Lapidaryforum.net
Gadgets, Gizmos, and Dohickeys => Cutting, Grinding, Polishing => Topic started by: lithicbeads on October 03, 2020, 11:16:38 AM
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Looking to purchase a new 18 inch blade. MK 301 or 303 ? Which is better for non jade rocks?
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I had a similar quandry and ended up buying both. The segmented 303 is a wider kerf and chews up more rock per cut but is a workhorse; I use it for all my sphere preforms. I have the continuous rim 301 on a second 18-inch saw and use it for softer or more valuable materials if I want to limit waste. The 301 is a bit thinner so entails more precision in cutting. Either cuts agate well, if you are cutting a lot of agate/jaspers, my recommendation is the 303.
Interested in other's opinions on this as well.
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Really like the 18" 301 we got a few months ago. Cut much more smoothly than I thought it might, and has chewed through all types of stone very easily.
One plus of segmented blades, though, is they're easier to fix if a chip wedges in the cut. I've straightend a single segment on a couple of the 10" Hot Dog blades I use for hand-slabbing after I've bound them up somehow.
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Exact same thoughts as Ryaly2dogs The segmented is like an old Toyota, dependable and nice to have the thinner kerf on more expensive or rare material. I only have 1 18" saw so I keep the 303 on it. Fortunately most of the later fits my 12" that is my go to saw. One of the days I will have the time to fire up the 24" I got 14 years ago and have never used lol. My garage shop is just too small to put it in, new shop in the future, can't wait.
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Thanks for your help.
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The rim on my 301 measures .090". Don't have a 303, so can't give you that one.
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The blade is a gift or someone who lives in the boondocks in Canada. They collect extremely unusual rocks which I enjoy buying .I got the 303s as it seems the most robust and the rough is self collected so not especially expensive. The fact that a segment may be adjusted if bent was a selling point also.Thanks.