dirtsifter
Cave Dweller 
Co to za kamyczek?
Member since September 2022
Posts: 391 
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Post by dirtsifter on Jan 16, 2023 1:00:43 GMT -5
2 years ago I purchased a 3pt auger with a 9in bit for my tractor for $895 delivered to my home from NC. ..
Looking at an "inexpensive" 10 inch slab/trim saw with plastic body, it's nearly $1000. It makes my head hurt. ?
Is there a bonafide explanation ?
The auger weighs hundreds of pounds of steel and cast. Just makes no since to me.
I also , 2 years ago, bought a 60 inch wide 3pt snow blower $1200 used but like new.
Thanks for listening. Dirtsifter out.
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jcooks
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2022
Posts: 12
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Post by jcooks on Jan 16, 2023 1:49:01 GMT -5
Yeah it's absurd. It's almost impossible to even get started in lapidary right now if you're not wealthy. Even rockhounding is starting to get really expensive.
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Post by Rockoonz on Jan 16, 2023 2:10:26 GMT -5
2 years ago that saw was more like $500 and change. 5 years ago there were trim saws that were better quality for under $200
I can tell you what happened, but not if you want this thread to remain in the public forum.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 13,946
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Post by stefan on Jan 16, 2023 17:58:51 GMT -5
yea prices have gotten way out of hand. My wife and I eat healthy (fresh fruits and veggies, low carb, quality protein, etc.) and her last trip to the grocery store was almost $300 for 2 freaking people. We are putting in a garden this spring to hopefully help the budget, but with diesel at $6/ a gallon it's gonna cost a small fortune just to roto-till and build the garden.
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nik
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2019
Posts: 315
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Post by nik on Jan 17, 2023 17:43:09 GMT -5
I would suggest that you hunt around for a used saw, they can still be found for reasonable money. As for the plastic saw, that would be my last choice. Not that plastic is an inherently bad material, but it definitely has limitations, and should certainly not command a premium price. I briefly owned an 8" flat lap made by the same company, and liked it less and less every time that I used it. Not to say that it did not function, just that it felt like a cheap plastic toy rather than a $500+ tool.
Personal opinions and rants aside, lapidary specific equipment and supplies will likely always be on the more expensive side, the market volume is just not big enough to encourage many new manufacturers or product development. Unfortunately for us, that translates to a higher per unit price
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gunsil
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 229
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Post by gunsil on Jan 18, 2023 10:34:50 GMT -5
I agree, and almost all of my gear I purchased used. I'm in NY and used lapidary equipment isn't that common but it does show up. I got a Titan for $700 at an estate sale and an 18" Raytech saw for same price at same sale. Got a nice used Barranca 10" saw off ebay as well as an Inland flat lap. I search craigslist often, some great deals show up there.
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,145
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Post by quartzilla on Jan 19, 2023 6:43:12 GMT -5
Don’t get me started on eggs lol…
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dirtsifter
Cave Dweller
Co to za kamyczek?
Member since September 2022
Posts: 391
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Post by dirtsifter on Jan 21, 2023 5:09:59 GMT -5
Don’t get me started on eggs lol… Our girls keep us and a few others in stock with eggs. Feed cost is up a bit but much lower percentage than eggs. It's shocking. It scrambles my brain..... I'll show myself out, thanks |
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Post by vegasjames on Jan 21, 2023 11:26:51 GMT -5
Don’t get me started on eggs lol… Our girls keep us and a few others in stock with eggs. Feed cost is up a bit but much lower percentage than eggs. It's shocking. It scrambles my brain..... I'll show myself out, thanks Eggcellent yolk. |
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dirtsifter
Cave Dweller
Co to za kamyczek?
Member since September 2022
Posts: 391
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Post by dirtsifter on Jan 21, 2023 22:26:54 GMT -5
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Post by vegasjames on Jan 22, 2023 3:49:48 GMT -5
Never be chicken to make fowl jokes. |
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dirtsifter
Cave Dweller
Co to za kamyczek?
Member since September 2022
Posts: 391
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Post by dirtsifter on Jan 22, 2023 5:34:37 GMT -5
 . I say i say I say son, that spurs one on |
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mgroothuis
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2022
Posts: 110
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Post by mgroothuis on Jan 27, 2023 14:31:04 GMT -5
Ebay prices of new tumblers are outrageous. Today, a QT12 was increased by another $50, for seemingly no reason. Is Lortone ever going to restock anything? I'm fed up too...... I picked the wrong time to get into this hobby.
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Post by manofglass on Jan 27, 2023 14:41:39 GMT -5
Start building your own tumblers
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 27, 2023 15:03:38 GMT -5
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Post by manofglass on Jan 27, 2023 15:56:36 GMT -5
Kingsleynorth.com has pulleys So dose www.surpluscenter.com I use 3/4" cold rod from Amazon.com I get pillow block bearings from the surplus center rubber heater hose from NAPA Auto parts dish soap to put the rubber hose on the rods motor 1/2hp or 1/3hp 1725 rpms Amazon.com or surplus center |
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Post by Rockoonz on Jan 27, 2023 16:05:14 GMT -5
Amazon has been the best price for steel pulleys I use for saws, but alloy should be fine for tumblers.
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brybry
Cave Dweller
Enter your message here...
Member since October 2021
Posts: 1,111
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Post by brybry on Jan 27, 2023 16:19:01 GMT -5
I'm using aluminum alloy pulleys on mine with 0 issues. Zoro is another source for pulleys and bearings.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,575
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Post by QuailRiver on Jan 27, 2023 16:36:27 GMT -5
If you're referring to the 10" Hi-Tech I agree that $1k is way too much money for that saw. And I agree with nik that that saw would be my last choice. Not that is a bad saw but because it won't have the durability and longevity of the other metal housed 10" saws on the market. Plus IMO their vise/carriage system leaves a lot to be desired. I have been involved with lapidary since the early 1970s and over the years have bought and sold a lot of old collections so have had many brands of slab/trim saws (including the Hi-Tech 10" model) . For someone who is mostly going to be sawing soft porous materials like opal and turquoise where using water for a coolant is desirable then the Hi-Tech may be the better choice simply because it is one of the few saws designed to be used exclusively with water. But for harder materials like agates, jasper, petrified wood, etc., you'll be better off using a mineral oil cooled saw. Your blades will last much longer using oil for a coolant when cutting hard materials. And from my experience, one of the best general purpose 10" trim/slab saws ever made is the Raytech 10" slab/trim saw. If I could only have one saw then the Raytech 10" slab/trim saw would be my choice. This design has been in production for five decades so there are plenty of used ones still around that come on the market fairly often. The saws themselves have all been manufactured in the USA and are currently being produced by Scott Enterprises in Littleton, Colorado. So parts are still available if needed. The motors however on the newer models may be imported since very few fractional motors are still being made in the U.S.. But this will be the case for most all brands of lapidary saws currently in production. If taken care of properly these Raytech 10" saws will last indefinitely. I have seen several that were made in the 1970s that were still running. A used one in good ready-to-use condition with good bearings and with the clear Lucite hood present will usually run $600 - $750. If needing bearings, a hood or other parts then adjust to less accordingly. New these saws currently run $1595 from Scotts: rick8260.wixsite.com/raytechsawThere were several other brands of well made 10" slab/trim saws that are no longer in production like Star Diamond, Highland Park (the original company), Texas Rocks (later Polaris), Beacon Star, and Frantom. For the slabbing function some had automatic powerfeed, some weight-feed and some push-feed. If you can find one of any of these saws still in good condition you won't likely go wrong. |
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docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
Posts: 686
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Post by docharber on Apr 16, 2023 22:05:51 GMT -5
I've been looking for a saw on and off- a friend slabs stuff for me on his Diamond Pacific 18" from time to time for a share of the material, but he has had major issues with parts from them and long delays getting them. I noticed Kingsley North's pries on saws have reach ever-more-ridiculous highs this year. I know inflation is running 8% but these increases are more than can be accounted for on that basis. How complicated is making a saw, anyway? if it were a precision woodworking saw, it would be a third the price and would include a fence, machined cast-iron table, and larger induction motor. The answer to the why of these price rising so sharply is simple. It's in large par because they can. Someone with the wherewithall to do so could build great equipment and grossly undercut the prices of most other manufacturers.
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