Lapidaryforum.net
Gadgets, Gizmos, and Dohickeys => Fixing, Modifying and Refurbishing your Lapidary Equipment => Topic started by: kyanite_cutie on October 25, 2016, 07:10:11 PM
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What would be the easiest way to replace the "sandpaper?" on the wheels?
Thank you for your help!
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First off, congrats on owning a fine piece of vintage equipment.
You don't say if those are cam lock or expando drums. Given the age of the equipment I'm guessing cam lock, or as us old timers call them, bump wheels.
With that unit I'd remove both wheels & start out with 2 brand new expando drums. They're a bit expensive, but well worth it. That looks to be an 8" unit, so buy a selection of either silicon carbide or diamond belts to fit the drums. If you're new to the hobby, I'd start out with silicon carbide. Those diamond belts are expensive. With the motor turned off you can just slide a belt off of a drum & replace it with which ever grit you want to use next.
I should add that expando drums are meant to be used in only 1 direction. New drums should have an arrow on them to show which way they should spin. Also, never run an expando drum without having a belt on it, unless you want pieces of rubber chasing you around your shop.
Is that the arbor that was on ebay ? If so, I almost bid on it but decided that I have enough arbors already.
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Most newer silicon carbide belts don't have a directional arrow, or they have a double ended arrow signifying they can go either direction.
Bob
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Not talking about the belts. Most expando drums have an arrow on them when new.
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Just to clarify what Jake is saying. Yes there is only one direction of turn for an expando wheel. It has rubber bevels that let it flex with the centrifugal force to tighten the belt when running and loosen it when not turning. Mounted incorrectly and it won't expand. If you have a belt that tends to creep (and you know the wheel is mounted correctly), you may need to increase the speed to make that expando expand better. The way to recognize a thumper (or bump) wheel is that it has a slit across the entire face of the wheel that allows the new sanding belt to be clamped in place. An expando uses a continuous belt. Expandos are wonderful and especially so for folks who do not have large workshops or big bucks for diamond wheels. The changing of belts as one works through the grit sequence is a bit of a nuisance, but it does best if you work in batches rather than working one stone through the entire sequence.
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First off, I have no idea what a cam lock or expando drum is. I tried looking up the manual for this equipment but found nothing. Thank you very much for telling me I need to get two new expando drums. I will look into that. Should I put silicon carbide on both of the wheels or drums. The wheels are the drums right?
It was not on ebay. I am helping a 60 something year old quarry owner set up a lapidary studio in his garage. I have 5 other pieces of equipment to post pictures of to get some feed back for but I am not sure if that would be considered spaming this forum with my current lapidary troubles.
Thank you so much for the replies and the help. I honestly feel like I maybe in a little over my head.
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Asking questions and posting pictures of equipment you are asking about is not spamming the forum. Feel free to ask any questions and post pictures so our members can help answer your questions for you. :icon_sunny:
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Is there anouther arbor? So that one can be set up with a couple of hard wheels and one can be set up with expandable drums. There can be 6 to 10 steps in making a cab. Post picture of what you have and you will get pleanty of help
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Hi and welcome.
Dont be shy and post pictures of your other machines. If your are trying to set up a shop pictures of all machines would be very helpful. You may have a full shop worth of equiptment and just dont know it yet :grin:
We are here to help.
Bless
Shawn
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I was going to post pics of a bump wheel & an expando to show you the difference, but Photobucket is down again. I'll try tomorrow.
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Here is one of the wheels.
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Here is the other wheel.
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The motor
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I know I need to hook up the drip system. I will take a picture of the one I have in a couple minutes. To get this equipment ready to be used I need to solve the problem of how to replace to wheels. Do you guys think they need replacing? Also any tips on setting up a drip system are greatly appreciated.
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The drip system
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When replacing the expando drums is there anyway to just get new drums to add to this equipment? When i search expando drums it looks like I have to buy an entire new set up. What grits and size expando drums should I get?
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You can buy loose expando drums. The belts are sold separately. They come in grit sizes from around 90 grit up to 600 grit in silicon carbide. In diamond they go way up into the thousands grit sizes.
As stated earlier, if you're just getting started in lapidary, start out with the cheaper silicon carbide belts. Get at least 2 of each grit size. They will wear out in time.
When a 600 grit belt is worn out, don't throw it away. It'll still contain broken down grit & makes an excellent pre-polish belt.
I'll see if I can find links to expando drums & belts for you.
These are from Kingsley North. A reputable dealer that many of us buy from. You can access their complete catalog online, or they'll send you a hard copy catalog if you wish.
Expando's in 8" size. http://www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/product.php?id=99643&catID=115
6" size. http://www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/product.php?id=99642&catID=115
Sanding belts in 8" size. http://www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/product.php?id=46672&catID=814
Sanding belts in 6" size. http://www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/product.php?id=46670&catID=593
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YOU ROCK! Thank you so much! Any advise on reconnecting the drip system?
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Hi K
After looking at the pictures it looks to me that the wheel on the right side is a silicon carbide grinding wheel. If it was taken care of it might have a lot of life left in it.
The wheel on the left does look like an expando type but of an odd size. You probally well need to replace it unless your other machines have wheels on them also. If they do please show pictures. If not then an new expando would be the way to go. The first thing that you need to know is your shaft size. From the picts you have enough room for a 6 or 8 inch wheel. Width will probally deside.
Bless
Shawn
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There are many ways to do it, & I'm sure others will tell you their methods. For mine I have an old 2 gallon garden sprayer sitting on a shelf above my machines. I just fill it with water & let gravity do the rest. If I need a little extra water, I just give the sprayer a couple of pumps.
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Shawn: I am about to upload picture of the two other grinder/polishers I have. Using parts from one to make the other better is a great idea! Let me know what you think when I upload the pictures.
Jake: Thank you very much! Sounds simple enough!
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This wheel looks pretty worn.
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The entire grinder polisher. Not sure if its even worth salvaging.
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The motor. Has no belt.
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The other wheel.
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I also have this guy.
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Left wheel.
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Right wheel.
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OK
Now I see. Those machines are not junk so keep them. My thought is you want to get something up and running as quick/cheep as you can.
So I would work on the first machine if you have turned it on and it does run. If so then I think you need you need to work on making the left wheel a new and improved expando type wheel. As said before the sanding/polishing belts come in many grits and 1 wheel will get you to the point of final polish. Now do any of your machines look like polishers?
Bless
Shawn
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It doesn't look like I have a polisher at the moment. But the guy I am working for is bringing more equipment Sunday. Do you think I can use one of the wheels from one of the other machines to use as a new and improved expando wheel or do I need to buy a new one?
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That Poly arbor is one of the best ever made. Hold the belt away from the pulley & try spinning it. If it turns easy & without any grinding noises the bearings are still good. Do not, & I repeat, do not run that arbor under motor power until you have removed that chipped wheel. It will be out of balance & will probably fly apart under motor power. Can you say hand grenade right in front of you ?
The hoods on that arbor appear to be the narrow ones. Use that arbor for hard grinding wheels. The wider expando wheels won't fit inside of them. Poly also made wide hoods, but they're almost impossible to find now.
The other arbor appears to be a home built. If you can remove the cover over the bearings, post another pic of it. Many of the old timers used bronze bushing type arbors to build lapidary equipment. Not good. Those are only junk that will give nothing but problems.
The wheels however appear to be 6" expando's. Check them for cracking of the rubber parts. If no cracking, they're worth saving. The home made wide hoods are also worth saving.
Edit I just went back & took another look at your pics. Does the emblem on the front of that second arbor say Highland, or Highland Park ? If so, you have a fine arbor there. Sorry I didn't spot that earlier. See if there is a number on that tag. I have a Highland Park catalog from the 60's, & can find a pic of your arbor as it looked new.
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WOW! Jake, I had no idea the Poly arbor was one of the best ever made. I seriously wanted to toss it the second I saw it. It does turn easy so I figure the bearings are still good. I think it needs a new belt and motor? I will be sure to remove the chipped wheel asap. Do you have any links to hard grinding wheels? Should I post the width of the arbor hood since they are so narrow. That will make a difference in what hard grinding wheel to get.
It says Highland Park. I am about to post a picture of the serial number. The wheels look okay too me but I will post a close up as well.
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Highland Park Emblem
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Highland Park wheel
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Just as I suspected, it's a B-1. That's a keeper. In your first pics it looked like someone had modified it by cutting the mounting bracket off, but in your last pic the bracket appears to still be there. Mounted with the bracket bolted down it will take up to an 8" wheel.
The expando drum you pictured appears to still be in good condition. That appears to be a 6" drum. Measure across the drum just to be sure. It should be slightly less than 6" across when not running at speed. With a belt on, when you power it up, the slots in the sides of the drum will allow it to expand & hold the belt tightly.
A little trick I learned a long time ago. Go to your local drug store & buy a bottle of glycerine. If you coat all rubber parts of your drums with glycerine & let them sit overnight before wiping the wheel clean, you can greatly extend the life of those drums.
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Finally Photobucket is up & running again. Here's a pic of a bump wheel so you can compare it to the wheels you have. There are several different makes of bump wheels, but they all work the same way. Both ends of a sanding strip go through the slot in the wheel, & through a slotted shaft. On this wheel there is a locking nut & a screwdriver slot. By loosening the nut, a screwdriver can be used to tighten the sanding strip around the wheel. When tight, just tighten the nut to lock the strip in place.
(http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac274/jakesrocks/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/100E1887_zps376b0aa7.jpg) (http://s907.photobucket.com/user/jakesrocks/media/Missing%20agate/New%20Projects/100E1887_zps376b0aa7.jpg.html)
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Okay, so I do not think I have a bump wheel. Does that serve the same purpose of an expando drum? I have 3 expando drums. Could you summarize everything you think I need to get that star up and running. Should I replace its expando drum with the expando drums from the Highland Park model? The buy I am helping gets in town tomorrow and it would be good to have a list of things I need to get these things running.
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Hi KC
Big day to day. So to get the Star up and running. The wheel on the left does look like an expando. The pic show 5" that is an odd size. The other expandoes that you have are they of a different size? If they are of a standard 4" 6" or 8" and they will fit on the arbor then your in business. If not then you will probally have to rethink things. If you are lucky 1 of them will fit and when you get all of the supplies in you will have a bunch of belts that will fit.
Bless
Shawn
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The expando drum on the star does need replacing? I should replace it with one of the expando drums from the highland park model? If one of them fits I need to buy silicon carbide belts to fit the expando drum? What about the other wheel on the star? What needs to be done with that side?
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Hi KC
The wheel on the right from the pictures looks to be OK so at the moment dont worry about it. Yes the expando does look to be an odd size. if the expandos from the HP are standard size 4"6" or 8" and will fit then you have a head start in getting something working ASAP. If 1 of them does fit then if in the other supplies your are getting have no belts then I would say you will need to find some belts.
I hope this helps
Bless
Shawn
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This is your Highland Park arbor as it appeared in their 1969 catalog. It would have cost $33.00 back then. You'd be very lucky to find one for $100.00 now.
(http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac274/jakesrocks/Missing%20agate/000E2518_zpsfiuqnreu.jpg) (http://s907.photobucket.com/user/jakesrocks/media/Missing%20agate/000E2518_zpsfiuqnreu.jpg.html)
My advice would be to check the bearings on both arbors. Just spin them by hand & see which is the quietest. The HP would be my choice, but Star made good equipment too.
Whichever you decide to use, be sure to run one of the cupped washers on each side of your expando drum to keep the drum from wobbling.
My guess is that the H.P. has a 3/4" arbor shaft. I'm not sure of the size on the Star. If your friend has room for them, I'd use both arbors. Run a course & a fine grinding wheel on the Star, and leave the expandos on the H.P. It would be a more efficient setup with less belt changes needed.
Check any new equipment that you get. The pans & hoods for the H.P. arbor might be among them. If so, and if they're also H.P., you have some rare treasures.
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For your reference, this is what the complete B-1 setup would have looked like. Watch for these hoods in the other equipment you'll be getting. Please post pics of the other equipment as it arrives. We'll help you sort it out.
(http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac274/jakesrocks/Missing%20agate/000E2527_zpsjvwydffg.jpg) (http://s907.photobucket.com/user/jakesrocks/media/Missing%20agate/000E2527_zpsjvwydffg.jpg.html)
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Since you seem to be new to lapidary equipment there's 1 very important thing to point out. Facing the front of your arbor the left end will have left handed threads, & the right end will have right handed threads. To take the nuts off for removing wheels this is important to remember.