bsky4463
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2013
Posts: 1,696
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Post by bsky4463 on Apr 24, 2014 10:39:25 GMT -5
I am looking to add an 8" sintered 60 grit grinding wheel to my quiver for shaping specimen rocks, primarily agate, prior to sand and polish. This specimen rocks will have curved or domed faces.
With regards to sintered wheels, they are very expensive - so I am hoping to get some insight before I throw down the cash....preferred manufacturer (or ones to avoid), suppliers, etc.
many thanks, cheers.
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rxscram
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2011
Posts: 484
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Post by rxscram on Apr 24, 2014 11:35:16 GMT -5
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bsky4463
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2013
Posts: 1,696
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Post by bsky4463 on Apr 25, 2014 9:46:22 GMT -5
Thanks Jeff, I should have searched the site first.....I appreciate the link. Cheers Andy.
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Post by mohs on Apr 25, 2014 13:12:46 GMT -5
grind lite! my theory is that (especially noobies such as me) we over work the wheel with too much pressure
This dulls the diamond point faster than necessary decreasing appreciably the rate of cut
being that it sintered no new diamonds' points are exposed (as opposed to say a S/C wheel) then you just have and expensive rubbing wheel
my Galaxy 80 grit as lasted a long time but it grinding efficiency is less that superior mostly
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 25, 2014 19:15:10 GMT -5
My pro cutter customers get many years out of their sintered wheels. I've seen 5 year old heavily used wheels that look brand new. Because the diamond is buried is a matrix a 60 grit wheel would "feel" like an 80 plated. The only American made sintered wheel is Inland. The last one I sold was out of balance and returned to factory for repair. It was refused by customer after they drilled a couple dozen small holes to get it to balance. Sometimes they would take months to fill an order as well. I switched to "Neosint" wheels which are Chinese but seem to be high quality and made by a US company so no issue with customer service if a problem came up. Always in stock too. The guy that refused the wheel bought a replacement from Hans. I have not heard any feed back so I'm assuming it worked OK.
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Post by mohs on Apr 25, 2014 20:33:13 GMT -5
My Galaxy 80 grit wheel is 5 years old it still cuts and maybe even really well I just get impatient
Plus I find the S/C wheel does the heavy roughing more efficiently
but I do believe my theory really applies to flat laps even more
if you grind heavy you dull the points more quickly I have a 180 grit lap with lots of diamond on it and it pretty useless
that why I'm hesitant to by a course grit sintered lap I just use my S/C wheel for rough lapping
light pressure is good advice mostly
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 26, 2014 14:05:28 GMT -5
I think the pro cutter/serious cutters that get 10 years out of a sintered wheel have screwed up a whole lot of cheaper wheels learning to grind properly. A beginner may not get as long of life out of them. Beginner's plated wheels are usually worn out at center from not moving stone back and forth across the wheel. I'm guessing most beginners will wear a concave surface in a sintered wheel matrix.
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Post by Rockoonz on Apr 27, 2014 14:16:05 GMT -5
I have wondered about that John. Can sintered diamond wheels be dressed back to flat like hard SiC wheels?
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on May 1, 2014 23:42:35 GMT -5
bsky, Both Stoner & I have contributed to a thread about our experience (positive) with sintered wheels from Hans. See if you can search for it, if not here, via Google. I've got 2+ years on mine & I bet it'll outlive me. Lynn
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Post by parfive on May 2, 2014 0:02:22 GMT -5
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rxscram
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2011
Posts: 484
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Post by rxscram on May 2, 2014 0:10:57 GMT -5
(Already posted that link above.)
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bsky4463
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2013
Posts: 1,696
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Post by bsky4463 on May 4, 2014 9:16:35 GMT -5
Thanks for the guidance and suggestions. The link had great content. Ordered one up. Yeah as with most equipment, you need to let it do its job too much pressure no good. Cheers
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