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Post by liveoak on Nov 25, 2022 12:31:33 GMT -5
So I'm making Christmas presents and needed to make a number of round cabs, 2 different sizes ( 3/4" & 1").
Trouble is they have to fit EXACTLY in there respective little pockets (key chain & cell phone stand).
SO, First Tom made me 2 aluminum dop sticks that are JUST smaller than the needed cab sizes , with a 1/4" stem to fit into the flexshaft hand piece. Lee, Rockoonz suggested Tom make me a "Go-No Go" gauge, which helped to speed it up a LOT (thanks Lee for the encouragement & the idea).
For people who haven't tried it- I used a flex shaft ( you could use a drill or dremel, etc), and I mounted the preform to the dop with double sided mounting tape. But you have to grind the cab with the dop stick on the left ( unless you are using a reversible drill), so the rotation direction of the wheel and the drill are opposite each other.
It grinds very quickly this way & you have to pay attention.
I was able to go right through the wheels ( to 3000) with it on the flex shaft & then shift to hand holding the dop stick to finish polishing
The only bad ( besides getting monotonous) is that it sprays water like a S.O.B. 
Patty.... Step 1 of Christmas presents done , moving onto anodizing this afternoon............
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on Nov 25, 2022 12:39:33 GMT -5
Omg, that’s genius!😃👍
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on Nov 25, 2022 12:51:37 GMT -5
What was your go-no-go gauge? Those dop sticks are cool, seems like they could be a sellable item. Your husband must have a drill press that can cut thick aluminum? And then he also tapped threads for the handles to attach? Also did you even do the doming of the cabs while still attached to the drill, all the way to 3000? Very creative. Looking forward to seeing your finished pieces!
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Post by jasoninsd on Nov 25, 2022 13:04:02 GMT -5
Cool setup for quick and easy...and "perfect" circle cabochons!  |
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Post by liveoak on Nov 25, 2022 13:08:49 GMT -5
What was your go-no-go gauge? Those dop sticks are cool, seems like they could be a sellable item. Your husband must have a drill press that can cut thick aluminum? And then he also tapped threads for the handles to attach? Also did you even do the doming of the cabs while still attached to the drill, all the way to 3000? Very creative. Looking forward to seeing your finished pieces! Thanks -
The gauge is the square block with the 2 holes.
He cut them with a milling cutter on a vertical mill so match the exact size of cab I needed.
What that does is as you are grinding you can instantly check the size- if it's too big it's "no-go", if it's just right, it's "go". If it's too small , it just rattles around in the hole - but you know right away no caliber needed.
He made the dop sticks on the lathe.
Took pieces of aluminum bar, turned them to size, drilled & tapped 1/4" X 20 and then parted off the discs,
and screwed a 1/4" bolt with the heads sawed off, and a lock nut behind the discs.
Worked pretty good & because the discs are sized like that , you can visually see when you get to the right size.
He initially made me a disc the EXACT size & that one didn't work, as the cabs came out too big.
So these discs are sized slightly under the nominal 3/4 & 1" sizes ( so I never hit the aluminum on my wheels) And YES I domed them & all .
Patty
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adrian65
Cave Dweller 
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,790
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Post by adrian65 on Nov 25, 2022 23:09:57 GMT -5
Very efficient setup, beautiful results!
Adrian
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