Diamond Pacific Pixie

[nepherite]

Hello all,
I read recently read that the Diamond Pacific Pixie is a good tool to cut and polish opal / boulder opal cabs. I am in the market for a good cabbing machine and would love your input, any ideas ??

[Iceopals]

The Pixie is fantastic. I have the step up, but they are all pricey. Best tool I ever got.

[nepherite]

Thanks for the reply Ice. Does the water spray deliver enough on the wheels too ? Love your website and your fantastic opals you have created.

[Iceopals]

Hi Nepherite,
Yes, the water spray is more than sufficient. And there is a block to keep it from getting you too wet also. Thanks for the compliment on the website, and opals. Now, if I could just make a million bucks from it...................

[opalship]

Hello all,
I read recently read that the Diamond Pacific Pixie is a good tool to cut and polish opal / boulder opal cabs. I am in the market for a good cabbing machine and would love your input, any ideas ??

Yea again I agree with Iceopals , the Pixie gives you great ease in going all down the line.

You can cut along just like an assembly line, even add buffer, or leather to the end , and perfect for 100K diamond grit paste on the add on polisher after the 14k wheel.

They are not the least expensive but versitile and quality too!

Very worth the investment.

"opalship"

[TacticalMan]

I'm considering the Genie because of the Trim saw attachment with 8" blade which eliminates the need for another piece of equipment plus I don't need the ability to transport my equipment.

[opalship]

hmm,
Well, theres a point but I went with a more flexable inland diamond belt jig saw scrolling cutter recently and have been happy since it is much more versitile.

Not very expensive either, and I gave it an instant test on some huge copper complex chunks as well as big flat slabs with scrolling made easy!

But not my pick for just slabbing rough, one after another, but for fine or trace cutting it's my pick.
But that depends on what you do with it?
Tools are very personal though so in the end it's what you want it to do, and can spend for investing.

Best of luck in choosing.

Cheers~ "Opalship"

[TacticalMan]

Thanks Opalship and I'll take a look at that too.

I'm looking to work with rough boulder opal and I have a special project that requires slabbing the rough when I find the right pieces. I've been bidding on boulder materal that is very rough and thick too for my project.

When my skills progress then I'll move up to more expensive black opals but also want to work with lots of other materials like malachite and turquoise.

I have been hand working white materal that was given to me but a Dremel won't cut much material.

[mauibuck]

Oh my. We do need the right tool for the right project.

Opalship, I can't find anything on the Inland web site identified as "flexable inland diamond belt jig saw scrolling cutter." There is a band saw. Is that what you mean?

OK, starting small, I have some 40 mm (1.5 inch) Dremel diamond saw blades. They are .02 thick.

I have never seen an opal big enough to need an 8 inch blade. The biggest problem is that a blade that diameter has to be very thick and that WASTES opal. What is really needed is about the thinest saw blade available. Pick something in the 4 inch size that is .009 to .015 inch thickness. These are so thin they are very flexible but they don't waste opal. Like this http://cgi.ebay.com/BUTW-2-4-New-thin-d ... dZViewItem

For a much longer lasting but slightly thicker blade. .04 inches, try one like this
http://cgi.ebay.com/4-100mm-Diamond-coa ... dZViewItem
(if that link is dead, search ebay for "THK Diamond tools" or search ebay for "4" Diamond cutting "

If you are cutting slabs of larger or harder rock, find a friend that is a garage sale fanatic and ask them to pick up a used 4" wet tile saw. Show photos first or print one out for them to carry around. You can find these used for $15-30 and you are good to go. The Inland diamond band saw is $240.

The Pixie is a great tool, if you have $1000 to spend.

I think if you are just getting started, spend carefully before you invest big money.

(Why is this discussion under MINING? This belongs under CUTTING or BEGINNERS)

Mauibuck

[TacticalMan]

Great point Mauibuck...

Waste not, want not.

So what would a beginner use to power a 4" ultra thin blade? I noticed that one blade required 120000 RPM.

Thanks.

I see a new thread beginning for beginners.

I want to make wise purchases but don't want to build my own equipment. Something that provides professional results without shock hazards or sticker shock.

I am one who doesn't skimp on quality and I realize that one receives what they pay for.

[mike4bears]

what you said is right. in that case get the pixie i don't think you'll be sorry. mike

[mauibuck]

Mike, you are a professional and totally committed. You need long lasting high quality production grade equipment. Tac is just getting started and might or might not get some return on his investment of equipment. If you are doing this 40 hours a week, the Pixie is the way to go. If only a couple of hours 3 or 4 times a month, probably not worth the investment.

120,000 rpm????That is some kind of industrial equipment. I actually mounted my first 4" thin blade to a used tile cutters. $15 for the used tile cutter and about $6 for the blade w/ shipping. I think the hole and arbor diameter were a match so didn't have to mess with any adapters. Less than $25 and I had an opal cutting blade.

The down side to this setup, in a conventional configuration, is the water lays in the bottom so it makes a bit of a mess spraying upward. However, if you don't put water in the bottom and instead, use the set up with the bucket overhead rig as shown in the posting on MAKING A CHEAP WET GRINDING MACHINE, you get the drip from above and it is nice and clean.

Sorry Tac, I'm just too much of an innovative person to only buy ready made off the shelf. I'm an engineer. Creative solutions is what I eat, breath and sleep.


Mauibuck

[TacticalMan]

No problem Mauibuck because I appreciate your input and experience. I have the mechanical background but not the engineering.

You are correct that I won't be spending 40 hours a week working any stones even with all my interest because I'm also involved in our newer home and many improvements that require my attention plus maintaining the interior, (domestic enginer ).

Because of my lack of available time and the availability of funds maximizing my purchasing power is important so I can make the best use of my available time.

(I'm watching NASCAR and hand sanding with 600 wet/dry.)

I like the idea of converting a tile saw to a trim saw because I actually need both for my project and can swap out the blades as necessary.

[mike4bears]

good point. I've forgot about when i first started. IE homemade tumbler base. I'm not a engineer. yet when i first started working i was a cotton ginner i.ve built six gins from the dirt up. and ran them in the season. i learn welding electrical conceit you name it. that was for 15 yrs. then i went to work for a deep well pump company as a machinist. i ended up doing everything. i was the only person who could go pull a pump rebuild it rewind the motors go install it and hook up the electrical panel. you know I'm proud of that. i don't consider my self a professional i.ve sold a few rings and things but i do'it because it fun. maybe tacticalman could check into a lapidary shop or a rock shop they do Carry used equipment. just a idea mike

[TacticalMan]

I forgot to add that my Mrs. has green lighted my purchase.