can i make my own rail saw

[therocks]

I was wondering if anyone has any idea on how to build a rail saw and pointers if possible.

[ash20ash]

Buy a used bridge saw. You will save money inbthe first year just on cup wheels. Bridge saws are cheap right now.buy for the future.

[Brian Briggs]

What are you looking for it to do? Self propelled or are you just looking for straight cuts? The first saw I ever used was a Makita circular saw with duct tape on the bottom and a steel straight edge to keep the cuts straight. You could go as simple as a wormdrive waterfed saw with tube aluminum straight edge. It all depends on what you are looking to get out of it.

[Miles]

Hey there's a used Blue Ripper for sale over at www.stoneadvice.com. There asking 1250. That's the saw I got started with. I'm not sure about the condition of this one, but the Blue Ripper is a good choice to get started.

Here's the link http://www.stoneadvice.com/forum/viewto ... =9&t=25106

[therocks]

self propelled would be nice but im mainly looking for straight cuts.

[szw21]

My setup for cutting is what Brian has described. Works well for me. My additions are speaker cloth on the baseplate to prevent scratching as well as Loc-line hose feed to enable wet cutting. I have a selection of wide steel straight edges in different lenghts - 1', 2' ,5' etc.

The one probem I have is trying to make straight cuts on narrow pieces - eg trying to cut a 1" strip off a 4" wide piece of stone - typically for a lam or stacked edge and when I don't have much stone left. There is nowhere to clamp the straightedge.

If you have metalworking skills you can make something better. I have a reasonable selection of metalworking tools including a welder and could have made something better but never really bothered.

[Nick]

We had a self made one long before the blue ripper. You wouldn't believe the amount of work my old man did with this. Our company was literally built with this saw.



A machineist made the body. There was a copper ring around the blade for water. It was plug and play for a worm drive skillsaw, so when one broke, no worries. He had tracks in lengths from 3- 12 ft, they actually never slid. They were custom made on one of those like metal press machines that bent them for the wheels. It was a decent design. only issue if you went to fast you could ride up on the track and lose the groove in the wheel. Step cut very well though. I took that pic before it went in the dumpster, I kinda wanted to keep it for specialty things, he said "I never want to see that thing again".

[Boyd]

Yesteryear. I did all those same things. Started in a friend's sisters' detached garage.

Boyd, SFA

[scott m]

Yep, been there done that. Take it from all of us, don't bother.....Open a hot dog stand.

If you must, buy a bridge saw.

[Alex DiPietro]

Yep, been there done that. Take it from all of us, don't bother.....Open a hot dog stand.

If you must, buy a bridge saw.

Take Scotts advice, you really have to be crazy to get started in this business now. If you don't like hot dogs everyone likes pizza. And by my calculations a you can get like $25 for a square foot of pizza, but it only costs you $.25

[coolhandchris]

Yesteryear. I did all those same things. Started in a friend's sisters' detached garage.

Boyd, SFA

you had walls. bastard.

[Boyd]

This is Oklahoma, Amigo . 3 walls, no heat. Plus, it didn't matter. Everything was done outside in the driveway.

First order? Four slabs of Luna Pearl. Haven't cut it again in 13 years.

Boyd, SFA

[oldschoolstoneman]

yes that was how i started i made my first saw for $600 and is still in service today.Its a simple design that cuts straight,lightweight ,easy to transport if nessesary.ill have to take a pic and post.If you have the nack for stone work you dont need a bunch of overbuilt equipment.

[oldschoolstoneman]

Items built =ing $8000.00
Rail Saw
Slab Table that tilts one man can operate
boom for forklift
water collection system
slab dolly for installing large pieces
fab tables
sink run savers (bars)(makeshift omni rails)
seam setter
A-frames
work seperation shields (so each man does not have to worry about being hit with debris form another mans area)(pads water,if you have worked in a shop you know what i mean lol)

[JPS]

hi

heres one i made 15 years ago,

not a beauty, built from scrap parts;

plumbing stuff, square tubes, old air grinder (4 hp!)

L-bar guided (not shown but you can see the guide ball bearings)

still in use

[Curtis R. Marburger]

good grief , if you can find yourself a 4-5 hp air motor like the above post and the air compressor to run it , go for it

I ran a rail saw first couple years Blue ripper ,, I would do like Nick posted with the worm drive saw , then go right to bridge saw , and forget all about a rail saw

less than 8hp and its nuthin but trouble in the long run cutting 3cm stone , been there done that , got the upper body legs for arms to prove it

[Nick]

I am so happy someone brought this thread back. Ohhh the memories, look at Her in all her glory.


Andy, if you are reading this, I pushed THAT for longer than you have been fabricating stone. You can track saw up your signature all you want to player, but you better recognize who is the real OG in this track game.

[politefab]

Thats what i use for a rodding saw a worm drive skill saw with 2 -7" blades stacked its going on 3 years now

[Nick]

Eli, that is really smart dude! I don't rod and all really, but that is totally an awesome application do a worm drive!

[Andy Ross]

So how long do I have to push a saw before I take the title from you? I'm on year 6. The first 4 were spuratic with general construction mixed in so I don't know if I can count those...

[Nick]

You cannot take the title of OG ever technichally since the O stands for original

And six years means you should have a bridgesaw before too long. Beg, borrow, or steal one.

[Dan R.]

That is just painful to read.

[Nick]

That is just painful to read.

It is still not nearly as painful as using a tracksaw There is a reason my old man said "never want to see that again" before ording me to throw it in the dumpster when I wanted to keep it around. I still wish I kept it. I could put it in my office next to my projection laser and have cooler paperweights than Dan . I gotta sell that thing .

[Curtis R. Marburger]

i sold my rail saw outfit to Ukrainian's from NJ , that barely spoke English , they were happy campers when i showed them the tilt table werked

[Dan R.]

It is all about the paper weights.
I an low on them right now.

I do have cnc set of 3cm Q profile with extra diamonds and extra polishing tools. ( I have no cnc )

Other than that, I have a bunch of miscellaneous things on my full slab (quarry edge) desk.