Hey everyone.
It's amateur night again. :-)
I am just starting up in lapidary. Getting ready to sell my beloved "Bunny" (a 4 seat Polaris OHV) to move that money into lapidary.
I am a intermediate level treasure hunter--just now getting into rocks and minerals--with some small smelting and casting experience. Hoping to also do the metals part of this and WHO KNOWS...maybe one day move up into the making of fine jewelry.
Been having to do a lot of reading around just to find some intelligent questions to ask...
From what I can tell, the first thing I need to get is a Trim/Slab saw.
Was looking at the Covington 16" saw. (With Power Feed and the drop-in table for trim sawing). Of course this is horribly expensive. But finding that thing used--or ANY thing used--has been terribly dry.
I have limited space to work in, and a 120v limitation on power. (unless I add a generator). Was eyeballing the 16" saw, because I am not going to have room for multiple saws. The 16" would allow me to cut some slabs and geodes--and it's double duty as a trim saw would serve well. And, as I recall, it's the largest saw I can get that will run on 120v.
If anyone would like to weigh in on this line of thought I would be most grateful.
The next thing would be a cabbing wheel, and a cheap grider for rough shaping. Snall drill press.
Flat Lap for smoothing the back of cabs?
Am I missing anything? Does anyone know a good source of used equipment they could turn me on to? I am Washington state.
Thanks for any input!
Dave