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Post by fernwood on Aug 26, 2019 6:25:14 GMT -5
A friend mentioned that he is setting up a workshop in a spare bedroom. He wants to work on rocks, wood and metal. All with the same grinder/polisher.
I let him know that for rocks, there need to be a water source. If no water, then he would need a dust collection system and wear a respirator.
This is one of his dreams, to work with rocks, wood and metal.
I cautioned against grinding/polishing rocks with no water. He is a very passionate musician, music instructor and all around nice guy.
I am giving him my Thumblers unit so he can polish some rocks right away. Also giving him enough grit/polish for one run and referring him to The Rock Shed for obtaining more grit/polish. Have given him some rocks/slabs in the past.
Do not want him to have health issues from his need to use on piece of equipment for everything. Also do not want him to ruin some rocks/slabs that were his Dad's.
What would you tell a good friend in this situation? Thanks.
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Post by greig on Aug 26, 2019 6:35:09 GMT -5
A Dremel?
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Post by opalpyrexia on Aug 26, 2019 13:52:02 GMT -5
I think that your loan of tumbling equipment is an excellent step because it focuses on one of the materials he's interested in. For the other two I would suggest that he try to find a local workshop or someone who can expose him to working in metal and wood. If he's expecting good results with all three materials using one tool/machine, results for two of the three are likely to be difficult or disappointing. I think that greig’s suggestion is probably the best for a single tool.
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 26, 2019 16:28:48 GMT -5
Cabbing doesn't need to be expensive. Starting at $150 a person could buy a wheel, an aquarium pump and a geyser ($100 total). They would then need to make a plastic or sheet metal hood and buy or make a removable tray. Tumbling the preform. A cabbing machine doesn't need to have 6 mounted wheels. Batching the work requires a one wheel arbor and as many wheels as desired. The most expensive part of cabbing is the wheels.
I exchanged emails with Jadecarver and I complained about the work required to dissemble my stardiamond machine to replace wheels. He said he replaced using cabbing machines to using multiple arbors.
60 years ago I did a lot of wood working, taking woodshop every semester in HS. A person could do wood carving in an indoor space, but anything required sanding would make a mess. The fumes from metal working would be hazardous. My wife converted a bedroom to an artist's studio and even with a ventilation system, the oil paint did damage to her lungs.
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Post by fernwood on Aug 29, 2019 3:21:37 GMT -5
He is experienced in wood/metal work. Also a very resourceful and creative person. I am concerned about setting up this type of shop in a spare bedroom. We had a long phone conversation recently. He has a plan for air filtration/ventilation and dust collection. In the near future I am going to see his space and help with set up. At this point in his life, he does not appear to be concerned with long (or even short) term health effects. Just wanting to experience some long time dreams he is passionate about.
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