|
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Nov 10, 2008 12:40:33 GMT -5
I'm the happy new owner of some old equipment: a 10" Star Diamond slab/trim saw and an 8" Highland Park grinder (model A-50; old school with silicon carbide wheels).
My questions: 1. How messy are the saw (properly filled and with the original cover) and grinder? Can I use them indoors?
2. The grinder has a polishing disk on the end. Can I replace that with a solid aluminum disk and use grit disks for flat lapping? I would have to provide water because the polishing disk does not have a water supply; maybe dunk the stone regularly?
Of course I'll have to hook up the grinder to a water supply and run it to a floor drain or capture the water in a bucket. Is there anything else I should know?
Thanks in advance! Chuck
|
|
MidNight~Rocksi3
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2008
Posts: 1,716
|
Post by MidNight~Rocksi3 on Nov 10, 2008 13:23:30 GMT -5
Not sure about others.. but I use a saw that requires hand fed and water as well. And I'm pretty sure it's going to be a real mess no matter how hard you try to keep the work area clean.. I play with my rocks in my Garage.. and as much as I try to keep it clean in there.. playing with rocks is Dirty!.. but then agian that could be my inexperience showing through....
But if you do manage to come up with a mess proof system .. let me know.. !
*smiles*
|
|
|
Post by Woodyrock on Nov 10, 2008 13:31:28 GMT -5
Cabbing inside is not too messy, but sawing is messy enough to cause marital strife. For a water supply to the wheels, most cabbers today use an air bubbler to wet the underside of the wheels which is a wee bit less messy than water feed, disposal. You will have to perodically clean the sludge from the pan, but that is no where as bad as cleaning out a saw. Woody
|
|
|
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Nov 10, 2008 15:40:00 GMT -5
Thanks Roxy and Woody!
So, for wetting the underside of the wheels, would I just use a fountain pump?
I just re-read the thread on a DIY sprayer using a block of aluminum. I may have to go to a metal dealer.
Thanks, Chuck
|
|
UtahRockHound
spending too much on rocks
Sometimes your the Windshield, sometimes your the Rock.
Member since May 2008
Posts: 301
|
Post by UtahRockHound on Nov 12, 2008 8:20:58 GMT -5
I use a water fountain pump on all mine. I get them at Harbor Freight. Half the price as anyone else I have found.
The first pump I bought was from Home Depot. It was a pump for a Tile Saw. Bottom line is it was expensive for what it was. Nothing more then a fountain pump with a marked up price.
All mine circulate back into a 5gl bucket. The pump will not lift a decent amount of water over 2 feet. They are designed to move volume, not pressure. I tried a 65 gph pump, and it would not work. I went to the 120 gph, and it worked great. Also use large tubing or hose. anything less then 3/8, and it has a real hard moving any water through it.
|
|
|
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Nov 12, 2008 8:58:37 GMT -5
URH: Thanks for the tips, especially on GPH. I picked up a fountain pump at Home Depot, but now that I've checked the price at Harbor Freight, I think I'll return it. I can buy 3 HF pumps for less than the cost of 1 HD pump. Maybe their pumps aren't as bad as their tumblers...
What do you use as the spray end?
Chuck
|
|
CUL-Ann
spending too much on rocks
rock lover~
Member since September 2008
Posts: 380
|
Post by CUL-Ann on Nov 12, 2008 9:43:10 GMT -5
we have been using ours inside and I've been kind of out of it for about 2 weeks,I was thinking the weather change was what got me but maybe not. I have been pushing to keep going with a severe asthma attack that put me the rest of the way down==now with dr. shooting me x2 so far and back to see him this AM, and of course treetments and meds at home now,I think I might make it;-)))) Time will tell !!! I don't even think I can type anymore at least it looks that way. ?Does anyone else have trouble breathing after running the saw and/or the grander? ? CUL-Ann,Manton,Mi
|
|
mirkaba
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2006
Posts: 321
|
Post by mirkaba on Nov 12, 2008 12:56:02 GMT -5
Howdy.......I have my grinder set up in the spare bedroom and it isn't to messy. I just use gravity water feed set up with a 2 1/2 gal. 'All' soap dispenser. Works great. No hassle at all......................Bob
|
|
lparker
fully equipped rock polisher
Still doing too much for being retired!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 1,202
|
Post by lparker on Nov 13, 2008 15:55:39 GMT -5
I use a submersible aquarium pump for both my wheels and flat lap. Plenty of water.
|
|
UtahRockHound
spending too much on rocks
Sometimes your the Windshield, sometimes your the Rock.
Member since May 2008
Posts: 301
|
Post by UtahRockHound on Nov 21, 2008 3:07:33 GMT -5
URH: Thanks for the tips, especially on GPH. I picked up a fountain pump at Home Depot, but now that I've checked the price at Harbor Freight, I think I'll return it. I can buy 3 HF pumps for less than the cost of 1 HD pump. Maybe their pumps aren't as bad as their tumblers... What do you use as the spray end? Chuck I just run a straight tube and let it stream into the center of the wheel. It does produce a lot of slinging water, but coffee cans make great splash guards. ;D
|
|
UtahRockHound
spending too much on rocks
Sometimes your the Windshield, sometimes your the Rock.
Member since May 2008
Posts: 301
|
Post by UtahRockHound on Nov 21, 2008 3:17:04 GMT -5
we have been using ours inside and I've been kind of out of it for about 2 weeks,I was thinking the weather change was what got me but maybe not. I have been pushing to keep going with a severe asthma attack that put me the rest of the way down==now with dr. shooting me x2 so far and back to see him this AM, and of course treetments and meds at home now,I think I might make it;-)))) Time will tell !!! I don't even think I can type anymore at least it looks that way. ?Does anyone else have trouble breathing after running the saw and/or the grander? ? CUL-Ann,Manton,Mi If you are not using water to keep all the dust down, you should, or wear a mask. When the dust mixes with the moisture in your lungs, it turns to cement. To much and you could black out if an attack hits. A recent event for me taught me a hard lesson. I had a bad lung infection. I just wrote it off as a bad cold. After a month, it was still kicking my butt. I ended up taking antibotics for a month more, and still it would get a little better, but not go away. They finaly done a swab and sent it to the lab. They said it was the type caused by mold, and to check my house good for mold. It turns out, the bucket for my sander/grinder had mold in it from the rocks I was working. I now add a little bleach, and change it often. I hope you get better soon, good luck.
|
|
CUL-Ann
spending too much on rocks
rock lover~
Member since September 2008
Posts: 380
|
Post by CUL-Ann on Nov 21, 2008 9:47:40 GMT -5
I'm feeling much better and the dr. says I can go back to work ==today will be my 1st day back.
|
|
49er
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 753
|
Post by 49er on Dec 6, 2008 0:08:25 GMT -5
Not sure if you got your answer yet, so here goes. Yes, I use my equipment in doors and have since I first took up lapidary back in the early 60's. In all lapidary shops I been too are inside with water used on all wheels, large saws are vented outside to allow fumes to escape. Don't let your fill bucket sit, dump it out in the flower bed (good for flowers) not down your sink will clog it up faster than you can think of where to get more rocks.
Hope this helps and good luck
|
|
|
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 6, 2008 12:21:14 GMT -5
Thanks 49er. We'll see what this winter brings. For the time being I'm running the tumblers, but they pretty much run themselves, so I might bring the other equipment inside.
Chuck
|
|