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Gadgets, Gizmos, and Dohickeys => What Equipment to Buy and Where to Get it. => Topic started by: fissionchips on August 22, 2020, 10:34:16 AM
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Hi all, first post here on the forums, glad to be here!
I'm looking for feedback on a used combination machine similar to this model ( https://kingsleynorth.com/covington-6-silicon-carbide-combination-unit.html
(https://kingsleynorth.com/covington-6-silicon-carbide-combination-unit.html) ) but from Star Diamond. It has a 6" saw, two carbide wheels and a faceplate but no drum. My only other kit right now is a small Lortone tumbler. Does this seem like a reasonable unit to get into as a hobbyist rockhounder who wants to display cut pieces but not particularly aim for sale quality?
I assume any type of face plate polishing requires multiple pads to change between grits.
Is a sliding clamp for the saw a useful feature? Some saws come with these and some do not. I could see adding a DIY slide unless freehand cutting can produce reasonably flat slices without heavy saw marks.
Thanks for any input!
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I would check out the all diamond machines at kingley north.
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Welcome to the forum!
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Hi lithicbeads - good suggestion, I'm sure the diamond wheels have advantages however I'm looking at an older carbide wheel unit.
I'm aiming for entry level, so to clarify this unit I'm considering is a used model for ~$350usd. I see the a carbide unit at $1100 and the diamond at $1700 on Kingsley.
Stonemon, thanks for the welcome!
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Here's a photo attachment of the machine in question.
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Looks like a sturdy unit and for a reasonable price providing the motor works. I'd probably change out the end plate and replace with an expando wheel. You have lots of options using various grit sanding belts and may find you have less damage to your pieces (chip out at the edge) using wet sanding belts. The older wheels work, that what I started on.
And welcome !
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Welcome!
Your question about slabbing is a good one. If you tap a couple of holes in the saw table (inside the reservoir area) for 1/4-20 bolts, you can slot a piece of sheet metal angle to make a fence.
With a fence set up you can just slap the rock up against the fence and get slabs with consistent thicknesses. Learning how to avoid rotating the rock relative to the plane of the blade takes a little practice, but it's a skill worth developing.
Once you're comfortable with hand-slabbing you will be able to slice up oddly shaped rough chunks more easily than with a vise.
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Kent, I'll experiment with face plate pads and then see if a rubber drum wheel would be more useful. It's nice to know there are options.
Vince - I like the idea of an angle fence. It speaks to the woodworker in me and seems practical so long as the piece has good registration on the table as well. I'm sure there are plenty of tricks to getting a 3d object not to wobble while slicing.
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Main trick in hand-slabbing is to keep fingers and wrists in same position through the entire cut.
There are small vises out there that slide along the side rim of the table. I made a sheet-metal skinned wood block for mine so I don't have to reset the wing-nut type crossfeed each time. Clamp the block in the vise and get repeatable thickness slabs.