sheen
having dreams about rocks
Member since December 2006
Posts: 61
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Post by sheen on Dec 10, 2006 13:26:37 GMT -5
Hi all, This idea started because I needed a water spray for wetting my grinding wheels. I searched around and in the green house I found what is basically one of those weedkiller packs that you strap on your back with a pressurised hose attached to it. That is the large version. Mine is smaller, holds about a gallon, and is hand carried. Anyway, you half fill it with water, pump up the pressure inside with a handle and begin to spray from the outgoing length of pipe. The spray can be adjusted to suite your needs and you're away. I started with the grinding wheels, keeping them wet as I worked, and that was great. Then, as I had been using the tile cutter earlier today, I used the spray to clean that out and that worked well too. Also, where I poured the tumbled stones into a sieve to check them, I just squirted a jet of spray onto them and they were clean within seconds, and not a great deal of wasted water. Hope a few people try this and let us know how it works. I know I've learnt some great tips in the short while I've been on here and just hopes this makes life easier for some of you. Max
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Post by pho on Dec 11, 2006 17:57:52 GMT -5
I do all my cleaning outside as I only have tumblers and a slabsaw. I use a kitched strainer and garden hose.....
Pho
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spikeict
fully equipped rock polisher
Alba gu bra! In Promptu
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,413
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Post by spikeict on Dec 11, 2006 19:26:54 GMT -5
What a great idea, with the right tension from a rubber band on the trigger that would work well with my dremel setup also.
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sheen
having dreams about rocks
Member since December 2006
Posts: 61
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Post by sheen on Dec 14, 2006 4:54:21 GMT -5
Hi Spike, I have a dremel set up as well, but hadn't thought of using the spray for that. I take it you have the drill and will be useing the system to keep the drill bit cool. Max
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spikeict
fully equipped rock polisher
Alba gu bra! In Promptu
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,413
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Post by spikeict on Dec 14, 2006 22:24:24 GMT -5
yes. I have the drill press (workstation) but haven't drilled with it yet. I use it to shape and dome so far. One thing I might suggest if you are thinking about that kind of set up (the spray) and you use your's freehand is a water shield for your dremel, I made mine and it so far has kept the water out of the motor. Sometime after the first of the year I am going to have get a better set up. I am going through diamond bits faster than I like, and it is taking so much time. I have made only 11 pendants/cabs in a week with no way to polish them (everything I have tried with the dremel has failed) except for my tumbler, so 20 or 30 more and I will be able to put them in prepolish. Sorry am just a bit discouraged, just came in from the last one tonight and with the effort put in there should be 20 in the tray instead of 11.
Almost forgot to say, but thanks for the post, until I can join the big boys I think that will help.
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sheen
having dreams about rocks
Member since December 2006
Posts: 61
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Post by sheen on Dec 15, 2006 8:21:00 GMT -5
Hi Spike, Just a thought with the drilling. There is a message on this site (Lapidary Tips) - Rock Drilling from MichiganRocks ( only about 10 messages back). He's using a dremel for drilling using a water resevoir. It really looks great and I'm thinking of using the same type of system when I can find a firm in the UK or Ireland that sells diamond drills. Hope this helps. Max
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spikeict
fully equipped rock polisher
Alba gu bra! In Promptu
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,413
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Post by spikeict on Dec 15, 2006 17:00:23 GMT -5
I read that and it was what pointed me to the workstation,I will be getting some drill bits but, after not even 24hrs since saying I would wait until after the first of the year ordered some parts that will allow me to wet grind.
I must say that the drilling thread saved me some money, I was going to buy the dremel router table, but there is no way I could use water with that.
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sheen
having dreams about rocks
Member since December 2006
Posts: 61
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Post by sheen on Dec 16, 2006 14:29:36 GMT -5
I was going down the router route originally as well, but thought I would need a free hand and realised the router would take two to handle it. The parts you have ordered for wet grinding, are they for use on the dremel. Maybe you could let me know what they are and where ordered from. I'm still searching for the right places to buy from. Max
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