|
Post by Peruano on Dec 19, 2022 7:54:37 GMT -5
You asked a simple question and received a good diversity of answers. For the "record", Native American artisans have backed turquoise for decades with vinyl records and still do. Interesting to hear about JB weld, because I have a friend that uses Bondo (spread in a thin sheet and stones plopped in the middle like pecans on your mama's brownies) I just watched his helper cut about 20 preformed turquoise cabs from a single 33 1/3 lp in the shop. The last jet I sourced was from a very large and heavy vintage ashtray. I'm still slicing thin jet slabbettes from it. Personally several pounds of thin slab sounds like on enormous amount of saw work. Much cutting to produce little weight. On a side note, I examined a cab at a show that had been backed with something like bondo but to add to the weight the backer had added lead shot pellets in the mix. They were evident where the sides of the backing were exposed, but clearly functional for increasing the selling price for cabs sold by the weight. Thi slabbing is not a task for someone looking to make a profit; now for a friendly gesture, something could be arranged. It sounds like you have lots of options.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Dec 19, 2022 7:28:26 GMT -5
I bought a mini--split (e.g. motel room heat pump) for my shop this year. The unit was less than a thousand and an installation was not too bad. Boy is it nice to have heat or cool relatively quickly. I don't keep it on except when Im in the shop, but it brings things up quickly. I still have to use the electric kettle for heating the cab machine water to a warm enough temperature for cabbing. At least it give me 12 month access to the shop like you have.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Dec 16, 2022 15:57:15 GMT -5
Its hardly balmy here in New Mexico, but .. . the shrubs are starting to show new growth, and more importantly the roadrunners are starting to court (they normally start courting around Valentines Day (14 Feb or so). Guess global warming is detectable in a roadrunners heart and libido.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Dec 16, 2022 15:52:31 GMT -5
Hey it was about 0430 in the morning. Let me tell you how many times I hit the on/off button trying to reach for the backspace.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Dec 16, 2022 7:33:05 GMT -5
Its kind of funny. The pieces that you apologize for are the ones that I like best. Nature is not perfect and what we do is try to help nature show its beauty (warts and all). I seem to have "liked" my own post in attempting to hit the edit button. Mia culpa.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Dec 13, 2022 7:35:13 GMT -5
Everyone expects rocks from me. One year a bag of tumbles was wrapped and labeled for the two youngsters attending the holiday exchange, and they were asked to divide the assortment among themselves. It made the gift even more attractive because they were able to discuss and choose the ones they wanted. Its now a few years later, and those subdivided assortments of rocks can still be found in their rooms even when much more costly toys and gifts are long absent. There is a children's book entitled, Everyone needs a rock. I believe it has some merit. Happy holidays everyone.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Dec 10, 2022 8:17:28 GMT -5
Neurology has come a long way in recent years and you have some of the best care possible lined up. Now do your part and cooperate with them. All the best.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Dec 10, 2022 8:01:40 GMT -5
Yes, we have subjected them to hard use. They have certainly lasted and at the current prices constitute good value and quality results for the money. I'll still have my 3m diamond belts for 3000 and above.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Nov 26, 2022 15:09:48 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Nov 26, 2022 15:02:57 GMT -5
Show us a photo or two of the feed mechanism. Is there a way to increase the pressure that the jaws exert on the feed screw (clamp, rubber band, ??) If the feed screw is turning but the vice sled is not advancing, you need to devise a way to get a better contact between the jaws and the threaded rod. Removing material from the face of the jaws so that they can come closer together around the feed rod, or rethreading the jaws are possible alternatives. Photos and careful observation are your friends.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Nov 20, 2022 14:11:04 GMT -5
Welcome. There's lots to learn and many distinct styles to consider.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Nov 17, 2022 7:06:49 GMT -5
That is all metamorphic in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. You are very probably looking at olivine and olivine relatives. They can be bewilderingly complex. Some will polish.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Nov 13, 2022 14:17:27 GMT -5
My Yamaha TW200 was a great rock hounder's machine. Many days, I came back from the desert with about 30 lbs of rocks in the saddlebags. Once when I dropped the bike in a long mud puddle, I had to unload the bags before I could pick up the bike. You might not see that kind of mud around the lakes, and certainly not for several months. Ride on.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Nov 13, 2022 12:47:27 GMT -5
15 degrees outside, unheated garage...this little heater isn't helping much! It is not clear where your water is coming from. But since I use gravity feed from a 5 gallon bucket, a couple of dumps of hot water from my electric kettle keeps the cab machine water comfortable is a relatively cool shop. But hey New Mexico is not in the Dakotas.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Nov 13, 2022 12:40:03 GMT -5
I agree it reminded me of pietersite, but I give some thought to it being a wood burl as well. Is the blue your light or in the stone?
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Nov 13, 2022 12:35:14 GMT -5
I agree that the sloping side tank (and the entire combo unit I'm working on ) are probably the later versions of the "vintage" HP line. This machine has the combination of galvanized, green, and gold component colors, the enclosed cabinet, etc. Its a great set up but someone messed up by confusing or losing the arbor for the saw. Alternatves are to sell it off as parts (hoods, trays, motors, switches, and cabinet) or to bolt another small saw on the unit and have a custom combo. Most of the components appear to be new or like new.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Nov 13, 2022 12:27:26 GMT -5
What’s the length need to be from inside face plate to slot for blade? The arbor protruding into the tank should be 2 3/4". The tank side is 1/4" and the blade would be 2 1/2" from there. Any input would be welcomed.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Nov 12, 2022 19:18:12 GMT -5
What’s the length need to be from inside face plate to slot for blade? I knew I had I had omitted that critical piece of info from a long text. I'll check it and post to clarify what I need.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Nov 12, 2022 13:48:16 GMT -5
I'm currently working on a unit that will look like this one (copied from a photo on cigar box lapidary). I am working with a Highland Park combo machine (supposedly a B 12 model) that has a deviant saw design. Since I have been in possession of another B12 combo unit for several years, I immediately noticed differences in the 10” saw on the new machine relative to my working system. The design which seems to be the most common saw for these combo units has a tank with vertical sides (not tapered), and the tank is secured to the machine base by 4 tabs protruding from the saw tank’s base. In addition the saw arbor is supported by a separate pillar again attached to the machine base, but protruding into the saw through a u-shaped hole at the top of the tank’s side and not directly bolted to the saw tank. The deviant saw design has a tank that has sides that taper out as they extend down toward the machine base (frame) and the tank is attached to the machine base by bolts that are hidden under the tank outline and tapped from beneath. Hence there are no protruding tabs like the other model. The arbor of the saw is not supported by the separate pillar, but instead is attached to the side of the tank itself using 4 bolts (spaced at 3.25” intervals front to back, and at 1.75” intervals from upper to lower holes). In short the body of the bearing is held against the saw tank by these bolts. The consequence of the differences means that the hole for the belt extending down to the motor is in a different place on the two saws; the saw table is nearly if not exactly identical. Their installation on the machine base is markedly distinct due to the arbor design. My problem stems from lacking the correct bolt-on arbor for the deviant saw tank. I have two arbors that are marked B12 / 10 that have the correct mounting holes for the deviant tank, but the arbor lengths protruding into the tank are incorrect to place the saw blade in the position to match the slot in the saw table. One of the arbors I have (apparently new old stock) is labeled 362-HP10TS BALS). It measures 3 7/8” from the face of inner surface of the face plate to the presumed position of the blade. The second arbor (not having a comparable serial number) but still labeled B12 / 10 measured 1 15/16” for the same measure, but again would not match up the saw blade with the slot in the saw table. Clearly I have arbors for two other HP 12/10” saws but not the one that I’m trying to restore. Photos of all of this will be below. Most photos of HP combo machines with saws have the vertical tank design and tabs for mounting the saws on the machine base. However one photo on the Cigar Box Lapidary vintage combo site does depict the flaring tank with hidden mounting sites comparable to my deviant saw – I suspect this is a newer design than the straight sided model. Does anyone have the correct arbor for my saw? Does anyone have a need for either of the arbors that I have which a not suitable for my application. I suspect they are for HP trim saws not used on combo setups. If necessary my machine could be completed by mounting a different saw on the end of the machine frame but it would have to be one with the arbor secured to the tank rather than one merely protruding through the tank wall.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Nov 10, 2022 10:41:17 GMT -5
Here's my slab grabber, sold in any lumberyard. Other than the 24 delay waiting for the glue to setup, it works as well as the metal versions. Wood glue and a scrap of 2x2 or 2x4.
|
|