grizman
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since July 2011
Posts: 878
|
Post by grizman on Oct 12, 2014 16:43:16 GMT -5
OK, I admit that although I have been playing with rocks since I was knee-high to a pigeon, I am also about as "green" at some of the steps I need to follow, as a true newbie.
I am not even sure I selected the right forum area for my question...
I am an old dog. I play with my tumblers strictly as a hobby. I have a very limited space for my hobby, as the garage is already full with the two cars. I am also in a community where they would REALLY frown on my moving out on the driveway with my hobby.
Enough background. Here's what I'd like to know.
What is the simplest and least expensive tool or set up that will allow me to "round off" some of the extremely rough rocks that I have paid too much for, to feed my tumblers? Some of the stuff I just shake my head at and put back in the FRB from the sender. The rocks have potential, but at my age, I will never be able to tumble them long enough to get them rounded off without the pits, deep angle breaks, and rough edges. Yes, I wish all my rocks were beach worn, but they are far from being that ideal.
I know I would like to grind the "issues" off or out of the rocks prior to going into my tumblers. What is a quick, easy (if possible) way for me to remove a lot of the useless material off of the broken rock pieces? Maybe I am asking a stupid question? Please keep in mind my limited space for equipment, and my retired butt, expense account.
Is there an angle grinder with the "right"? kind of diamond disk to do the job? I don't even know what kind of disk I might need! See how "green" I really am?
Thanks in advance to any of you folks that choose to give this ol' dog some ideas.
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Oct 12, 2014 16:54:13 GMT -5
At "your age", I'd probably recommend a small trim or tile saw, as a better choice for keeping Grandma from having to rush you to the ER than a grinder. just my 2¢
|
|
|
Post by braders on Oct 12, 2014 16:56:00 GMT -5
Check out jamesp awesome creations of rock munching !!! Also a cheap home depot 7inch tile saw works great to
|
|
|
Post by braders on Oct 12, 2014 16:57:52 GMT -5
|
|
grizman
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since July 2011
Posts: 878
|
Post by grizman on Oct 12, 2014 17:17:36 GMT -5
Thanks braders. I wish I had the space, skills, etc. to make a set up like that. I can see that is what I "need". I just can't see it happening due to the dust issue as well as the noise for my neighbors. I am not too sure that the trim saw suggestion was not made in jest, or to keep grandma and me out of the ER with a angle grinder? The idea of the diamond cup disk is the solution for sure. I now have to decide how I achieve that with the noise in mind.
As usual, all you folks are a great help to the "struggling".
|
|
|
Post by braders on Oct 12, 2014 17:34:55 GMT -5
Never grind after 10p.m ha ha ha !! Shop vacs work great for dust if you use the bags instead of just filter n drum due to the fact filter plugs very fast!! Yet they now very quiet ether. A filter bench made with a box fan and a filter on the out take works well for catching wood dust on my lathe may work for rocks as well Hmmmm
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
|
Post by jamesp on Oct 12, 2014 18:47:14 GMT -5
A cheap 7inch tile saw is hard to beat for lighter work. But I love that grinder grizman. The problem is the fact that agate is so hard and it is not such light work.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Oct 12, 2014 18:47:53 GMT -5
I started preshaping beach pebbles with a simple bench grinder bought at Graingers long before I could spell lapidary. Several words of caution. 1. I realize that standard bench grinders are turning at twice the speed of lapidary cab machines. So only use good quality wheels on them. 2. Use a simple drip of water to reduce dust, and cool your stones. e carbide stone disintegrates, you dont want to be in the same room. 4. Never stand in front of stone when you first turn on the machine for 30 seconds. 5. All of this aside, folks used simple silicone carbide wheels to do stone shaping for decades and had wonderful results. Dont breath the dust, dont get hurt with a broken stone, and don't expect to resist the temptation to move up to at true cab shaping wheel (1725 rpm, diamond grit at 80 0r 100 grit) and you are set to have some real fun. This coming from a guy who was just trying to preshape a couple of seashells. Enjoy. Tom
BTW. My original grinder was a bench grinder with a gallon water jug, irrigation drip tube clamped to the wheel shroud with a paper clip. Just enough drip to keep down dust, keep the wheel wet, and cool the stone. If you can see where you are touching the stone to the wheel by a dust like track, you probably need more water. Oh and a plastic traky under the wheel to catch the water - dumped periodically. Safety is the most important factor, - Spin the wheel dry before turning off and don't breath the dust. nuff said. tom
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Oct 12, 2014 20:33:21 GMT -5
I am not too sure that the trim saw suggestion was not made in jest, or to keep grandma and me out of the ER with a angle grinder? You asked for the simplest way to shape and remove excess rock before tumbling. The grinder may be more of a rock eater, but I didn't gather that you are going to be trying to do what James is with his grinder. The age part was a joke, playing off of what you had written - rather hoped that would be obvious! The trim saw is still my recommendation if you are looking for "simplest", and not going into some huge mass production mode.
|
|
grizman
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since July 2011
Posts: 878
|
Post by grizman on Oct 12, 2014 21:07:23 GMT -5
captbob,
I did realize the jest in the tongue in cheek suggestion that I stay way from the angle grinder for everyones sake! You're right, simple was the key to my request. I have kicked around the idea of getting a small tile saw to do some trimming for too long. I will be checking into it this week...honest! If I get a Home Depot saw, what is a good blade to ask for to enable me to cut agates and jasper?
|
|
cardiobill
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 879
|
Post by cardiobill on Oct 12, 2014 21:16:07 GMT -5
Grizman Your situation is not unlike mine. Live in suburbia with neighbors and have a 2 car garage with 2 cars I have a cheap tile saw bought at home depot. The blade that comes with has been fine and still works well after over 2 yrs use. You use the edge of the blade to grind and not really cut. The only thing is that it is pretty loud and you will get a little dusty/ wet Make sure you use ear protectors an I personally wear a mask It works quite well though Happy grinding Bill
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
|
Post by jamesp on Oct 13, 2014 6:29:03 GMT -5
My tile saw is a 7 inch Home Depot special. The blade wore out fast. So I bought a $20 blade at Harbor Freight. it was their most expensive 7 inch blade. It had a fatter diamond segment(a good bit wider than the blade disc) and the diamonds are way coarser than the OEM blade. As cardiobill mentioned, the side of the blade grinds well too. I sawed chunks of obsidian the size of a bricks in short order to tumbles. Slower on agate but still a great way to edge tumbles. That saw was useless till I bought that particular blade. Harbor Freight store is close to me so I was able to view their inventory in person. But the blade made the saw. I will see if i can find that blade online grizman. And the saw sits outside, for 7-8 years now.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
|
Post by jamesp on Oct 13, 2014 6:36:35 GMT -5
This is a full size view on my screen of this blade. The diamonds are large on this one. The width and depth of the sintered area is large too. Hats off to the Chinese for their fine inexpensive diamond products. This is a lean mean diamond blade. The biggest diamonds I have ever seen on a saw blade. Lots of rock can be cut on it. Link to blade- www.harborfreight.com/7-in-continuous-rim-wet-cut-diamond-blade-for-masonry-68881.htmlThis is an aggressive 4 inch diamond cup with 30-40 grit diamonds. But magnified double, pretty close to the size of the diamonds in above saw blade.
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Oct 13, 2014 9:29:03 GMT -5
Justa thought, when I needed a tile saw for a project, I went to my local pawn shop and picked up a used one for maybe half of it's new price. If you don't need something with the tags still on it, checking the pawn shops may be worth an afternoon.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2014 10:13:01 GMT -5
In my case, not having a saw does present challenges.. hammer and chisel tend to be used more and gloves & safety glasses would be required. Afterward and depending on the stone size.. I would use a designated tumbler for a pre tumble.. this allows me to check how well the stones will tumble and if any more of the stone needs to be chiseled away. Sur I would love to be able to afford a saw.. and most would comments on using a simple tile saw.. Mind you my preparation is for tumbling stones and not for cabing them.. so there is a difference. Stones should range from about the size of a Dime to a half dollar. anything smaller would turn to powder or small shards.. anything larger.. may not tumbler well and act as the main source for destroying the smaller stones.. Keeping the stones a relative size will insure that everything tumbles correctly.
|
|
grizman
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since July 2011
Posts: 878
|
Post by grizman on Oct 13, 2014 17:10:28 GMT -5
Thanks jamesp,
That is a great looking blade for the tile saw. I think I will go to Home Depot for the saw and Harbor Freight for the blade. I suspect the Home Depot saw may be of a better quality than the HF? I know for the limited use, HF is just fine, but to use it a lot, the Home Depot may be my best bet...that's my thinking anyway.
Also, thanks again to all you folks that shared your thoughts regarding my need to get some rough ready for the tumbler. This forum is great, as always!
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
|
Post by jamesp on Oct 13, 2014 18:46:18 GMT -5
Not sure about the saws grizman. Looking forward to some fine tumbles.
|
|
tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by tkvancil on Oct 13, 2014 23:15:47 GMT -5
grizman I bought the QEP 7" tile saw from Home Depot a couple years ago. Been using and abusing it with out complaint. 99 bucks ... not bad.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
|
Post by jamesp on Oct 14, 2014 3:41:10 GMT -5
grizman I bought the QEP 7" tile saw from Home Depot a couple years ago. Been using and abusing it with out complaint. 99 bucks ... not bad. i think that is the one I have and it is quite powerful and about bulletproof. Spends most of it's time out in the weather.
|
|
tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by tkvancil on Oct 14, 2014 8:52:25 GMT -5
grizman I bought the QEP 7" tile saw from Home Depot a couple years ago. Been using and abusing it with out complaint. 99 bucks ... not bad. i think that is the one I have and it is quite powerful and about bulletproof. Spends most of it's time out in the weather. Yep, pretty decent little saw. Have been getting my blades from Menards. OK but I have dished all 4 of them rolling larger rocks through. Two of the four have only 1/4 of the diamond left. We have an HF store nearby, will have to go and check out the blade you recommended.
|
|