Mastering the Lapidary Trim Saw: Beginner's Guide to Rock Cutting!

[@CacklingChick]

Ready to cut rocks like a pro? Check out my saw and other lapidary tools here: hitechdiamond.com/?aff=179. Use code CACKLINGCHICK for 10% off-because even rocks deserve a good deal! 😁🪨🔨

[@menden01]

I think I love you! LOL - you are awsome, info is awsome! Rock on Rock Lady! keep it coming - good stuff

[@CacklingChick]

Howdy!! 👋🏼 I'm glad you're digging the info. and I didn't scare you away! 😂 ROCK ON!! 😁👍🏻🪨⛏️

[@angel-angel-angel-angel-angel]

Love the royalty free music 😂

[@CacklingChick]

Howdy! 👋🏼 Umm... ok... thanks? 🧐

[@davidcudlip6587]

I plan on getting this 6" model shortly. It seems like a good saw for the price.

[@CacklingChick]

Hey, that's great! I like mine! Keep me posted, as I'm curious what you think once you get it. SLAB ON!! 😁👍🏻🪨🪚

[@WarszawaScream]

I know I already commented and said I love your energy once before, but oh my god I love your energy so much - I cannot stop smiling and laughing through your vids! That aside, thanks for this video - hubs got me a wet tile saw for my birthday and I can’t wait to start cutting rocks, so I’m checking out a bunch of “how to” videos first!

[@CacklingChick]

I REALLY appreciate your feedback!!! It's not always easy to appear excited while recording AND playing with rocks. Safety first!! Haha! I love that you're researching before cutting your beautiful rocks! @agatedad is also a great resource to learn how to cut rocks! You're so lucky your husband bought you a tile saw. WOW! Did you fire it up yet?

[@WarszawaScream]

@@CacklingChick I finally got to play with the tile saw and OH IT’S SO MUCH FUN AAAA I love opening up those Ugly Duckling rocks and finding gorgeous colors inside! Practiced cutting a few small slabs too, once I finally touched the blade and realized “oh, this isn’t going to cut me at all” I was able to cut some really decent ones! I dulled the first blade after four straight hours of cutting, think I need to slow myself down a bit; thankfully it’s just the edge, just gotta peen it! Now I need to practice hand polishing, because I know my husband is NOT gonna buy me a Cab King. ……..yet. 😂🧡

[@CacklingChick]

OMG, thank you for the update!! I was wondering how you were doing with your tile saw!! Yes, it is FUN to see what's inside! EEEEEE!!! I can totally relate with being intimidated by the blade, but just going for it made all the difference. How do you plan on polishing by hand? Sandpaper or some other method?

[@WarszawaScream]

@@CacklingChick sooooo I got myself a $10 Harbor Freight angle grinder and diamond polishing pads for it that go from 50 grit up to 3000, I’m gonna give her a test run on some of the slabs I cut tomorrow! (There’s an Australian gent, I believe he goes by Rookie Rockhound here - I watched him do it and was like WAIT I CAN ACTUALLY TRY THIS FOR CHEAP!) Fingers crossed for me! I know the local gem and mineral society also has a whole workshop I can use, but I like to try the at-home methods first! 😂

[@CacklingChick]

Oooooh, smart!! Ha, I watched Rookie Rockhound's video on that, too! I love his videos as he's very relatable when it comes to messing with rocks. That's sooo cool you have that super inexpensive grinder and polisher. I'd love to hear if it works well for you and how the rocks turn out. HAVE FUN!! 😁👍🏻🪨⛏️

[@Ohiogrown11]

Great video! Informative and fun!!🎉🎉🎉 Good job of adding the info about the rpm's as well. You're the first person I've seen include that.

[@CacklingChick]

WOW, thank you so much!! I'm glad you enjoyed the video, and it's helpful. I had a BLAST being goofy and trying to explain from a newbie's perspective, which is also me! Also, I got the RMP tip from Jared @currentlyrockhounding and totally forgot to mention that. 😳 Check out his channel as it's awesome! ROCK ON!! 😃👍🏻🪨⛏️

[@RockhoundTalkLIVE]

Love your energy! Great video!!⛏️

[@CacklingChick]

Thank you so much! Glad I didn't scare you off with my excitement. Haha! ROCK ON!! 😁👍🏻🪨⛏️

[@RockhoundTalkLIVE]

@@CacklingChick Are you kidding me!? No way! You’re my kind of people. I just got done telling my cohost that we need to have you on our show next season. Your energy is fire!🔥

[@CacklingChick]

Wow, I really appreciate the feedback!! Thanks again! That would be so cool to participate in your show! I just checked out your channel. Love the positive community you're growing! ROCK ON!! 😁👍🏻🪨⛏️

[@jimedgar6789]

I love this video! I love your reactions, too. Cause for most of us, that piece of sandstone is even cool! I am buying one of these this very day. That polisher a bit out of my budget now, but I have seen some pretty good DIY polishing videos using standard power tools. Thanks! I will use your code for my accessories.

[@CacklingChick]

You literally made my day, no WEEK, as I sometimes feel like I'm scaring people off wth my goofy personality. Thank you so much for the feedback, as it means more to me than you'll ever know!! I literally do these videos to help others as I was looking for the same info.! What are you buying? Do tell? I'm excited for you and think you'll love whatever you get. Thank you so much, and yes, even sandstone can be cool!! ROCK ON!! 😁👍🏻🪨⛏️ P.S. You eminded me I need to get a blade to cut my geodes and thundereggs from Hauser geode beds!!

[@jimedgar6789]

@@CacklingChick I bought the HiTech 6" saw. I tried your code but I guess it is not good for the BIG purchase. I am going on a road trip to the eclipse and stopping in Dugway on the way back. Do I need a different blade for geodes, than the ones that come with the saw? Hey, seeing people excited about this stuff means more to me! Your personality is what makes people excited also.

[@CacklingChick]

Congratulations!! I'm excited for you!! Yes, there's a different blade for geodes. You'll see it in the instruction manual when you get it! Woo hoo!!

[@CacklingChick]

Yes, my discount code is good for 10% off accessories. Keep me pisted on your trim saw if you think of it. I love mine!

[@jimedgar6789]

Wowee wowee! My HiTach 6" saw arrived yesterday. Because I am working from home, I found time to put it together outside in 29 degrees in the snow. I pulled out my bucket of the rocks I got from Snoqualmie River and had freaking amazing results. Yeah, the rocks were not so awesome on the outside, but the cuts were so smooth and revealing I almost did not go back to work. The saw is so smooth and seamless to use. I called HiTech to let them know how impressed I was. Had a problem with the vise tho. The rod would not fit into the vise mechanism. Had to sand it down to get it to work. Interesting thing... the "red" blade was not RED, but steely, though it had RED BLADE printed on it. HAH! Thanks for the review!

[@cherylj7460]

What about the super dense, dark gray river rocks. Have you ever cut them? Can they be cut with this machine?

[@CacklingChick]

Howdy, Cheryl! There are different blades that can be used depending on the type of rock. I haven't cut river rocks, though, as they're pretty plain. Perhaps I should try!

[@estycki]

Haha you seem fun! Great video!

[@CacklingChick]

Thank you so much! I had fun being goofy while making this video. ROCK ON! 😃👍🏻🪨⛏️

[@catherinemartina6469]

can you use this to cut ceramic, porcelain?

[@CacklingChick]

Howdy, Catherine! 👋🏼 Yes, Hi-Tech Diamond saws can be used to cut ceramic and porcelain, as long as the correct blade is installed. These saws are designed for precision cutting of various materials, including stones, glass and ceramics. If you're not cutting stones, you might consider a tile saw, which might be a cheaper option. I hope this helps! 😁👍🏻🪨⛏️

[@santhapadmalal9277]

Great video Thank you sharing.

[@CacklingChick]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Do you collect rocks? 😃

[@jimedgar6789]

Bummer news on my HiTech 6". Worked like a charm. After several hours of cutting over a few days, the motor would come up to speed and then slow down and speed up again of its own accord. NO bueno. I called them and sent it back. Awaiting its return. I bought some accessories also with your code :D Another thing: the vise attachment was problematic. The guide bar would NOT go through the vise plate. I called HiTech and they said to sand the damned bar down. Easier said than done. So I used a Dremel and sanded the insides of the plastic collars on the vise plate. Eventually it worked! So we will see. But wow, the cuts it makes are smoooooooth.

[@CacklingChick]

Wow, that's crazy you had all those issues! I hope you didn't have to pay shipping to send it back. Let me know. I'm sorry you had those issues, but glad Hi-Tech is working with you to resolve. That's great it cuts so smooth! I agree with you on that. What accessories did you get? Curious what you added? Thank you for the update. I appreciate it!!

[@jimedgar6789]

@@CacklingChick HAH HAH! Yes, the cutting is great. I bought the other guide accessory, some sponge pads and a mounting disc for the flat lap I just finished building today :)

[@CacklingChick]

That's awesome you're building a flat lap!!! Cool!! Have you watched Currently Rockhounding's videos on those? Great channel!

[@cinventures]

What saw to use not to cut finger

[@CacklingChick]

Howdy! 👋🏼 None of the blades used have traditional serrated "teeth" that can cut the skin. All blades are actually grinding the rock to cut it. Does this help? SLAB ON!! 😁👍🏻🪨⛏️

[@cinventures]

@ thick notched , thin notched, thin sintered , thick sintered?

[@CacklingChick]

I highly recommend checking out the blade specifics here to ensure all your specific questions are answered: hitechdiamond.com/?aff=179 Also, Hi-Tech's customer service is awesome! I hope this helps and let me know if you have other questions.

[@mainemountainman3743]

How did you determine the RPMs?

[@CacklingChick]

Howdy! 👋🏻 I eyeballed it, and Jared @currentlyrockhounding has a video explaining this Hi-Tech trim saw flaw. Does this help? SLAB ON!! 😁👍🏻🪨🪚

[@mainemountainman3743]

@@CacklingChick Thanks!

[@CacklingChick]

You're very welcome!! Have a great weekend. 😁👍🏻🪨⛏️

[@jimedgar6789]

You know you are costing me hard-earned cash money!

[@CacklingChick]

Hey Jim, ol' ROCKHOUND BUDDY!! I know how you feel when I also gave in to buying this trim saw!! I freaking love it!

[@jimedgar6789]

@@CacklingChick Just shipped from Illinois, I can't wait. I live on the Snoqualmie River here in WA. Gonna be traipsing around looking for whatever nodules are on the shore. I know we have some agate and jasper, maybe pet wood. I will let you know!

[@CacklingChick]

Hey, Jim! That's awesome and wow, they're FAST! I used to live in Washington and still have family up there. Beautiful state! I'm excited for your new lapidary tool!! Woo hoo!!

[@jimedgar6789]

@@CacklingChick Lots of great places here to hound around. Wanna cut some cubes of whatever I can find and maybe get the NatGeo tumbler. Maybe the pro version or build my own 😛

[@CacklingChick]

Awesome plan!! This hobby is sooo fun!! Did you get your trim saw yet?

[@CoolSupaHotFire]

A couple of times I thought you might accidentally show us the impromptu manicure feature!

[@CacklingChick]

😂 Trust me, I try not to get my fingers too close even though the blade doesn't have any teeth! Thank you for watching!! 😃👍🏻🪨⛏️

[@santhapadmalal9277]

please use both hands @!!!

[@CacklingChick]

I'm not going to lie that it's intimidating at first!! Thank you!! ❤️

[@_Per_Aspera_Ad_Astra_]

no rpm indicator ??? ‘poor’ 😢

[@CacklingChick]

Correct and agreed, hence the workaround. Not sure why there is no RPM label in layman's terms on the machine. I have zero issues since adding it with a marker. Not a big deal, but that's just my opinion! SLAB ON!! 😄👍🏻🪨⛏️