I was taught to put them in the freezer for a few minutes and then pop them off. 

Lowell, for what little bother the sign up on 4Shared is, it is a lot better downloading there than it is on Rapid Share. !!  The problem may have come from the copyright suit(s) that have been going on against some of the file sharing sites.

Just my thoughts and I very BIG Thank you for doing this project!!

-=Will=-

You just gotta have patience Gary.  I have taken some sludge out of my 12 inch that seemed almost all solid, let it set in a bucket for about 2 months and actually wound up recovering just under 2/3 of it back in good oil.  Didn't use the paper bag method because I thought basically the same as you, so I went and bought new.  Didn't have a place to dispose of the old stuff right away, so that is why it sat for the 2 mo. Just slowly poured the good stuff off into another bucket.

-=Will=-

What I use is called light mineral oil.  It is sold at farm supply stores and is usually sold as a laxative for horses and other larger animals. I believe it is just one step under a "food grade" mineral oil, being handled and packaged in a less sanitary manner.

Hope this helps Gary.


    -=Will=-

Animal oil appears to be lighter than baby mineral oil.  In fact it is labelled as "light mineral oil".  I have an oil pump in my saw and during the winter months it will not pump the baby oil but the light animal mineral oil works just fine.

-=Will=-

Is anyone aware of or have seen, a hood or cover for a drop saw.  I have a 12in Spartan drop saw and living in Puget Sound one cannot always (more like rarely during the winter months) saw outside due to the weather.  Therefore, I saw in a smaller space under the carport but, the saw likes to spray oil in different directions depending on the shape of the rock.  So I am trying to find a workable design for a hood that can be built out of maybe lexan, that would give me some visibility of the saw without soaking everything around it in oil.
Any drawings, photos, or just plain leads or ideas toward something would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance
   -=Will=-

I will start out with June 14th.

-=Will=-

Simply outstanding Bob.  Thanks for sharing (and making me jealous as well).  Don't ever lose that talent!!!!!!!!!!!!

-=Will=-

Yep!  What Mia says..........the amethyst is just too bold for the Regency.  I would think something a little more subtler might work better.

-=Will=-

Really marvelous colors.  Really like the blue and orange combination.

-=Will=-

I am from Washington state and previously from Oregon and The only thing that I can think of might have to do with the rocks fracturing from having  the moisture in them freeze.  Otherwise, in my short span of 69 years of wisdom, I don't see much of any other reason to worry whether the freeze or not.

-=Will=-

Thanks Tony.  This saw has a stationary vice and the blade drops down similar to the current woodworking chop saws.  However, I will still check Covington to see what literature or advice they may have.  I am finding out that there are a number of different configurations of slab saws and lap machines out there.  I guess that is what keeps life interesting.

Anyhoo, thanks for the info and advice and hope to talk with you some more.

Will

Thanks for the advice George.  Talked with Lee at the rock shop but he didn't have any paper work for that saw either.  Oh well I guess I will keep lookin' and tryin'.

BTW in your travels and what have you, do you know of any other brand of drop or chop saw for rocks? I am not only looking for maintenance info, but also any nuances or idiosyncrasies peculiar to the chop/drop style of saws.  Therefore, if there are other brands out there, their literature may prove to be helpful also.  Never know.

-=W=-

I just acquired a Spartan 12" chop/slab saw and it came without any paperwork. The previous owner said that he had found out that the company had only stayed in business about two or three years and was unable to find out anything else about them. I would like to find a maintenance or users manual if at all possible. If anybody could give me any type of info on this machine I certainly would appreciate it.

Thanks in advance

Will