jasperfanatic
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2019
Posts: 456
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Post by jasperfanatic on Jan 30, 2019 20:21:58 GMT -5
I've only been deliberately creating cabs since late December, where I took advantage of the back-to-back 4-day weekends over the holidays. So far I've made about a dozen, and I'm curious about how long it should take to complete one for someone with experience. I understand there are a bunch of variables such as hardness, size, equipment, etc. Like the Royal Sahara cab I made took much longer than the Picasso marble cab (and the polish on the Picasso was such a let down after what you can get on a Royal Sahara). But for the sake of argument, how long would it take you seasoned pros to create a designer cab using a harder material like Royal Sahara, say 45x24mm using a Cab King or Genie? Also maybe factor in an affliction with perfectionism...it needs to look like it's encased in glass (or as close to that as the material will get), if there's so much as a slight scratch under the magnifying glass then it's back to the wheels for me.
And I'm just referring to time on the machine, not including studying the slab and sketching designs.
I'm still struggling with flat spots/scratches on the top, but have improved enough to where I don't have to walk it back down the coarser wheels anymore. I get hung up the longest on my 280 wheel, trying to clear up what came over from the 220. Once I can get past that, it doesn't take long at all to get through the polish side and finish up. I rarely use the 80 grit wheel, mostly just to clean up close to the lines after the trim saw and to set the first, steep angle around the edge.
I'm working on sharing what I've done so far, but getting good photos of the completed cabs is a challenge in and of itself!
I appreciate any and all tips, hints and helpful info!
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Post by pauls on Jan 31, 2019 17:34:12 GMT -5
It takes me around 20 minutes for most if things go well, half an hour for a big cab or if I strike a bad spot and need to do a bit of rework. Thats from go to whoa, rough slab to finished cab. I tend to not design things or even use templates, I look to see where the best part is then start grinding rough edges and cracks and holes away, then have another quick look to see what the stone wants to be and go for it.
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 3, 2019 19:31:31 GMT -5
I agree with 15-20 minutes when all is well, more with issues.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2019 21:07:28 GMT -5
I agree with 15-20 minutes when all is well, more with issues. Wow You guys are fast. I must be the one with issues all the time
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 3, 2019 21:11:41 GMT -5
I agree with 15-20 minutes when all is well, more with issues. Wow You guys are fast. I must be the one with issues all the time It's the 220 soft, man.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,605
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Post by QuailRiver on Feb 4, 2019 2:35:24 GMT -5
I've only been deliberately creating cabs since late December, where I took advantage of the back-to-back 4-day weekends over the holidays. So far I've made about a dozen... IMO too early for you to be concerned with speed. Develop good technique, and muscle memory function in your hands and wrist first. Then when the speed comes later you'll have it down pat. Larry C.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 4, 2019 9:52:06 GMT -5
I agree with 15-20 minutes when all is well, more with issues. Wow You guys are fast. I must be the one with issues all the time I am the slowest cabber in the world. There is no way I can finish a cab in 20 minutes. I'm lucky if I get the cab preformed and rough domed in 20 minutes. Hours is my speed. I also polish the backs, so that adds to the time.
It doesn't matter to me how long it takes. Enjoy the process and make sure you get the best shine possible on the material you're cabbing.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,438
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Post by NDK on Feb 4, 2019 9:54:37 GMT -5
Same here. I think the fastest I've done one was a little over 30 min and I almost fell over when I saw it was that quick 😄
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Feb 4, 2019 11:22:00 GMT -5
I'm slow too. Probably about an hour at least, for a hard stone like an agate. So slow that I stopped thinking about it and work in batches, rather than taking one stone from start to finish. I have little jars now labeled with the grits, and I just grab the jar I feel like working on and progress those cabs up the line a bit during each cabbing session.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,732
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Post by gemfeller on Feb 4, 2019 12:23:38 GMT -5
For me, perfection is the goal, not speed. I can complete some cabs in 30 minutes or so; others I do in stages, inspecting them with a loupe after they've completely dried and going back to earlier grits when necessary. I also polish the backs and that adds a little extra time. In my case aging eyes are a problem. Now and then I'm amazed at what I've missed when I make an image of a stone and find what should have been obvious problems with symmetry or finish. To paraphrase Orson Welles' famous wine commercial, "No cab before its time...."
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Post by stardiamond on Feb 4, 2019 14:53:39 GMT -5
I expect that many people work on more than one cab at a time. The more cabs, the faster the average. Having to go back to a finer grit also slows down the process.
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Feb 4, 2019 15:59:51 GMT -5
I can finish a cab in 20-45 mins. 1 1/2 hours - 2 hours for double-sided cabs. Lynn
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Post by pauls on Feb 5, 2019 14:48:20 GMT -5
I can't work in batches of cabs, I tend to start rushing things to get onto the next one and turn out a batch of sub standard stuff, so strictly one stone at a time, I have been doing it for 50 years so it's second nature.
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victor1941
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2011
Posts: 1,959
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Post by victor1941 on Feb 5, 2019 18:35:00 GMT -5
Jasperfanatic, my method for cabs in a vibe takes much longer than cabs from a wheel and is totally different in the application of abrasives and polish. I make cabs by the pounds and not by the piece in a vibe that uses 18 pounds of material. The mix is 50/50 and takes 8-10 days to finish. Depending on the size of the cabs it may take 2 weeks on a 60 grit flat last to make the preforms once the blanks are cut. Time is not of the essence for me.
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