Thread: I Found It Over There

you could always build one Rezdog.

Or even better build a power hacksaw.

The power hacksaw is an arcane outdated and very simple tool. A motor drives a cam that pushes the blade forwards and backwards and the whole assembly is on a restricted dropping mechanism. You have a vice to hold the rock, and the whole unit can be immersed since all the drive is done on a belt and pulley system. You could almost scrap one together, provided you had a motor and a welder. As for the blades you just use the tungsten carbide 300mm ones and steal the puller from a hand hacksaw.

http://www.mhhe.com/engcs/mech/norto...er_hacksaw.htm

The blades are certainly cheap enough. I think I could probably put something together for sure. One of the draw backs to living in isolation is that the simplest of supplies are tough to find. I did give this a we bit of contemplation already. The part that leaves me wondering is the effectiveness of the blades on hard slate. In most of the city centers there are stores that cater to backyard inventors, in Canada the leader on that is called Princess Auto. I think that at this point I am going to buy, but the build is certainly a more romantic thought. The power hacksaw is a very good idea though.

I think I'm a breed of my own Rezdog. While tools are easy to get here I still have things that make people look twice!

I did some brazing last week for a friend. He was confused by the lack of gas bottles, And then outright horrified when I got a stick welder out. Then I think he had kittens when I pulled out one of these!



Needless to say I'm a tightass! But it worked!

I have seen those in videos before. I can weld and braze with both gas and electric. At this point I am choosing not to. I have a limit to the amount of "stuff" that I am allowed to keep in the yard. I wish I had a large plot of land and a big barn to hide my treasures behind, but space is limited and I have to share it with my wife, so I have concessions. I am with you though, the principles are simple, and inventing is a lot of fun. I think maybe I might want to come over and play with your toys some time.

I don't have massive amounts of space, But I do have my own shed, It's only 12x8 but it's dry, has lights and power, And plenty of space provided the motorbikes go in the garden. The bikes aren't a problem though as one is hers

A welder is an essential item for me, I toyed with Mig's but found them to be needy in parts and upkeep. An MMA is probably the most versatile tool you can have if you know how to manipulate it, And the worst thing that can happen to them is the rods get damp and you have to buy more... Not like the Mig, The one I had just wouldn't store well. I'd have to get a new spool if it got left standing for a few months, The gas would die at the most inopportune times, and the one time you had something critical to weld the liner or tips would mess up. I would have a gas kit in a heartbeat, but bottles of gas get far too expensive when your only using enough to need small ones.

The sorting of rocks is firmly on hold for me as well. I've got her bike stripped, And it having a full respray, rebuild, and a lot of new parts. As well as a full electrics overhaul. Should be nice when it's done. Then I can get back to the CF. I have plans to adjust my own tools over summer in regards to cutting rocks, And I think I may well end up looking at some form of power hacksaw to reduce some of the facing time. How exactly I go about the construction will depend on what I have to hand at the time, I can't see a rotary cutting system that can compete for depth other than building my own wet saw using 12" cutting blades on a home made table. And I can't see that option been safe.

Originally Posted by Iceni

you could always build one Rezdog.

Or even better build a power hacksaw.

The power hacksaw is an arcane outdated and very simple tool. A motor drives a cam that pushes the blade forwards and backwards and the whole assembly is on a restricted dropping mechanism. You have a vice to hold the rock, and the whole unit can be immersed since all the drive is done on a belt and pulley system. You could almost scrap one together, provided you had a motor and a welder. As for the blades you just use the tungsten carbide 300mm ones and steal the puller from a hand hacksaw.

http://www.mhhe.com/engcs/mech/norto...er_hacksaw.htm

a contraption like this could be easily modified to make it lap your rocks, right? instead of moving the hacksaw it should move the holder in which you've clamped your rock, DMT plate underneat and let it do it's magic :P

I am the OP for this thread and realized that I have never posted past that first post. This is a fun thread for me never the less...so carry on lads!

Originally Posted by Bram

a contraption like this could be easily modified to make it lap your rocks, right? instead of moving the hacksaw it should move the holder in which you've clamped your rock, DMT plate underneat and let it do it's magic :P

For lapping purposes all you really need is a turning wheel. I think you could modify a potters wheel to work. A large surface with grit and water turning slowly. If you watch the Adrenes videos they show one in it. Commercially there are vibrating laps available, those too should not be a big challenge if you had a good supply of tools and access to construction materials. I however live 100 miles past the edge of the earth. I would like to see someone else do it though.

Gents you may find useful basic information on DIY lapidary tools at Kreigh's Homemade Lapidary Equipment. About half way down the page the useful sections start; Make Your Own Rock Saw, reciprocating wire saw, Some Thoughts On Horizontal Laps.

A google search for diy rock saw will lead to inspiration. For really big rocks search for drop saws, diameter up to 60". For moderate sized rocks a slab saw will do very well, blade diameter 10" - 24". If you are going to flatten a lot of stones a vibrating lap would allow you to set it and walk away for hours at a time.

Keep having fun with your rocks.
Jonathan