I rented a tile saw and went on a rock cutting marathon! - Rockhounding Results

[@CatahoulaLeopardDog]

The slabs you are showing at 16:04 through 16:14 with the "very unique pattern inside" are fossilized sponges. Nice finds and great video!

[@OzoneFineArtVentures]

Great video on how folks that don't have a saw can get their cut on! Very cool. Looking forward to some killer cabs out of that batch. Thanks for sharing.

[@RocksForBrains]

Thanks! Just posted the cabbing one. 😁👍🏻

[@RM-vw3ov]

Good idea renting the tile saw!

[@richardland5563]

Thank you . It’s interesting seeing you do things with the rocks as well I have to say I tend to collect the squirrel away.

[@1sec2midnight]

Collecting the squirrel away, I'm thinking that means you collect a lot. Nice way to put it.

[@RocksForBrains]

Lol it was probably supposed to say ‘collect to squirrel away’. I have both a specimen collection and a ‘make something with’ supply. ☺️

[@coreymerrill3257]

Harbor freight has tile saws for not much more ,to own . I mean most people already know what to expect from them and it won't last for decades but it can helpful for short term .

[@coreymerrill3257]

@Rocksforbrains , lapidary Dave is the channel where I learned that they are good for lapidary work . He cut one in half to make a flat lap because I'm his words " it spins truer( flatter) than the dedicated lapidary machines" . Just to let you know ,there is a basis besides cost savings to my statement . And I learned diamond pacific makes 2 and 5/8ths and 4 inch soft wheels that can go onto the 3 inch grinders sold everywhere! I have been looking for ways to cut, rough shape( preform) and polish sapphires and precious Aussie opal.

[@1sec2midnight]

That's a lot of cutting. Some pretty nice material there. That is a pretty good idea to rent a saw for a day to give you a better idea what saw you want. You probably have a good idea what trim saw you want so I know you don't need help deciding. I had to have a saw ASAP. I bought the Hi-Tech 6" trim saw and don't regret it one bit, it was a game changer for me. It does just about everything I need with a few exceptions when I get bigger rocks. There is definitely a learning curve when it comes to cutting rocks, what blade to use, how hard to push the rock into the blade, and determining exactly what rock really needs to be cut, because those blades don't last long when cutting the really hard stuff. But like I said, it has opened up a whole new realm with the rocks for me. I have gone through a few different types of blades and just recently I have finally determined the one blade that works best for me, the MK 301. I bought 20 lbs. of Moroccan agates from someone on the RTH forum and let me tell you they were super hard and it took forever to get through one. It would have been an excellent idea to rent that tile saw for them. One or two were worth cutting, but the others were just plain white solid Chalcedony. I trim a lot of rocks especially after going to a fee to dig mine or I find a huge amount somewhere. The Hi-Tech does great, but I have had to send it to the company for repairs once because it just stopped working. They replaced the speed control and sent it back with free shipping. I think I'm pretty hard on it. Thanks for posting the nice video. You will have some very nice cabs. I need a flat lap, it too will be a game changer. Take care. One more thing, if you are leaning towards the Hi-Tech 6" trim saw and you are thinking of getting it with the vice to hold your rocks, I can sell you the vice for very very cheap. It cost me $100, I will give it to you, and I'll pay for shipping, if that is the saw you are thinking about. I never use the vice, and I don't like the vice at all.

[@RocksForBrains]

Thanks for the advice! I am looking to get the Hi-tech 10” slab saw so I can both cut large rocks into slabs and rough out cabs from those cuts. The vices probably are not the same size are they?

[@mitchgillilan]

Good info thanks! Im going to get the same saw you have, sounds like it is a good one. What size material can you cut up to with the 6" ? like 2.5" thick? or just really thin stuff like slab trimming?

[@1sec2midnight]

@@mitchgillilan I am by no means an expert at using a trim saw or anything lapidary related. It's a great saw. It's light, pretty quiet, and not much spray. You're not supposed to cut rocks larger than about 2" as that is about the max height of the blade, but with a little maneuvering you can do it. I sometimes cut big rocks in half to see what is inside, it just takes a while. I think the hardest thing I cut was the Moroccan agate which was about 3"x3" and very dense and hard. I cut 1/4" slabs and I eventually cut it in half to see what was in the middle, so it can cut some thick stuff. I mostly cut agates, petrified wood, and jasper, the big three. There is a blade called the Agate Kutter which I bought and used. Later I found out it is not supposed to be used on this trim saw, so save yourself some money by not buying that blade. I also noticed that it did not last very long either when I did use them. I use the heck out of this saw.

[@mitchgillilan]

@@1sec2midnight thanks! Appreciate all the info!

[@1sec2midnight]

@@RocksForBrains nope, not the same. Are my comments okay with you? I did not want to write a review or anything like that.

[@rodneykoenig503]

To find out which one of the geode are hallow, put them in a bucket of water.... if float..... they’re hallow. You’re losing a lot of the water on the right side and back of the tile saw. Cut up a milk jug about 3 inches wide. Then tuck it down between the tabletop and the bottom well. And I have plans where you can build your own 10 inch slab saw for less than $150. I build all of my lapidary equipment. It’s way too expensive to buy from a dealer and used equipment.

[@RocksForBrains]

Thanks I’ll try that! 😁

[@andrewp.schubert2417]

Good job cutting all those rocks. I'd like to try that some day.

[@RocksForBrains]

You should! It was a lot easier than I thought it would be.

[@Rose-eg4yc]

Awesome to see thank you i subbed and likes

[@puliendopiedrasdecostarica]

Beautiful stones for cabs

[@JeanStAubin-nl9uo]

This looks like a lot of fun. Do you make jewelry out of these? What was inside that perfectly round stone at 13:53? Thanks Lauren

[@RocksForBrains]

Nothin, it was just solid. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@janicerc4906]

How do you decide where to cut, (especially the geodes)? I'd be nervous for my fingers the entire time 😯

[@RocksForBrains]

For the slabs I look at a few things, what area has the least amount of flaws (cracks etc.), and what looks nice aesthetically. These geodes often have a natural groove in the center so I was using that as a guide, otherwise you just cut them in half somewhere. This type of saw blade isn’t like a wood saw with teeth, it’s more like a diamond grinding surface so it can’t hurt you as easily. ☺️

[@shasernst74]

Which blade did you use? I like the idea of water cooled vs. oil.

[@RocksForBrains]

Oh I don’t know what kind of blade it was. It just came with one. 😋

[@sfbfriend]

Did you eventually get a trim saw?

[@RocksForBrains]

Not yet, still saving up. 😊

[@clintnagel1668]

See if be interested in Rock Swap I done Swaps Old Guy Adventures He did a video of our Swap ,Geo Rock Nerd, Kentucky Rockhound ,Rock and Road Rockhounding did video of our Swap

[@RocksForBrains]

That would be cool! Email me at [e-mail]