I have recently been getting into collecting Rock Types, Minerals, Crystals and fossils. I like them in the rough. I do not polish or tumble or make jewellery. That being said, some of my specimens have too much extra matrix, especially the fossils. As for the general rock types (Granite's, sandstone's, gneiss, etc ) I prefer 4"x3"x3/4" slabs for uniformity in display. Thus, I need a rock saw. You can only do so much with a hammer and a chisel!!!

I can go two ways here: Used or New. Price wise I can go inexpensive (preferred) or go all in at the $700-$1000 range if I can get it from Amazon with monthly payments.

I have not had much luck finding nice looking used equipment. Does anyone have a nice used saw?

If I go new, should I stay in the $100-$200 dollar range or bite the bullet and go for more expensive equipment?

I have been looking at machines for cutting tiles. Any advice on going that route? Here are the details.
++++++++++++++++++++++

From the manufacturer
DEWALT D24000S Heavy-Duty 10-inch Wet Tile Saw with Stand

The 69-pound D24000S 10" Wet Tile Saw allows a one person set up and transport.

Stainless steel rail system is integrated into the tile saw frame, insuring accurate cuts. Rear and side water attachments can be placed on tile saw to catch over-spray from large tile to keep the water in the pan.

The D24000S includes a 10" Wet Tile Saw with a stand that folds for easy transporting and storage.

The stand holds the 69-pound Wet Tile Saw and provides an ideal work space.

    Dual water nozzles can be adjusted for optimal water placement on blade in order to minimize over-spray and mist
    Rear and side water attachments can be placed on tile saw to contain water run-off and to catch blade sprayoverspray from large tile keeping the water in the pan
    Removable cutting cart for easy cleaning of tile saw
+++++++++++++++++++
Search Amazon for a picture
DEWALT-D24000S-Heavy-Duty-10-inch-Stand
+++++++++++++++++++

Thanks for any help or opinions on this.

JoeM--Thanks for the reply. As for the saw cut marks, they don't bother me as I won't be polishing the specimens as I prefer the natural rough surface of the specimen anyway. My main concern is getting rid of excess matrix. Most specimens are less than 3" thick so that should not be a problem most of the time. When they are thicker, they can usually be thinned with a chisel and hammer. Many of them are Green River fish or plant fossils in 1/4" to 1/2" thick shale or sandstone. Often there will be 3 or 4 different fossils on the same slab which I want to cut apart. I do see the advantage of the bottom-up cutting of the slab saw instead of the top-down of the tile saw. Also, a slab saw would give you more flexibility to cut slabs off of larger rocks

Everything  considered, maybe I would be better served with a Slab saw like this one:

Hi-Tech Diamond 10" Lapidary Slab Saw | Cutting Sawing Slabbing Machine | Includes TWO 10" Diamond Saw Blades
by Hi-Tech Diamond
Price:      $699.00 & FREE Shipping
Pay $38.83/month for 18 months, interest-free with your Amazon Rewards Visa Card

    Excellent choice and economical saw for slabbing larger rocks, minerals and glass into more manageable pieces.
    Includes TWO 10" diamond saw blades, spray shield, Allen wrench and complete written and visual instructions.
    Powerful 1/3 hp motor that provides plenty of strength for large cuts, delivering a speed of 1,725rpm.
    Made of unbreakable, rustproof, impact-resistant material that is easy to clean.
    Manufactured in the U.S.A. Comes backed with a one-year warranty.
++++++++++++++++++++

Search Amazon to see this one. It does not appear to have an auto-feed

Awesome! Congrats on your purchase. I believe you will find that you have made a good decision!

does that hi tech lapidary saw feed the rock in itself?