My Odd Selection of Lapidary Machines

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

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[@Mike-br8vb]

Why yes, yes I did find it informative. Inspiring as well!

[@largent45]

Thank you so much for choosing Cliff's idea and answering his questions.it is amazing how fast we outgrow our beginning tools in this field. For me, I'm still trying to grow into it! A flat lap is about the only polishing machine that I can see being able to work on with one hand. And trying to be able to afford a cab machine when it's just a part time hobby is just not reasonable. I just want to be able to put a face polish on some of my rocks either that I've found, bought, or were given to me. I'm not doing this to make money or anything like that. So a flat lap is about as much as I can justify spending on this. And I do want a carpet wheel as well to put on that mirror shine finish. I know that the flat lap only goes up to a 3000 grit finish and it's not nearly as good of a shine as I would like to get on my projects. But for me to build it myself isn't going to happen so I'm going to have to wait until my partner can get here to help me! You are so good with machines and have done so much for the string budget lapidary, is there any other reasonably priced machine that can polish rocks, just a flat face polish, that is more affordable than a flat lap? Well thanks Jared, it was very informative, hanging out in the shop as always! ❤

[@charlenecastaldo3602]

I enjoy how much you enjoy everything about Rockhounding, your creativity, hard work, and how you build or refurnish what you need. You are amazing! Thanks for sharing. Now go get warm.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you for the very kind comment.

[@Muxoll-Rocks]

my work shop is also really cold, i put fairly hhot water in my kingsley north cabber 8 and my 10 inch slab-saw from hi-tech, that lets me work a couple of hours in the winter time, before my hands give out. nice video :)

[@MrChubbyHubby.]

Great shop tour Currently Rockhounding, and until you get some heat that looks like a good set up, 35 degrees and water don't mix! Thank you for showing us your set up.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

That is with heat! :) I just need a better shop, someday that will happen.

[@miles11we]

Im sure the same is true with the lapidary peeps but i feel like the diy telescope guys would be a great resource to you. They figure out how to make a near perfect ground lense/mirror with nothing but a hunk of tar and weasle teeth. In case you never looked into the machines and processes theyve come up with.

[@babysweet7311]

Im with you on the flat lap size, I built my own lap with 5 inch pads and the moment I was done building it I thought "huh time to make a bigger one". I want to polish everything!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

The working size is important, and most of time people want to go bigger and not smaller.

[@1erinjames]

Been very interested in this subject. Thank you for sharing your experience and ups and downs of several lap options!! Because it's helpful to hear all of that.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I'm glad you liked it.

[@BillyBoulder]

I enjoyed this very much. I too work larger flat items, what you referred to as medium size. Just saw Highland Parks video on their new instarsia machine, and saw your comments 😊. Not sure I’ll be able to justify the $$$ for such a specialized machine but it sure looks sweet. Love their attention to precise detail. Back to your equipment…. The RR polisher is to dusty for me, have you heard of one adapted to water? Maybe a DIY build.

[@cliffmiller1021]

That was way helpful. I have a few machines types I had been looking at and this helps me greatly on narrowing down the direction I should go. Now that my shed is safely wired, I can spend some time on fixing up the Reytech Gem Lab Cabber. It has room to be effective, maybe not pretty... Buffing wheel is totally next on the list for acquisitions. Final direction, making rocks shiny for the wife.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@VersaiOnline]

Cold water on the hands would definitely be a hindrance. Have you considered a water heater? Even just a "bucket heater", meant to keep water from freezing, and a 3gal bucket would probably keep you going all day.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I have not really looked into that but I will now, thank you!

[@hilaryb8807]

That’s exactly my frustration- I want to be able to polish larger specimens, but end up with doming and hitting the sides of the wheels when I use the arbors at my lapidary club.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

The lapidary world has really been focused on jewelry which isn't something I'm super into and it does make up the majority of the machine market unfortunately.

[@sandmaker]

A perfect assortment of tools that fit what your need is. Thanks for sharing.

[@DanFarrar]

Perfect dedicated work space. Suitable for SNS episodes too!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

It's not the best shop, but it is my shop!

[@DanFarrar]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding well I appreciate you sharing it with us.

[@stevenjohann5435]

great breakdown, thanks............................i do so much small/tiny work, the hitech 8" flat lap and lil 6" saw do most of what i need, but certainly hit their upper size limits really quick......do they sell garnet grit belts for your wide wheels, might be cheaper than diamond.............many props

[@ocklawahaboyrocks]

That is a nice belt sander. That's my list of someday items. Setting up my little one to be usable will be as big a project as that arbor build of yours.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I love the arbor and the 8x3" drum is pretty nice to work on.

[@Ma_Deuce_338]

The belt backing plate for the HP is available now. I picked on up 2 weeks ago. Bolts on… problem solved

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Oh it took me a little bit to find it on there but now I see it. They don't show any photos of how it's attached on the product page. I would love it if you would be willing to send me a photo of your machine with it on it. [e-mail]

[@geoffjohnson6555]

Man, this was an excellent video. thanks for for time in putting it together. I've got a couple things I've built this year, but now I'm dealing with my first winter, and the cold water is a KILLER, hahha. I polished some banded calcite from Nephi, UT the other day for Christmas presents, and I still don't think the feeling has fully returned to my fingers, lol. Gotta start thinking of some of these options perhaps

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Hahaha that cold cold water has a way of getting to you, even in a warmer shop.

[@gator83261]

Sounds like you may want a Buddy Heater or something like that for the shop.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I have diesel heater but its like trying to fill a pool with pint glass when its really cold. Yeah it can be done, but it will take forever.

[@Ontario_Rockhound]

Great video, love the tour of your equipment!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you! I'm pretty happy with it. All that's missing is a warmer climate!

[@cliff4093]

Thanks for the overview, I really enjoyed it!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@joniangelsrreal6262]

👁👁 Always a pleasure

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@princessadventures1285]

I'm glad I watched this I have a like new Lortone arbor like this one that I plan on building something with. I thought about putting it upside down like the Lortone Maxpro 8 but not really a must lol. You know some of the best cabbers in the world just use a lot of 2 wheel poly arbors but you need space as they have a lot of them.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

The space that you get with a two wheel machine is just unmatched and well worth the investment.

[@mray8519]

I also have a Highland Park wet belt sander. I bought it in complete ignorance, the design ignores basic lapidary process you pointed out with the lack of speed control. I’ve fabricated splash guards and am changing the motor out to a VFD drive.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I would love to chat with you via email about the VFD, its something I have looked into but have not found a VFD that works with a 120v single phase motor.

[@danielkarczewski2467]

Great content. Now you need to do a video on all your rock saws LOL eh..

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

That will be in the works.

[@TerrellHaygood]

I have recently purchased a vintage lapidary saw, can't find anything on it , has a big weight on pulies , looks like it would take a 20 inch blade or larger , the arbor is 1-1/8 odd size

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

It's always a possibility that it is a homemade saw.

[@buckyes6749]

Carpet must be the way to go. All the old timers used carpet or leather.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I have done a bunch of testing with this and I really think its the go to material for that final buff.

[@qwerty3663]

What do you think about adding a VFD to the WBS so that you have variable speed for both sides?

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

That would 100% make it better but a VFD and new 3phase motor for it does add up

[@shaneriddle9950]

I want to grind and polish slabs, with water. I would love to have a machine that could start me with cabs. Do you think the HP wet belt sander would do that? I'll do small thundereggs up to as large as slab as I can fit. I have a countertop wet polisher for even larger slabs as well. Thank you!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I have a video up on that machine which you might find helpful, I would say as it comes out of the box it's not great, but with some modifications it can be.

[@johnmorrison4224]

I see a diesel heater in the background, too small?

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

It does work well, but it doesn't warm up the space super well due to a lack of insulation.

[@woodman4550]

My flat lap is 36 inches , polishers is also 36 inch diameter. Go big or go home!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I would love to see that! You don't happen to live in the Pacific Northwest by chance do you?

[@woodman4550]

I live west of Portland off of highway 26. @@CurrentlyRockhounding

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

@@woodman4550 I'm not sure if you have any interest in this but I would love to show your cutting and polishing system on video if you're open to the concept. I have watched your videos on it and it is impressive!

[@woodman4550]

My shop is a pretty y sad state of affair. DOn't think it would make a very good video for your channel. If you would lie to take a look at the machines, we could do that! @@CurrentlyRockhounding

[@MrChubbyHubby.]

First! Woot!! Woot!!!