Stone hearts.

[sandchip]

Big ones on a board and hand held the other small ones I hold with my left hand. My strong hand. The right hand holds the grinder. I am good for about 4 hours before my hand goes numb. It might be nerve damage setting in. I do a little everyday. Somedays more that others. Depends on how I feel. This is something you really have to want to do. It is loud, dusty as hell so use a good respirator. Dust masks do not work! I have a water polisher that does good but I like a hard felt buffing wheel on a straight grinder. Little water as possible. I could go on for days so we will end this babbling at this point.
ROBBYBOBBY64.

I got the job many years ago to change the signage for a large pulp mill, involving making several very large routed cedar signs. I spent many hours and days hand routing the lettering on approximately 1,000 board feet of 2 x 12s. I would experience that same tingling numbness. I figured that it was my body's reaction to the high frequency vibration associated with a high rpm tool like a router, and in your case, grinder. It would always pass by the next day though, although I was a much younger man back then.

 

[ROBBYBOBBY64]

I got the job many years ago to change the signage for a large pulp mill, involving making several very large routed cedar signs. I spent many hours and days hand routing the lettering on approximately 1,000 board feet of 2 x 12s. I would experience that same tingling numbness. I figured that it was my body's reaction to the high frequency vibration associated with a high rpm tool like a router, and in your case, grinder. It would always pass by the next day though, although I was a much younger man back then.

Weren't we all!

 

[ROBBYBOBBY64]

Something like this -older ones are cheap and you can find labs with many they would be happy to give away.

I used to use these to cut otoliths and find for aging fish.

seems like it would be a much safer way to do it if you were going to do a lot of cutting rather than using a hand grinder is all.

That could be in my future. Low speed like what rpm? 200? Also it is a belt or blade that does the cutting?
ROBBYBOBBY64.

 

[ROBBYBOBBY64]

I sure am glad it is almost over. We can retire and do whatever you want.
ROBBYBOBBY64.

 

[yacorie]

Not sure

I sure am glad it is almost over. We can retire and do whatever you want.
ROBBYBOBBY64.

what the RPms are but it’s a diamond blade that cuts

 

[ROBBYBOBBY64]

Not sure

what the RPms are but it’s a diamond blade that cuts

I saw the machine I like and thought about the same jemcutter but with the grinding stone it was 1000 grit. I t doesn't cut very deep like a 10" blade like on my saw. Maybe they make one with a larger blade. Anyway, Thanks for the link and info.
ROBBYBOBBY64.

 

[yacorie]

I saw the machine I like and thought about the same jemcutter but with the grinding stone it was 1000 grit. I t doesn't cut very deep like a 10" blade like on my saw. Maybe they make one with a larger blade. Anyway, Thanks for the link and info.
ROBBYBOBBY64.

I’m not sure about a 10 inch blade because you may be getting up into tile saw size. We used to use 6” blades I know but that might be the limit which is a good point.

 

[ROBBYBOBBY64]

The chuck in the center of the blade shallows your depth of any cut. Even a ten inch bade can only cut a good 4 inches deep. With a grinder you cut multiple grooves next to each other then chisel them out. It is real quick and relatively safe with a good respirator. I love stone.
ROBBYBOBBY64.
This is my next project.

 

[willong]

Here is a couple of stone hearts I made out of rocks. The top left is pink and green granite. Still scarred by the grinder step. The bottom left is a fluorescent rock heart past the second step of disc sanded up to 220 grit. It is calcite, willamite and franklinite. It glows green and red under a shortwave UV light. The big one is finished and buffed to a glowing shine. It is a green feldspar with dots of fools gold in it.
ROBBYBOBBY64. View attachment 209161

You achieved a nice polish on that finished one. Do you finish the final stages with some type of polishing compound?

Could you take a picture under UV light of the smallest one and post the photo here please?

Geology is a subject I'd certainly like to know more about; but there are too many fascinating subjects in the world for the time we are permitted here.

 

[ROBBYBOBBY64]

You achieved a nice polish on that finished one. Do you finish the final stages with some type of polishing compound?

Could you take a picture under UV light of the smallest one and post the photo here please?

Geology is a subject I'd certainly like to know more about; but there are too many fascinating subjects in the world for the time we are permitted here.

I used marble polish in is mostly aluminum oxide powder. The best thing about aluminum oxide powder is that the more you use the more it becomes finer of a grit. I use a hard buffing pad on a wet grinder. Use as little water as you can without the powder drying out and caking up on the stone.
ROBBYBOBBY64.