Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Jan 22, 2004 0:44:40 GMT -5
I don't have any lapidary equipment, but I was wondering if I could do some pre shaping and trimming on rocks before I tumble them with a dremel. AND what kind of attachment would be needed. I'm thinking that maybe using my skil saw is probably not a good idea. Even with a bench vise and goggles ;D
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Post by stoner on Jan 22, 2004 1:58:51 GMT -5
Hey banjo. I've tried using my dremel to shape stones, but haven't had much success with any of the regular grinding stones. I did have some success with the white colored grinding stones and I saw some diamond cut-off wheels at a lapidary shop I just found. You get something like 6 wheels for $11.95. I'm going to pick some up in the next couple of days and I'll let you know how they work.
later, Ed
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58vette
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2004
Posts: 125
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Post by 58vette on Jan 22, 2004 7:39:09 GMT -5
I also am new to this hobby and am using a dremel. I bought several diamond cutoff wheels and they do work, however, they do not last very long. Does anyone know where you can buy them at a reasonable price. The cheapest I have found them was $6.99 each and that was on line. Our local home depot sells the same one for $14.95 for just one. As far as roughing the shape and getting rid of odd bits on the stone, it does do that. But unless you have a great way of holding the stone it gets kind of hard. As I am retired, I will have to save up my money to buy something in the future to cut the stones. Does anyone have an idea what could be bought to accomplish this at a reasonable price? As always thanks for any information. Gary
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Jan 22, 2004 8:32:36 GMT -5
I use a standard 6 inch bench grinder with a 60 and 80 grit green silicon carbide wheels. These will knock down most rock quite well. Just keep a cup of water handy to keep the rock cool. I use a Dremel for finer work. You can get a green silcon carbide wheel (much smaller of course!) for this as well. The real fine work I do with a set of diamond hand files. Also use a Dremel drill press with diamond burrs to drill holes in rocks. Dop wax is the easiest way to hold rocks, whether it be on the end of a piece of wood, or to a ceramic square to use in the drill press.
MichiganRocks
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Post by sandsman1 on Jan 22, 2004 10:45:29 GMT -5
58vette go back to the page grinding machine and read the last couple mes. doc had some great ideas about makin grinder for rocks and it wasent gonna be that expensive im thinkin bout it right now checkit out i think it will give some ideas of you own too seeya ---john
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Post by sandsman1 on Jan 22, 2004 10:51:01 GMT -5
sorry to make it two pages but for something to cut stone i got a wet tile saw that works pretty good if the rock isent to big mayb look for a used one i seen some on ebay went for a good price better then i paid new but when ya want something you know how it is hahaha seeya --john
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shorty
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2003
Posts: 392
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Post by shorty on Jan 22, 2004 13:27:54 GMT -5
hi all i just bout a wet tile saw on ebay. new for 56.00 s/h and all. it works good. maby that is something to think about. mike
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Post by creativeminded on Feb 5, 2004 10:02:56 GMT -5
I read this last night and have thought about it, I haven't tried it yet, but I did by some diamond imbedded titanium bits of all shapes and sizes that are used for sculpting varius materials, just remember if you are carving stone, to make sure you put it in water and of course use all water and electrical safety with the dremel. Tami
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Feb 6, 2004 11:07:00 GMT -5
I have used diamond embedded bits to punch a lot of holes in rocks. Rocks must be submerged in water, held very steady with NO movement, and drill with very short intermittent pressure. A rapid light touch with the drill press handle works well. The deeper the hole, the more important it is to totally retract the bit to allow the rock debris to clear.
Ron
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Post by creativeminded on Feb 6, 2004 12:05:00 GMT -5
That is what I was told in my Metalsmithing college class. Another use for the dremel is to remove the soft rough rock that is attached to the stones you want to tumble. I am tumbling stones that I get from the Sapphire mines, after I have removed the sapphires and garnets. The diamond embedded titanium bits work great to remove this material. One of the stones of my first batch had some of this on it and I thought that it would come off during the tumbling, but not all of it came off and now one side is very pretty and the other side has this white spot on it that doesn't look good. Tami
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