meviva
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Post by meviva on Jul 20, 2017 22:02:28 GMT -5
I've been looking through my slabs and deciding which to work on next. Made some preforms for my next batch of cabs. They are in a bowl of water to show the colors. Andrea
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Post by orrum on Jul 21, 2017 8:20:24 GMT -5
Wow nice preforms, u trim gooder than me!!!
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Post by coloradocliff on Jul 21, 2017 8:57:01 GMT -5
A real kaleidoscope of color and a tight trim job.
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Jul 21, 2017 9:30:57 GMT -5
Beautiful preforms,can't wait to see the finished material....
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Post by HankRocks on Jul 21, 2017 10:36:50 GMT -5
I like those a lot. Do you have a template file you could share in file form? Just marked up some slabs and about to go cut them out now. Would like to try some of your shapes on the batch after this one.
Thanks
Henry
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 21, 2017 10:58:34 GMT -5
You have some real winners there!!! Seriously, very nice captures and shapes Did you use a trim saw to get such an even cut around the line?
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Post by coloradocliff on Jul 21, 2017 15:46:01 GMT -5
You have some real winners there!!! Seriously, very nice captures and shapes Did you use a trim saw to get such an even cut around the line? Close enough trim she might have a band saw.. How are those granite slabs you brought from Maine last week Tela. Heard people were dying to get just one. grin.
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meviva
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Post by meviva on Jul 21, 2017 15:47:29 GMT -5
I like those a lot. Do you have a template file you could share in file form? Just marked up some slabs and about to go cut them out now. Would like to try some of your shapes on the batch after this one. Thanks Henry Thanks. I don't have a template file. I bought the templates from slabstocabs.com. Andrea
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meviva
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Post by meviva on Jul 21, 2017 16:07:09 GMT -5
You have some real winners there!!! Seriously, very nice captures and shapes Did you use a trim saw to get such an even cut around the line? Thanks Tela. coloradocliff is partly right. I used a bandsaw for some of them and a tile saw for the others but I use a grinder (I think that's what it's called) to clean up the edges. The band saw is very slow and my cuts are ragged....the tile saw is sooooo much faster but I can't get that close with it. Andrea
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Jul 21, 2017 17:51:02 GMT -5
Nice selection Meviva! Looks like some great cabs coming up.
Do you mind sharing the make/model of your grinder? I think I could use one of those.
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meviva
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Post by meviva on Jul 21, 2017 18:42:31 GMT -5
Nice selection Meviva! Looks like some great cabs coming up. Do you mind sharing the make/model of your grinder? I think I could use one of those. Thanks! The grinder is the Inland swaptop. Here is the link www.inlandlapidary.com/results.asp?search=Shaper+%2F+Grinder&source=1 It can be a flat lap, grinder or trim saw. You can buy it as a grinder only. I originally bought it as a flat lap but I couldn't get a smooth dome on the cabs, so now I just use the grinder top. I've read that the motor isn't strong enough for the trim saw. As a grinder it works great. I use a 60 grit bit. I've seen glass grinders that look to be the same thing so you might be able to find a better deal looking that up. This is what I'm working on now. Sometimes I do two at once until I get close to the line. Lol Andrea
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Jul 21, 2017 20:44:55 GMT -5
Thanks for the info meviva. A machine like that will make a great addition to my shop -- if only I can find a clear space big enough for its "footprint." It's not that I'm a clutterer...well, I *am* kind of a clutterer. But even so my space is pretty maxed out. I envy that big new shop of yours. Looks like you're making the most of it and doing some very nice work.
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meviva
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Post by meviva on Jul 21, 2017 23:02:51 GMT -5
Thanks for the info meviva . A machine like that will make a great addition to my shop -- if only I can find a clear space big enough for its "footprint." It's not that I'm a clutterer...well, I *am* kind of a clutterer. But even so my space is pretty maxed out. I envy that big new shop of yours. Looks like you're making the most of it and doing some very nice work. You're welcome. The machine isn't that big and is not heavy, so if I need to move it out of the way I can put it away easily. I love my rock room I have cut so many slabs I need to start working with them. Thanks.
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Post by tims on Jul 29, 2017 13:56:42 GMT -5
Nice looking pieces, lots of diverse and beautiful stone.
I almost picked up a swap-top on ebay but read some bad reviews that scared me off. Why don't you like it as a lap, is there some wobble?
I ended up buying an old B&I Gem Maker which is worthless as a saw and wobbles enough with the 10" cast iron lap plate that I only use it sparingly for rough grinding. Might have to try a grinder head on it after seeing your setup.
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Post by pghram on Jul 29, 2017 17:05:02 GMT -5
Nice, I'm looking forward to the finished cabs.
Peace, Rich
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Post by drocknut on Jul 29, 2017 18:13:04 GMT -5
I too am looking forward to seeing the finished cabs. Great idea on using the grinder to trim the preforms up for cabbing.
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meviva
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Post by meviva on Jul 29, 2017 22:14:31 GMT -5
Nice looking pieces, lots of diverse and beautiful stone. I almost picked up a swap-top on ebay but read some bad reviews that scared me off. Why don't you like it as a lap, is there some wobble? I ended up buying an old B&I Gem Maker which is worthless as a saw and wobbles enough with the 10" cast iron lap plate that I only use it sparingly for rough grinding. Might have to try a grinder head on it after seeing your setup. I couldn't get a smooth dome on the cabs with the hard laps. They had an orange peel look to them. pghram has a swap top and has made modifications to his to improve it. I ended up getting a genie and the soft wheels make a huge difference. I do all of my rough trimming on the grinder then go to the hard wheels to begin shaping. Andrea
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Post by pghram on Jul 30, 2017 10:58:51 GMT -5
Nice looking pieces, lots of diverse and beautiful stone. I almost picked up a swap-top on ebay but read some bad reviews that scared me off. Why don't you like it as a lap, is there some wobble? I ended up buying an old B&I Gem Maker which is worthless as a saw and wobbles enough with the 10" cast iron lap plate that I only use it sparingly for rough grinding. Might have to try a grinder head on it after seeing your setup. I couldn't get a smooth dome on the cabs with the hard laps. They had an orange peel look to them. pghram has a swap top and has made modifications to his to improve it. I ended up getting a genie and the soft wheels make a huge difference. I do all of my rough trimming on the grinder then go to the hard wheels to begin shaping. Andrea My swoptop motor died after about 9 years of work, so I got the ameritool flat lap. After seeing this post, I'm thinking of replacing the motor and using it to grind performs as you do. Peace, Rich
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