Rock Cutting & Polishing

[Jim Hatt]

Hi Ed,

I have a question for you. Do you have a rock saw with a thin blade?
I have a rock about the size of a baseball that I need cut in half. I don't want to lose any more of the rock than necessary in the process.
I would also like to have a bit of polishing done on the cut surfaces.

If that is something you could do, I would be happy to pay you for it.

Jim

[roc2rol]

Hi Jim

I do have a wet 7” saw and it fantastic for light lapidary work.
It’s called a Workforce and Home Depot sells them for under 100.00. It heavy duty little saw.
Highly recommend by lots of people
doing lapidary work for the cost.

The blade it comes with is a bit heavy and rough. Which is fine
but I upgraded the blade for mine. It’s thin kerf blade about 1/32 thick.
That was about 60.00 blade and excellent for minimum stock removal.
Here’s a pic of the saw.


It’s a fun hobbyist saw! It’ll cut rock fast and clean and
you never know what design you’ll find inside!
I highly recommend it for the person wants to start lapidary.

What’s the diameter of the rock your wanting cut Jim?

The problem with the Workforce is that its only a 7” blade.
That limits the depth of cut to about 11/4 inches deep.
Then the rock needs to be rolled to complete the cut.
I’ve seen people who are really good at that.
They roll the rock thru the blade and get a good flat surface.
My skill at that aren’t exemplary but I did get good enough
slabs for lap work.


The other thing I did was rent a 10” tile saw. I did some heavy duty slab work that day! With the big 10” your maximum cutting depth is 7” if not more. The thing with that beast, is that it kept blowing the electrical breaker in the house. That was what happen to that sphere coconut agate that I posted early.

But whatever job you need done I can get you set up
inexpensively and easy. If necessary there is an excellent referral
I can make, of a professional shop in Mesa, who as a 18” lapidary saw with traversing vice.

The polishing of the flat ends is different story.
Off a good saw its remarkable how polished the end already are.
I’m not sure what your shooting for there…
so save that for a different discussion.

so you see what I have Jim and will let me know…

Ed

sorry know this is lenghty answer
but wanted to inform others
who might be intersted in lapiday

[Jim Hatt]

The diameter of the rock is only about 2 1/2 inches Ed, so it should not be a problem. Sounds like the cut will be polished enough for my purposes.

When can I bring it over?

Jim

[roc2rol]

we can set it up any weekend
or I can deliver the saw to you
1/2 way travel --any night
its portable on the site job saw
and let you cut it
real simple

[Jim Hatt]

This is a pretty "Special" rock Ed. I would rather let somebody cut it that has done it before and has a feel for the saw. I'll bring it over this weekend.

[roc2rol]

Alright Jim!
I'll meet ya @ Bill Johnson's Big Apple
37st & Van Buren
around 9:30ish Saturday morning
plus I'll give ya tour of ol'Jacob stomping grounds !!!

[Jim Hatt]

I'll be there Ed,
Nothin' better than Breakfast at the Big Apple!
I'll try to remember to bring my rock too.

[roc2rol]

we'll get to that rock someday, Jim

[Jim Hatt]

I'm SORRY Ed!!! I had my calendar marked for Sunday!

I was online here talking to Roy and Mike all morning. You should have said something.

OOPS! I just had a thought... You couldn't could you? You were waiting for me at the Big Apple all morning.

[Mrs.Oroblanco]

Jim,

You should post that rock here, too!!!!!!!!!

Beth (Mrs. O)