Lortone, Reytech, Star Diamond Lapidary Rock Saw?

14 Mar

Posted by Jason as Equipment Reviews, Lapidary

Lortone Lapidary Saw Last week I purchase a used 10 inch Lapidary Rock Saw from a local pawn shop. That’s right a pawn shop, it’s not very often you see lapidary equipment in these places. To start with I’m not sure what the manufacturer of this saw is. My friend Tony has a exact copy of this rock saw which is a Lortone ST-10 and it is the common Lortone blue. As you can tell it is not blue, but more a green gray which makes me think it is a Star Diamond or Reytech saw.

This rock saw comes with all of the bells and whistles of a large slab saw, but it is just a little guy at 10 inches. This model is a table top saw, and has a fixed rate power feed. Did I also forget to mention that it has cross feed as well, how many new 10 inch lapidary saws have these features anymore. I can’t think of one can you?

Lortone 10 inch Rock Saw My saw needed a little TLC as the diamond blade was very dished and the carriage was out of alignment. First thing I did was purchase a new 10 inch diamond blade, it’s a cheap green one from eBay seller BUTW. This blade is by far the best diamond saw blade I have used to date. I’ve used MK, and Barranca diamond blades prior to this one, and I personally think it’s quite superior and at half the price.

Then came the tricky part aligning the carriage so my slabs were even. Well to start my experience with this type of saw is absolutely zero. I looked inside the saw and there were nuts and bolts everywhere. After messing with every single moving part on the saw and 3 1/2 hours later, I am getting straight cuts. Well I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it will stay that way.

I also forgot to mention that the coolant I am using in this Lapidary Trim Slab Saw is technical grade mineral oil. It can be purchased through United Oil out of Twin Falls or Boise Idaho. It currently is running about $8.00 a gallon and it has no smell what so ever. This little beast takes about 1 1/2 gallons of oil which is about 2 times the amount of my other saw.

So if anybody out there has a clue what brand and or model this saw is please leave a comment and let me know. Well that’s all folks until next week when the first official club field trip happens. It’s off to Graveyard Point again to collect some more Plume Agate.

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8 Responses

B Flanagan

March 14th, 2009 at 1:54 am
1

Thats exactly like a lorton saw I used to own mine was green as well.
And it was a great saw.
But after I bought an 18 in highland park slabber and a 10 inch highland park trim saw I dident need it so I sold it.
Otherwise I would have kept it .
Jason

March 14th, 2009 at 2:07 am
2

Cool thanks for the input. I would love to have a larger slab saw if the wife would let me have it in the garage. I have only had this saw for about week and I just love the thing. It is running all the time when I’m at home.

Jason
raggedy ann

March 19th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
3

I agree, it is a lortone. I have an old lortone 33b tumbler and a old lortone arbor that are both that same color of green. The arbor is from the early 1970’s, so that might be the age of your new saw.
Thanks for the tip on the blade purchase. I wondered if those BUTW offered were any good.
Jason

March 19th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
4

Yes those green blades are awesome. So I have come to the conclusion that it is a Lortone ST 10 rock saw. I can not even explain how much I love this lapidary saw. It looks as tho the bearings need to be replaced as it has a little radial play on the shaft. Besides that its all good.

Jason
Brad

March 20th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
5

Jason,

It is a exact replica of my Lortone ST-10 saw, switch box and all. I saw this on Craigslist at that pawn shop in Garden City. Did not get over to look. Glad you picked it up.

Are you going on the fieldtrip tomorrow to Graveyard Point? I will be there.

Brad
Jason

March 20th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
6

Brad

Yes I will be going to the field trip tomorrow. I am still trying to find out where to meet at? Tony is picking me up at 6:30 and if anything we will just wait at the entrance Graveyard Point.

Jason
Jason

March 26th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
7

Brad had brought it to my attention that United Oil only sells the mineral oil in Twin Falls.

Thanks Brad for the update and if anybody else happens to read something on this site which is wrong please feel free to let me know. I just want to make sure that this resource is as accurate as possible.

Jason
Carl

April 14th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
8

It’s a lortone for sure. It’s exactly like the one my folks gave me for Christmas back in about 1976. Great saw! the reason I made it to your post is that I see Lortone does not build it any more and I’d like to lay may hands on one. Perhaps I’ll check the pawn shop!