hinged at the back edge to the lower cabinet for easy access to the plastic coolant reservoir which lifts out of the base for fast and easy cleaning. With oil it will cut agates and other hard rocks. I have a Raytech 10" I keep around for cutting soft porous rocks that I only want to saw with water like turquoise, Malachite, Howlite, etc. and I consider it to be a decent saw. It weighs about 60 lbs but the design of the base makes it easy to grip from underneath and lift. www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/product.php?id=87940I would also add to the list the Rock's 10" Trim-Slab Saw by Polaris Tools. This saw can be used as a trim saw and as a gravity feed slab saw. This is a very well made saw and it's table and many other upper components are made of cast aluminum. It is not as expensive as the Raytech but it doesn't have a hood cover either so it is messier to use. I would estimate it weighs pretty close to the same as the Raythech. www.polaristool.com/catalog/item.php?unid=4616&prodpa=0Larry C. |
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Post by Rockoonz on Jun 13, 2014 13:34:53 GMT -5
I agree with QuailRiver Larry, the Rocks saw is excellent. If the vehicle you transport in will permit, a small steel cart could be used to help move it around helping with added weight. If you are still working on figuring out what you want to be able to do a cheap used tile saw off of craigs list may be the ticket to get started as well. The HiTech saws should be avoied like the plague, if anything they are worse than the Inland. Let us know more details about what you want to be able to do with your saw and we can possibly be more helpful. |
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Post by mohs on Jun 13, 2014 13:49:52 GMT -5
I agree with everyone
'cept I have different take
Buy a used 7" Workforce or similar tile saw
pay nothing more than 50.00 used even less
nothing should be of 100 if new
anyway this saw will introduce you to sawing
inexpensively and give you good hands on experience
then you'll be better informed to upgrade
but you may be loaded with money, rocks, and experience
(in my case-- its just the rocks I got...mostly)
then take dave1 advice
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,512
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Post by Sabre52 on Jun 22, 2014 8:06:57 GMT -5
When you get into ten inch saws with a vice and power feed, you are getting into the $1000 price range and blades that cost around $70-100 per pop. In addition, the rigs are quite heavy and are best handled with a rolling table to stand them on. Also, they use oil and are very messy. Best to start with a little tile saw. They are cheap. portable, use water coolant, and the blades can be had as cheap as $10-20. With a little practice, a six inch tile saw can cut you good slabettes for cabbing from stones as big a 2" or so. The slabs tend to have rougher surfaces which can require more grinding but heck, you grind the tops down for cabs anyway. I use my tile saw a lot for trimming out cabs and cutting small slabs for the tumbler. Mine cost like $89 and I've probably had it for eight years now. Fair warning though, all rock saws tend to be pretty darn noisy and tile saws are probably noisier than the true lapidary trim saws. I also sit outside in the driveway and wear shorts when using my tile saw as I work from the front and it totally drenches me with water. Some folks work from in back the saw and that will keep you drier...Mel
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 22, 2014 10:24:57 GMT -5
I have a Genie trim saw attachment that I got as a bonus for $35 when I bought my Genie. It is extremely light weight (mostly plastic), is an excellent trim saw, cuts with water and a does a good job slabbing small rough. I bought a used 9" gravity feed Highland Park and mounted it on a board with a motor. It never did a good job slabbing and I got rid of it. The closest thing to a what I use is a tile saw, but it wouldn't be able to slab anything but very small rocks.
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Post by phil on Jun 22, 2014 10:39:07 GMT -5
I'd recommend a community saw. One that belongs to a club where you can not only learn how to use the saw properly along with the rest of the lapidary equipment, but also learn the steps, tricks and on using them before you buy one on your own. Lots cheaper too, and leaves you plenty of $$ to buy pretty rocks.
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Post by Pat on Jun 22, 2014 10:52:28 GMT -5
Re getting wet: I use a 4" tile saw ($7.00 used), and yes it does splash water. However, I wear one of those biggggg plastic ? bibs you wear when getting a haircut. They are about $6 at a beauty supply store. It's adjustable snug around the neck and goes down to about my knees. Does the job. I stay dry. I also wear safety glasses.
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Post by Rockoonz on Jun 22, 2014 17:52:11 GMT -5
Pat has an important point, safety glasses are a must!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2014 21:24:26 GMT -5
Re getting wet: I use a 4" tile saw ($7.00 used), and yes it does splash water. However, I wear one of those biggggg plastic ? bibs you wear when getting a haircut. They are about $6 at a beauty supply store. It's adjustable snug around the neck and goes down to about my knees. Does the job. I stay dry. I also wear safety glasses. +10 1001000 for eye protection while handheld cutting. You only get one set of eyes. |
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Post by Pat on Jun 22, 2014 22:14:54 GMT -5
......and a face/ nose mask is good, too. One look at the water tells you what is in the air you are breathing.
Yep, just one pair of lungs per person.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,726 
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 22, 2014 23:14:42 GMT -5
I was always told to buy what you could afford,but buy the biggest one you could get! I ended up with a 14"....
It does most everything I want...( so far ).....
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rykk
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 428
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Post by rykk on Jun 26, 2014 23:51:34 GMT -5
First, decide on how serious you are about cutting rocks. If you figure that you are going to stick with it and have the $$, buy two saws and get top of the line models. Buy a 10" saw that you can swap a smaller 8" or 6" blade onto for small rocks and cab pre-shaping. And buy a very good 18" slab saw because you will certainly be wanting to cut some big rocks. Don't mess around with any cheap models even when beginning because they are still spendy and will cut way into your budget once you, inevitably, decide you need something more robust.
If you really aren't sure that you are going to be all that into this hobby, then buy a good used model so that you "waste" less money if you lose interest. Get a top of the line used one because the frustrations you might have due to a crappy saw could end up damping your enthusiasm to go on.
C-ya,
Rick
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! Being a total beginner to rock cutting what would be a good saw to start with? Please keep in mind that I don't want anything big...maybe something that is portable? I can't do rock sawing in my apartment so I need to go to a friends house. 
! Being a total beginner to rock cutting what would be a good saw to start with? Please keep in mind that I don't want anything big...maybe something that is portable? I can't do rock sawing in my apartment so I need to go to a friends house. 
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