ksk
having dreams about rocks
Member since October 2008
Posts: 69
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Post by ksk on Nov 29, 2008 16:16:20 GMT -5
Looking for user input on these two units. They seem very similar. I am mainly wondering about the feed feature on each of these. Other differences include: aluminum table on the Covington, 8,9,or 10 inch blades on the Barranca. The splash guard on the Covington looks more versatile.
Please advise, thanks!
PS. Also considering a the $200 tile saw option as covered in numerous threads.
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darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
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Post by darrad on Dec 1, 2008 21:53:05 GMT -5
I have the Covington 1510TS with power feed. It makes a great trim saw. The plexiglass cover is very nice. Oil on my hands but that is it. The vice works well and the power feed is a nice convience and works well. With trimming it does not need cleaning often but with slabbing it dirties up real guick and is a pain to clean. You have to unscrew the whole aluminum table to get inside. The tank is AL. as well and the plugs are steel. Screwing them in and out to clean would chew up the AL fast. I added two 6" nipples with pipe caps the 2nd time I cleaned it. I use oil in mine at present and am going to change to water the next time it needs cleaned so I can just wash out the tank with the hose. I have not used the Barraca unit so no input there. The Work Force tile saw is under $100.00 (7") at my Home Depot and they do still carry them. Hope this helps.
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hope
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2008
Posts: 477
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Post by hope on Dec 1, 2008 21:55:54 GMT -5
I don't have any experience with either of the two machines you have listed, but I can tell you that the folks at Covington are just super people to work with. They will stick with you through thick and thin when you have questions and/or problems to solve.
Hope
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ksk
having dreams about rocks
Member since October 2008
Posts: 69
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Post by ksk on Dec 2, 2008 6:44:42 GMT -5
Stonewizard,
What brand\model of blades do you use? Is the feed rate variable or how does it work?
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darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
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Post by darrad on Dec 2, 2008 20:12:49 GMT -5
KSK, It came with a 301 Gemking. I got it back in March and that blade is still on it. I have not had to dress it yet and it still cuts fine. Covington told me (Hope is 100 % right) it feeds at 5 revolutions per minute. It is not variable speed but it has an over riding clutch that will slow things down on hard stuff so you do not fry the blade. The feed motor turns a threaded rod and a threaded clip holds a metal block against the feed bar so it cuts as the rod turns. It has a spring and a stop which you set to shut off the power when it reaches that point.
Hope this made sense.
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 3, 2008 10:03:29 GMT -5
Stonewizard, that's a great description of the Covington works. They say their saws come with a Covington Gold (Chinese crimp blade) but the last one I had in stock had the 301 Gemking as well. The 301 or 303C would both work well. The Covington vise is all wood and clamps top to bottom. I have something similar on a drop saw. It looks cheap but clamps irregular rocks well and easily. The Barranca saw is a well built, heavy duty saw also. They had a huge price increase this year so even with the Winter Sale they cost more than the Covington.
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darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
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Post by darrad on Dec 3, 2008 22:00:08 GMT -5
Thanks John, I forgot about the vice. The bottom piece being metal and the top wood piece would be easy to make a replacement piece if it gets too chewed up with a hand drill and a hand saw. I have held some really odd pices in it.
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misguidedone
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2007
Posts: 94
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Post by misguidedone on Dec 14, 2008 9:18:36 GMT -5
I have the PF 10. I don't think it is a good choice for a trim saw as they recommend oil to prevent rusting. I use baby oil and you'll have a mess if you trim with it! I've never been happy with the vise and have resigned to dopping everything I slab to a stick with epoxy. There is no waste or repositioning the small rocks this way and the power feed works well.
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