10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Jun 20, 2009 9:32:13 GMT -5
6x1.5" diamond wheel (JadeCarver): $63 6x1.5" plated diamond wheel (Inland Lapidary): $135 6x1.5" sintered diamond wheel (Inland Lapidary): $349
Is a sintered wheel going to last more than 8.9x longer than the regular wheel? How long does a regular diamond wheel last? It seems like my 100grit SiC wheel is going to last maybe 3-4 more hours depending on how many time I have to true it up. I don't perceive any change in my 200grit SiC wheel yet. If I go to 1.5" wheels I'd have to get some different spacers from my arbor but Inland only carries 1.5" and I wanted to do an apples-to-apples comparison.
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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 20, 2009 9:59:27 GMT -5
I've seen two pro cutters' Inland sintered wheels both 5 years old and in brand new condition. I've sold some of the Chinese plated wheels but am hearing 3 months life from serious users. Diamond Pacific's plated wheels get from one to three years life. Barranca brazed diamond wheels 3-5 years. These are all customer testimony, not scientific.
As far as spacers, on your Star Diamond machine the spacers should be aluminum tubing over a 5/8" shaft. Any wheel you buy other than S/C will have a different core thickness. You can adjust the spacers easily by cutting down the existing or adding plastic washers or cutting new spacers from PVC pipe. Most of the Chinese wheels (Jade Carver, Lopacki, etc.) will have core thickness equal to the rim (1.5"). In my opinion it would be much better to cut 1/2" off a spacer and have 1.5" wheel to grind with.
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Post by deb193redux on Jun 20, 2009 10:58:38 GMT -5
I used JadeCarver 50g, 80g, 120g wheels on my Rock Rascal with the plastic bushings. They held up OK over a year with occasional use. I always intended to get slintered wheels one day, but wanted to improve my skills a bit 1st.
I am not sure all slintered wheels last 9x longer. I have heard good things about Inland. But, as they wear new diamond is exposed and they perform consistientlyt over the lifetime. As braised wheels wear, they begin preformin glike higher-grit wheels. It can be difficult to develop skills if the grit of the wheel is always changing.
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Post by akansan on Jun 20, 2009 14:05:54 GMT -5
I used Jadecarver wheels for over 3 years (same wheels) - 50g, 100g, and 220g - with fairly regular use. I've also heard great things about Inland's sintered wheels, but have no direct experience with them.
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buck570
starting to shine!
Member since February 2009
Posts: 46
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Post by buck570 on Jun 30, 2009 22:06:49 GMT -5
any critique on rockladys wheels?
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redrummd
starting to shine!
Member since July 2009
Posts: 38
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Post by redrummd on Jul 15, 2009 10:13:17 GMT -5
I am seriously into stone work and spend about 50 to 60 hours a week in my lapidary shop. I STRONGLY recommend buying the sintered wheels if you can afford them. They run a lot smoother and cut much faster.
Buy them one grit rougher than what you are replacing in a plated diamond wheel.
Whenever you have your machine down for oiling or any wheel change, flip the sintered diamond wheels around to run in the opposite direction. That will help ensure you get even wear. I try to use the outside edges as much as possible to prevent cupping them in the middle. I have not been able to wear one of the sintered wheels out yet.
When you take one off to reverse it's rotation take time to wash off all of the rock mud, especially inside the balance holes to ensure it continues to run perfectly balanced....
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