jet
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 103
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Post by jet on May 18, 2017 11:24:47 GMT -5
We just got our Foredom in this week, then set up a little workstation in our garage. Here's a couple of pictures, including Manthing taking a turn on it. So far, I'm absolutely in love. And I've named her Vera. We've got a couple of not so good pieces of fire agate we are practicing on until we feel like we can touch some of the nicer pieces without destroying them. A little bit of googling last night shows me that cabbing other materials with the Foredom is not only possible, but a lot of people started out that way until they could afford a proper cabbing machine. So I'm looking to you all to share any information that you are willing to part with... I don't know what I don't know. And I hate making stupid mistakes because I don't know what questions to ask. I know I probably need to start out with a large cutting disc, then put the handpiece in a vise and use it as a flat lap for coarse grit shaping, but I don't know where to go from there. Any suggestions?
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Post by rockjunquie on May 18, 2017 11:55:01 GMT -5
There ya go- where there is a will, there is a way. I have never used a foredom to cab or shape, but I have a friend who did. She got sets of diamond bits on ebay. Cheapies from China and they worked fine- just not as long. Christopher, on the board, can probably give you some pointers. I don't know his full board name so I can't tag him. Maybe someone else can help with that. He's the fire agate guy. Also, kk Kurt does carving. I'm sure he would help, too.
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,665
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Post by Tommy on May 18, 2017 12:11:23 GMT -5
We just got our Foredom in this week, then set up a little workstation in our garage. Here's a couple of pictures, including Manthing taking a turn on it. So far, I'm absolutely in love. And I've named her Vera. We've got a couple of not so good pieces of fire agate we are practicing on until we feel like we can touch some of the nicer pieces without destroying them. A little bit of googling last night shows me that cabbing other materials with the Foredom is not only possible, but a lot of people started out that way until they could afford a proper cabbing machine. So I'm looking to you all to share any information that you are willing to part with... I don't know what I don't know. And I hate making stupid mistakes because I don't know what questions to ask. I know I probably need to start out with a large cutting disc, then put the handpiece in a vise and use it as a flat lap for coarse grit shaping, but I don't know where to go from there. Any suggestions? Thanks for the thread Jet - looks like a great work area - being a music lover I especially like the large speakers overhead This interest me from a different standpoint - I have been thinking about using my foredom on hard agate cabs that take forever to get the initial scratches out for someone like me with tendonitis and arthritis in both hands and wrists. Basically I'm thinking shape it, dome it, smooth it out on the wheels then work out the surface with the foredom then going back to the polish wheels. My problem is I have no clue about the best sanding bits to use with something like that. And for the record ... stupid mistakes are my best method of learning new things LOL.
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Post by aDave on May 18, 2017 12:20:15 GMT -5
There ya go- where there is a will, there is a way. I have never used a foredom to cab or shape, but I have a friend who did. She got sets of diamond bits on ebay. Cheapies from China and they worked fine- just not as long. Christopher, on the board, can probably give you some pointers. I don't know his full board name so I can't tag him. Maybe someone else can help with that. He's the fire agate guy. Also, kk Kurt does carving. I'm sure he would help, too. Tela, are you referring to christopherl1234 ? Dave
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Post by rockjunquie on May 18, 2017 12:20:56 GMT -5
There ya go- where there is a will, there is a way. I have never used a foredom to cab or shape, but I have a friend who did. She got sets of diamond bits on ebay. Cheapies from China and they worked fine- just not as long. Christopher, on the board, can probably give you some pointers. I don't know his full board name so I can't tag him. Maybe someone else can help with that. He's the fire agate guy. Also, kk Kurt does carving. I'm sure he would help, too. Tela, are you referring to christopherl1234 ? Dave Yes! Thank you
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jet
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2017
Posts: 103
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Post by jet on May 18, 2017 12:26:56 GMT -5
Yes! Thank you Ha! I know him. He sold me the bits I'm using in this Foredom!
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jeannie
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2017
Posts: 266
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Post by jeannie on May 18, 2017 16:19:49 GMT -5
We just got our Foredom in this week, then set up a little workstation in our garage. Here's a couple of pictures, including Manthing taking a turn on it. So far, I'm absolutely in love. And I've named her Vera. We've got a couple of not so good pieces of fire agate we are practicing on until we feel like we can touch some of the nicer pieces without destroying them. A little bit of googling last night shows me that cabbing other materials with the Foredom is not only possible, but a lot of people started out that way until they could afford a proper cabbing machine. So I'm looking to you all to share any information that you are willing to part with... I don't know what I don't know. And I hate making stupid mistakes because I don't know what questions to ask. I know I probably need to start out with a large cutting disc, then put the handpiece in a vise and use it as a flat lap for coarse grit shaping, but I don't know where to go from there. Any suggestions? Thanks for the thread Jet - looks like a great work area - being a music lover I especially like the large speakers overhead This interest me from a different standpoint - I have been thinking about using my foredom on hard agate cabs that take forever to get the initial scratches out for someone like me with tendonitis and arthritis in both hands and wrists. Basically I'm thinking shape it, dome it, smooth it out on the wheels then work out the surface with the foredom then going back to the polish wheels. My problem is I have no clue about the best sanding bits to use with something like that. And for the record ... stupid mistakes are my best method of learning new things LOL. I learn a great deal from making mistakes, as well, Tommy!
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Post by kk on May 18, 2017 19:35:29 GMT -5
Accidents and mistakes are the best tools to learn from at any time. No matter how long you have been doing something. Working around them, while tedious at times, keeps things fresh an interesting. Not seldom, you end up with something better or more interesting after having had to work around mistakes or accidents.
As I dont sell, I never invested in tools like flatlap or wheels proper. So all I ever use for cabs or carving is a foredome (equivalent). Certainly cant do precision work like others, but suits my needs 99% of the time. As for sanding with foredome; I'm afraid I'm no help, as I cut, shape and polish with it, but do my sanding on SIC Paper by hand. But yes, give Chris a shout, he has a lot of connections to get the right bits and pieces to you.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,796
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Post by gemfeller on May 18, 2017 20:10:22 GMT -5
I've carved and polished a lot of fire agate with my Foredom but not regular cabs. For fire agate the bit/smoothing disk options are nearly endless but I always did my initial stock removal -- the most tedious part -- with a regular lapidary machine. Stock removal is a pain and I'm always chomping at the bit even using a 60 grit diamond grinding wheel. I can't imagine doing it by hand, but people do. Most people make their own specialized sanding and polishing tools for Foredom carving using everything from toothpicks to disks made from wooden dowels, etc., but plenty of options for factory-made tools are available. Most are designed mainly for carving but many could easily be used for cab-sanding and polishing. I'm thinking mainly of the diamond smoothing disks like those shown here at Kingsley-North: www.kingsleynorth.com/skshop/products.php?keys=diamond%20smoothing%20disc%20kits&catID=Several other manufacturers make similar tools for Foredom use: Diamond Pacific, Crystalite and several others. You might also do a YouTube search for cabochon-making with Foredom or Dremel. I did and there's lots of creative ideas out there. Happy hunting!
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