simax rod blanks

[e. mort]

ABR imagery just quoted me a price of $75 to cut one 38mm rod into 2.5" blanks. That doesn't include the glass itself or shipping. Can anybody else recommend an alternative place to get it? I don't have a tile saw, or the place to use one, so I would prefer to purchase the blanks ready to go.

Thanks

[LarryC]

Originally Posted by e. mort

ABR imagery just quoted me a price of $75 to cut one 38mm rod into 2.5" blanks. That doesn't include the glass itself or shipping. Can anybody else recommend an alternative place to get it? I don't have a tile saw, or the place to use one, so I would prefer to purchase the blanks ready to go.

Thanks

Is there a reason why you cannot cut them yourself using a simple rod cutter? I always buy cases and cut the rod to length using a nipper/cutter that has two circular blades. I cut both 18mm and 1" rod using this method. The tool was given to me by a friend so I dont know what they are called but I see them for sale everywhere and they work well. If I did not have access to a cutter, I would measure and score the rod using a file and then break them into blanks. I find that if I buy a sealed case, the rod is much cleaner without any scratches and dings then I used to get when I asked the retailer to cut to length.

[MagpieGlass]

I'd get a quote from Art Glass House. Ron carries Simax as well and prices are on par for the glass itself with ABR.

[e. mort]

38 mm rod is pretty difficult to cut with either circular cutters or nippers. It's even more Difficult when you're trying to get them all exactly 2.5 inches long.

Originally Posted by LarryC

Is there a reason why you cannot cut them yourself using a simple rod cutter? I always buy cases and cut the rod to length using a nipper/cutter that has two circular blades. I cut both 18mm and 1" rod using this method. The tool was given to me by a friend so I dont know what they are called but I see them for sale everywhere and they work well. If I did not have access to a cutter, I would measure and score the rod using a file and then break them into blanks. I find that if I buy a sealed case, the rod is much cleaner without any scratches and dings then I used to get when I asked the retailer to cut to length.

[LarryC]

Originally Posted by e. mort

38 mm rod is pretty difficult to cut with either circular cutters or nippers. It's even more Difficult when you're trying to get them all exactly 2.5 inches long.

Yup. The word "exactly" worries me.

[fourpawsglass]

Mountain Glass Arts - http://www.mountainglass.com
Glasscraft, Inc. - http://www.glasscraftinc.com

Glasscraft is closer to you - might save you in shipping. Mountain Glass is on the east coast.

[Three Muses Glass]

Eric, this place is in Austin. http://www.heliosglass.com/index.htm
They rent their equipment. If I remember correctly, it's Paul Tarlow's place. Met him years ago, nice guy.
Don't see why you couldn't go in and use their saw.
And man....I want to go into the glass cutting business! I have 2 wetsaws in my shed just sitting there waiting for me to get rich on them. haha

[e. mort]

That is a really good idea. I know Paul. I will have to give him a call tomorrow. Thanks much.

[Cornbread]

for $75 you could prob spend a little more and get a wet tile saw and slightly modify it to cut rod.

[Bunyip]

Originally Posted by e. mort

ABR imagery just quoted me a price of $75 to cut one 38mm rod into 2.5" blanks.

Speaking as a roofer, if we want someone to go away, or if we feel they're not worth the effort, we throw them a high price to cover the annoyance factor if they decide to go with us anyway.

So umm, what did you do to them?

[e. mort]

Originally Posted by Bunyip

Speaking as a roofer, if we want someone to go away, or if we feel they're not worth the effort, we throw them a high price to cover the annoyance factor if they decide to go with us anyway.

So umm, what did you do to them?

I spend a lot of money with ABR, so hopefully they want to keep me as a customer. LOL

[LarryC]

Originally Posted by Bunyip

Speaking as a roofer, if we want someone to go away, or if we feel they're not worth the effort, we throw them a high price to cover the annoyance factor if they decide to go with us anyway.

So umm, what did you do to them?

They obviously dont want to be in the rod cutting business. I Dont blame them

[Bunyip]

Yeah, at three+ bucks a cut, they're doing pretty good if he goes for it.

[J.Meader]

Originally Posted by Cornbread

for $75 you could prob spend a little more and get a wet tile saw and slightly modify it to cut rod.

I was thinking that same thing, I bought one a couple years ago from one of the big box stores for $99

[menty666]

Heck, a cheapo saw you're intending to kill is less than 75.

http://www.harborfreight.com/7-inch-...saw-40315.html

You might consider asking a stone supplier if they can cut it for you. A saw that can laugh at marble and granite shouldn't have any issue with boro rod.

[juba]

Get a tile saw from harbour freight http://www.harborfreight.com/4-inch-...tray-3733.html
and replace the blade with a diamond coated rock cutting lapidary blade. I have used this setup for years and it works awesome. The saw even has a gate you can use to set the exact size you want to cut. I got mine for around fifty bucks on sale, and had a 20% off coupon...
Don't cut all the way through the rod just about 1/3 to 1/2 way through and snap off ... really easy...

[sunray]

I would have cut that for you but the boys took all my 38mm to the shop and melted it
in the crucibles for their clear and I only have 31.7 in stock and smaller sizes.
I can ask if Trev has any at the shop and let you know...

[ABR Dave]

it's the deathly effect cutting up 1 1/2" rod has on a blade also. we have a 24" blade, and they are not cheap. it also takes an employee a looong time to set the saw up, cut a whole rod up in little pieces, etc....

we have people that pay that for jobs all the time. it's simply what it's worth to us.

[Crazy Woman]

Tile saw and Hot Dawg blade....

[e. mort]

Originally Posted by ABR Dave

it's the deathly effect cutting up 1 1/2" rod has on a blade also. we have a 24" blade, and they are not cheap. it also takes an employee a looong time to set the saw up, cut a whole rod up in little pieces, etc....

we have people that pay that for jobs all the time. it's simply what it's worth to us.

I have had it done a number of times by ABR, and each time the price goes up. At $2 a cut I could justify it. But $3 a cut is a 50% increase in price in less than a year, and that seems excessive. Still, it is your business and your decision in the end. The economy is tough enough on full time lampworkers right now, and I have to watch every penny, so I guess I will be buying a tile saw at Home Depot this week.

[Three Muses Glass]

Eric, check craigslist in your area for wetsaws before you go to Home Depot. Sometimes you can get stuff for barter. The continuous rim blades that come with them can cut glass, there is more waste because of the larger thickness but they can do the job.

eta- http://austin.craigslist.org/tls/3152885415.html

ps- I have a 7" MK Hot Dog blade with a 5/8" arbor that I'd trade for a small pendant or something. Just sayin'.

[LarryC]

Originally Posted by ABR Dave

it's the deathly effect cutting up 1 1/2" rod has on a blade also. we have a 24" blade, and they are not cheap. it also takes an employee a looong time to set the saw up, cut a whole rod up in little pieces, etc....

we have people that pay that for jobs all the time. it's simply what it's worth to us.

Understood, Dave. Dont think anyone was suggesting otherwise. It is a pain in the #$$ to cut whole rods down like this.

[Bunyip]

Oh, I don't know, I was kinda busting chops, personally. In a friendly way, but yeah.

[Three Muses Glass]

Originally Posted by ABR Dave

it's the deathly effect cutting up 1 1/2" rod has on a blade also. we have a 24" blade, and they are not cheap. it also takes an employee a looong time to set the saw up, cut a whole rod up in little pieces, etc....

we have people that pay that for jobs all the time. it's simply what it's worth to us.

A 24" blade?!? Holy crap. What the heck kind of ginormous machine you got there anyway?

Anyway, I still don't see what the BFD is. I used to make big fat long pattern bars and cut them into 1/4" slices so that's probably why I don't get it. To each their own.

[ABR Dave]

it's solid clear 1 1/2" rod. it's a whole other deal than cutting tubing, or pattern rods in slices. the reason your price went up, was that the 2nd time we did it, it killed our blade. so, it is a BFD, if we lose money on an order.


so, in retrospect, we should've charged more to start with, but we were trying to help you out. which unfortunately resulted in this thread. we can't lose money on stuff though, i think everyone would understand that. so, sorry it didn't work out.

[Role]

A 24" sintered diamond blade designed to cut rocks is killed by glass with a hardness of 5-6 ??

LOL... Maybe if it was run dry...

[patienthand]

Originally Posted by ABR Dave

it's the deathly effect cutting up 1 1/2" rod has on a blade also. we have a 24" blade, and they are not cheap. it also takes an employee a looong time to set the saw up, cut a whole rod up in little pieces, etc....

we have people that pay that for jobs all the time. it's simply what it's worth to us.

no shit, thats what I was thinking... time is oney and cutting that many thick slices is a PITA

[RedToroBoro]

Originally Posted by ABR Dave

it's solid clear 1 1/2" rod. it's a whole other deal than cutting tubing, or pattern rods in slices. the reason your price went up, was that the 2nd time we did it, it killed our blade. so, it is a BFD, if we lose money on an order.


so, in retrospect, we should've charged more to start with, but we were trying to help you out. which unfortunately resulted in this thread. we can't lose money on stuff though, i think everyone would understand that. so, sorry it didn't work out.

This is pretty un-professional. Now your going to blame the customer for something they had no control over. WOW

It's simple go somewhere else many others have been pushed away like this also.

[LarryC]

Originally Posted by RedToroBoro

This is pretty un-professional. Now your going to blame the customer for something they had no control over. WOW

It's simple go somewhere else many others have been pushed away like this also.

Wow. Where did that bs get regurgitated from? Take the crap elsewhere. Some of us were just trying to help emort get the job done.

[e. mort]

Let's just all let this thread die. It was only intended as a way of gathering information about how to solve my situation. It wasn't meant to turn into a witch hunt. Let's all just chill out about it. Thanks much. -- Eric