Hello List Members, I experimented with a Dremel a few years ago and I was very dissatisfied with the results. You can't cool the blade, it vibrated heavily, the kerf was too wide and the blade was too small, etc...
Hi-tech products makes nice, inexpensive lapidary trim saws. I have used both the 4/5 inch and 6 inch models (with 5/8 inch arbor - Bob's right, watch that arbor size) shown here, and I am very happy with the results: http://www.hitechdiamond.com/saws_buffers.htm What I would really be interested in is the methods that others use to polish stone slices. I seem to go through polishing pads fairly quickly. -Walter ------------------------------------------ www.branchmeteorites.com Walter Branch, Ph.D. Branch Meteorites PO Box 60492 Savannah, GA 31420 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Verish" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2003 2:10 AM Subject: [meteorite-list] Cutting meteorites (was, "Hey, I am an idiot for grinding!!!!! ") > Lest any of the newbies to our List think that we all > cut our stony meteorites with tile saws or Dremels, > allow me to remind you what this thread was about > originally - how to cut small meteorites if you are on > a very limited budget, or if you don't live near a > rockhound with a rock shop. > > Those that cut meteorites regularly find that the best > saw is the one with the thinnest blade (coupled with a > very secure vise). > > Those of us who are rockhounds would tell you that a > "lapidary trim saw" would be the best way to go. > > A common "lap trim saw", that could cut even very > small stones, would be a "6-inch saw". Nearly every > lapidary/rock shop has one of these. Most come with a > vice that will hold a stone very securely. > > Those "6-inch trim saws" with motors that are higher > than 1700rpm can take the THINNEST 6" blade that can > be used to cut a stone meteorite. It is the 0.006" > diamond blade from Pro-Slicer. > > Here is what one looks like: > > <http://www.geocities.com/bolidechaser/eB/misc/proslice.jpg> > > This kind of blade has what is called, a 0.009" kerf - > which means that is how wide the cut zone will be. > Which is usually less cut loss than what a typical > grind job would produce. That's why I don't bother > ginding my finds. I reduce total cut loss and I get a > better window by cutting with my diamond blade, > anyway. > > I always keep a couple of spare Pro-Slicer blades, so > if you want to try one of these ultra-thin blades, AND > if you have a 6-inch saw WITH a 1/2" arbor, I could > mail one to you (for my original cost plus postage). > I paid $29.50 for each of mine. > > Some saws come with a 5/8" arbor!! I only have one > spare blade left with this size hole, so double-check > your saws "arbor-size" before contacting me. > > Bob V. > > ********************************* > Robert Verish > Principal Field Investigator > Meteorite-Recovery Lab > P.O. Box 237 > Sunland, CA > USA 91041 > > E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > website: > http://www.meteoritetimes.com/index_of_articles/Bob's_Findings_Index.htm > Phone: (626) 584-7653 > Cell: (818) 599-5071 > Fax: (626) 584-4590 > ********************************* > > ------------- Original Message ------------ > > [meteorite-list] Hey, I am an idiot!!!!! > +++++++ message truncated +++++++ > > > > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard > http://antispam.yahoo.com/whatsnewfree > > ______________________________________________ > Meteorite-list mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
