Bit the bullet, and bought a Topaz Tec XT6

Prospecting Australia

Help Support Prospecting Australia:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Joined
Jun 16, 2017
Messages
1,767
Reaction score
3,612
Location
Stanthorpe, QLD
Having sold the VJ as Dinah was having back troubles using it, we've been looking around to pick up a Gemmasta. Friday night I spotted a Gumtree ad for a Topaz Tec, but like no Topaz Tec I had ever seen so headed off to check it out. It was easy to see this was a bit different, the engineering looked good and the machine ticked a lot of boxes, plus it was really clean. Turned out is had been sitting for 2 years, anyway.. bit the bullet and bought it; $3k

1591503561_xt-6.jpg


We started the strip and clean once we got home and it wasn't long before we discovered just how good the engineering in this machine is. Everything is was smooth as silk, except for a bit of binding on grub :(

Started cleaning the head and discovered the angle arc spindle sits in a good sized, sealed bearing, not only that the rotating face had a 50mm thrust bearing :eek: so it'll never run out or wear!

1591504189_head.jpg


Clean simple base, no clutter and a rubber mat to stand bits and pieces on:

1591504261_working-side.jpg


As we progressed it became apparent someone had been tinkering as the tension washers on the spindle/lap adjusters had been fitted incorrectly and there were spring washers on the bolts so nothing moved... easy fix

1591504018_adjusters.jpg


Splash bowl with two spun ali covers, one for girdles and a second fully enclosed cover, plus the bowl adjusts in height and quickly lifts off for cleaning :inlove:

1591504387_splash-bowl.jpg


Came with 4 index wheels, several are double sided and you can select the coloured dots for either multiples of 3 or 4 to minimise confusion, plus seriously clear markings.

1591504631_indexes.jpg


Dinah decided to clean the transfer jig, suddenly a scream for help as she has tiny ball bearings going everywhere :awful: Turns out the transfer slide runs on a linear bearing!! Fortunately a magnet found all the balls :playful:

1591504819_transfer-block.jpg


After that disaster, she decided not to tinker :D but do some reading. Turns out the machine was made in 1997/8, serial number 6021 and when purchased the price was $3900 I think this machine shares an engineering spot with such as the Hall 2000 extended and they could genuinely be considered as the "Rolls Royce" of faceting machines. I'm in awe of what Glen Booth designed and made.
 
Nice one. Is this actually Dinahs machine because it sounds like you could become quite attached to it? :)
 
Looks well engineered - surprisingly little information published about these.

Looking forward to the post-cutting review write up.
 
Martyz said:
Nice one. Is this actually Dinahs machine because it sounds like you could become quite attached to it? :)

Yes it's Dinah's, though I might use the transfer jig on occasions in order to verify the accuracy of the other transfer systems we have. I mean this transfer jig is total overkill where engineering is concerned :eek: Never seen one using linear bearings, would have to be accurate to within around 1/10,000th of a degree :)
 
Wally69 said:
Looks well engineered - surprisingly little information published about these.

Looking forward to the post-cutting review write up.

Absolutely mate, I couldn't find anything, I don't think Glen made many of them.

The workmanship is stunning, even the special printing for the degree arc, 1/10 arc and there is a total of 5 different prints for the index wheels. 96 has 6 fold one side and 8 fold the other. Changing the index is a bit tricky as you have to align like a VJ.

Takes VJ dops which is a bonus.
 

Latest posts

Top