QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Jan 7, 2016 2:55:35 GMT -5
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
|
Post by QuailRiver on Dec 23, 2015 13:38:22 GMT -5
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Nov 24, 2015 16:33:07 GMT -5
The last I heard the company went out of business about 3 years ago. At that time Fac-ette owners were worried about obtaining replacement parts for their machines. I recall reading that another company was considering supplying them but don't know how that worked out. In any event the USFG people will be able to provide up-to-date info on that. I think its a very important consideration when buying a faceting machine. Best of luck to you. Yes it is my understanding that a mining equipment producer named Wyatt Yeager purchased the rights to make the Fac-ette machines and has been attempting to restart production. He has some parts and accessories available already and has contracted former Fac-ette employee Cindy Hine to do the machine calibrations. But more recently I think I saw something where Wyatt Yeager is trying to have the new machines (at least parts of them)manufactured overseas in Asia. So I'm not sure how having that high of a precision machine as the Fac-ette made overseas is going to work out as far as accuracy and precision goes. I hope this isn't the case but I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it works out. Anyhow anyone who wants to learn more can do so by googling "Wyatt Yeager". Larry C.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Nov 24, 2015 16:15:12 GMT -5
Yes I've used Vanguard lapidary blades in the past and agree they were great blades. They stopped selling them under their own name quite some time ago but continued to make them to be sold under the Raytech Blazer Blade trade name for several years. But I think that now all of the Raytech Blazer Blades are made in S. Korea. Vanguard was either acquired by or merged with Husqvarna and still makes diamond blades for the construction industry but unfortunately I don't think they make lapidary blades anymore. Larry C.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Nov 24, 2015 15:58:04 GMT -5
edmohs, I just did a quick search and Kodak did have a free editing software called EasyShare available for download but no longer show it on their website. A couple of other sites still have version EasyShare 8.2 and version 8.3 still available for free download but I see where a user has recently posted that EasyShare 8.3 software doesn't work in Windows 10 . You may want save some search time and contact Kodak's customer support and see what they recommend for use with your camera and Windows 10. Or contact Microsoft support and see if Windows 10 has an option setting that allows you to run older software in an older version of Microsoft software. Either XP or Vista had that option but I don't know if later versions of Windows have but it might be worth asking them. Larry C.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Nov 24, 2015 3:17:58 GMT -5
edmohs, What brand camera are you using? Some manufactures offer free downloadable editing software designed to be used with their products. Larry C.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Nov 24, 2015 3:11:46 GMT -5
Hello Larry H., If you're not already a member of the USFG you may want to join their yahoo discussion group and try asking there. Several members are Fac-ette owners and may have a line on a good used one. groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/usfgfaceterslist/infoRegards, Larry C.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Nov 22, 2015 6:34:42 GMT -5
Yeah I agree that's not a bad price on the 24" saw. I would love to have it. Frantom made great saws! The Lortone vibe unit is priced okay but $900 on the Frantom cabbing machine is way too much IMO. If I were selling a machine like that in it's as-is condition I wouldn't expect to get over $250 for it on a good day. Without a power feed I wouldn't expect to get over $275 on the 10" star saw. And the Prismatic faceting machine is way over priced. It's only worth about $600-$800. Prismatic is out of business but Zane Hoffman who is the son of the guy who used to make the Prismatic machines currently makes the Poly-Metric faceting machines. And for the $2K they're asking for the Prismatic machine someone could nearly buy a brand new similar version, the Poly-Metric Xristal-tek “87” machine from Zane. Those two slag glass lamps in the photo gallery are nice! The second one looks like it may have been made by the Miller Lamp Co..
Larry C.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Oct 20, 2015 22:33:45 GMT -5
Ultra-Tec Faceting machines are made for precision faceting and are not build for the rigors of polishing slabs or cutting and polishing cabochons. There is a good secondary market for used Ultra-Tec faceting machines in good condition. Value would depend mostly on the condition and the production age.
If your interests are in other lapidary than faceting, and you would consider swapping the faceting machine for other lapidary equipment (Saws, Grinders, polishers, vibrating laps, etc.) I have lots of spare equipment to swap. I'll PM you my email address to discuss it if you are interested. Check your "messages" link at the top of the RTH page when you sign in to this site.
Larry C.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Oct 15, 2015 0:49:41 GMT -5
My friend Dave bought one of the new 12" saws, he said he was very disappointed with it and was sending it back. Tony The new HP 12"? Larry C.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Oct 14, 2015 16:34:17 GMT -5
I wonder how many people on this site has purchased a NEW saw from Lortone? I agree, buy American made, but my wallet does have limits. I have 4 Lortone units and all were purchased used. They are old and still work just fine. The old saying is you get what you pay for. If you want stuff from the land of almost right you are free to buy it, but do not expect the quality. i plan on it but in my opinion the 14 needs the better vise on it rather than the cheepo bar clamp I actually like the over/under bar clamp on the Lortone, 10", 12" and 14" saws. Using various sizes of small wood wedges in conjunction with it, I've had less slippage and can get more slices out of the rock before having to use a slab grabber or glue the heel to a block. Also for me the over/under clamp is easier to use when sawing the heels once glued to pieces of wooden 2x4s. IMO the feed rate on the Lortone Panther is too fast so I replaced the powerfeed motor on mine with the same one used on their 12" saw and that fixed that problem. Larry C.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Oct 12, 2015 19:56:15 GMT -5
I wonder how many people on this site has purchased a NEW saw from Lortone? I agree, buy American made, but my wallet does have limits. I have 4 Lortone units and all were purchased used. They are old and still work just fine. The old saying is you get what you pay for. If you want stuff from the land of almost right you are free to buy it, but do not expect the quality. I have bought two new Lortone slab saws. A 12" and a 14". I have also bought several used Lortones including the 10" and 18" I use now. There is nothing wrong with buying a good used saw. If in good shape used is usually a better value. It's up to every individual to decide for themselves if they want risk their own money in the rewarding of a company who steals designs from a U.S. company to have cheap knock-offs made in China. Personally I feel we have lost enough U.S. jobs to China already and if I feel I can't afford to buy new U.S. made then I would rather buy used U.S. made. Larry C.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Oct 12, 2015 5:44:01 GMT -5
I recently discovered that John Rowlands "new Highland Park" has introduced a new saw to their lineup. It is an EXACT copy of a 12" Lortone, down to the finest detail. It's bad enough selling a Harbor Freight quality copy of a saw that is no longer made, but directly stealing from a USA company that employs Americans and who uses strictly US suppliers when possible? There are no family friendly words I can use to express my opinion of what they're doing. I too was disgusted when I saw the HP Chinese 12" Lortone knock off and the HP 14HT which is very similar to the Lortone 14" Panther. And had the same feelings about the lack of concern for U.S. jobs. And It doesn't stop there. I also saw on the Lapidary Equipment Marketplace FB page recently where John Rowlands posted 3D CAD drawings of, and announced plans on making both a 14" Drop saw and a 10" slab saw that are nearly identical to the discontinued Lortone LS14 and LS10 saws. Apparently Lortone never patented their designs on these saws just like HP never did on theirs. So I doubt there is anything that Lortone can do legally to stop HP/China from stealing the designs (if that is indeed what is happening). It's up to the consumer to either reward or punish HP for doing so. And judging from the positive responses Rowlands was getting on FB from his announcement it appears few others share our patriotic indignation as long as they save a few bucks...even if what they are buying might be inferior. Larry C.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Sept 24, 2015 19:43:25 GMT -5
When used as a multiplier; one-half of one percent should be represented as .005, five percent would be represented as .05, and fifty percent as .5 . So if they are talking about you contributing one-half of one percent of your salary then just multiply your salary by .005 Larry C. Thanks Larry ! I really appreciate it .005% is the original company post just one question is .500 one-half of one percent ? also? Glad to be of service! And as for your last question, when one percent is represented numerically as 1.0%, only then would one-half of one percent be represented as 0.5% (or 0.500%). Larry C.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Sept 24, 2015 0:46:34 GMT -5
When used as a multiplier; one-half of one percent should be represented as .005, five percent would be represented as .05, and fifty percent as .5 .
So if they are talking about you contributing one-half of one percent of your salary then just multiply your salary by .005
Larry C.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Sept 22, 2015 1:18:13 GMT -5
I hope not! But lately I have been hearing of a lot more closings of what little bit of manufacturing we still have left. Another decade or two like this and all of our manufacturing knowledge will be lost from the next generations. Polaris made great equipment so I hope this isn't happening. Did you try calling their telephone number or did you just email? Larry C.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Sept 21, 2015 2:13:35 GMT -5
WOW! All are great but numbers 1,3,and 4 are awesome! Larry C.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Sept 20, 2015 15:15:56 GMT -5
After I've recovered all the oil I can from filtering through paper I pour the sludge into a five gallon bucket with a lid and let it sit over winter. By spring, from a full bucket of sludge I can usually siphon off another inch or two of clean oil off the top. I use an inexpensive fluid pump similar to this one www.harborfreight.com/fluid-siphon-pump-60598.html . Larry C.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Sept 6, 2015 2:40:11 GMT -5
Very nice work! I have a nearly OCD-ish thing for Guadalupe Poppy Jasper. Fortunately for my bank account I can't find it much anymore. My dopamine loss may be my wife's gain! Larry C. Quailriver, I got the guadalupe as a small ~ 1.5" x 2" slabette at a club sale for just a couple bucks. I believe they have a couple more pieces from the same rock - would you like me to grab them for you the next time I'm at the club house? Thank you, that's a very kind offer! Sure if they are still available next time you're down there. If so just drop me an email to QuailRiver@Northstate.net and let me know what I owe you for them. Larry C.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Sept 3, 2015 23:00:55 GMT -5
Very nice work! I have a nearly OCD-ish thing for Guadalupe Poppy Jasper. Fortunately for my bank account I can't find it much anymore. My dopamine loss may be my wife's gain! Larry C.
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