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Cutting Beach Pebbles
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Posted by
african (
My Page) on
Mon, Apr 20, 09 at 2:54
| I have a good supply of various colored beach pebbles of all sizes. I want to cut through then with a diamond blade, to make discs, but because most of them are egg shaped, they are very difficult (and dangerous) to clamp effectively. Any ideas? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Cutting Beach Pebbles
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| Are you using a wetsaw? I'm thinking that you could make an adjustable box like jig that would rest on the tray and cradle the rock, then use a chunk of wood as a press to hold it down while you slide the saw. If using a dry blade on a hand held saw, it would be difficult to stabilize the rocks without the help of a partner |
RE: Cutting Beach Pebbles
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| Are these smooth tumbled rocks (pebbles) or beach glass? |
RE: Cutting Beach Pebbles
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| They are egg shaped natural stones. Mainly quartzite, hard shale and felspar. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Indirect Method
RE: Cutting Beach Pebbles
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Thanks for the advice nicethyme, my mind was running along the lines of the box too - but not so sure about just pressing down with piece of wood. I've tried that kind of thing already , but with smallish oval pebbles about the size of a goose eg and smaller, it's damn dangerous, as these things slip around like mad. Clamping is difficult as you seem only seem to to pick up two points at a time and then it pivots and slips.
I thought of epoxying one end (sacrificial) to a square wooden block and then clamping the block and pebble together onto the cutting bench, so that it can't rotate or pivot, but I don't know if the epoxy glue would be strong enough. If it came loose, the saw would throw it out like a bullet. What do you think? Cape Town |
RE: Cutting Beach Pebbles
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| I had some success with the epoxy - but it is rather messy and time consuming, so I'm still looking for a better method - any further suggestions. Cape Town |
RE: Cutting Beach Pebbles
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| First wrap the pebble completely with adhesive tape, to prevent shards flying, then use the same tape to splice a short piece of wood to either side of the pebble to make a sandwich. Then hold the entire sandwich firmly in a vice or clamp. You can then safely make a cut with diamond disk at least a centimetre or more deep. Then place your pebble sandwich onto a solid concrete base, propped between two bricks to hold the sandwich with the new cut uppermost. Put the cutting edge of a bolster (Bricklayers flat chisel) into to the cut you made and making sure that the chisel is held vertical, give it a very sharp tap. Be sure to wear safety glasses. |
RE: Cutting Beach Pebbles
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| WOW! Thanks for the info Toby! |
I don't have any advice but I sure hope you post pictures
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| (either before or after the cuts)! |
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