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Techniques for CollectorsB&I mfg
21st Nov 2004 05:43 UTCManny
at a yard sale. On one side it has a metal stamp that says Gem Maker by
B&I MFG. of Burlington Wis. The motor is shot but every thing else seems to
move freely. I was woundering if anyone out there might be familiar with this
brand and if the Co. is still around. You now like for spare parts and a manual.
7th Feb 2005 15:48 UTCChris van Laer
This was once a very common machine sold through Sears & Roebuck; I believe it should only be a 6 inch diameter machine. If the motor is shot, you can get a used motor from an appliance repair shop, one from a washing machine for example. You will need a 1750 RPM motor (fairly standard) at a horsepower between 1/4 and 1/3 HP, plus one that operates on standard 120 Volts. This should be easy to get, as they are fairly common. The pulley on the motor should be about 2 to 2-1/2 inches in diameter, but you may want to check John Sinkankas' book on Gem Cutting for rim speeds & pulley diameters. I have one of these old units still, which is invaluable for polishing as the horizontal wheel will hold wet polishing compounds far better than those with vertical wheels. Also, you can unscrew the "nut" on the bottom of the shaft and add grease to the receptacle, in case it has not been done in a while.
12th Feb 2005 05:21 UTCJim
What years were they around?
Thank you!
7th Mar 2005 02:38 UTCGeorge
22nd Jan 2021 16:54 UTCMichael J Plitnick
George ✉️
✉️ Hi, I just joined and am looking at one of these to buy, I think its an 8", and has all the parts accept motor, What would I expect to pay if its in decent shape just need cleaning and how do I get a manual?
22nd Jan 2021 19:30 UTCRoger Ericksen 🌟
28th Jan 2021 20:11 UTCMichael J Plitnick
28th May 2021 17:32 UTCCynthia simmons
31st May 2022 15:58 UTCChris Peters
31st May 2022 18:18 UTCKevin Conroy Manager
31st May 2022 18:43 UTCChris Peters
10th Jun 2005 02:17 UTCKen Volin
If you have a manual for a 10" B&I Gem Maker, I would appreciate it. I found one at a garage sale many years ago and have made some use of it but not as much as I would have liked. My kids are now starting to collect rocks and have become interested in it. A manual would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Ken Volin
10th Jun 2005 02:50 UTCEd Ford
23rd Jun 2005 13:27 UTCtrent
I recently began teaching geology at a high school and they have a lap machine in poor condition. I have it up and running, but there are some parts that I can't seem to figure out if they belong to the unit or not. the manual would help alot so that the students can use it to polish up the rocks and mineral that they collect, cut and put on display.
Thank you for your time and help.
Trent Harrison
Earth Science Course Coordinator
Ridgefield High School
200 North Salem Rd
Ridgefield, CT 06877
203-438-3785 x 1306
tharrison@ridgefield.org
22nd Aug 2005 00:40 UTCEric Rothleutner
prompt reply would be greatly appreciated,please e-mail the manual to this address ericjan@gwtc.net Thank you for your time:Eric Rothleutner
6th Jan 2006 04:11 UTCCarolyn
Carolyn
18th Jan 2006 13:45 UTCLarry Quinn
8th Feb 2006 07:41 UTCLee Denton
Certainly would appreciate a Copy of the Manual for a 10 inch B&I Gem Maker.
Many Thanks,
Lee
12th Feb 2006 21:24 UTCDick Downing
In your post you say you have several of the machines in 6" and 10" and the manuals. I just bought a Craftsman on Ebay. I think it is a 10". There is a rusty 1/4" thick 10" diameter steel plate on the shaft currently. The shaft does turn freely and without any noticable wobble. The center to closest side measurement is just over 5 1/2". If you have the actual machines are any of them for sale or available for parts? I need the manual also but there are some missing or badly pitted parts that I'd like to replace. Any assistance would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Dick
26th Mar 2006 03:52 UTCS Grills
27th Mar 2006 03:43 UTCSean Gerson
smgerson@hotmail.com
30th Mar 2006 02:27 UTCRick Pochervina
Please let me know any fees associated.
Thanks,
Rick
8th Apr 2006 18:41 UTCShawna Vedders
Happy to pay any cost associated with printing and mailing.
Thank you
Shawna
9th Apr 2006 03:46 UTCShawna Vedder
I've got a six inch craftsman gem maker. I don't have your email address to send you my address.
Thank You Shawnie
18th Apr 2006 02:38 UTCPaul Scott
did you ever get a copy?
If so any help in obtaining one would be appreciated.
Thanks - Paul
paul_d_Scott@yahoo.com
19th Jun 2006 02:58 UTCDoug
douge@650dialup.com
19th Jun 2006 02:59 UTCDoug
aghost2u@yahoo.com
27th Jun 2006 17:38 UTCClaude Flom
I just received a 10" from a surplus store in fairly poor condition. Looks like it is missing some parts. I would like a copy of the manual, also, and would be very happy to pay for copying and shipping or for a scanned copy. Any help would be very much appreciated.
Thanks,
Claude
8th Jul 2006 19:07 UTCScott
29th Jul 2006 18:46 UTCRalenda
If so where?
Can you copy and sell copy?
As you have guessed I have one and did a manual.
Thanks
28th Aug 2006 17:11 UTCalex paavola
24th Oct 2006 01:25 UTCCatherine
> B&I gem makers were around in the late 60's to the
> early 70's.I have several of these machines in
> both 6" and 10".I have manuals for both.If you are
> interested in a copy email me using the above
> subject title.But I need to know if it is the 6 or
> 10".Take a measurment from the center of the arbor
> where the wheels go on to the shortest distance to
> the outer case. George....
Hi- I just purchased a used 6" gem maker- looks to have some parts missing- Does any one know if parts are available anywhere? Would it be possible to obtain a mnaual- I am new to this hobby. Thanks
MY Address Catherine Sapriken, 101 Chilcotin Rd. West, Lethbridge Ab T1K 7L8
25th Oct 2006 14:24 UTCCatherine
6th Nov 2006 18:33 UTCFrederick
any help will be appreciated,
thanks,
Frederick
holsem@hotmail.com
18th May 2007 19:54 UTCscott bolshazy
Please send to 343 gana ct. Henderson NV 89014
Include amount and return address so I can reimburse you for time and effort!
Thanks a million carats!
Scott
16th Jun 2007 16:18 UTCMark Abrams
28th Jun 2007 03:30 UTCMarge K.
George, or any other lucky owner of a manual: if you still are willing to make copies, I'd love one. Please contact me and let me know what I owe you for the pdf file, your time, copies & shipping or whatever!
Thanks much.
Marge K.
14th Jul 2007 15:42 UTCrussell jardine
19th Jul 2007 03:17 UTCbobby
thank you for posting the information about the b&i gem maker. i have a 10" unit and would love to have a user manual for it.
if you can provide a manual please let me know. i can receive fax, email and pdf. files.
thanks
bobby
3rd Aug 2007 21:03 UTCRick Villiger
Please let me know any fees associated.
Thanks,
Rick
4th Aug 2007 18:06 UTCGary Powers
My mailing address is Gary Powers - 82280 Hat Rock Rd. - Hermiston, Oregon 97838. e-mail is gar_pow@eotnet.net.
Thanks
Gary
25th Aug 2007 22:39 UTCTerry Ward
6th Sep 2007 04:32 UTCBoz
Any feedback is appreciated.
-Ryan Greensboro, NC jbosley(at)triad.rr.com replace (at) with the appropriate character.
12th Oct 2007 23:50 UTCKenneth McLemore
26th Oct 2007 03:02 UTCDan Dunlap
26th Oct 2007 16:40 UTCLarry Whaley
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does anyone know what happened to B&I?
>
> What years were they around?
>
> Thank you!
I would reall apricate a copy ot the manual you have for 10 in will gladly pay for copy and postage Thanks Larry.
31st Oct 2007 17:48 UTCJessee
Thanks
28th Dec 2007 09:53 UTCGlenn Neff
I just got a 10" unit and it is lacking the attachments..rock carrige etc.
TIA
Glenn
George Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> B&I gem makers were around in the late 60's to the
> early 70's.I have several of these machines in
> both 6" and 10".I have manuals for both.If you are
> interested in a copy email me using the above
> subject title.But I need to know if it is the 6 or
> 10".Take a measurment from the center of the arbor
> where the wheels go on to the shortest distance to
> the outer case. George....
29th Dec 2007 12:04 UTCManny
18th Feb 2008 03:43 UTCsshimatzki
You can get it attached in this message, or if that doesn't still exist, find it here:
www.shimatzki.com/b&i-6inch-gem-maker.pdf
The above is my family website, so as long as I keep that going, you'll have access to it. (Slightly different name, but same file... just more web friendly)
Since The B & I Lapidary and Pottery Equipment is out of business, I will assume that there is no problems with it being reproduced in PDF Format here.
Anyone with information contrary to that, Please contact me to discuss it.
Enjoy
-Steve Shimatzki
PS.. Turned out a had a copy in the box of books that I got as a christmas present! How's that for fate!
8th Aug 2008 20:29 UTCJim Richards
Jim Richards
jrichards@owc.net
11th Aug 2008 03:50 UTCLarryB
Any recommendations for blades that you guys have had success with? Do I bite the bullet and pay $$$ for the Lortone blade or are there better choices for the money?
Other supplies - Where do you get parts and where do you get your polishing compounds?
Good books?
I have a manual and original sales brochure. Anyone want PDF of either?
LarryB
11th Aug 2008 14:13 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager
5th Oct 2008 23:01 UTCWarrendj
I also am in need of an operators manual for a 10" B&I Gem Maker. Please help if you can. I'm also interested in a 10 " Lap wheel for the same. Are there any parts out there? Are there any facet heads floating around?
Thanks in advance!
wdjmack@aol.com
Warren
6th Oct 2008 10:03 UTCRay Hill Expert
Just a few thoughts ...
19th Nov 2008 01:49 UTCJohn Weber
12th Jan 2009 14:29 UTCpaul POMEROY
3rd Feb 2009 04:32 UTCMaryann
Thanks
Maryann
12th Feb 2009 15:07 UTCStephen Shimatzki
Basically they are the same beast, just the 10" is wider. Concepts and uses are the same so the 6" manual is a great place to start.
As for location of replacement laps, I'd say Kingsley North: www.kingsleynorth.com But I'm biased because they are pretty close to me and shipping is fast. (one state north)
I've been using the following, I got an Inland 8" Master Lap for the base ($19.95). If you want to polish, use the same master lap with some 8" Ameritool flexable pads or similar. 1200Grit = $35, 3000Grit = $35 You could also get the flat diamond laps if you needed: 8" 100mesh Diamond disc (74.95) and 8" 600 mesh diamond disc ($49.95) and that covers your basic grinding. I have a regular highland park unit that I use for grinding and only use my B&I as a flat lap for final smoothing and polishes. This is all on my 10" B&I... You'll want to use smaller for the 6', and also these are suggestions for durability type use, you can use other products but in similar manners.
Actually, before I switched it over to Diamond, I had my "master laps" made from plywood that another Rock Club Member had previously made and gave to me when they heard I had it. I used those wood masters with foam circle and then a wet/dry silicaCarbide sanding paper. (sandwich the foam between the wood and the paper, use a little rubber cement to hold them together) That was VERY in expensise, and worked great. I made some awsome cabs on that. And I coiuld get the SilicaCarbide paper @ the local hardware store, nothing fancy other than it was wet/dry use so the paper held up. The only down side was the spead that the 600grit paper wore down to 1200grit... and my 1200 would ware down to about a 3000grit... So I kept having to re make the different laps. I even started putting foam on two sides and labeling the edges of the wood with dates so that I knew I had an "old" 600 and a "new" 600... if the 600 wasn't cutting right, I'd just flip to the "new" to save time and redo the lap at a later date. I would of kept using it this way, but I wanted to try the diamond approach for consistancy reasons.
12th Feb 2009 15:48 UTCAnonymous User
Thanks for the download. My wife is an eBay seller (just a note to some posters: she's an honest seller) who buys at estate sales, auctions and thrifts. We picked up my Gem Maker up at an auction last spring along with an old trim saw and about 20lbs. of various rock and tumbled stone. She was looking into resale, but then saw my fascination and decided it would be good for me to have a hobby, lol. I won't go into how I've misused this thing with grinding discs not meant for it, but I've been trying to build up the cash to buy some good quality discs.
In looking into discs, I've seen the inexpensive adhesive backed discs that you apply to a master lap and of course the Inland diamond discs. Quite a price variation. I know that generally you get what you pay for. Which comes out cheaper in the long run.
Thanks
22nd Mar 2009 14:23 UTCStephen Shimatzki
It really is a matter of work for you... You "invest" in a diamond lap (fexible on a master lap, etc...) and you have less work than if you use the "cheap" old school method of Silicon Carbide Grit paper over a plywood or wood master lap... The paper wears down fast and you are constantly regluing paper to your mast lap units... That results in more downtime and hassle and chance of errors. (torn paper, etc...) The diamond flex pads over a master lap will last much longer if properly cared for and such... Obviously there is a HUGE price difference, but then you have to put a price on your time. (Really, a B&I machine is 1/4 as usable as an arbor with 4 seperate wheels on it, but that is another story completely.)
Like I had stated, I started with the cheap method and gradualy moved to the the diamond once I knew more about what I was doing, etc... I still have all my old laps and paper, but haven't put one together in a long time. The nice thing about the cheap method is cost of errors. :) If I gouged a section of the Silicon Carbide Paper, no worries, just glue up a new one... If it was a Diamonda disc, ouch! Thats a $ mistake.
So, take this information for what it is worth, and apply it to your own situation.
My last piece of advice is always to find a rock club near you... The experience and hands on learning that you get from the "Ol' Timers" will be more valuable than re-inventing the "wheels"... Besides... Most have nice shops that save hundreds/thousands of Dollars in equipment cost of you buying it on your own.
16th Jun 2009 01:04 UTCVernon
-------------------------------------------------------
> B&I gem makers were around in the late 60's to the
> early 70's.I have several of these machines in
> both 6" and 10".I have manuals for both.If you are
> interested in a copy email me using the above
> subject title.But I need to know if it is the 6 or
> 10".Take a measurment from the center of the arbor
> where the wheels go on to the shortest distance to
> the outer case. George....
I have B&I gem maker and in need of a manual.
From center of arbor, it measures 5".5"+.
The blade that was on it when I purchased it measures 9".75"
Thanks for any help you can give me,
Vernon Pike
My E-mail is vernon-pike@msn.com
16th Jun 2009 01:34 UTCVernon Pike
I have B&I gem maker and in need of a manual.
From center of arbor, it measures 5".5"+.
The blade that was on it when I purchased it measures 9".75"
Thanks for any help you can give me,
Vernon Pike
My E-mail is vernon-pike@msn.com
16th Jun 2009 03:39 UTCVernon Pike
My e-mail vernon-pike@msn.com
19th Jul 2009 00:56 UTCSteveK
Please assist if you can - tregra99 {at} netzero {dot} net
9th Sep 2009 15:43 UTCAnonymous User
cdbakken@lakedalelink.net
Thanks for the help.
I was wondering if anyone had found a good source for a replacement 10 saw blade with the correct arbor size to fit the 10 inch gemmaker?
9th Aug 2010 02:11 UTCDennis McGill
Dennis McGill
1701 Hardy Drive
Edmond, OK 73013
Phone: 405-341-0133
E-Mail: dmcgill1@cox.net
6th Jan 2011 22:23 UTCElden John
Thank you.
Elden John
13th Feb 2011 17:27 UTCPete Clein
It looks like this is the place (the only one I have found) that folks talk about these older units. And again any leads on an instruction booklet or manual would be great.
Thanks,
Pete
22nd Feb 2011 12:45 UTCCatherine
23rd Apr 2011 17:47 UTCsusan
1st Oct 2011 21:13 UTCJim Haight
Yes, I'd like a pdf copy of the 10" Gem Maker manual. Thanks in advance.
4th Jun 2012 20:24 UTCZori Cohen
I just won a sears craftsman 6 inch gem maker. I was wondering if you have a copy of the instructions.
Thanks
5th Jun 2012 20:36 UTCZori Cohen
I just bought a sears craftsman gem maker 6 on ebay but it does not have a manual. Do you have the manual for this machine?
Thanks,
Zori
zbc53@comcast.net
6th Jun 2012 20:36 UTCZori Cohen
I just bought a sears craftsman gem maker six from ebay but it has no manual. Do you have the manual? if so can you email me a copy or else send it via snail mail.
Thanks,
Zori Cohen
zbc53@comcast.net
4010 SW Vacuna Street
Portland, Oregon 9721
greatly appreciated
7th Jun 2012 19:33 UTCZori Cohen
I just bought a sears gemmaker six from ebay. Was wondering if you still have the manual? If so, email me and I'll give you my address.
Thanks,
Zori
20th Oct 2012 16:16 UTCChuck Fross
Chuck
24th Jun 2014 19:02 UTCBob
Thanks for your help.
Bob
21st Aug 2014 21:41 UTCJoelK.
I have the 6" gem maker with the faceting head. Is there any instructions on how to set this up and the process used on this particular machine? I have the instructions I downloaded from this forum, there are at least 4 or 5 postings of the PDF so anyone can download them. But not one of those pdf's contains anything about the faceting attachment and how its set up or used. It appears I will have to make some modifications to the faceting head as the diameter of the dop stick holder is not standard, its only a slight amount and I hope I don't destroy the whole unit. I have a very nice drill press that I hope will do a perfect job. Any help with the setup and use of the faceting unit would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Joel
28th Aug 2014 20:47 UTCTravis Hetsler
Cheers!!!
Ray Hill Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dumb question Larry, but did your unit have the
> water drip cup...if you haven't used a unit
> before, you might not know about the need for
> lubrication and wetting of the cutting edge of the
> diamond blade. If you do and you have had a fairly
> steady flow of water onto the blade and the
> cutting is still slow, then it may be either the
> blade has lost it's embedded diamonds, or that the
> material you are cutting is quite hard.. Mine had
> a weighted assembly with a stone vise, which
> pulled the stone against the blade...does
> yours...and if so, is the weight on the end heavy
> enough or are you doing this by hand?
> Just a few thoughts ...
16th Dec 2014 22:35 UTCGuy
18th Dec 2014 16:09 UTCConnie
I don't know if you still have a manual. I am looking for B & I Gem Maker flat lap 6" manual. Have to replace the bearing, need something to go by. Thank you in advance.
Connie
21st Jan 2016 23:20 UTCVickie
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Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2024, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: April 26, 2024 14:01:42