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Post by Peruano on Apr 15, 2022 6:08:14 GMT -5
NO! Unless you have oil delivery system to the blade edge (pump), don't use any more oil than necessary to cover 1/8 to 1/4" on your blade at the bottom edge. Too much oil (too high on the blade) will result in major oil mist and droplet flung around. Someone else will have to guide you on air compressor needs, but my guess is that a small capacity compressor with meet your needs depending on air tank capacity. You are trying for a slow feed rate (on the order of 5-7 minutes for an inch of travel). I'd start with a small (softish) rock, clamped really tightly, and experiment before you go for the giant rock you've been wanting to cut for oh so many years. I hate scented oil, but maybe you will like your choice. I tried a small bottle of baby oil not long ago, and I'm still trying to avoid that saw because of the lingering baby oil smell. Good luck firing up the saw.
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Post by Peruano on Apr 15, 2022 5:57:39 GMT -5
They both have their pluses. I have the old version of the minisonic (no speed control) and several of the small gyrocs. I have had instances when one of them would not shake a particular load but the other would. I would say the minisonic is more bullet proof; but the gyroc is so flexible ( speed/intensity can be adjusted; bowls/lids/springs/clamps replaced; its even possible to stack two bowls at the same time for double loads. I like them both.
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Post by Peruano on Apr 10, 2022 18:22:25 GMT -5
It sounds like you ate looking for threaded disc's. One RH and one LH. CORRECT?
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Post by Peruano on Apr 7, 2022 18:28:58 GMT -5
I'd be surprised if you can't find a slab saw in your area within a few months. There is one (18") for sale on Albuquerque CL for $1500. Not many specifics but telephones work here. I've driven half way to CO Sprgs for a bargain slab saw and driving may be necessary to shop used. Ship me a telephone number by PM if you want a few other ideas. Tom
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Post by Peruano on Apr 6, 2022 16:09:04 GMT -5
Can we end this thread? The original poster's complaint was addressed within 11 days of the original post but because the subject line is Negative, every post since that 11 day hiatus results in a message saying I should have listened - that banner would appear even if the poster, and many did, cited postive experiences with Johnson Brothers. How about a banner that says: "my experience with Johnson Bros" so that folks searching for both sides of the picture would be tempted to read further. Just hoping for clarity.
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Post by Peruano on Apr 6, 2022 16:00:41 GMT -5
If I was head of the zoo, and controlled the saw purchases I would follow the order below: 1 Barranca Diamond = modern design, parts available 2. Highland Park (vintage age) Some parts replaceable with the new HP source 3. FranTom (also vintage but pretty darned comparable to HP vintage). 4. Covington (old style with belt drive feed mechanism - not the magic slippery clutch that goes out of adjustment if not handled with ultracare. Note: I have one of the old (20") covington saws that had a 3 sided hood (cover the other side with a towel) but with a vice driven forward by a belt and same motor as blade. If one stops, the other stops, and belt can be adjusted to slip if difficulty encountered. 5. Highland Park (current versions). Despite teeth gnashing over where they are built (China if you have to ask) and some quality control issues, its probably a value purchase and hopefully there will be lots of them in play to provide technical support, parts, and a secondary market for resale. 6. Current Covington versions - probably good machines in competent hands. 7. Outlier due to rarity would be a Raytech slab saw. Unique design and super well suited for cutting geodes, thundereggs, and other round rocks. I'd buy moderate sizes (14 -20") rather than supersized ones because of major oil requirements and size/weight issues for the giant versions. (not to mention blade costs as the size goes up). A chop saw can be useful but a standard slab saw is more suited to most situations. A vice with vertical jaws is much more useful than the horizontal jawed versions.
This is off the top of my head and I'm sure I have garbled features or omitted candidates. But . . . I have given a lot of thought to saws and their features.
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Post by Peruano on Apr 3, 2022 13:13:40 GMT -5
A lot of chalcedony can get that sparkly and convoluted. Nice and weird!
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Post by Peruano on Apr 3, 2022 13:11:08 GMT -5
Your note about Henry Hunt's book prompted me to look on my shelf to see if I had it. I do and found much of interest in it. . . but its not likely to be worth $118 that one vender on Thriftbooks wanted for it. Interesting ideas on how to make tools for carving. Shop hard and you may find an inexpensive copy or something just as good through thriftbooks or adlibris.
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Post by Peruano on Apr 3, 2022 5:46:01 GMT -5
And a great destination for the family reunions. Western Australia has lots of cool rocks.
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Post by Peruano on Apr 2, 2022 7:12:23 GMT -5
Oregon makes some good points. I have a 12, 14, and 20" saw, and I tend to use them in ascending order. The 12 is the easiest and most used. On the other hand, and its my advice to start familiarizing yourself with the saw . . . you don't have to cut big rocks just because you have a big saw. Gluing small material to a wood stub allows precise slabbing of material firmly held in a "big" vice. The problem with big saws is hauling big rocks to them, and buying the mineral oil for the tank. Enjoy the saw and do think about a smaller one if thats at all tempting.
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Post by Peruano on Apr 1, 2022 6:57:02 GMT -5
Yes indeed. . . however quartz and quartzite will oxidize to that intense red and the way to tell is they (the quartz boys) will be grey or white on the inside (only the exterior is red)., Otherwise, in my book at least, your specimens are likely to be jasper. And especially those darker red ones. Its iron oxide in the chalcedony matrix.
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Post by Peruano on Mar 30, 2022 9:51:55 GMT -5
Its probably the super fine stuff that is called sugar quartz. I have found that some polishes much more easily than others (probably the finer the grit size, the easier it is to get a shine). Reportedly it is less subject to fractures than unmetamorphosed quartz. Its all those little quartz grains holding hands (fused).
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Post by Peruano on Mar 30, 2022 9:31:46 GMT -5
What would I do? 1. I'd not bother to highlight the "nationality of the phone center person". What difference does it make?. 2. I'd not advertise on the internet my consideration of possible actions (think the 6 Jan folks who would like to retract their posts. JMHO
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Post by Peruano on Mar 30, 2022 6:45:34 GMT -5
A lot of our local Rio Grande material has a rind/crust exterior. If you think its an agate, it is until you prove yourself wrong. Probe further. In a deeply dissected arroyo or even a steep hillside, you have potential access to a long history of riverine deposition. I might also add that a lot of the material that you did not find as interesting is quartzite; I'm betting you were selective enough to have something interesting.
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Post by Peruano on Mar 29, 2022 13:00:32 GMT -5
The Rio Grande Valley has 1000's feet of alluvial gravels and geologically its a mixmash. Equally nebulous is the terminology for the chalcedony chert relatives that are found all the way from Pedernal Peak near Georgia O'keefe's old stomping grounds to the south as far as where the Rio Puerco enters the Rio Grande. Archeologists report, and papers have been written on how Pedernal Chert has been dispersed into this area. Supposedly it was so good as a tool source material that the native pueblo folks carried it nearly 100 miles to the pueblo sites around Bernalillo (not so far from Rio Rancho) so they could work on it around the winter fires instead of at a distant quarry site. That aside there are many quartz, chert, agate, jasper materials varying from grey, white, frosted, black, red, pink etc in the Rio Grande gravels. Things that are grey or drab are often called cherts, things that are red or reddish tend to be called jaspers, anything attractive tends to be termed an agate even with out the translucence and striping that we associate with agates. In the end, you have the material, its worth exploring especially the solid examples. Things that have those big voids, erroded, crumbley spots etc are probably dubious for our purposes, but often have solid unblemished areas as well. Look for contrasting colors and polish away. It can be tremendously rewarding as it works up well and you can rationalized that your creating something special by working with material that was big time favored for tool making by the early Anasazi (Prepueblo) natives. A link to the past.
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Post by Peruano on Mar 29, 2022 6:53:26 GMT -5
No, not junk; just not high dollar on the retail market. Do I see some black along one edge. Sawed up to find some contrast areas, it would produce beautiful cabs. Tumbled might be a little less likely to satisfy. What mountain road?
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Post by Peruano on Mar 26, 2022 9:16:54 GMT -5
Here in the desert and mountain SW the grind stones are often found with the concavity turned down (to protect them from weathering?), but also making them harder to recognize since the bottom merely looks like a rock. In areas with huge boulder and rock outcrops grinding holes are often clustered (acorn or mesquite bean prep must have been a communal/social aggregated process. I have wandered away from most of those I found; just as the original folks that made and used them had before me.
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Post by Peruano on Mar 25, 2022 15:15:31 GMT -5
What do you think it is? Where is it from. Bases on the colors in your photo it could be lots of things. Do tell us more.
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Post by Peruano on Mar 25, 2022 10:12:46 GMT -5
In the right place, at the right time, with the right friend, and most importantly with the correct attitude and drive. You have wonderful material and present it well.
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Post by Peruano on Mar 25, 2022 7:25:33 GMT -5
It looks good. Especially being soft so less of a nuisance when it bangs against your leg on difficult terrain. My go-to collecting bag is a yellow bowling ball bag. It has a good color for spotting it when I've walked around for awhile without want to carry the weight. A padded shoulder strap; a couple of smaller pockets for the smaller stones; and like your bucket is soft sided and tough. A good broad or padded handle to reduce pressure on your hand or fingers is useful when that container gets heavy.
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