zsark72
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2021
Posts: 80
|
Post by zsark72 on Apr 11, 2022 23:10:57 GMT -5
I've been looking to get a better machine for making cabochons because my dremel is nice and all but I would like to make more shapes besides circles haha. So far I've got a general idea of a motor which I'm thinking should be around 1725 rpm. Stainless steel would be nice but my budget is tight so if I have to start off with PVC which I believe is possible then I will do that. I'm a total newbie at building and tinkering, so all of this is a new field for me but I'm eager to learn. I've been looking through everyone elses DIY cab machines on this forum which have been helpful, and I think this will probably take me a while to do which is fine. Thank you guys
|
|
|
Post by manofglass on Apr 12, 2022 9:35:16 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Apr 12, 2022 11:51:45 GMT -5
Your most important expense IMO is a good steel shaft that is threaded at both ends, left and right handed threads, and your bearings. Shaft collars on unthreaded steel will not do it IMO. If you have access to a table saw with a fine tooth blade, using acrylic sheet for your "box" works about the same as PVC, but as you are developing your machine even dollar store storage containers or cut open buckets have worked well on some of them. manofglass that is a very nice build Walt.
|
|
|
Post by stardiamond on Apr 12, 2022 15:35:21 GMT -5
When something is too good to be true, it probably isn't. $599 which is half the price as at the website. zero feedback but there is buyer protection www.ebay.com/itm/384820918389?hash=item59991d3875:g:NL8AAOSwZnBiTkVREven if the wheels are crap worth consideration. I checked for reviews across multiple sites and there was only one and it was bad. The next question is what the factory warranty is and if there is and it is not honored would there be paypal recourse.
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Apr 12, 2022 15:42:57 GMT -5
Walt built a really nice machine. NDK built ours. I'll tell him to chime in when he hlgets home
|
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
|
Post by NDK on Apr 13, 2022 13:10:02 GMT -5
zsark72 Lee is right, make sure you get the shaft threaded like he recommended. At first I used shaft collars and it worked for a bit but then the wheels slipped. Had the ends threaded and it's been perfect ever since. On that note, Walt's idea of getting the shaft from Lortone is a good one. If the price is anywhere similar to what he listed in his thread that's a bargain. For splash guards let your imagination go wild. As long as it can be secured down, contains the spray & drains the water you're golden. I used containers my brother had gotten from a bakery. They're like large water jugs. I believe NRG used something similar in his build & his build thread may still have pictures 🤣 (stupid Photobucket) There's nothing really complicated about building a cab machine. Take your time, do your homework and ask lots of questions. There's plenty of people here willing to help. Good luck!
|
|
rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 2,574
|
Post by rockbrain on Apr 16, 2022 9:25:29 GMT -5
I was looking for a while and never could find availability on a Loretone shaft. Maybe I was looking in the wrong places. Covington has shafts but they don't give them away. SHAFTS
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Apr 16, 2022 11:15:35 GMT -5
I was looking for a while and never could find availability on a Loretone shaft. Maybe I was looking in the wrong places. Covington has shafts but they don't give them away. SHAFTSLooking up steel shafting by the foot at McMaster, those prices are not out of line at all, and as soon as their current stock runs out I suspect we'll see a pretty big price jump. + $30 for stainless is a real deal, that stuff is a royal PITA to machine compared to good old carbon steel that will rust.
|
|
rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 2,574
|
Post by rockbrain on Apr 16, 2022 11:44:57 GMT -5
I was looking for a while and never could find availability on a Loretone shaft. Maybe I was looking in the wrong places. Covington has shafts but they don't give them away. SHAFTSLooking up steel shafting by the foot at McMaster, those prices are not out of line at all, and as soon as their current stock runs out I suspect we'll see a pretty big price jump. + $30 for stainless is a real deal, that stuff is a royal PITA to machine compared to good old carbon steel that will rust. I agree but it's a long way from the $42.50 that was posted for the Loretone shaft. I checked with a local machinist and is was about $125 just to set up and cut the threads on a piece of 1" shaft material. I was going to build my own but I located a large combo machine for $100 with a nice big shaft.
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Apr 16, 2022 12:49:56 GMT -5
I was looking for a while and never could find availability on a Loretone shaft. Maybe I was looking in the wrong places. Covington has shafts but they don't give them away. SHAFTSLooking up steel shafting by the foot at McMaster, those prices are not out of line at all, and as soon as their current stock runs out I suspect we'll see a pretty big price jump. + $30 for stainless is a real deal, that stuff is a royal PITA to machine compared to good old carbon steel that will rust. Lee, read it again. $125 to $200, depending on length and diameter. Upgrade to stainless steel is an additional $30.
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Apr 16, 2022 14:12:32 GMT -5
Looking up steel shafting by the foot at McMaster, those prices are not out of line at all, and as soon as their current stock runs out I suspect we'll see a pretty big price jump. + $30 for stainless is a real deal, that stuff is a royal PITA to machine compared to good old carbon steel that will rust. Lee, read it again. $125 to $200, depending on length and diameter. Upgrade to stainless steel is an additional $30.What I was saying is that buying decent shafting grade material just by the foot without threads right now is not much less than the Covington shafts. Of course, Covington buys metals by the truckload most likely and pays a lot less, but for those of us who are thinking of building one machine that's the price. Steel is ridiculous right now, Just paid $700 for semi rusty surplus structural steel for my shop that I could have had delivered on site in brand new sticks for less not that long ago. If you have ever cut or machined stainless, you would understand why $30 for the added headache is nothing.
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Apr 16, 2022 14:21:37 GMT -5
Okay, Lee, you did get it.
In my best Emily Litella impersonation - Never Mind!
And yes, my husband is a machinist, so I know what a PIA SS is to cut threads in, lol.
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
|
Post by stefan on Apr 17, 2022 15:23:40 GMT -5
That Vevor machine is a Gem king. My guess is they are refurb units out of China. I'm pretty sure the GemKings are made in CHina and assembled in the US.
|
|