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Post by lizziebird on Jun 17, 2007 15:51:47 GMT -5
Anyone have experience cutting rocks (geodes, or other smallish-medium-sized rocks) with a saw such as a tile saw? Someone recently cut open a few of my geodes with a $99 tile saw that I think they got from Lowe's and I thought HEY, maybe I can do this too... I also see nice looking band saws for about $200 which seem to be able to do decent rock cuts plus cut about anything else I may ever want to cut. I don't want to go out and buy a really nice rock cutting tool, but if I can get a tile saw from Lowe's or Home Depot for about $100, I might do it. (or something else that would work without spending a bunch of money?) Any thoughts or experience here? Thanks a bunch!  |
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ken
Junior Member
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Post by ken on Jun 17, 2007 16:02:39 GMT -5
Yes, go to Lowe's or Home Depot and get the 7" tile saw. $88. Also, go to the mortar isle and get a large plastic mortar pan.$4 You will need it to catch the water waste in. Trust me.
Harbor Freight has the same saw for $60 , if there is one near you. I think there is one in Raleigh. I use mine all the time for trimming. It will cut up to 1 1/4" high.
Ken
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Post by kap on Jun 17, 2007 16:19:17 GMT -5
Also check your area pawn shops they get them in that people bought to do a job and dont need anymore I picked up a 4in and a 7 in for $25.00 each. Keith
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Post by Doug on Jun 17, 2007 20:29:52 GMT -5
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Post by lizziebird on Jun 18, 2007 17:01:45 GMT -5
Thanks for the suggestions and input. Yes, I have looked at both ebay and Craigslist. I have time though, it's nice not to be in a huge hurry for something big like a saw. I think I like the idea of a small band saw right now, it can cut thorugh just about anything but it's a little more expensive. We've been doing lots of home improvements lately so I'm sure we'd get lots of use from it besides just rocks...  |
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Post by Doug on Jun 18, 2007 17:16:25 GMT -5
I would NOT recommend a band saw for anything other than trimming slabs to cab shape!! They are not meant to cut anything thicker than about 1/4". They WILL cut, it just takes a long time! I like being able to slab small rocks then trim up a piece of tile with the same tool!
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Post by lizziebird on Jun 19, 2007 20:08:34 GMT -5
Okay, so I know practually nothing about power saws.
Let's say I have a geode that is about 4 inches thick. Or a nice little specimin in a big bunch of matrix that I want to trim off (say 4 or 5 inches)... is it possible to cut through either of these examples with either type of saw?
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ken
Junior Member
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Post by ken on Jun 19, 2007 21:14:45 GMT -5
No. A 10 inch saw will cut about 3 1/3 inches. A 12 " will cut about 4 3/4" The reason being that the flange washer on most saws is about 3". If it is a table saw(like the tile saws) you lose some more because of the thickness of the table. A 7" tile saw will only cut about 1 1/4 inches high.
Need to become best friends with a MAGMA member (Doug) with a big saw.
Ken
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Post by lizziebird on Jun 21, 2007 18:35:38 GMT -5
www.inlandlapidary.com/singleproduct.asp?search=Hobby+Products&partnum=91040Anyone have any experience with this band saw? I've seen it for sale at this lapidary shop and also lots of places that specialize in stained glass. Looks potentially promising if it's sold as a lapidary tool... Sorry to keep asking so many questions about this, but thanks for all the input! Much appreciated.
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ken
Junior Member
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Post by ken on Jun 21, 2007 18:39:17 GMT -5
Please don't waste your money. That saw is for GLASS. Would be O.K. for trimming some of the softer slabs, but not for cutting rocks.
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Post by lizziebird on Jun 22, 2007 15:06:48 GMT -5
Thanks, Ken. I guess my best bet is keep an eye out for a cheap tile saw, maybe on Craigslist, yard sale, etc.
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Post by colorshapetexture on Jun 22, 2007 23:26:29 GMT -5
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Post by Doug on Jun 23, 2007 7:34:07 GMT -5
Nice saw, should be worth the investment. It will probably go about $200. though. I saw a nice 6" Diamond Pacific saw go for $60.00 last week and larger saws for just a little more. I have a Lortone LS-10 and am not at all impressed with it's perfoormance. It is fine on soft rocks and thin 7+ but do NOT expect it to slab a 3" agate!!!
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Post by mizwest on Dec 21, 2018 13:47:20 GMT -5
Hi, I use a tile saw for cutting sandstone and siderite. It is water cooled, and as someone already mentioned, you loose about 1/4" when you cut.
Based on this, I think a band saw would work to slice lighter specimens, but it could get hot!
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Post by mizwest on Dec 21, 2018 14:19:40 GMT -5
Here's a member who cut hematite: Post by nichwhitt on Jul 31, 2012 at 6:12pm Looked around at our old house yesterday and all of the rocks were white shell-ed duds. Had to re gear my brain to look for anything that wasnt white. Did seem to be an abundance of hematite though. My mother in law couldn't resist the urge to peek in some of them with her tile saw...surprised it was able to cut at all! Read more: dirtyrockhounds.proboards.com/thread/9991/white-lace-agate-black-hematite#ixzz5aLcgDhHf |
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