gem97845
starting to shine!
Member since August 2009
Posts: 47
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Post by gem97845 on Sept 16, 2009 22:04:40 GMT -5
OK, i need a little help in making a decision on what sort of grinder/polisher I should get. I am brand new at this so bare with me. I have been reading all the post I can find and surfing the web and to be honest it probably has me more confused. At first I was just interested in polishing Thunderegg halves and slabs and maybe some end pieces. I was looking at the high speed grinder and separate polisher that I saw for sale at he The Richardson Ranch. Looked like it would do what I wanted but then I read some threads about how bad rock dust can be on your lungs. I guess one question would be is dust a concern if the grinder is hooked up to a shop vac.
After looking at all the incredible cabs that people are making it made me reconsider what I really want to end up with. I live a long way from the nearest rockhound club so it might be awhile before I can learn how to make cabs but maybe I should at least have the equipment where I can try to be self taught. I started looking a flat laps. The 8 inch one seemed to look like it would do the job and still allow me to polish Thundereggs, and slabs. Cost is a concern, I don't want to go too cheap but I think there are some alternatives out there that will do the job with out breaking the bank. Any help would be greatly appreciated! One last question; will the high speed grinder make cabs?
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Post by johnjsgems on Sept 17, 2009 9:17:42 GMT -5
Richardson's will only do flats as far as I know. I'd get a good respirator mask if I used one. The cheapie dust masks won't do. They work very well butas you say can be very dangerous.
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Sept 17, 2009 19:25:43 GMT -5
Welcome gem97845 , If your any good at DIY, thw Home Made Equipment section has all you'll need, flat laps, saws, grinders etc. If your not so good with DIY, johnjsgems can give you all the answers to equipment you'll need, I haven't seen him steer anyone wrong yet! If your just doing small eggs & slabs then an 8" lap will work for you (now you get to choose between SiC & diamond disks ;D) Rock dust... paleo.cc/kpaleo/dust.htm Unless your 'shop vac' has a Hepa filter (which I doubt) exhaust the output of the vacuum to a safe area outside away from people, pets & plants (and your neighbors car paint). Don't go cheap on a respirator (cheap ones are uncomfortable and don't work), Use an N95 filtered respirator, goggles (not just glasses as they won't keep the dust out of your eyes) and ear protection for both sound & dust. Any questions you have along your way, just ask, it's the cheapest way to start. If you find a piece of equipment and want an opinion, someone here has probably already owned it so just ask. Glad to see you here and good luck in your new endeavor! Dr Joe .
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gem97845
starting to shine!
Member since August 2009
Posts: 47
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Post by gem97845 on Sept 17, 2009 21:17:54 GMT -5
Thanks for the information! There is a lot of stuff to sort through!
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Sept 17, 2009 21:41:18 GMT -5
Welcome! You'll find no shortage of information here. I wouldn't mess with silicosis, although some here risk it. Don't be afraid to buy used, either. Something like this will give you a lot of flexibility: cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370260969901&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:ITI wouldn't pay much more than the opening bid for it and it is an older unit, but it's a simple piece of equipment and you should be able to get parts from www.mcmaster.comI'm teaching myself to cab from a book by Sinkankas, but I'm sure there are other good books to learn from. I've found that building my own can be cost effective in some circumstances (I built a 50lb tumbler inexpensively), but in others it gets expensive if I don't already have key parts (like arbors or step pulleys). Chuck
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