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

[russau]

Phil ,send me some drawings and dimesions and the type of material you want it made from and ill see what i can do for you! do you need a right and a left part? if steve has one of these models maybe he could email me a pictue of these parts??

[Phil(NM)]

Thanks.
CP, and Mrs CP... can you tell me if there's a way to lock the shaft from moving when trying to remove the nuts? They're rusted/corroded pretty tight.
Or do I need to do the usual vice grip clamp and pray method?

Russ,
I don't think you can make the two parts I need, they're molded plastic trays that go under the unit on each side to catch and funnel the water and waste to a sump. Thanks tho. I'd give you a pic, but I don't have any... this unit came without them. I'll probably end up doing a major mod to remodel the sumps to remove the spitters and constantly drain instead.. SPitters throw up too much contamination for the materials I work with, I prefer a constant fresh water drip or spray on the wheels instead.

Thanks everyone!
Phil

[russau]

O.K.! just thought id try to help!

[Phil(NM)]

thanks!

[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

[Phil(NM)]

Sorry about the double post... the forum kept hanging up.... No way to delete our own posts???

Thanks,
Phil

[CP]

Nice work Phil, sounds like the rebuild is well worth it! Gonna' be a purrin' unit now for sure.
Very kind for you to offer but right now we are ok with this set of hubs/spindles. I'll keep you in mind if we decide to convert them though. Thank you.
Sure know what you mean about the new machines cost. Can add up quickly with add ons too......whew.

No problem on the edited double post, deletion of posts is an admin/mod permission only, but you do have 24 hours edit time after posting each post to correct anything as needed.

Good luck on all the future cabbing to come and post up some pics too, we'd all love to see all the worked woods and agates for sure!

CP

[Denise]

I thought I would bring this thread back to show those interested in the equipment we use to do lapidary work.

[Phil(NM)]

I thought I would bring this thread back to show those interested in the equipment we use to do lapidary work.

Wow. So much for my memory.... I totally forgot about it. Of course lots of other things keep me hopping!

Pics of cabs and slabs.... Hmmm. Will see what I can do..

Here's a wire wrap pendant. Stone is NM onyx-Travertine blend.

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[Phil(NM)]

Pics of some "purple turquoise" . Man made of course, and I'm not happy that they call it turquoise, but because they use turquoise chalk, then color, stabilize and compact it, they call it turquoise. Sells very well, but is not cheap.

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[Phil(NM)]

I'm also currently rebuilding an old 20 inch covington saw, and I mean old! Almost done. Ten there's the 24 inch covington. totally disassembled, bead cleaned, sealed, painted and totally in parts still, too cold outside to work on it till spring. What else. Oh, an old Raytech 8 inch grinder polisher. about 70% done, again, garage has to warm up. new wheels, water tubing and supply/drain, belts, bearings, etc. I bought 2 Lapcraft hard textured diamond wheels for it, should be a real good grinder , then I take the preforms either to the 6 inch diamond unit or the vibe polisher. Pics? Will try and remember to post some as I get them done.
meantime, here are a few slabs.

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[Phil(NM)]

and finally (for now <grin>) some tyrone turquoise cabs I made last summer.

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[Denise]

Nice cabs and slabs Phil! Looks like you have been hard at work. We would love to see pictures of the lapidary equipment you are working on.

Here is a picture of Dan working on the 4" trim saw today. Great little piece of equipment!!

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[russau]

Wow. So much for my memory.... I totally forgot about it. Of course lots of other things keep me hopping!

Pics of cabs and slabs.... Hmmm. Will see what I can do..

Here's a wire wrap pendant. Stone is NM onyx-Travertine blend.

Phil made a beautifull necklace similar to the one pictured for my wife! Thankyou Phil!