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Post by stoner on Nov 17, 2004 22:19:04 GMT -5
Hi again. Thought I'd try an experiment using cement to cut small(2" or less) rocks into slabs. I used a small piece of pvc, mixed some quick set cement, poured a little cement, then added the rock to be cut, then filled the pipe with cement and let it dry overnite. The idea here is now I can cut the entire rock into slabs by holding on to the cement block instead of just the rock. And while I was at it, I took some pics of my homemade 10" slab/trim saw and my 8" flat lap, also homemade. Not fancy looking, but they are functional. I'll let you know how the experiment goes.
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Post by docone31 on Nov 17, 2004 22:52:27 GMT -5
That is what it is all about! Back to the early roots and getting better results. Way to go. Is your lap belt driven? A pointer, Coreplast, 3/4 plexiglass, or 3/3 tool aluminum makes a great stable plane. If the lap was mounted into any of the above three mediums, and a mast was incorporated, squared, leveled, and stabilized, a protactor with a quill, and you have a faceter. Untill then, if you take a Tinker toy round, use different dowels, you have a guage to cut cabachons, cabochets, etc. In other words, the round has, I believe eight holes. These produce the main points on a 96 index. On an index, the mains are 96, 48, 24, 72. On an emerald cut stone, the 96, and 48 are length, the 24, and 72 is width. With the round, the other four holes would give you a variety of girdle shapes. Flat plane, lap, stable rest, point guage, Voila! a stone cut on the girdle you can predict! Get any ideas from that? There are drawings of an extremely accurate faceter on the internet that is free. It is fairly easy to make if you can handle tools. Well, you did make a diamond saw, and flat lap. Hmmmmmmm. If you cannot find the site, I will post it. With faceters going for 3000-6000$ for a marginal one, this one might cost 500$ if you have to farm the work out. You can do it. www.Rockpeddler.com has great imported laps at a fraction of the cost of Crystal Light, or KingsleyNorth.com. I hope I put a bug in your ear. Great start and good job!
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Post by stoner on Nov 18, 2004 0:01:35 GMT -5
Hey Doc. The bug is somewhere but I don't think it's in my ear!(hehe) I've been trying to come up with a way of setting accurate angles, but so far, nothing. I like the tinker toy idea though. The mast, getting it stabilized and setting it up on a plane are no problem. It's the indexing I haven't quite figured out yet. There is a surplus store that buys stuff from all the big companies here in Silicon Valley, they have alot of cool stuff there, so maybe I'll pack a lunch and go over there and see if I can find something that will work. If you could post the link to the faceter that might help get the ideas flowing. Oh yea, my flat lap is direct drive-the motor is in the box below the lap. I bought the disc from Lopacki's for $32. The water tray was $3 at that surplus store and I had the motor,switch and wire and I built the housing, so I've only got around $35 into it now. So whatever it costs to set it up for faceting, I'm sure I'll still be way ahead of buying one.
Thanks, Ed
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Post by docone31 on Nov 18, 2004 8:52:28 GMT -5
Real quickly, I will post the link to the faceter quill drawings, If you use Coreplast as a table for the lap, and the mast, you can use acme rod 1 1/4" in dia with a threaded collar. That will give the adjustment in height. Take a bearing that can be attached to an aluminum disc and mount this on top of the threaded collar. If you can align the mast to the lap, that gives height adjustment. I will send the site when we come back from the shop tonite.
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Post by docone31 on Nov 18, 2004 8:55:44 GMT -5
www. Gearloose.com/j2.html Enjoy, a lot of information there.
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Post by docone31 on Nov 18, 2004 18:10:15 GMT -5
I tried clicking on the link. It won't go. It shows www. %20gearloose.com It is www.gearloose/j2htmlI do not know how that happened. If it goes south again, www.gearloose.com will get you there
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Post by docone31 on Nov 18, 2004 18:13:39 GMT -5
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bcbunny
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 112
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Post by bcbunny on Nov 22, 2004 22:47:45 GMT -5
Stoner,
I am interested in more pics of your saw.....my hubby is very handy and could make one if he knew what he had to build. And I know it would be way cheaper to make one then buy one, and I really want a saw, hahaha
Do you hand feed your rocks though? Do you use some kind of vise to hold your rocks etc etc?
Thanks Bunny
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Post by stoner on Nov 22, 2004 23:19:21 GMT -5
Hi Bunny. I'll take more pics and write out a description and parts list and send it to you. I usually hold the rock in one hand and use a push stick with the other. The left hand guides the rock and the push stick in my right hand is placed on the rock in front of the blade and applies the pressure to get the rock thru. That's why I still have all my fingers Ed
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Post by rockyraccoon on Apr 29, 2006 16:15:38 GMT -5
dang all i see is "oops" where the 1st 2 pics should be then a flat lap and watering system. what's up with the pics?
kim
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Post by stoner on Apr 29, 2006 16:26:19 GMT -5
Kim, an electrical named Tony managed to bring up this post from Nov 2004. I was suprised to see it on this page and the weird thing was I was the last to post to it and that was in Nov 2004. ?
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Post by Cher on Apr 29, 2006 16:51:38 GMT -5
Ed's got to do some digging and find the old or make some new pics now that everyone wants to see them again.
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Post by akansan on Apr 29, 2006 17:12:05 GMT -5
I do believe this was pulled to the front so we could see how to make the faceting jig to make the pyramids and obelisks.
At least, that's immediately what I thought of after reading this one.
Also - if you post to something (thus bringing it to the front) and then delete your post, the thread remains at the top minus the post that bumped it up.
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Post by stoner on Apr 29, 2006 17:26:41 GMT -5
And that's exactly what happened here. But sorry, the pics are long gone as they were on my old computer and they didn't get transferred to the new one. But for those who want to make a pyramid, this would work nicely for that purpose.
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