fanatic
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2007
Posts: 233
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Post by fanatic on Sept 19, 2008 6:12:28 GMT -5
Yes! Thanx Bob! Looks like the perfect solution for a lot of the rough I've collected. I would be interested in the dimensions and materials. I have access to a mill until I retire. lolol
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Post by bobby1 on Sept 19, 2008 9:06:51 GMT -5
The jaws are made from 1/4" thick by 2" wide cold rolled steel. They are 6" long. I drilled 2 5/8" holes, one is 1" from the end, the other is 4" from the end. The holes are drilled larger than the bolts so the movable jaw will move up and down on the bolts freely without jamming. The bolts are 1/2" diameter by 6" long FULLY THREADED. The nuts are called jamb nuts. I used these because they have a low profile and give me more clearance for the rock and more useful length overall. The grooves in the jaws were made on a mill by clamping the jaw at a 45 drgree angle and running a cutter across the piece. I cut them deep enough to get a sharp edge on the tooth part. Like you, I had access to a mill until I retired. Now if I need this kind of work done I have to get a freind to do it for me. The one drawback to this gripper is it entices you to get that one last cut as close to the gripper jaws as you can go. If you dont exactly align it to the blade your blade will cut into the jaws and ruin the gripper. It isn't really ruined. You just reface the outer tips of the gripper and mill new grooves. Before I retired I made a bunch of extras so I will be OK for a while. I've used this device for at least 25 years so far and it really speeds up my slabbing. I originally tried the blocking, wedging and gluing ideas and they seemed somewhat time consuming. The cold rolled steel can be found at a steel supplier. They will want to sell it to you in a 20' length, but you can entice them into cutting it into a shorter length. The bolts and nuts can be obtained at most hardware stores. McMaster-Carr carries them also. Bob
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