hope
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2008
Posts: 477
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Post by hope on Sept 7, 2008 21:19:32 GMT -5
Hi everybody,
I have searched a little through this heading for dressing blades but could not find anything.
My question is: What grit dressing stick and what material is best to use on a slab saw. I have been told 220 grit and I have been told 80 grit. And I think I have heard of two different materials. Silicon carbide? Aluminum Oxide, Maybe?
Hope
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Sept 7, 2008 21:58:57 GMT -5
Hope;
Use Silicon carbide 220 grit wheel only, run about 10 sq. in. surface, and reverse the blade and dress it with Obsidian.
If the face of the blade is rounded ( ? )you`l need to flatten the surface so the kerf of the blade well have max. cutting of rock.
Most people seem to think the cutting surface of a lapidary blade is the face in contact with the rock ( NO ) it is the sides that do most of the cutting so the blade well travel cleanly through the rock and the kerf of blade well keep the blade from slowing down and jamming in the cut.
Remember to reverse the blade often to keep from building a back ramp on the diamond as the matrix is wearing down around the diamond, this is why you must reverse blade to keep this ramp worn down.
If the blade is rounded, this is the best way to flatten the surface flat.
Use a No.2 file large, using the edge only, mark the blades circumference, Strike the blade just hard enough to flatten the surface of the blade to a right angle to the side of blade, do this evenly around the blade every 1/8 inch. and to keep even strike pressure to each strike of the edge of the file.
I must say this( DO NOT FILE THE BLADE WITH A FILE )
Dress blade with Max. size of a piece of Obsidian , Reverse blade do the same, Then cut max size agate to re-dress the blade.
Jack
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Post by deb193redux on Sept 7, 2008 22:26:17 GMT -5
all correct.
... but sometines just cutting a bit of tile or birck will keep the blade dressed.
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Sept 8, 2008 4:27:19 GMT -5
"all correct.
... but sometines just cutting a bit of tile or birck will keep the blade dressed. "
Do not ever cut""" tile or brick """on a lapidary blade !!! As this well grind the KERF off the blade very fast. and ruin a blade.
That was old time dressing and you may do something for 30 years dos`t mean its right. !
Jack
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Post by akansan on Sept 8, 2008 7:05:59 GMT -5
And before you reverse a blade, be sure the blade CAN be reversed. My Barranca blade is very specific that it is NOT reversible.
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Sept 8, 2008 14:27:04 GMT -5
Just got off the phone with Dean from Barranca Diamond, " All lapidary blades ( 297, 301, 303, 1000, Star line of the 70s., lortone moonglow,. Highland - park Congo black diamond" Are to be reversed often to wear back ramp down. The only blades made That you DO NOT REVERSE ARE CONCRETE & ASPHALT BLADES. ! Now for the China shop & Harbor freight Blades. Well I don`t use them. The Info Below come`s from the Barranca Web-Site. Diamond Blade Repairs Effective April 1, 2008 Barranca Diamond will no longer repair any notched rim or segmented rim diamond blades including the BD-297, BD-301 or BD-303 blades. Barranca Diamond will only retention genuine notched rim diamond blades; examples are the MK Diamond 301 Gemking/297 Criterion, Lortone Panther and Star Diamond Moonglow/Meteor notched rim blades. Blade BD-297 BD-301 BD-303 Series Recommended RPM Operating Range in Surface Feet Per Minute 3000 - 3500 3000 - 4500 4500 - 6000 Blade Diameter Approximate Arbor Shaft RPM Range 4" (102mm) 2860 - 3340 2860 - 4300 4300 - 5730 5" (127mm) 2290 - 2670 2290 - 3440 3440 - 4580 6" (152mm) 1910 - 2230 1910 - 2870 2870 - 3820 7" (178mm) 1640 - 1910 1640 - 2460 2460 - 3270 8" (203mm) 1430 - 1670 1430 - 2150 2150 - 2870 9" (229mm) 1270 - 1490 1270 - 1910 1910 - 2550 10" (254mm) 1150 - 1340 1150 - 1720 1720 - 2290 12" (305mm) 960 - 1110 960 - 1430 1430 - 1910 14" (356mm) 820 - 960 820 - 1230 1230 - 1640 16" (406mm) 720 - 840 720 - 1070 1070 - 1430 18" (457mm) 640 - 740 640 - 960 960 - 1270 20" (508mm) 570 - 670 570 - 860 860 - 1150 24" (610mm) 480 - 560 480 - 720 720 - 960 30" (762mm) 380 - 450 380 - 570 570 - 760 36" (914mm) 320 - 370 320 - 480 480 - 640 www.barrancadiamond.com/home/tec_cal.htmlJack
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Sept 8, 2008 14:31:34 GMT -5
"all correct. ... but sometines just cutting a bit of tile or birck will keep the blade dressed. " Do not ever cut""" tile or brick """on a lapidary blade !!! As this well grind the KERF off the blade very fast. and ruin a blade. That was old time dressing and you may do something for 30 years dos`t mean its right. ! Jack Tile`s be it Wall glazed tile all have a HARDNESS OF 8.5 - 9.0 on the MHO-scale index. The red brick loads up with mud slurry in cut and wear`s the kerf down fast.
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Sept 8, 2008 18:35:51 GMT -5
Thanks for the info Jack! Steve
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hope
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2008
Posts: 477
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Post by hope on Sept 8, 2008 20:20:35 GMT -5
Thanks, Jack for the great explanation above.
Hope
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Post by stonesthatrock on Sept 8, 2008 21:30:34 GMT -5
thats what i do now too after jack told me lol
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Post by deb193redux on Sept 8, 2008 22:31:22 GMT -5
The bigger and more expensive the blade, the more care for the mode of dressing. Jack's detailed procedure was excellent.
But, I could almost imagine the person asking the question feeling a bit intimidated by the answer because it was so specific and complete.
On 10" slintered blades blades that have become a little glazed, I have seen good results with brick and tile - if resuming good cuts without binding is the measure of "good"
Notched rim blades are likely a very different story, because the sides are much more involved.
If the blade edge is rounded or there are other serious issues, then I agree more exact measures are needed.
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hope
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2008
Posts: 477
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Post by hope on Sept 21, 2008 19:30:00 GMT -5
Another question, Jack or anyone else. Was is the logic behind recommending a 220 grit wheel. If you got to MK Diamond website or Email Barranca Diamond, they recommend using 80 or 60 grit. Some of the dealers also recommend the 60 grit because the manufacturers recommend it. Why?
Hope
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Post by johnjsgems on Sept 23, 2008 9:52:16 GMT -5
Hope, I'm not sure about the grit. I know the 60 grit that Barranca/MK markets works fast b(one cut). Logic would say milder dressing (220) and more cuts would extend blade life. Commercial cutters want speed. Either way dressing is removing softer matrix material to expose new diamond. As far as reversing, all of the 303 series blades are single directional. Reversing to clean or dress won't hurt but cutting needs to be done in the correct rotation as the diamonds are alligned. Plated blades should not be dressed as it can pull the diamonds off as they are only adhered to the surface. I don't know what would happen to the Chinese blades crimped surface (Lopacki, Reentel, Raytech Blazer, etc.).
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Post by cina on Sept 23, 2008 11:06:37 GMT -5
Oi I use CONCRETE on my WF
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Sept 23, 2008 11:37:44 GMT -5
johnjsgems,
Funny you would sale such a comment, after i spoke with Dean, He say`s reverse them. Myself i have been cutting with MK-blades for over 40 years and i have allows reveres my blades direction as their are no notation on blade to say which direction to run them.
Why is that ? since they went syntactic 1964, And Congo were the same. ether direction !
Now for Cement or Asphalt yes one way only.
Just got off the phone with Dean from Barranca Diamond, this was three weeks ago..........
" All lapidary blades ( 297, 301, 303, 1000, Star line of the 70s., lortone moonglow,. Highland - park Congo black diamond"
Are to be reversed often to wear back ramp down.
The only blades made That you DO NOT REVERSE ARE CONCRETE & ASPHALT BLADES. !
Mk-Blades as of September ( 2007 )are Made in South Korea. Speaking with Dean D. This Morning 09-23-2008
This is coming from Dean D. all MK-blades 297, 301, 303, can / and should be reverse for longer life.
Now their are new blades the South Korean are making under the brand name MK- that should be run in one direction....
ALL MK-BLADES ARE MADE IN SOUTH KOREA NOW !!!
Notch blades can be reversed, the new MK-sinter rim NO...one direction only. Mk Diamond Phone No. to order direct ( No more Dealers !!! ) Barranca diamond Phone 1-800-630-7682. ( Dean D )
Order Desk Phone # (310)-291-8828 ) for Barranca Diamond
Jack C.
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Sept 23, 2008 11:43:25 GMT -5
Mk-Blades as of September ( 2007 )are Made in South Korea. Speaking with Dean D. This Morning 09-23-2008
This is coming from Dean D. all MK-blades 297, 301, 303, can / and should be reverse for longer life.
Now their are new blades the South Korean are making under the brand name MK- that should be run in one direction....
ALL MK-BLADES ARE MADE IN SOUTH KOREA NOW !!!
Notch blades can be reversed, the new MK-sinter rim NO...one direction only. Mk Diamond Phone No. to order direct ( No more Dealers !!! ) Barranca diamond Phone 1-800-630-7682. ( Dean D )
Order Desk Phone # (310)-291-8828 ) for Barranca Diamond
Jack C.
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Sept 23, 2008 11:51:11 GMT -5
Mk-Blades as of September ( 2007 )are Made in South Korea. Speaking with Dean D. This Morning 09-23-2008
This is coming from Dean D. all MK-blades 297, 301, 303, can / and should be reverse for longer life.
Now their are new blades the South Korean are making under the brand name MK- that should be run in one direction....
ALL MK-BLADES ARE MADE IN SOUTH KOREA NOW !!!
Notch blades can be reversed, the new MK-sinter rim NO...one direction only. Mk Diamond Phone No. to order direct ( No more Dealers !!! ) Barranca diamond Phone 1-800-630-7682. ( Dean D )
Order Desk Phone # (310)-291-8828 ) for Barranca Diamond
Jack C.
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Post by johnjsgems on Sept 24, 2008 10:47:52 GMT -5
The Korean blades are the 303C, S and P blades I referred to as directional. The notched rim blades they made in the old Star Diamond facility are reversible. Barranca recently decided to sell direct but at list price or advertised sale prices. They still have dealers (I happen to be one) and lower prices can be found through their authorized dealers. They also have a Buy Direct feature on their website that sells at discounts through a broker system and orders are filled by participating dealers (I happen to be one of those also). Their 303 series blades have always been made in Korea and are very good blades. Their new 301 GemKing also Korean is even superior to the 303.
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fanatic
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2007
Posts: 233
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Post by fanatic on Sept 25, 2008 5:33:50 GMT -5
I'm using the Hot Dog blade in my WF saw. Should this be reversed occassionally? How should it be dressed?
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Post by johnjsgems on Sept 25, 2008 9:59:56 GMT -5
Check the blade core. If it is directional there should be a tiny arrow stamped in the blade core. You may have to remove the blade to find it.
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