SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
|
Post by SirRoxalot on Jul 17, 2009 11:04:34 GMT -5
The wood industry turns thick stock into thin boards using gang saws, 3 to 8+ blades spinning on one arbor, giving many boards at the same speed as a single blade would cut two.
Why don't we have gang slab saws for rocks, that could slab a whole piece, at least fist sized, in one pass?
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Jul 17, 2009 11:37:48 GMT -5
I've heard of people building their own but don't know of any commercially produced. Lapidary saws of any size would cost a fortune (more than already) with additional blades. The only market would be high output commercial users. Figure the cost of 8-10 24" blades at $740 list plus the motor to turn them, etc. I suppose you could build a 10" gang saw but would the time saving justify the cost. Anyone trying to make money in lapidary knows your time is worth nothing in most cases. It is a fun hobby where patience is a must.
|
|
10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
|
Post by 10thumbs on Jul 17, 2009 11:45:29 GMT -5
There would be concerns about heat building up in the rocks. The vibration of multiple saws might increase the likelihood of chipping and cracking. That being said, I would be surprised if they didn't have something like that in the tile industry.
|
|
|
Post by catmandewe on Jul 17, 2009 13:19:47 GMT -5
I read an article on line somewhere about a rock shop in Australia that had a "mud saw" with multiple blades. (A mud saw is one that uses grit as an abrasive instead of diamonds fastened to the blade) I seem to remember it saying that it had 8 blades, but I could be mistaken. I can't remember where I saw it, if I find it I will post a link.
Tony
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2009 13:30:04 GMT -5
Ive seen this type of saw on a couple of shows where they were cutting softer materials, like marble........and it had multiple blades cutting large slabs at one time. Was really interesting to watch.
Shan
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
|
Post by Sabre52 on Jul 17, 2009 13:32:51 GMT -5
Yeah, I've seen a rock gang saw or two and I've also heard a rock shop up in the central valley back in California has a double bladed saw with one blade mounted above the other for sawing big boulders. That would be pretty cool too.....Mel
|
|
rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
|
Post by rallyrocks on Jul 17, 2009 15:45:03 GMT -5
|
|
SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
|
Post by SirRoxalot on Jul 18, 2009 15:57:02 GMT -5
Thanks for that link, rallyrocks, that's a very interesting machine I've never seen before, and here I was convinced I knew it all. Gotta love those wily Aussies, they're always up to something clever.
The replies so far suggest that sheer cost, plus possibly some heat, vibration, and/or friction issues are the main detractors of a multi-blade slab saw. The notion of chucking a rock in a vise and coming back to a half dozen slabs remains intriguing, though perhaps it just isn't practical for hard gem materials.
|
|