Tinkering To Save Cash...aka....keeping The Tool Budget Down

[BDAZ]

25 minutes ago, motocouture said:

My latest addition was a slab of beautiful marble (?), for the princely sum of $20. Stopped by a local granite / marble countertop place, and they stack cutouts and smaller pieces outside. A quick cash transaction later (which I’m sure made it into the books ), and hubby and I took it home. Probably could have got some of the smaller / less evenly cut pieces for free, but what can I say, I’m fussy 

 

I do the same with my local granite counter top guys. They let me pick through their scrap box. I made a belt for the manager to replace the one which was almost won through. I reinforced  the segment where he carries his tape. I now have the run of the scrap box (many pieces even larger than yours), some squared and others with broken ends.

I tend to destroy granite with my 12 ton press when I get too enthusiastic. It shatters or splits. I have switched to Quartz, which is supposed to be harder and denser than granite.

I recently bought an inexpensive tile saw at Harbor Freight to square of the ends. It cuts through granite and quartz like butter. Cost around $20 with a coupon, plus the blade.

[motocouture]

2 hours ago, BDAZ said:

I do the same with my local granite counter top guys. They let me pick through their scrap box. I made a belt for the manager to replace the one which was almost won through. I reinforced  the segment where he carries his tape. I now have the run of the scrap box (many pieces even larger than yours), some squared and others with broken ends.

I tend to destroy granite with my 12 ton press when I get too enthusiastic. It shatters or splits. I have switched to Quartz, which is supposed to be harder and denser than granite.

I recently bought an inexpensive tile saw at Harbor Freight to square of the ends. It cuts through granite and quartz like butter. Cost around $20 with a coupon, plus the blade.

Sounds like that was a great trade! Love the idea of the tile saw, though I don’t have a 12 ton press, so I think my slab should be safe for a while  

[YinTx]

4 hours ago, BDAZ said:

I recently bought an inexpensive tile saw at Harbor Freight to square of the ends. It cuts through granite and quartz like butter. Cost around $20 with a coupon, plus the blade.

 

So the saw was $20, plus the cost of the blade?  Is it normally used with flowing water, or just cut the granite dry?  Does it make a cloud of dust?  Been wondering, as I have a pile of granite I want to do things with, but don't want to deal with fogging out the neighbors with a massive cloud of stone dust.  Also looking for decent ways to round the edges, same issue.

On 5/17/2018 at 6:21 PM, BDAZ said:

Asian supermarket near me and I was able to find Katri Gum (Sterculia Urens), the Hindi name for GT in the Indian section.

I'm going to have to look for this!  Thanks for the pointer.

YinTx

[BDAZ]

12 minutes ago, YinTx said:

So the saw was $20, plus the cost of the blade?  Is it normally used with flowing water, or just cut the granite dry?  Does it make a cloud of dust?  Been wondering, as I have a pile of granite I want to do things with, but don't want to deal with fogging out the neighbors with a massive cloud of stone dust.  Also looking for decent ways to round the edges, same issue.

I'm going to have to look for this!  Thanks for the pointer.

YinTx

The wet dry diamond blade as in the photograph was $12 but a dry only was $6. I bought the wet/dry and splashed on water so there was little dust. I used a squeeze bottle. Still pretty messy but I suspect I can throw in a 4" angle grinder metal blade and use it for cutting bar steel I use in the press.

Bob

[akguy59]

It looks like I have a money saver to include. I have been making leather bracelets that are 1 1/8" wide. As I looked on line for strap end punches I was surprised to find that it would cost me $50 or more for one.

I remembered that we have a washer punch at work that is made out of 2 hole saw blades with the teeth ground off and sharpened.. I thought I would try this idea to make a punch and see how it would cut. I ground off the teeth and ground half the diameter up about 3/8" then sharpened it and it gives me a beautiful smooth round end to my strap. Being these bits are made of pretty decent steel it should last a long time. It cost me $10 for the cup saw but if you have one laying around it would be practically free. Good luck all.

[BDAZ]

28 minutes ago, akguy59 said:

It looks like I have a money saver to include. I have been making leather bracelets that are 1 1/8" wide. As I looked on line for strap end punches I was surprised to find that it would cost me $50 or more for one.

I remembered that we have a washer punch at work that is made out of 2 hole saw blades with the teeth ground off and sharpened.. I thought I would try this idea to make a punch and see how it would cut. I ground off the teeth and ground half the diameter up about 3/8" then sharpened it and it gives me a beautiful smooth round end to my strap. Being these bits are made of pretty decent steel it should last a long time. It cost me $10 for the cup saw but if you have one laying around it would be practically free. Good luck all.

You can get a used but reconditioned and sharpened punch from Bruce Johnson for $35. $35 - $10 = $25 net cost, add in the cost of your time and the fact that you still have a saw blade instead of a quality US made Osborne punch.... Not a good deal IMHO.

Bob