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Post by Bejewelme on Nov 16, 2008 10:44:51 GMT -5
Well I had the cabbing machine visitation this weekend, and I started with 10 cabs all dopped up and ready to go, and met with total frustrstion as they were popping off, material was crumbling, etc, this is what I ended up with. I like freeforms and it seems that shaping is the hardest part for me, I can't even follow a shape! I like the stones though and I will wear them. Thulite: This was a very pretty berry color with gray, it didn't take a great shine, but I liked it. Blue Lipidolite This was beautiful, I only had one slab of this, and I wish I had more, the color is great, and I like that it is a big size. Golden Green Tapestry Jade This is a beautiful piece, I like Jade it is hard and forgiving, I tried to follow an oval shape, but oh well. It has a nice shine to it. Ice Cream opal I was very happy with this one, it had nice color and it took a beautiful shine and I like the color variations, this is a fav.
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Post by fishenman on Nov 16, 2008 12:07:01 GMT -5
I gotta say that you are progressing quite well. Yes there will be the difficult stones but you will develop a system that fits your working style. Practice and more practice. Tony will just have to give you more time since he has his system perfected. As for dopping, I let my dop pot heat for 20 mins. and I make sure that my stones are good and hot (wet my finger, touch the stone. If the water is gone right away it's hot enough) I've only lost one stone because I didn't wait for it to get hot enough. Develop a system that you always follow. Do it the same way every time and your results will improve. I think the cabs you made are very nice. In fact as nice or nicer than my first ones. You have the potential to be a master cabber, you just need to cut a few hundred stones. I have cut over 500 in the last year. Geoff
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,777
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Post by adrian65 on Nov 16, 2008 12:24:19 GMT -5
Very nice, I especially like the last one. Clean shape and beautiful material. When grinding the cab, you must keep moving the cab all the time. Never let is "rest" on the wheel and this way you will get only nice curves.
Adrian
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Post by BuiltonRock on Nov 16, 2008 12:30:37 GMT -5
They look good to me, especially the Jade and Ice Cream Opal. You are doing great!! Usually when I meet with difficult stones or things are not going well, I tend to exert more pressure. I get hurried, just want the stones done and the fun slips away. Best for me to get away for a little while, come back relaxed and enjoy the process. Ahhh Grasshopper... The journey is the destination! john
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MidNight~Rocksi3
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2008
Posts: 1,716
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Post by MidNight~Rocksi3 on Nov 16, 2008 12:41:06 GMT -5
lol jewel.. talk about getting frustrated today.. . I CAN TOTALY RELATE! .. .. only at least you had something good come out of it.. ;)Me....well.. I'm still thinking of drowing myself in my cabbing tray.... lol I'm not a pro at making a real shape either.. since I was a child I didn't like to color inside the lines.... even today.. I can't follow a pattern ... little lone even walk a straight line.. . so don't stress over it.. free form is just as cool..as any shape... well I think .. besides Yours are looking Great.. and I gotta say that icecream opal is beautiful.. but that jade is my pick of the day!! Good job girl..! *smiles
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Post by krazydiamond on Nov 16, 2008 14:56:01 GMT -5
nice variety of colors and flavors of stone! i've never heard of Golden Green Tapestry Jade before. looks interesting. what kind of wax are you using, Bejewel? i have more stones pop off in cooler temperatures, including the cold water in the trays. i sometimes will nuke up a few quarts to warm the water before i start.
but, as fishenman points out, proper heating of the wax and the stone are a critical part of a good dop.
KD
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Nov 16, 2008 16:18:50 GMT -5
Way better than my early attempts which pretty much sucked. I had one of those old timey horizontal rigs and my stones came out more faceted than domed. Flat spots all over the place *S*. I like the blue lepidolite too...Mel
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Post by texaswoodie on Nov 16, 2008 16:51:40 GMT -5
You can't expect to be a pro with no experience, Amber. You are doing great and all you need is a little practice and you will be giving Tony a run for his money. Curt
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Post by frane on Nov 16, 2008 19:03:24 GMT -5
I think they look great! I have been having the problem today that krazydiamond was talking about. My stones were falling off as they rested there because it was cold in the room. I had to redop almost half of the ones I was working with and have only gotten them to the 1200 grit lap. At least you have some finished and I sure do like the last two a lot! Fran
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Post by Tony W on Nov 16, 2008 19:22:07 GMT -5
Yep, the opal is the best one! And I expect it is because Amber really loves opal, and really, really wanted to get it right Patience is a virtue, and I bet chewing off those nail that are in the way would help a whole lot Doing good! Gotta love opal. And like Adrian said, you have to keep it moving all the time. Tony
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Post by Tweetiepy on Nov 16, 2008 19:48:46 GMT -5
I'm with KD, use warmer water for cabbing some people use crazy glue for dopping - I tried that and ended up with fingers stuck together and almost stuck to the kitchen faucet (super glue is NOT MY friend)
shaping is hard, it takes practice (that's the best part, practicing) you've already done a great job - love the rocks! They're all yummy!
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Simon
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2009
Posts: 352
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Post by Simon on Nov 16, 2008 20:13:05 GMT -5
Those really are very good. You should see some of my early attempts, in fact I still have them i'll add taking pics and posting them to the list of things I have to do.
Its time and practice that's all it takes. Persevere you'll get there. If I can I'm sure you can.
Simon
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Nov 16, 2008 23:02:57 GMT -5
Yep Amber....Keep it Up Girl.....you're doing just fine! I have been having lots of problems with cabs falling off the dop sticks, and that's gotta be the most frustrating part for me. I am still learning how to properly dop a stone; and I still don't know if I'm doing it right. I have had many pre-forms gone free-form. A crack might appear, or a tip of a corner fall off....just have to re-adjust to the new shape. It's tooo much fun to really get frustrated. Once I get started...it's hard to quit ;D Looks like you had a great weekend! Steve
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Post by Tonyterner on Nov 17, 2008 12:05:07 GMT -5
Well the poor dopping is my fault. I've never had success with dopping whether I used wax, epoxy or superglue. I freehand everything but I don't mind having my fingernails ground down to nothing. I think the epoxy would work if I let it sit longer. Maybe Santa will bring Bejewelme a dop pot for Christmas.
I think this was her best batch so far and I really like the shapes of the lepidolite and the ice cream opal.
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Post by sitnwrap on Nov 17, 2008 13:05:47 GMT -5
You did a great job. The colors in the Thulite are really pretty and I did not know that lepidolite can be blue, my favorite color. I wonder if you could use those rubber finger tip things, the one people in the office use to sort mail) to protect your nails but allow you to try free hand.
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Nov 17, 2008 13:46:09 GMT -5
Yep... some difficult material for the beginner but you did a nice job on 'em. When I started out I did mostly Agates and Jaspers until I got a good feel for the wheels. You have to work a little more with hard materials but they are also more forgiving of mistakes.
Keep up the good work... you have a fine instructor so I'm sure you be cutting some grade 'A' cabs in no time.
Dan
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Post by Bejewelme on Nov 17, 2008 14:56:49 GMT -5
Wow, you guys are all so nice, you made me feel better. I was getting upset. Tony superglues the dop sticks, so maybe trying the dop will work. I was really frustrated and he saw a bad side of me, but I got myself together and I am glad I finished them. It is a nice hobby to share together, so he was cutting rocks and I was cabbing, and I do have to realize that these were like the 7, 8,9, & 10th cab that I made, they are not going to be perfect. The nails might have to go, but I am scared of those wheels cutting me. We are going to have to perfect the dopping, and I must slow down to work on the shapes. Thank you all for sharing your expertise, and experiences!! This is the nicest group of people on the net.
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Post by stonesthatrock on Nov 18, 2008 22:34:54 GMT -5
those look great. I would never show my first one. i love that pink, is that the piink opal you got from me? if it its, i have to get ralph to make a cab of that. keep up the good work.
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Post by Titania on Nov 19, 2008 8:51:45 GMT -5
I can definitely see progress, Bejewelme! That's what's important. I think this is a great batch. I love the stones you chose, and I think the shapes you chose flatter the stones nicely. I especially love the carefree color and shape of the ice cream opal. Reminds me of spring.
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Post by bobby1 on Nov 19, 2008 10:37:37 GMT -5
Amber, You are doing a great job at learning the intricacies of cutting various materials. Keep up the practice! If you gently touch the spinning wheels with your finger (not your finger nail, though) you will notice that it won't injure you. When I'm teaching classes I start out talking about the safety of the machine and while I'm doing the discussion I have it running and I'm holding my fingers on the wheels. The students quickly learn that the machine isn't inherently dangerous. There are some safety concerns, though touching the wheels isn't usually one of them. One of the most important things on a cab is to very accurately establish the girdle first off. If it isn't well done then any following steps will just emphasize any inaccuracies in the girdle. Like building a house, if the foundation isn't well built, what follows will be just as bad. Bob
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