rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jan 30, 2023 11:49:31 GMT -5
 Just sharing a picture of a 'cab' I did yesterday - not anywhere near good quality, but a definite improvement over the green opal I tried. This was one of the small conglomerate rocks I found in Palos Verdes - love how the different pieces show - it's still scratchy and while it looks shiny in my hand, it doesn't translate well here. I just purchased a trim saw and printed out some templates - I hope to be able to start working with smaller shapes - my biggest struggle is understanding how to get them rounded all the way around, and not just from side A to side B, but including sides C and D also. Perhaps it depends on the shape you are working with? It was so cold yesterday that my hands were freezing while working lol (determination!!!) and during the polishing stage the rock kept flying out of my hands...ugh! Thankfully it never broke, but I'm sure added some scratching  I am not sure how long I should be spending in each stage, and any videos I watch seem to rush through so I don't have a good sense. I know it's material dependent, but can anyone give me a guideline? 5 mins per wheel? 15 mins? 30? Longer? Anyways, I have a goal to improve with each one I do and eventually will look like so many gorgeous pieces I see here. |
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realrockhound
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Chucking leaverite at tweekers
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Post by realrockhound on Jan 30, 2023 11:53:46 GMT -5
Random question. You a cabber or a tumbler primarily?
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jan 30, 2023 12:05:09 GMT -5
Random question. You a cabber or a tumbler primarily? primarily tumbling, but trying my hardest to get better at cabbing. I need something to do with my rocks while I'm waiting on the tumbles lol...I'm working with a slant cabber and finding there's quite the learning curve. |
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realrockhound
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Chucking leaverite at tweekers
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Post by realrockhound on Jan 30, 2023 12:07:24 GMT -5
Random question. You a cabber or a tumbler primarily? primarily tumbling, but trying my hardest to get better at cabbing. I need something to do with my rocks while I'm waiting on the tumbles lol...I'm working with a slant cabber and finding there's quite the learning curve. Good to know. I’m going to send you a pm when I get a chance after I look at my tumble scrap pile. See if you’d be interested in some central Oregon material. jasoninsd could give you some good slant cab advice when he finally crawls out of bed. |
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jan 30, 2023 12:11:33 GMT -5
primarily tumbling, but trying my hardest to get better at cabbing. I need something to do with my rocks while I'm waiting on the tumbles lol...I'm working with a slant cabber and finding there's quite the learning curve. Good to know. I’m going to send you a pm when I get a chance after I look at my tumble scrap pile. See if you’d be interested in some central Oregon material. jasoninsd could give you some good slant cab advice when he finally crawls out of bed. Thank you!!! I will keep an eye open for your pm - would love some!!! |
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,498
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Post by realrockhound on Jan 30, 2023 12:17:00 GMT -5
Good to know. I’m going to send you a pm when I get a chance after I look at my tumble scrap pile. See if you’d be interested in some central Oregon material. jasoninsd could give you some good slant cab advice when he finally crawls out of bed. Thank you!!! I will keep an eye open for your pm - would love some!!! I don’t really do tumbling, even though I have the capabilities. I need to do something with them 😂 |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on Jan 30, 2023 12:19:19 GMT -5
As for your hands getting cold in winter, fill your water bucket with hot water from indoors! At least add some, it helps immensely! Good first efforts and fun material! Just keep practicing, you’ll start to develop your methods.
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jan 30, 2023 12:22:59 GMT -5
As for your hands getting cold in winter, fill your water bucket with hot water from indoors! At least add some, it helps immensely! Good first efforts and fun material! Just keep practicing, you’ll start to develop your methods. Thanks khara! I appreciate that tip! Not sure why I didn't consider that lol.... |
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jan 30, 2023 13:04:00 GMT -5
Found what looks to be a very complete guide to cabbing complete with a Table of Contents!! Going to study this before trying again! Thank you!!
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rockbrain
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Member since January 2022
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Post by rockbrain on Jan 30, 2023 14:10:52 GMT -5
Glad you found the cab making guide. That cab is looking pretty good. If you turned it and did the same thing to C-D that you did from A-B all you would need to do is knock a little bump off on the corners and you'd have a dome. Did you find the one in the tutorials here or a different one? The guide should help you a lot. You might also want to consider dop sticks. It makes a huge difference in control (I imagine that would translate to the flat lap as well as the wheels) I had been using all kinds of random sticks, I just bought a big pack of 6" long dowels. I'm surprised how much that extra length helps with my control and alignment. I got hooked up at Christmas with a wax dop station and I'm loving it. I had been using aluminum rods with threaded ends, wood dowel, cut up bamboo chop sticks etc. with super glue or wood glue. I was having issues getting the super glued ones detached and I would make a bit of a mess and glue my fingers making them up. I found with Gorilla wood glue even though it's not waterproof the cabs stay on the dop pretty well. Just soak in water after and they come right off and clean up easy. Down side is with any glue I've used is you need to let it set overnight.
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jan 30, 2023 15:13:40 GMT -5
Glad you found the cab making guide. That cab is looking pretty good. If you turned it and did the same thing to C-D that you did from A-B all you would need to do is knock a little bump off on the corners and you'd have a dome. Did you find the one in the tutorials here or a different one? The guide should help you a lot. You might also want to consider dop sticks. It makes a huge difference in control (I imagine that would translate to the flat lap as well as the wheels) I had been using all kinds of random sticks, I just bought a big pack of 6" long dowels. I'm surprised how much that extra length helps with my control and alignment. I got hooked up at Christmas with a wax dop station and I'm loving it. I had been using aluminum rods with threaded ends, wood dowel, cut up bamboo chop sticks etc. with super glue or wood glue. I was having issues getting the super glued ones detached and I would make a bit of a mess and glue my fingers making them up. I found with Gorilla wood glue even though it's not waterproof the cabs stay on the dop pretty well. Just soak in water after and they come right off and clean up easy. Down side is with any glue I've used is you need to let it set overnight. Thanks so much, rockbrain!! I did! Its like 20 pages long and has tons of info, including templates! So glad I found it - not sure how I missed it before because the tutorial section was the first place I looked lol... I was wondering about turning the stone, then got worried about messing up the other direction -ugh. I may actually go back with this stone and try that, starting from the beginning stages and working my way through. I do have dop sticks!! I have to confess that I made the biggest mess when using them with the opal I tried - dunked the entire rock in the wax trying to prop it on the warming ring to remove it. lol. Glad to hear about gorilla wood glue and may just try that. The dop sticks definitely made it easier to work the stone - especially when they are so small and want to fly out of my fingers. I cursed many times yesterday ha! Like everything lapidary there is a learning curve and I need to be a tad more patient. |
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Post by mohs on Jan 30, 2023 16:52:52 GMT -5
that neat rock ya done
I wore surgical gloves with the finger ends cut off
mildly cold in Phoenix
butte the water was frozen
and the rock show
must gohs on
mojs
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 30, 2023 17:22:03 GMT -5
primarily tumbling, but trying my hardest to get better at cabbing. I need something to do with my rocks while I'm waiting on the tumbles lol...I'm working with a slant cabber and finding there's quite the learning curve. Good to know. I’m going to send you a pm when I get a chance after I look at my tumble scrap pile. See if you’d be interested in some central Oregon material. jasoninsd could give you some good slant cab advice when he finally crawls out of bed. - Peta, I made cabs on a slant cabber or about a year before I got a cabbing machine. If you've got some specific questions, I'll be happy to do my best to answer them!  |
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jan 31, 2023 8:09:10 GMT -5
Good to know. I’m going to send you a pm when I get a chance after I look at my tumble scrap pile. See if you’d be interested in some central Oregon material. jasoninsd could give you some good slant cab advice when he finally crawls out of bed. - Peta, I made cabs on a slant cabber or about a year before I got a cabbing machine. If you've got some specific questions, I'll be happy to do my best to answer them! Thank you Jason! I remember you said you did quite a bit on the slant cabber. I will definitely keep you in mind...I did buy a magnifying light that I use while wearing the optivisor (man do I get side looks with that on haha!) and tried to see the scratches and work them out the other direction - I just need a better set up so I'm not running in and out between the machine and light - working on setting up space in my basement, which is a job in itself. |
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jan 31, 2023 8:12:02 GMT -5
that neat rock ya done I wore surgical gloves with the finger ends cut off mildly cold in Phoenix butte the water was frozen and the rock show must gohs on mojs THanks, @mohs! I really like those conglomerate type rocks - have some in the vibe now that appear to be polishing nicely. Winter work is definitely harder - I think maybe we've passed the hump though - God willing temps will start to rise even a few degrees next month (knock on wood) |
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 31, 2023 9:46:34 GMT -5
rocknewb101 - Peta, I made cabs on a slant cabber or about a year before I got a cabbing machine. If you've got some specific questions, I'll be happy to do my best to answer them! Thank you Jason! I remember you said you did quite a bit on the slant cabber. I will definitely keep you in mind...I did buy a magnifying light that I use while wearing the optivisor (man do I get side looks with that on haha!) and tried to see the scratches and work them out the other direction - I just need a better set up so I'm not running in and out between the machine and light - working on setting up space in my basement, which is a job in itself. For me, it's tough to give pointers on "technique" just writing them out...but I try! LOL - One thing I do believe was happening with my slant cabber was I wasn't using enough water to flush the material off the disk while I was working the cab. I tried to barely have it dripping as I didn't want a spray of water everywhere. I think there's a "happy medium" to be found...enough water to keep material off the disk, but not too much to avoid the overspray. One thing you can do is when you're done with a disk, turn the water up a little and let it run without a cab on it for some spins. This should help flush the disk before you go to the next one. Just thinkin' out loud here while the coffee is trying to kick in! LOL |
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jan 31, 2023 10:16:18 GMT -5
Thank you Jason! I remember you said you did quite a bit on the slant cabber. I will definitely keep you in mind...I did buy a magnifying light that I use while wearing the optivisor (man do I get side looks with that on haha!) and tried to see the scratches and work them out the other direction - I just need a better set up so I'm not running in and out between the machine and light - working on setting up space in my basement, which is a job in itself. For me, it's tough to give pointers on "technique" just writing them out...but I try! LOL - One thing I do believe was happening with my slant cabber was I wasn't using enough water to flush the material off the disk while I was working the cab. I tried to barely have it dripping as I didn't want a spray of water everywhere. I think there's a "happy medium" to be found...enough water to keep material off the disk, but not too much to avoid the overspray. One thing you can do is when you're done with a disk, turn the water up a little and let it run without a cab on it for some spins. This should help flush the disk before you go to the next one. Just thinkin' out loud here while the coffee is trying to kick in! LOL Thank you! I did try to have a good steady flow of water because I was afraid of things overheating, but perhaps my discs aren't coming clean enough - I'll try letting them spin on high and see if that helps - it's maybe more of an issue with the grinding discs, not the smoothing, but who knows lol. I think once I have my station set up with everything right around me it will be much easier (and more organized!) |
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 31, 2023 10:29:58 GMT -5
For me, it's tough to give pointers on "technique" just writing them out...but I try! LOL - One thing I do believe was happening with my slant cabber was I wasn't using enough water to flush the material off the disk while I was working the cab. I tried to barely have it dripping as I didn't want a spray of water everywhere. I think there's a "happy medium" to be found...enough water to keep material off the disk, but not too much to avoid the overspray. One thing you can do is when you're done with a disk, turn the water up a little and let it run without a cab on it for some spins. This should help flush the disk before you go to the next one. Just thinkin' out loud here while the coffee is trying to kick in! LOL Thank you! I did try to have a good steady flow of water because I was afraid of things overheating, but perhaps my discs aren't coming clean enough - I'll try letting them spin on high and see if that helps - it's maybe more of an issue with the grinding discs, not the smoothing, but who knows lol. I think once I have my station set up with everything right around me it will be much easier (and more organized!) Getting organized is really easy! See:   |
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Post by Peruano on Jan 31, 2023 10:37:13 GMT -5
My best advice for learning to cab would be to take some of your appropriately sized (not too thick) tumbles and try enhancing them. As you learn to remove bumps, divots, and improve outer edge contours, you will be gaining experience in how to remove material when working with a slabbed preformed cabachon. The cardinal rule is to remove material from the edges before you ever venture toward the center dome of the stone. You are basically moving the shape from the edge to the center. They are just stones, they didn't cost much and therefore you can experiment as much as you want with them and learn in the process. Adelante.
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jan 31, 2023 10:59:52 GMT -5
Thank you! I did try to have a good steady flow of water because I was afraid of things overheating, but perhaps my discs aren't coming clean enough - I'll try letting them spin on high and see if that helps - it's maybe more of an issue with the grinding discs, not the smoothing, but who knows lol. I think once I have my station set up with everything right around me it will be much easier (and more organized!) Getting organized is really easy! See:  LMAO! Thank you for that - I needed it. haha. |
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