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Post by glennz01 on Apr 22, 2024 20:43:06 GMT -5
14” Been using mine for years now running horse laxative as a coolant. Sucker has years of life left on the blade. I cut everything in that saw. Pieces that just barely make the cut all the way down to crap I could use on my hand trim saw. No numbers ran, just through experience. I hardly ever use my 20”, 16”, 10” etc… This is helpful. I really like the idea of having a 24" slab saw just in case I've got something really large to slab up, but everything keeps bringing me back to starting with a 14" and most of what I aquire would be just right for a 14". I think I'll be starting there and add a larger one if I find a need for it down the road. Thanks! It's best to start with what you'd need the most, but if it's setup right like ine one I've got (ive got 11 saws) that blades can change. I'm not sure if I want to have smaller blades for it or if it's more economical to run larger blade
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Post by glennz01 on Apr 22, 2024 10:39:57 GMT -5
14” Been using mine for years now running horse laxative as a coolant. Sucker has years of life left on the blade. I cut everything in that saw. Pieces that just barely make the cut all the way down to crap I could use on my hand trim saw. No numbers ran, just through experience. I hardly ever use my 20”, 16”, 10” etc… Yeah, for my my 16 inch is my go to, but I wonder about say the 24 or larger ones, I've got some rocks I can't even cut on my 24 inch lol. I know blade thickness is usually thicker on larger ones, but wondering about my 24 inch that's in Nevada since it can have any blade the way it was home built
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Post by glennz01 on Apr 21, 2024 18:06:14 GMT -5
So I know there's the theory to go with the least size for the rock... but I was also thinking with the larger blades having more diamond and on smaller rock more cooling, thus possibly faster cutting as well.
So has anyone ran the numbers to see which ones are the longest lasting, economical reguardless to initial cost?
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Post by glennz01 on Apr 19, 2024 19:40:22 GMT -5
Violent squatters can be a serious problem. Go with protection My thoughts, but partner won't go unless someone been there recently that can confirm there's none any more, or where to avoid.... But if someone already checked out the tailings, they'd likiley know if urs worth going to
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Post by glennz01 on Apr 19, 2024 16:09:07 GMT -5
As an update, has anyone Been to buckskin mine off Mason pass road recently? Been informed there's some unfriendly squatters, donno. That is very very unfortunate if true Yeah,I'm hoping yo find more cab grade chrysocholla / malachite, gem silica... pretty well cleared out the only productive site I had luck at. I did find a good layer of wonderstone today. Going to attempt gas line road,
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Post by glennz01 on Apr 18, 2024 22:57:52 GMT -5
As an update, has anyone Been to buckskin mine off Mason pass road recently? Been informed there's some unfriendly squatters, donno.
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Post by glennz01 on Apr 13, 2024 17:00:54 GMT -5
Thought I'd isolate the thread since it's kinda separate topic that people wanted to see. Left side 80 grit, right side following flat line and toward center 1000 grit. Total time 20to 25 seconds for this agate. When I'm back it would be easier if I find darker agate for photo Softer material takes less time..
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Post by glennz01 on Apr 9, 2024 18:29:55 GMT -5
If anyone needs a better example, come May 7th I can try to get something more visible
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Post by glennz01 on Apr 8, 2024 23:42:51 GMT -5
Sorry for long wait, was busy and heading to NV tonight for a while. Left side to center has 80 grit scratches, right side to center (possibly some on left is all 1k grit finished. The time it took to do this was 25 seconds or less based in my counting. Also flat spots on right are removed mostly unlike the left side. 280 grit does the final dome touches and takes as much time to go over it, or less possibly. This agate was the hardest material of one I started. 1k grit followed along the edge down so everywhere that's turned the agate to looking blue ish seen the 1k grit I know it's kinda hard to see the deep scratches on this photo but I'd have to find a darker agate to have contrast
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Post by glennz01 on Mar 1, 2024 22:25:47 GMT -5
The lapidary classes at the NW Rockhound Retreat use 180 hard wheels to start with, followed by 220. I assume this is because some students want to cab softer materials. Probably so they don't grind too quickley on stage 1, but ud still use 1k grit as 2nd wheel. After this weekend (local rock show) I've got a new batch of cabs roughed out, so I can show a pic / video going from 80 to 1k. Both soft and hard things in my little batch I started
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Post by glennz01 on Feb 15, 2024 23:46:51 GMT -5
AYY! The fine-grit-hardwheel movement catching on! I love my 600 grit hard wheel! (Extra points when my roommate proclaimed her affinity for it, too:) One day I may have to try the 1000 hard out, too.. learning every day. My big issue is that sometimes my 80 will chip the rocks out of shape so I'm still teetering between 80 VS 220/600 hard but overall I prefer this method hands-down. Can't wait for Cabking sell a 7th wheel add-on one day;) Cheers, Patrick I find 80 can chip rocks out but knowing to stop slightly before the chip out is key
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Post by glennz01 on Feb 13, 2024 2:52:49 GMT -5
Well I'm just starting to rough out a new batch of cabs so in a few days I'll post a video or pic if I don't have any other jobs come up
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Post by glennz01 on Feb 7, 2024 17:48:21 GMT -5
Well this thread should help with bench spake and efficiency lol. I'm currently operating in my house mostly with my cab King, 14 inch lortone drop saw using water only (can't cut agates on it effectivily) In my bathroom ive got 40 lb tumbler, angle grinder which I dry grind masked up with vent fan on, and vibe lap for final polishes. Outside I've got 3 oil saws usable based on space, 2 24 inch and a 16 inch. In total I've got like 15 saws between big and small saws, 2 more grinders of sorts, a 200-300 lb capacity vibratory tumbler I've yet to use and a core saw I've yet to use. Slowly getting one shed to be a Lapidary shop after I insulate. I low budget things but I learned long ago the time you make money is when you buy, not sell lol. Granted i dont typically buy slabs individually, id buy by the pound wholesale, but a slab i buy would need at least 2 cabs for $30 ea cabs like old stock colored crazy lace, but i got 5000 lbs of rocks in my soare room ive still got to slab that ive found since 2013, though i do buy some if the price is right, reallt tempting to buy a few on here st times lol. If i get slabs i dont need from collections or cutting myself i usually resell for between $5-10/ lb
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Post by glennz01 on Feb 7, 2024 17:47:52 GMT -5
gemfeller thanks for the report on THK, I have purchased other things from them on ebay but not their wheels. I think that there are probably lots of combinations of wheels that are ideal for specific hardness ranges and material types, alas my bench space and wallet cannot support them all. Well this thread should help with bench spake and efficiency lol. I'm currently operating in my house mostly with my cab King, 14 inch lortone drop saw using water only (can't cut agates on it effectivily) In my bathroom ive got 40 lb tumbler, angle grinder which I dry grind masked up with vent fan on, and vibe lap for final polishes. Outside I've got 3 oil saws usable based on space, 2 24 inch and a 16 inch. In total I've got like 15 saws between big and small saws, 2 more grinders of sorts, a 200-300 lb capacity vibratory tumbler I've yet to use and a core saw I've yet to use. Slowly getting one shed to be a Lapidary shop after I insulate. I low budget things but I learned long ago the time you make money is when you buy, not sell lol. Granted i dont typically buy slabs individually, id buy by the pound wholesale, but a slab i buy would need at least 2 cabs for $30 ea cabs like old stock colored crazy lace, but i got 5000 lbs of rocks in my soare room ive still got to slab that ive found since 2013, though i do buy some if the price is right, reallt tempting to buy a few on here st times lol. If i get slabs i dont need from collections i usually resell for between $5-10/ lb
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Post by glennz01 on Feb 7, 2024 17:44:05 GMT -5
gemfeller thanks for the report on THK, I have purchased other things from them on ebay but not their wheels. I think that there are probably lots of combinations of wheels that are ideal for specific hardness ranges and material types, alas my bench space and wallet cannot support them all. Well this thread should help with bench spake and efficiency lol. I'm currently operating in my house mostly with my cab King, 14 inch lortone drop saw using water only (can't cut agates on it effectivily) In my bathroom ive got 40 lb tumbler, angle grinder which I dry grind masked up with vent fan on, and vibe lap for final polishes. Outside I've got 3 oil saws usable based on space, 2 24 inch and a 16 inch. In total I've got like 15 saws between big and small saws, 2 more grinders of sorts, a 200-300 lb capacity vibratory tumbler I've yet to use and a core saw I've yet to use. Slowly getting one shed to be a Lapidary shop after I insulate. I low budget things but I learned long ago the time you make money is when you buy, not sell lol.
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Post by glennz01 on Feb 7, 2024 17:37:54 GMT -5
Experimenting myself. One thing I’ve noticed is that going from a low grit to a high grit, then back through. The high grit masks the deeper scratches. Essentially smooths or buffs them out, but never really gets rid of them. Then as you go back through the stages, to the untrained eye, they aren’t noticeable. If you throw the cab under a loop, you can still see the scratches, they are just smoothed out. That's why I let them dry fully between stages, and I spect under a bright light and sharpie imperfections on each stage starting wheel 2, under water it's hard to know if you get all the scratches out even 80 to 1000 grit, you know you get most out though. I know my 1000 grit wheel I noticed I bought in 2022 and ran at least 400-500 cabs through it by now, it's not as sharp as new but still has life left though takes slightly longer than new but not by much.
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Post by glennz01 on Feb 7, 2024 2:15:14 GMT -5
Once I post videos of going 80 to 1,000 grit hard to hard. I suspect many people that care about time (or at least that see $70 for the wheel as cheap) will be ordering 1000 grit. I'm I'm hoping BA will make a 1000 grit, maybe if there's enough demand they will since I like their quality as I've only ever found 1k grit on Amazon usually 1 inch width instead of 1.5 inch I tried your 1000 grit method long ago. It worked well but diamond wheels were very expensive then and demand for my cabs was low so I developed other more economical techniques. I may try it again when the need arises. You can find 800 and 1200 x 1.5 inch plated wheels at Treasure Hong Kong <https://www.thk.hk> for $49 plus shipping. I think the total is around $65. I've used their wheels for years and like them a lot. Maybe those gits will work for you. 800 grit would still be slightly too course, not sure if the 1200 would be just as efficient though might be similar. I have noticed many Lapidary things cisting less in recent years other than saw blades which went up lol
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Post by glennz01 on Feb 7, 2024 0:18:31 GMT -5
That's interesting, the guy who sold me my first big saw and a combo cab machine gave me a "lesson" on a 15 minute cab (from dopped preform) and he used a 80/220hard/220soft/600/1200/3000/cerium setup on a Titan. DP used to make the 220 soft wheels for Rons Rocks on ebay, I plan to have a couple old 280 soft wheels recoated in 220 from a shop in Idaho to try. That's somewhat similar to my set-up on the Genie. I used to buy 220 soft wheels directly from Ron when I lived close to him. Now I go 80 sintered, 150, & 240 hard, then 220, 600 and higher soft, to polish, depending on what I'm cutting. I don't cut 15 minute cabs but this method is lots faster than spending lots of time removing scratches on the big jump from 220 hard to 280 soft. Once I post videos of going 80 to 1,000 grit hard to hard. I suspect many people that care about time (or at least that see $70 for the wheel as cheap) will be ordering 1000 grit. I'm I'm hoping BA will make a 1000 grit, maybe if there's enough demand they will since I like their quality as I've only ever found 1k grit on Amazon usually 1 inch width instead of 1.5 inch
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Post by glennz01 on Feb 7, 2024 0:16:00 GMT -5
A 60-grit sintered diamond 8" wheel on a CB8 cuts out a rough pretty fast over and over. Yeah, I've got 6 inch currently, I know 8 inch shpuld help be faster if the rpm is same
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Post by glennz01 on Feb 6, 2024 14:43:56 GMT -5
I'd think your not using much pressure? Sometimes I think I use too much pressure, in order to shape the preform and then the dome. But I try to not use much pressure at all on the grinding wheels, but I'm new to cabbing and the 80 to 220 to 280 wheels are my struggle. Are you saying I should use more, or less pressure? On my hard wheels, my unit (6 inch wheels) starts close to me and I find myself having to pull it back to me occasionally with agate materials. Yeah it might be slightly more wear but work load also goes up exponentially.
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