sheltie
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2012
Posts: 982
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Post by sheltie on Dec 8, 2012 15:56:07 GMT -5
I'm still doing my due diligence regarding wet polishers but thought I'd also better get some info about the Richardson Ranch Dry Sander (or others like it). Could anyone who has one, or who has used one, please tell you how you like or don't like it? Could you compare it to the wet polishers?
I would use it primarily to polish slabs.
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 8, 2012 16:02:03 GMT -5
If you mean the dry sander it is a high speed motor spinning a disc that you attach sand paper to. They are supposed to work well and very fast but they just look too dangerous to me.
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sheltie
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2012
Posts: 982
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Post by sheltie on Dec 8, 2012 16:05:06 GMT -5
John,
That's the one I mean (I modified my post to reflect sander vice polisher). By dangerous, are you referring to the health hazard potential due to the "dust" or to something else?
Denny
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blackout5783
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 248
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Post by blackout5783 on Dec 8, 2012 18:11:14 GMT -5
I remember reading that there is a hookup for a shop vac to control the dust. You'd need a filter on the vac fine enough to trap all the fine particles.
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 8, 2012 19:45:52 GMT -5
Shop vac or dust collector will help but a dust mask and eye protection are a must with those. And never, ever, ever stoop down to watch your process and bring the disc in line with your face. I had the disc come apart on one and hit me in the chest once, and I felt it with a shop coat on. It's only a little sandpaper disc, but 3850RPM gives it a lot of velicity, about 80 mph. also the edge of the disc will cut you deep if you come in contact with it.
Lee
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 8, 2012 20:50:34 GMT -5
What Lee said except not a dust mask but a respirator rated mask. My neighbor had one a Richardson Sander) and I thought his garage was on fire when he used it. Big clouds of rock dust blowing out the door. Holding a slab against a high speed rotating disc sounds like an accident waiting to happen. Maybe for a geode or a piece large enough to really hold on to. I'm guessing the rocks will get really hot also.
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Post by catmandewe on Dec 8, 2012 20:52:22 GMT -5
You have to be real careful while using it to not let the heat build up in your stone. When I use mine I do about a dozen at a time and switch them out so they have time to cool before I get back to the first one. Some stones do not do well on it (like Bruneau), it holds the heat too much and it almost always cracks the stone from overheating.
Tony
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Post by deb193redux on Dec 8, 2012 21:04:39 GMT -5
it was made to polish t-eggs. it is dangerous for slabs. I used the one at the Salem rock club. a few slabs went flying.
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rykk
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 428
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Post by rykk on Dec 8, 2012 21:28:18 GMT -5
I have a good friend who has one and he is absolutely ecstatic about it. Go to ebay and find seller, "dcknightjr" and ask him about it. c-ya, Rick
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Dec 8, 2012 23:34:10 GMT -5
I have one, but unfortunately don't have a shop vac to hook up to it yet...
It is made for flat grinding only, although you can do rough cabbing on it, but I have also shot stones across my shed doing that!! If you use a dop stick and a lot of water to cool the stone you can do better on cabs but I wouldn't... it's really made for flat grinding specimens and Eggs, which it does really well. I did a piece of howlite just to try and it must be fairly soft material because the grinder took it down in no time. I just have to get my polisher up and running and I will have a nice piece of howlite to show off. for that it is perfection in itself!!
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deserthound
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 390
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Post by deserthound on May 26, 2015 16:52:20 GMT -5
i have a couple of them and like them alot, i use them for slabs and of course eggs for sure gota be careful... the one i got from a guy who got the pad between his fingernails and end up with 5 stitches..3750 rpm is no joke..keep your rocks cool and i like to use a light touch after 60 grit...its a feel thing for sure you can feel when its grinding and not..i go up to 600 grit on mine sometimes, but alot is ready after 220 ..
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,681
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Post by Fossilman on May 26, 2015 17:44:37 GMT -5
I know a few guys around here that have them-they like em'.....They just do T/E's on them though-nothing else!
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on May 26, 2015 22:15:36 GMT -5
Yeah I had one. You only use it for sanding/prepolish. They sold a bull wheel thingee, big 12 inch slow polishing wheel for the polish. Sander was dangerous to the knuckles and really threw off huge amounts of silica dust. Very dangerous to breathe and even though it was attached to a shop vac, it still made me nervous. Finally gave it away. It did work super fast though changing disks was a pain in the patoot as they always wanted to curl up or tear.....Mel
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mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by mikeinsjc on Nov 1, 2015 19:21:41 GMT -5
I agree with debredux- a t-egg can be gripped easily. A slab will go flying. Plus, it tires the arms quickly if you have a bunch to do.
All dry sanders will generate a lot of dust.
I recommend a bull wheel. I have a ton of equipment, and this was the single best tool I have ever purchased. I use mine outside, so dust isn't an issue. Downsides; it is noisy- you will need ear protection you need to wear leather gloves- it will big-time erase any skin $$$
It is fast. I can take a 5 gallon pail of ground slabs (meaning the saw marks have been removed) through 100/220/400/600 in an hour or so. I cannot recommend this tool enough.
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