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Post by roy on Apr 6, 2011 23:43:01 GMT -5
i have been thinking on making my own bull wheel has anyone done this ? i cant seem to find 12" expandable wheels anywere i plan on using two wheels and i am not sure on the pulley sizes if anyone can help ?
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Apr 7, 2011 1:09:37 GMT -5
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Apr 7, 2011 1:51:06 GMT -5
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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 Apr 7, 2011 6:25:06 GMT -5
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 9, 2011 7:15:36 GMT -5
There is a company making the "bull wheel" again called "Polaris". You can only buy SC belts for it though. I would use standard 8" X 3" drums if it was me. Everybody carries SC and diamond belts to fit. 8" x 3" is twice the normal cabbing wheel width and you can do pretty large stuff on it. The Bull Wheel is 12" x 4".
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Post by roy on Apr 9, 2011 9:35:22 GMT -5
thanks guys i want to move to preping my bigger slabs make some clocks most of the old timers that i visited with used a bull wheel but one that i visited with last weakend used a hand grinder and s/c disks wet he used a gfi what do you guy use!?
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Rockpox
starting to shine!
Member since March 2010
Posts: 38
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Post by Rockpox on Apr 9, 2011 12:56:15 GMT -5
I use a old lortone arbor with a 8''X 3'' expandable drum. It works for slabs or larger specimens and belts are inexpensive. I also have a 7 inch harbor freight hand buffer/ grinder that I have used to end polish large wood specimens and slabs. I just use a gfi outlet and a spray bottle for water. If you want a dry sander like a bull wheel I would suggest a Richardsons high speed sander. They are great for larger slabs and discs are cheaper than 4''x12'' belts.
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Post by roy on Apr 9, 2011 20:20:28 GMT -5
ya i have the richarson grinder it can heat damage pieces i was thinking the hand grinder that js gems has for sale?
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Post by Rockoonz on Apr 9, 2011 23:36:43 GMT -5
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 10, 2011 8:50:21 GMT -5
If you use an angle grinder beware the speed. The Velcro used on the discs are good for 5500 rpm max. The current Barranca wet polisher runs at about 3400 rpm. I have one of the variable speed (last model) and am chasing pads all over the yard at anything over 3500 rpm. They do work well for flats or even better for contour polishing.
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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 Apr 10, 2011 9:25:07 GMT -5
;D ;D ;D ;D I just had a visual of John doing that and can't stop laughing!! ;D ;D ;D ;D John, have you thought of getting a dog and teaching it to fetch? Dr Joe .
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Post by roy on Apr 10, 2011 12:05:02 GMT -5
my jack russell wood chase the flyn discs and chew them up hey john so the disc thrower is the current model you show on your web site ?
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 10, 2011 21:59:40 GMT -5
No, the disc thrower is one of the previous models with the variable speed control. They were so problematic I stopped selling them for two years. They finally got it right again so I started selling them again last year. My variable speed model works great as long as I keep the speed below 4000 rpm or so. The current model is a fixed 3400 or so as were the original two generations. The wet polisher does a great job and is really fast but it is hands on, labor intensive. You can do a 6" top of pet. wood in as fast as 20 minutes but closer to an hour for a super (no scratch) finish would be pretty normal. Flat surfaces are harder for me because you tend to make tiny swirl marks with pad edges. If you are disciplined enough to dry the surface between discs and check for scratches before moving on you can do a nice job on up to 12" surfaces. I refinished some dark granite counters with mine and getting a uniform finish was a job.
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Post by roy on Apr 10, 2011 22:14:56 GMT -5
thanks john ! and you sell replacment disks as well ?
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 11, 2011 7:24:01 GMT -5
Yes, but not on my website. The BD pads are really good and really expensive. They are hand made in Bulgaria for them with DeBiers diamond in Canadian Balsam resin. The Velcro wears out long before the diamond on pads finer than 400. They list for $40 each and are usually on sale in the Winter for $25. I generally sell them for $30 and $25 during the Winter Sale. The Chinese counter top pads are much cheaper (I've seen them as low as $7). They usually run from 50 grit through 3000. BD pads start at 30 and go all the way to 13,000. The kit comes with 10 pads and a Velcro lined felt polish pad. A lot of people buy pads from Richon Tools out of China.
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Post by roy on Apr 11, 2011 22:45:46 GMT -5
thanks john you are always a great help when buy this one i will only buy it from you it nice buy from a place you can trust
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