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Post by tkrueger3 on May 3, 2009 15:14:22 GMT -5
I'm new to the hobby (addiction?) and am looking for some advice. I've been thinking about cabochons, but the cost of the equipment is prohibitive for me. Then I had a weird thought - I do have a Midland grinder for doing stained glass work - it has diamond-coated grinding wheels about 5/8" in diameter, that sit vertically and are water-cooled. Would this perhaps be useful for grinding rocks, or would it either (a) tear up the rocks, or (b) tear up the grinder? Any help appreciated. Tom
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Post by mohs on May 3, 2009 15:25:07 GMT -5
That machine will profile a 1/4" thick piece of rock really well won't damage either if its the machine I'm think it is the diamond bit is circular with a flat table? I don't think tho... that you'll be able to cab a rock with it of course, with determination people do unbelievable ( edited to add) & stupid) THINGS! GRIND AWAY edmostly
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Post by rockmanken on May 3, 2009 20:34:23 GMT -5
If you can get bits with different grits, you should be able to do a cab. The main problem would be polishing it. Idealy you would need 170-180, 325,600,1200 and polish. You have a spindle 'shaper'. Check out the 'homemade equiptment' thread for a flat lap. Also, you might be able to convert the shaper by adding flat laps onto the spindle. Depends on the shaft size and if you can adapt anything to work. Ken
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Post by cpdad on May 3, 2009 21:17:08 GMT -5
hello tom....i some times over do my thunking because i have the resources to do it ;D....but it dont need to be that way....it may not be as cheap as ya wanna go....but it is an option. 1 of these....has plenty of horsepower....and arbors are plenty long enough for any thing.....same rpm as cabbing machines. www.etoolclub.com/index.cfm?area=shop&action=detail&iid=11513you can easily use expando drums on it....by using expando drums you could use silicon carbide belts on the drums which are not expensive........or add diamond as you go.....wheels or belts....i do not have experience with expandos.....just saying ;D. i dont use mine a lot....just when somebody wants something....but it works great when i want it to. it will need a drip system for the water....but most here can help with that.....here is mine. click the pic. it has a little expense at first....but upgradeable as you go....kev.
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Post by tkrueger3 on May 3, 2009 21:50:10 GMT -5
Thanks to all - now all I need is time to think about it and do something useful! (:-)
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Post by mohs on May 3, 2009 22:02:50 GMT -5
welcome truegr3
I was trying to be helpful not sure I know the machine your speaking of even if I did not sure I be of much assistance but that never stops me firmly planting my foot in my mouth
that I nice set up kev! didn't know Jet made a spindle at that RPM I like there sharpeners is the spindle fairly water tight? anyway grind on!!!
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Post by cpdad on May 4, 2009 17:45:14 GMT -5
it kinda looks like its not sealed to well....that was the first thing i looked at when i received it....it does appear to have some kind of seal though...i just cant see inside well enough to tell...im going to take it apart one day and see exactly whats there for a seal....but being the idiot that i am ;D.
i plugged it in awhile ago after i seen your post....and chunked 4 glasses of water at it....2 of them i throwed real hard....and just poured slowly 2 more at it....nothing happened at all...i hope it fires back up later ;D.
i am using 4 inch wheels....the arbors are so long that the wheels are not even close to the motor....water doesnt even get near the motor....i can put 6 or 8 inch wheels on it if i wanted....i built the guards plenty big enough.....if i put larger wheels on it....i would make rubber flingers to slide on the shaft up against the motor....kev.
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Post by tkrueger3 on May 11, 2009 15:57:11 GMT -5
I mis-named my glass grinder (or "grozier" as the pro's call it) - it's an Inland Wizard grinder. I see via the Inland web site that there is an accessory for it that can turn it into a 6" flat lap. I will investigate further - sounds like just what I need. Here's a link to it: www.inlandcraft.com/PIsheets/PIwizard%20IV.htm
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Post by johnjsgems on May 11, 2009 23:30:11 GMT -5
A flat lap can be used to cab. The cylinder grinder can do edges only. They make great "groovers" with proper bit. Also handy for intarsia, etc.
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Post by tkrueger3 on May 31, 2009 22:58:04 GMT -5
;D Cool! I finally got the Inland "TwinSpin RetroFitKit" kit that transforms the glass grinder machine into a poor man's flat lap. Put it all together today and tried it out, gingerly. It comes with a water reservoir that mounts on stilts above the work surface (normally, for glass grinding, there would be a clear plastic face shield there), with a valve and tube leading down to a drip over the 5" grinding wheel, and a drain out the back that goes into whatever container is handy. I've been grinding the shapes on some cabs that I had already trim-cut with the Workforce. It works really well, I think - at least I'm happy with it. I guess I'm gonna have to spend another wad of $$ and get the other 2 finer grit wheels available for it, and the polishing pad, because the one that comes with it is really coarse - I think it's about a 50 grit. Dang, this addiction's getting expensive fast!!!!
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