SRB Stone Supplies        Rough Rock, Slabs and Lapidary Materials
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My machines

Here are some photos and brief descriptions of the machines that I have in my workshop. 

They're not in showroom condition as they're in continuous use, so please excuse the untidy state.

If you'd like to know more about any of these machines, or have questions about their usage, just drop me a line at the address above.

Tumbler. Manufacturer:  ML Beach.

We all start with a tumbler, but I upgraded to this one many years ago so that I could polish larger quantities of rough rock.

I also had two customers who painted on agate and I needed something with large barrels (these have a capacity of 10lb) so that I could tumble Brazilian Agate slabs for them.

Slab Saw.  Manufacturer: Peter Redwood

This machine will qualify as a museum piece before long.  It originates from New Zealand but I can't find any reference to the manufacturer.

I bought it second hand and estimate that it must have been built around 40 years ago.  It has a 10 inch continuous rim blade which has lasted for years despite a lot of abuse.  I had to have the screw feed mechanism modified to slow things down as it was struggling to get through larger pieces of harder material.  Due to it's age it does require careful handling and regular overhauls and I'd really like to get my hands on a saw with a bigger blade but, apart form the fact that the cost can't be justified, such a machine isn't readily available in the UK. 

Trim Saw.  Manufacturer: Picador (and me)

Don't mock - it works!  I first put this together when I couldn't afford anything decent and have modified it several times since.  It serves it's purpose so I see no point in spending money to replace it.

The arbor was purchased from Picador and it's driven by a washing machine motor.  The latest upgrade incorporates a plastic chopping board as the work surface and plastic storage boxes for the splash guards and reservoir.  It incorporates a 6 inch notched blade, grindstone and a 6 inch sanding disc which holds a thick felt pad for polishing.  The sanding disc was also originally used to hold silicon carbide discs and I've produced a lot of cabochons with this Heath Robinson device- a very basic combination machine. 

Vibrolap.  Manufacturer: HC Evans 

Another machine that's unfortunately no longer available, so if you have any cast iron pans laying around in your shed please let me know as mine are now very worn, though they'll keep going a few years yet.  Once again, a replacement would be difficult and expensive to obtain.

I use my vibrolap mostly for flattening and polishing one side of sawn lumps of rock, but I occasionally use it to polish slabs by sticking a weight onto the slab with BluTack.  

Diamond Lap.  Manufacturer: Inland

The newest machine in my arsenal, and I must admit that it's taken a while to get used to it as I'd never used a flat lap before.  Ideal for polishing small slabs and, when I get around to it, I may use it for cabochons.  It's supplied with 4 laps of different grades and felt polishing pads.

I also have a flexi-drive accessory (not shown) that I use with mini-drill tools for accessing those awkward corners of irregular shaped pieces of stone.