Lapidary Discounts

Lapidary Discounts offers quality Lapidary Equipment tools and supplies at discount prices.

Grinders

What size of wheel should I buy?  The most common sizes of grinders are 4”, 6”, 8” and 10”.  The larger the grinding wheel the heavier the machine needs to be in order to stabilize the additional weight of the wheels.  Usually the larger the wheel is in diameter, the wider it becomes.  This makes it easier to work with.  As a rule, the better they are built the longer they will last.  Again, if weight is a factor then smaller is better.

Grinding wheels come in many grits.  Grinders are usually sold with the type of wheels assembled on them to accomplish the task they are designed for.  As an example, a four-station grinder will allow for a course grind, a medium grind, a sanding drum and a polishing unit.  The more stones on a unit, the easier it is to move from one grit (grinding wheel) to another.  A unit with two stations will require changing the wheels more frequently to finish a stone, while a grinding unit with six stations already has all the grinding stations set up and is much more convenient to use.

Why does the speed of the grinding wheel make a difference?  Some stones are softer than others and will wear away too fast if the wheel is turning very fast.  A smaller wheel turns faster then a larger wheel so it needs to be slowed down.   Remember, it is very important to make sure to run the grinder at the right speed and use lots of water to keep everything cool.

Johnson Bros. JB Pro

JB PRO GRINDER

This great 6" grinder is cast in thick aluminum. The 3/4" steel shaft is drilled and tapped on the right end for 1/4-20 spin discs. There are 3 wheel stations, with the right side accepting up to a 6 x 2-1/2 expanding drum. The installed brass and copper water system is ready to hook up to your home water supply, submersible pump or drip system. The grinding unit and 1/3rd H.P. motor are mounted on a heavy-duty 3/4" board. A cogged belt transmits the power, giving you a smooth running machine. The included 6" cast aluminum polishing disc screws onto the right end.

The J B PRO is available in several configurations, allowing you to buy the unit that is best for you. If you have special needs, we will accommodate you.

When ordering specify 'JB Pro' if you want the unit with no wheels.

J B PRO SILICON CARBIDE KIT -   6 x 1 green silicon carbide wheels 100 and 220 grit, 6 x 1-1/2 expanding drum, 3 each wet or dry belts 220, 400 and 600 grit, 6" leather disc and 1lb. Pro-Polish.

When ordering specify 'Silicon Carbide Wheels for the JB Pro unit'.

JB Silicon Carbide Kit	For JB Pro	$125.00
Johnson Bros.	Shipping Weight 12 Lb.

JB Diamond Kit	For JB Pro	$308.00
Johnson Bros.	Shipping Weight 12 Lb.

Will take 10”, 8” or 6" Wheels or 8" expando drum

• Option: Either end of the shaft will hold an 8" X 1" - 14 thread vertical disc-with a wheel or drum still mounted

• Versatile two-station grinder/polisher

• 1"X18" shaft with heavy-duty neoprene sealed ball bearings

• Cast aluminum pans and hoods

• 1/2 HP, 110V, Hi-torque energy saver motor

Accessories Included:

• Flanges, nuts, drive pulley, v-belt & guard, water valves & drains

• Hoods remove easily for cleaning or wheel change

• Water valve takes 1/4" O.D. plastic tube for gravity water flow or 1/4" copper tube for pressure system

• Spray nozzles under hood wet entire wheel face

• Unit comes with instructions & guarantee

• Comes fully assembled and mounted on Lam-I-Cushion base

• Motor shipped separately

• Size: 26" L X 26" W X 17" H

When ordering specify 'Model 400'.

 

• Heavy duty ball bearings, neoprene sealed and greased for life
• Cast aluminum pans and hoods with water valves and drains
• Speed control with Variable RPM changes from 800 to 1725 RPM
• 1/2 HP, 110V heavy duty motor

When ordering specify 'Model 594'.

Call for shipping information on this item.

8” Expando Grinder	Model 594EDU	$870.00
Covington	Shipping Weight 112 Lb.

8" Grinder-Polisher With 8" Expando Drum

Belts can be quickly changed--just slip off the old and slide on the new!

Grinder-Polisher Features:

• Heavy duty ball bearings, neoprene sealed and greased for life
• Rust proof aluminum castings
• Adjustable cab and wheel rest
• Speed control with 8 RPM changes
• 1/3 HP, 110V, heavy duty Motor

Expando drum: angled expansion slots through rubber rim allow drum to expand when rotated, thereby locking belt in place. Drum surface flexes to gemstone contour to quickly remove grinding flats and belt's cutting action quickly removes scratches. Hood removes easily for cleaning or wheel change. Water valve takes 1/4" O.D. plastic tube for gravity water flow or 1/4" copper tube for pressure system. Spray nozzles under hood wet entire wheel face. Base-mounted grinder-polisher comes assembled with 2 8" x 1 1/2" silicon carbide grinding wheels (100 & 220 grit), 8" expando drum with 400 grit belt, and aluminum polishing buff. Sample kit includes polish powder with brush and dop sticks with wax. Units comes assembled with operating instructions and guarantee. Size 37" L x 21" W x 16" H (Motor shipped separately 13" x 9" x 9" 16 lbs).

The 754 unit has the same basic features as the 752 with silicon carbide replaced by diamond abrasives. Unit comes with 2 8" x 1 1/2" metal bond diamond grinding wheels (100 & 220 grit), 2 3" x 25 7/32" diamond cloth belts (220 mesh & 1200 mesh) and, for polishing on the leather disc a 2 gram syringe of 50,000 mesh diamond compound with a 2 dram bottle of extender fluid (thinner). Grinder-Polisher comes complete with sample kit, book about using diamond abrasives, instructions and guarantee (motor shipped separately).
 

When ordering specify 'Model number'.

8” Grinder Polisher Silicon Carbide Unit	Model 752SGP	$1075.00
Covington	Shipping Weight 100 Lb.	(includes 1/2" bore Vari-drive motor pulley)

8” Grinder Polisher Diamond Unit	Model 754DGP	$1,275.00
Covington	Shipping Weight 100 Lb.	(includes 1/2" bore Vari-drive motor pulley)

     Diamond Pacific’s BigFoot

BigFoot is designed to be more convenient in size and weight with only minor compromises in it's capacity to cut stones, and NO COMPROMISE at all in quality. With BigFoot you can grind and polish calibrated cabochons up to 52 X 38 mm with ease, as well as larger stones of baroque shapes. You have plenty of room between the wheels for making crosses and hearts, as well as shaping small carvings.

Comes with six 2-3/8 Galaxy and Nova diamond wheels in the standard grit sequence on our larger Gem Makers: 80 and 220 grit Galaxy metal bond wheels and 280, 600, 1200 and 3000 grit Nova resin bond wheels.

Plus, you can convert the BigFoot to a 4" trim saw and then store everything in the machine to end up with a compact 12" X 6-1/4" X 6-1/4" shoebox size.

No other grinder in the world offers such performance and convenience in such a handy, compact size.

Check out these BigFoot features:

• In spite of its size, BigFoot actually gives you convenient storage space for accessories, and other tools. You won't believe the efficiency of BigFoot's size and space.

• Its 12" wide by 11" deep by 6 1/4" high! Stores even smaller at 12"x 6 1/4" x 6 1/4".

• Uses six 2-3/8" Galaxy and Nova Wheels in our standard sequence. You can grind and polish with ease using these diamond wheels

• Four wheels are mounted at once for wide (1-1-1/8") wheel spacing, with the rapid (no tools required) wheel change feature found on the Genie.

• Uses our standard Spra-Mist coolant system providing plenty of water to the wheels.

• Special pans for using Magnetic Novas are included so that you can polish flats on the right hand side of your BigFoot. Four inch Magnetic Novas and the proper back plate are sold separately.

• Has a variable speed control on a quiet, premium quality, D.C. motor. You get plenty of power for the job.

• A halogen lamp is standard equipment, giving you plenty of light right on your work area.

• In spite of it's size, BigFoot actually gives you convenient storage space for accessories, and other tools. You won't believe the efficiency of BigFoot's size and space.

When ordering specify 'BigFoot' unit.

2 3/8” HD GEM Maker	Model BigFoot	$1,170.00
Diamond Pacific	Shipping Weight 16 Lb.	Complete

      Diamonds Pacific’s

In a matter of minutes you can convert your BigFoot grinder into a handy 4" trim saw. The saw blade is bolted to the wheel adaptor that is then screwed onto the right wheel shaft. The saw table fits neatly in the water pan and you are ready to go.

When ordering specify 'BigFoot Trim Saw'.

BigFoot Trim Saw	$115.00
Diamond Pacific	Shipping Weight 2 Lb.

Diamond Pacific’s Pixie

Same wheels as the Titan and Genie, but in a handy transportable 4" wheel size

4” HD GEM Maker	Model Pixie	$1,245.00
Diamond Pacific	Shipping Weight 36 Lb.	Complete

Diamond Pacific’s Genie