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Fegbri
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« on: December 24, 2015, 05:20:58 pm » |
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So preparing to buy my very first Cab Machine. I was going to get the cab me since it's a saw and grinder but after adding on the extra wheels and stuff I was pushing $1000. So the question to you all is if you had 1000-$1100 to get your first machine what would you recommend? I need trim saw and grinder , so thought combo unit would be best...
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Michael S Hoover - Redrummd
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« Reply #1 on: December 24, 2015, 08:30:45 pm » |
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With the budget you have I recommend looking at a tile saw, lapidary blade, and a good used Diamond Pacific Genie.
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Charles
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« Reply #2 on: December 25, 2015, 05:08:26 am » |
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I would second that option. By taking you time you can find a good used Genie. Many people use a tile saw with a lapidary blade for a trim saw and it works great.
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slabbercabber
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« Reply #3 on: December 25, 2015, 07:44:43 am » |
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I would recommend against a combo machine. In most cases the saw blade will run while you are trying to grind. Unless you are working outside this is a recipe for a mess. If you go this route, at least get one with a secure cover for the trim saw.
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vitzitziltecpatl
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« Reply #4 on: December 25, 2015, 08:57:34 am » |
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Making it unanimous here so far - no combo unit. Try to find a used Genie and 10" trim saw.
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Fegbri
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« Reply #5 on: December 25, 2015, 01:02:57 pm » |
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Never thought about the running saw. Is the cab mate a bad place to start?
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Debbie K
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« Reply #6 on: December 25, 2015, 01:42:57 pm » |
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I have two combo units; a Lortone and a mystery unit that have saws on the left and Expando drums on the right and room for 2 or 3 wheels in the middle. I have never had a problem with either of the saws making a mess. I don't overfill them. Or rather, I overfilled them once and regretted it and am much more careful now. I love the fact that I can have one saw for water, the other for oil, and a really thin blade on one of them for expensive material. My trim saw blade has a pretty wide kerf and I hate sawing away things that are rare.
Before I got my little trim saw, I was trying to use a tile saw to cut rocks down. Talk about messy! I only used it in warm months as I knew I was always getting a "shower".
If I had had that much money when first starting, I would have haunted CraigsList looking for local deals, they come up fairly often. Genies and Titans are great; just out of my price range, especially when I was starting. My first "mystery grinder" cost $75 and was a creaking rusting mess, but the arbor was true and the motor was good. I sanded, painted, fiberglassed it, got new bearings and two diamond wheels, and for less than $300 dollars had a decent grinder. If you're handy and lucky, you can accumulate things for fairly cheap. I make my own diamond belts for the Expando, so I didn't have to pay $50 for them.
Good luck to you whatever you choose!
Debbie K
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axllaird
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« Reply #7 on: December 25, 2015, 03:58:33 pm » |
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My friend bought me a bench grinder for xmas... he's a good guy, its kool, theres such a small comunity over here(uk)that tools and equipment are few and far between.
I'm getting by on discs and belts from starting in the summer July 2015 to get something resembling cabs...with kids its not so easy for anything else...i'm addicted to the whole thing...people re-act so positively to anything organic you give them, i don't know...its satisfying and justifies...what do you think, its all good?
Merry Xmas
Axl
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finegemdesigns
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« Reply #9 on: December 29, 2015, 02:31:01 pm » |
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Making it unanimous here so far - no combo unit. Try to find a used Genie and 10" trim saw.
I would go with Covington. Separate 6 inch trim saw and their 4 wheel combo unit. Why? Because that's what I have and they work.   |
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light house jack
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« Reply #10 on: December 30, 2015, 06:42:13 am » |
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One thing that I caution my students about when they are searching for a used Genie is to try to find one within driving distance to go inspect. I have had several buy used Genies on EBAY and they paid on average $900.00 or more plus close to a hundred for shipping only to find that they had to replace several wheels which gave them a dose of reality vs. what they could have purchased a brand new machine for. I had one friend who purchased a Genie which had been sitting unused for over five years. We cut it on and the capacitor began to smoke. Diamond Pacific will tell you that this is common with machines not used for long periods. This was a hundred dollar fix. Dried up pump leathers can cost you another hundred dollars. New Genies are available new in the $1600.00 range and I would strongly advise saving up and buying new. Also, I always suggest to my students that they pay a bit more for the upgraded baseboard. I will not sell a new Genie or Pixie unless they choose a solid board as I know of five out of six machines to arrive with cracked baseboards. Damond Pacific is very good to send out a new baseboard but it is a problem install for some who are not handy with repairs.
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finegemdesigns
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« Reply #11 on: December 30, 2015, 02:31:44 pm » |
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Is this unit made out of metal or plastic? Maybe a dumb question but it doesn't say in the auction. |
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slabbercabber
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« Reply #12 on: December 30, 2015, 03:05:38 pm » |
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The motor and arbors are of course metal. The base is particle board and and the trays and covers are plastic.
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Fegbri
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« Reply #13 on: January 06, 2016, 06:10:33 am » |
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So after speaking to many experienced cabbers they all agreed a good quality combo unit might be my best bet for right now due to the space I have an other restrictions.
So I narrowed it down to the one I really want, the more expensive Covington 495DCU combo unit which has the blade two wheels and expando drum. Or the cheaper LORTONE LU 6X which only has one wheel and one drum. For the extra 400 I get mostly diamond and the extra wheel to cut down on changing time. Does anyone have any experience with Covington and would you recommend I go with the high end unit?
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Michael S Hoover - Redrummd
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« Reply #14 on: January 06, 2016, 10:20:21 am » |
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My shop is split between Diamond Pacific and Covington for grinding and sanding. Both are very well built and stand behind their equipment. Parts are readily available too and support for replacing broken parts (such as bearings) is very good.
Lortone is lower quality in my opinion.
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