I'll show you mine if you show me yours, Lapidary shop that is Options

[El Dorado]

The rock shop thread got me thinking about studios, so here is my set up, now you can show yours off

This is my bench with the casting machine on the right. Here is where most of the action takes place

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[CP]

Your welcome Phil and thanks Russ. Would be cool to get some remade trays eventually.

There isn't any way to lock the motor that I noticed. I just held the drum wheels while loosening the nuts.

We did replace the spitter air pump with a dual output pump that works wonderfully and haven't ever had a problem with polish contamination while working. We do change our water in the trays often though.
Good luck on the reworking, hope you have it going soon.

CP

[Phil(NM)]

Howdy..... Update report...

Well, I got it taken apart, and I mean apart. removed the cover, splash guards, wheels, etc. so I could do a refurb as/where needed. Found a few rusted thru holes that never would have been seen without being taken apart.

Old original wheels are, of course, shot. Ordered new wheels from Diamond Pacific, which of course are the right size, have the right arbor, but the hubs are thicker than the original manufacturer (long gone out of business), so that needed to be addressed.

Rubberized the inner surface of the cover where the water splashes, fixed the rusty areas, steel wooled everything to get it all clean and etc.

Removed the spitters because I'm converting it to a fresh water top feed instead. Will be able to use either gravity feed or pump. Anyone want to buy some spitters? Make me an offer....

Took the old aluminum hub and threaded spindle down to a local machine shop and told them I wanted new ones that were longer, etc. Showed them what I wanted, and for $80 I should be picking the new parts up tomorrow. That means not having to ever have to trim down the diamond pacific wheels or any other manufacturer's wheels. Was worth it to me... trimming the hubs is a pain or so I've been told (right CP1 and 2?)

What else. Oh, am adding a 1.5 inch strip of aluminum where the cover attaches to the base to allow greater clearance for the water nozzles and wheel brushes (made from those green
kitchen cleaning pads). Am drilling several large diameter holes in the water cachement area where the spitters used to sit so the water and rock debris can easily flow thru into a large plastic tray that will sit under the whole unit to catch and direct the waste water into a tube that either goes into a bucket (inside in winter time) or out to the flowers (summer). Also adding 4 rubber feet so allow the water to escape rather than rust everything.

So... should be up and running again in about another week, with a unit that is like new. Was it worth it? I think so. A new diamond wheel unit costs about $1600, I've got about $550 total in the refurb. I can't wait to get cabbing again... got about 20 pounds of turquoise waiting to cab so I can pay for everything and make some spending capital to boot!

CP1 and 2, if you want a set of hubs and spindles, I can get another made??? Cost plus shipping....

Later all! Time to go collect a couple hundred pounds of agates, petrified wood and jaspers out on the ancient river escarpment.....

Phil