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Post by Cher on Aug 15, 2004 12:02:19 GMT -5
What's the best size grinder for working on rocks?
Are they any certain specs a person should look for?
Does it have to be a special kind of grinder?
Don't you have to keep a rock under water while grinding/shaping so it stays cool and doesn't crack?
Any suggestions as so brands/cost?
Thanks for your help, Cher
So much to learn and so little time.
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Post by sandsman1 on Aug 15, 2004 13:49:59 GMT -5
hey cher theres all kinds of name brands i have a lortone there not the best but i havent had a prob with mine --allso i couldent afford the one i realy wanted so this will have to do for now, any will work aslong as it has a water drip to cool the stone and keep the dust down so you dont breath it in,, i posted a link to lortone so you get the idea of prices and styles,, if you watch ebay you can pick up the same ones with wheels sometimes and motors for less then this link do alittle shoppin for a better deal www.lortone.com/arbors.html
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Post by docone31 on Aug 15, 2004 16:08:10 GMT -5
With a grinder, all one is doing is grinding. I personally use an inexpensive grinder from Home Depot. I had one from Walmart and left it behind in Punta Gorda. For a water drip, I use a coffee cup full of water. I dop the stone and the dop wax becomes my guage of stone temperature. When it becomes too hot the stone begins to slide on the dop. I am also very comfortable with 6" grinders. The 60 grit wheel works real well for most pre-polish cuts. On my grinder I also mounted a rubber drum for sanding belts. Those I spray with an hand help mister for plants. So far so good. There is a lot of hype on lapidary tools, and there are also a lot of specialized tools. I have a Raytech faceter, and a loretone cab station. Those are for more precise cuts. Just cutting off corners, and general preforming, an hardware grinding wheel does the trick. To be honest, I have done more with my less expensive grinder than my more exotic machines.
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Post by Cher on Aug 15, 2004 18:24:54 GMT -5
Thanks Sands, I'll check that link out.
Is it more common to use a different size than the 6 inch?
Cher
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Post by sandsman1 on Aug 15, 2004 19:20:25 GMT -5
if i would have had a choice i would have got a 6 inch the wheels and belts are cheaper, but i seen this 8 inch i have and it was a good price and brand new so i got it the wheels and belts prob last alittle longer,, but they cost more so your realy not saveing anything,, if i ever get the money for what i realy want im gonna get a lortone BA66 it holds 6 --6 inch wheels and id like to set it up with diamond wheels---hahaha but for now thats a pipe dream
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Post by sandsman1 on Aug 15, 2004 19:24:10 GMT -5
hey doc glad to see ya back are you in florida again ?? you seemed alot happyer there glad to see ya typin again
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Post by Cher on Aug 15, 2004 19:29:10 GMT -5
Thanks Sands, I'll keep that in mind. I don't know which way to go here. I like the idea of a dremel, since there's so many attachments that it could be used for other things also. LOL Too many decisions!
Doc's in Florida? Hope you didn't have any damage from Charlie
Cher
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Post by cookie3rocks on Aug 15, 2004 20:49:58 GMT -5
I think, if I had my drothers, I' drother have a grindr. Too much room for error with the dremel free handed. It gets away from me sometimes. It's a variable speed, 1-6, then a "Back up, she's goona blow" speed that scares me. Better I hold the rock than the grinder if I were seriously shaping something, not just touching up. Doc, where you be? welcome home, as it were. cookie
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Post by docone31 on Aug 15, 2004 23:02:20 GMT -5
Yeah, I am back in Floriduh. My wife and I owned property in Punta Gorda, right next to the Peace River. It is a very wierd feeling to think, a little more than two months ago, we owned an house that no longer exists. We were headed back there to go south to Ft. Myers. We lost the engine and rear end going to LA., and we lost the transmission in La. That difference held us up 1 1/2 days on our trip so we ended up in an hotel Six in Lakeland. I have to wonder if my wife's mother's issues were incentive to leave when we did. I wonder what would have happened if we had been there when the storm hit. It is not my habit to leave when things get rough. I have seen the eyewall during Andrew, George, Irene, Floyd, Bob, Gloria. The land the house was on is gone! I do not believe our neighbors faired well. They were lifetime Crackers and lived in a really run down mobile home. I remember the day when his wife fell through the floor of the mobile home while sitting on the toilet. They were good people. The first Thanksgiving we were working so hard we had no food. They had nothing, except beer, didn't know us for anything, and they brought us thanksgiving dinner. They did want the paper plates back. We got to be good neighbors. I used to let their son help me work. We were lucky. It is good to be back. We are in one of the few places that has phone and power. It could have been way worse for us. I guess being a God has its advantages however I do not think I want to push it.
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Post by sandsman1 on Aug 15, 2004 23:08:13 GMT -5
hey doc think like this you where ment to go help the mom in law because somebody wanted you outta the way of this storm ---SOMEBODY IS LOOKIN OUT FOR YOU MAN --now that your home again dig in and be happy seeya--john
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Post by docone31 on Aug 15, 2004 23:30:13 GMT -5
John, thanks, and thanks to all of us. My wife and I are grateful to be where we are. When we are set up, I will disclose the location of our shop. Maybe one day I can meet some of us.
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RiverOtter
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2004
Posts: 339
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Post by RiverOtter on Aug 15, 2004 23:30:45 GMT -5
A hurricane hit Florida? Wow, I'm in the boondocks for a couple of days and all sorts of stuff happens. So how bad was it? Otter
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Post by Cher on Aug 16, 2004 0:13:38 GMT -5
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Aug 16, 2004 8:08:39 GMT -5
With a grinder, all one is doing is grinding. I personally use an inexpensive grinder from Home Depot. For a water drip, I use a coffee cup full of water. I dop the stone and the dop wax becomes my guage of stone temperature. When it becomes too hot the stone begins to slide on the dop. I am also very comfortable with 6" grinders. The 60 grit wheel works real well for most pre-polish cuts. Those I spray with an hand help mister for plants. There is a lot of hype on lapidary tools, and there are also a lot of specialized tools. Just cutting off corners, and general preforming, a hardware grinding wheel does the trick. To be honest, I have done more with my less expensive grinder than my more exotic machines. I agree Doc. My 6" bench grinder with a cup of water has shaped up a lot of rocks for a very small investment. Only change I made was to replace the Aluminum Oxide wheels with green Silicon Carbide wheels. Ron
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Post by Cher on Aug 16, 2004 10:42:46 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300] Thanks everyone![/glow] I have everyone I know checking yard and garage sales for used rock tumblers and a grinder. I found out there's a flea markent about 50 miles from me, I might just take a ride and check it out.
Sure appreciate all of your help!!
Cher
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