Covington 5" Bead Gem Mill Lapidary Model 1040BM

Description

Covington 5" Mini Bead Mill.
Covington 5" Bead Mill model #1040BM
This is the 2 speed model.
Makes Beads from 5/16” to 3/4” in Diameter.
Best Suited for Producing Beads From Hard Material as Agate, Jasper and Jade.
Unit is a table model.  The mill is mounted in heavy gauge metal housing.  The head is belt driven by a 1/3 HP, 110v 60 hz motor and turns at a preset RPM to produce uniform beads from preformed material.
The two-speed mill operates at 380 and 250 RPM. The fast speed is best suited for finishing beads after initial grind.  The slower speed also reduces the abrasive action and should be used when milling softer materials such as malachite, rhodochrosite, and turquoise. These materials require light head pressure and finer abrasive grit.  Comes with instructions and guarantee. Size 18” x 11” x 12”  Shipping weight 75 lbs.
Preforming of Beads:
It is necessary to cut the gemstone material into cubes, slightly larger than the desired size. Accuracy in cutting the cubes so they are uniform in size will hasten grinding. Complete the preforming process by grinding off all corners and sharp edges until the cube is a rough sphere.
Milling: The preforms are placed in the cast aluminum 5" diameter bead chamber with a 50/50 mixture of silicon carbide and water. The 4 1/2" diameter x 1/2" aluminum head has a 3/8" recessed ring in the ceiling. Milling action is achieved by rotating the chamber with the location of the beads controlled by the milling head.
Procedures:
It is necessary for the operator to develop his own procedure by making test runs and keeping records of gemstone hardness, silicon carbide grit size and milling time. Remember, soft materials require light mill head pressure and finer abrasive grit.
Caution:
The mill is not recommended for gemstone material softer than 5 on the Mohs hardness scale. This is because the bead mill is a very aggressive machine.
Load:
You can grind twenty 1/2" beads at one milling.
Cleaning:
Chamber and head can be quickly removed for easy cleaning.
Polishing:
Beads must be polished in a gem tumbler.
SHIPPING NOTICE:
These units are assembled one at a time and shipped directly from the factory in California.  Depending upon order volume and stock on hand, shipping could be delayed.
Please make sure your address is correct.  I will only ship to the address on file with ebay and PayPal.
If you require an item shipped to an address other than the one on file, please contact me before bidding or purchasing an item.