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Post by NatureNut on Apr 7, 2009 21:00:08 GMT -5
Actually, it's in the garage and it's a brand new Ameritool. Best choice for our upcoming RV nomad lifestyle. My SO Bill hogged the machine for a whole day and a half to break it in. I ran back and forth prepping and assisting him, felt like we were back in his dental office, LOL. I finally went over to cut some more preshapes and forced him to manage by himself like normal people do, LOL. Oh goodness, anyways... here are Bill's cabs. Prudent Man Agate (thanks KD) Oaxoa Travertine, or Desert Dunes Jasper (which is really not a jasper) from John BuiltonRock From Randy (hacked up one of his tumbles that he gave me) Ditto Mozarkite from Randy, from John BuiltonRock OJ from John BuiltonRock From a slabette I got at the Philly Rock & Fossil Show on Sun From Randy Today... Angie and I hiked in my collection spot and got a few pieces of some mooney Moonstone.. and I wrangled some time on the Ameritool (these are teeny tiny, about half a finger nail size) and a multi-colored Green Moonstone Then there was some Selenite from MJ And some Fossil Coral from Weeshan (may go back a couple of steps and re-do this one- Bill started it!) A Crazy Lace from Randy And a Starry, Starry Night that I got at the Philly Rock & Mineral Show The top of an OJ from John BuiltonRock (have specific wrapping plans for this) And lastly, Amber gave me a piece of OJ and I slabbed it and I just couldn't cut it up, so it's gonna be a big cab. It's about 2.5" wide and 3" high. I just LOVE it. I cleaned up the druzy pocket (s) with a Tide battery operated Stainbrush and baking soda. LOL. Thank you Amber!
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Post by NatureNut on Apr 7, 2009 21:12:44 GMT -5
This is our set-up in our garage. Angie comes out and hangs out in my Jeep while we work, LOL. Bill intently cabbing Thanks for lookin'! Jo
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dscratch
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2008
Posts: 214
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Post by dscratch on Apr 7, 2009 21:22:02 GMT -5
Nice set of stones. I like that first Prudent Man Agate. The patters remind me of florite. I'd like to try out one of those Ameritool laps or the hi-tech slat cabber might be nice to try too. I don't see any of those stones in your second post on a dop stick. Are you dopping your stones or holding them with your fingers?
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Apr 7, 2009 21:38:32 GMT -5
What a sweet assortment of cabs! It looks like Bill is really focused on his work. Very nice work indeed. Love that prudent Man myself. I'll eventually buy a slab or two...haven't been lucky enough on e-bay yet. BTW...are those Family Guy PJ's??? It looks like Stewie...and it's one of my Favoritest Shows. Steve
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Post by NatureNut on Apr 7, 2009 21:38:44 GMT -5
Dscratch, I dopped only the teeny moony Moonstones and the Green Moonstone with super-glue on a nail. I got that trick from Bejewelme. Worked great. When I was finished, I just put the nail against my 3500 rpm grinder and it heated up and the cab popped off in my hand. Worked perfectly! Lovin' this Ameritool.
P.S. Bill had duck tape on his fingers today. LOL Jo
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Post by Bejewelme on Apr 7, 2009 21:42:56 GMT -5
Jo: Bill looks totally engrossed, I can see there is going to be a fight over the cab machine, you will have to make a time schedule, LOL!!! I LOVE the golden horn coral, that is the stuff I was looking at in Philly. Do you remember the name of the green/pruple spiderwebby slab we got? The OJ's look super, I like the CABOJOHN effect on the one from Randy! We will have to have Tony print you out a set of template sheets, if you feel compelled to cut them with an exacto! I had no patience for that, so I stole Tony's, LOL!! Great job, I see the cabbing fever is striking!!!
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Post by NatureNut on Apr 7, 2009 21:43:31 GMT -5
Oh Steve, LOL. Those are golf ball PJ's and I got them for Bill the first year that we were together! He's been a golfer since he was 12, but is becoming a rockhound/cabber! I've tried convincing him to take his golf clubs in the RV when we embark, but he says no. Can you believe it? Jo
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Post by Bikerrandy on Apr 7, 2009 21:52:25 GMT -5
Sweet cabs, beautiful job on all!!
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Apr 7, 2009 21:57:24 GMT -5
Nice!!! Did you order 2 of those!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2009 22:05:32 GMT -5
Great cabs........hey Jo, Tony (tonyterner) had better luck with that coral when sliced lengthwise instead of into little rounds.
Shannon
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Post by NatureNut on Apr 7, 2009 22:14:46 GMT -5
Shannon, I was thinking about that too! Stay tuned, I'm gonna try it. Steve, believe it or not... we can work on it together at the same time. Amber, I have three sets of templates! Oh geez, I'm gonna have to call the guy we bought it from, can't remember! Getting old. Randy, Thanks, it means alot!
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Post by mohs on Apr 7, 2009 23:11:24 GMT -5
Those cabs are really nice, Jo.
I've use an ameritool a little. But only for flat lapping. I've never domed a stone with one. But wonder how it would do with the hearts? Anyway I see one in my future.
Van Gogh and Mozart rocks !!!
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Post by Michael John on Apr 8, 2009 1:16:14 GMT -5
NICE! Looks like you're doing a good job of getting that cabber broken-in!
I'm glad that you're having success with working the Selenite. When I tried to cut it on my WF, before the blade took a dive, the little bit of Selenite I tried to cut just fell to pieces ... but that was probably because it was the original thick blade, and there wasn't much diamond left on it. BTW ... as I'm sure you know, Selenite is pretty fragile and proned to cracking. If you're going to use the cabs in jewelry, it might be a good idea to back them with epoxy.
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Post by NatureNut on Apr 8, 2009 5:40:39 GMT -5
MJ, good idea on the epoxy. The clearer spots of selenite are significantly harder, and cabbable, although it was about as soft as the coral. Sorry about your saw blade.
Deep, don't think it will do the top of the heart very well. You might have to go to belt instead of a flat pad. This one doesn't do concave very well. But, you can use it in conjunction with a Gryphette.
Amber, Oh... now I get it, you're telling me that I need to work on my shapes! Okay, I'll try.
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Post by frane on Apr 8, 2009 6:00:50 GMT -5
You are doing great Jo! I think the flat laps are convenient for space and if you have to use it inside, you can set it in a box with the front cut out and it works to keep sludge and dust off your walls. You are both doing great at your cabs! Fran
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Post by NatureNut on Apr 8, 2009 7:26:49 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! You've all helped me get here and it has been really fun! Huggs!!!!!!! Jo
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Post by sitnwrap on Apr 8, 2009 7:43:30 GMT -5
What a great set up Jo. I love those cabs and that OJ with the drusy is just amazing! Angie has the right idea. perfect spot to watch.
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Post by Titania on Apr 8, 2009 8:54:42 GMT -5
Woohooo! That's so exciting that you've got your machine up and running, Jo! I love the Starry, Starry Night best, I think. Are you sure you're not going to need 2 machines???
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Post by Tonyterner on Apr 8, 2009 10:21:15 GMT -5
Well good to see you finally got the machine but sorry to see you guys haven't spent any time at it. lol Actually has the thing shut off since you got it? I know you are probably up until 1 or 2 using it and Bill will start at 3 or 4. What I think Amber is trying to tell you is that ovals and such are tough to do freehand and that drawing a line on the slab with a template will really help with that. I can do a freehand oval now but it took a lot of practice and some still come out a little off. If you can't get a perfect oval its better to make sure the cab is obviously asymmetrical so there is no mistaking the intent. I did send you my templates when you first joined the board but if you want them again let me know. I can email them to you or print them out on cardstock and mail them to you. Drafting template are also good for oval. For me getting pleasing shapes it the toughest part of cabbing.
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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 Apr 8, 2009 10:26:28 GMT -5
"New cab machine" I can't see any new cab machine ! A cab machine that have shaped and finished soooo many cabs is anything but new Great start! Keep them coming and, as Amber tried to suggest, focus on the shaping A set of templates is a must now Adrian
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