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For those of you who use a flat lab for making cabs, how do you see your work? On a cab machine, I can look between the cab and the wheel and see exactly what I'm doing. It's pretty easy to see the girdle line so that I can get a nice, even girdle. But on a flat lap, I'm looking at the back of the cab and I can't see what I'm doing at all.
Someone (I can't remember who) told me that they use a slant lap and stand behind it, on the high side and can see their work that way. That makes sense, but I'm still wondering about true flat laps.
For those of you who use a flat lab for making cabs, how do you see your work? On a cab machine, I can look between the cab and the wheel and see exactly what I'm doing. It's pretty easy to see the girdle line so that I can get a nice, even girdle. But on a flat lap, I'm looking at the back of the cab and I can't see what I'm doing at all.
Someone (I can't remember who) told me that they use a slant lap and stand behind it, on the high side and can see their work that way. That makes sense, but I'm still wondering about true flat laps.
I used my slant lap while standing behind it. There was no way I could see what I was doing from the front...or at least it didn't feel like it.
I haven't used an actual horizontal flat lap...but the only way I can picture being able to see the girdle is to have the lap elevated* so you'd be looking at an angle "into" the grind, rather than having the lap low and looking "over" the grind...
*Or be sitting low enough with the lap high enough to get the same angle looking into the grind...
Favorite Quotes: "It always seems impossible until it is done." - Nelson Mandela "Life becomes easier when you learn to accept the apology you never got." - Robert Brault "You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy." - Nightbirde (RIP 2/19/22)
For those of you who use a flat lab for making cabs, how do you see your work? On a cab machine, I can look between the cab and the wheel and see exactly what I'm doing. It's pretty easy to see the girdle line so that I can get a nice, even girdle. But on a flat lap, I'm looking at the back of the cab and I can't see what I'm doing at all.
Someone (I can't remember who) told me that they use a slant lap and stand behind it, on the high side and can see their work that way. That makes sense, but I'm still wondering about true flat laps.
I used my slant lap while standing behind it. There was no way I could see what I was doing from the front...or at least it didn't feel like it.
I haven't used an actual horizontal flat lap...but the only way I can picture being able to see the girdle is to have the lap elevated* so you'd be looking at an angle "into" the grind, rather than having the lap low and looking "over" the grind...
*Or be sitting low enough with the lap high enough to get the same angle looking into the grind...
I have my flat lap on a table and an adjustable height office chair that I sit on when I'm using it. I adjust my chair to the lowest setting to do the girdles and usually have to bend to the side a bit to be able to see where I'm grinding. Since I use a dop and am holding the cab on it's side just a little past verticle, I can usually see pretty well where I'm grinding. Luckily, it doesn't take all that long to do it, so it's tolerable.
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
I used my slant lap while standing behind it. There was no way I could see what I was doing from the front...or at least it didn't feel like it.
I haven't used an actual horizontal flat lap...but the only way I can picture being able to see the girdle is to have the lap elevated* so you'd be looking at an angle "into" the grind, rather than having the lap low and looking "over" the grind...
*Or be sitting low enough with the lap high enough to get the same angle looking into the grind...
I have my flat lap on a table and an adjustable height office chair that I sit on when I'm using it. I adjust my chair to the lowest setting to do the girdles and usually have to have to bend to the side a bit to be able to see where I'm grinding. Since I use a dop and am holding the cab on it's side just a little past verticle, I can usually see pretty well where I'm grinding. Luckily, it doesn't take all that long to do it, so it's tolerable.
Favorite Quotes: "It always seems impossible until it is done." - Nelson Mandela "Life becomes easier when you learn to accept the apology you never got." - Robert Brault "You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy." - Nightbirde (RIP 2/19/22)
I have my flat lap on a table and an adjustable height office chair that I sit on when I'm using it. I adjust my chair to the lowest setting to do the girdles and usually have to have to bend to the side a bit to be able to see where I'm grinding. Since I use a dop and am holding the cab on it's side just a little past verticle, I can usually see pretty well where I'm grinding. Luckily, it doesn't take all that long to do it, so it's tolerable.
Vertically challenged to you, sir!
Robin
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
Favorite Quotes: "It always seems impossible until it is done." - Nelson Mandela "Life becomes easier when you learn to accept the apology you never got." - Robert Brault "You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy." - Nightbirde (RIP 2/19/22)
For those of you who use a flat lab for making cabs, how do you see your work? On a cab machine, I can look between the cab and the wheel and see exactly what I'm doing. It's pretty easy to see the girdle line so that I can get a nice, even girdle. But on a flat lap, I'm looking at the back of the cab and I can't see what I'm doing at all.
Someone (I can't remember who) told me that they use a slant lap and stand behind it, on the high side and can see their work that way. That makes sense, but I'm still wondering about true flat laps.
I used my slant lap while standing behind it. There was no way I could see what I was doing from the front...or at least it didn't feel like it.
I haven't used an actual horizontal flat lap...but the only way I can picture being able to see the girdle is to have the lap elevated* so you'd be looking at an angle "into" the grind, rather than having the lap low and looking "over" the grind...
*Or be sitting low enough with the lap high enough to get the same angle looking into the grind...
Jason, I think that was you who told me that you stood behind your slant lap while using it. That makes a lot of sense.
I have my flat lap on a table and an adjustable height office chair that I sit on when I'm using it. I adjust my chair to the lowest setting to do the girdles and usually have to have to bend to the side a bit to be able to see where I'm grinding. Since I use a dop and am holding the cab on it's side just a little past verticle, I can usually see pretty well where I'm grinding. Luckily, it doesn't take all that long to do it, so it's tolerable.
Robin, are you talking about grinding the preform to shape? Like if you just took a roughly cut circular cab from the saw to the flat lap and make it more circular? I think I could do that pretty well by just grinding and then checking may progress once in awhile.
What I'm wondering about is how you make the dome. How do you stop at the girdle line so that the flat part around the perimeter of the cab is the same width all the way around? When you're rocking the cab back and forth, how can you be sure you're not going too far, yet you're going far enough?
I used my slant lap while standing behind it. There was no way I could see what I was doing from the front...or at least it didn't feel like it.
I haven't used an actual horizontal flat lap...but the only way I can picture being able to see the girdle is to have the lap elevated* so you'd be looking at an angle "into" the grind, rather than having the lap low and looking "over" the grind...
*Or be sitting low enough with the lap high enough to get the same angle looking into the grind...
Jason, I think that was you who told me that you stood behind your slant lap while using it. That makes a lot of sense.
I have my flat lap on a table and an adjustable height office chair that I sit on when I'm using it. I adjust my chair to the lowest setting to do the girdles and usually have to have to bend to the side a bit to be able to see where I'm grinding. Since I use a dop and am holding the cab on it's side just a little past verticle, I can usually see pretty well where I'm grinding. Luckily, it doesn't take all that long to do it, so it's tolerable.
Robin, are you talking about grinding the preform to shape? Like if you just took a roughly cut circular cab from the saw to the flat lap and make it more circular? I think I could do that pretty well by just grinding and then checking may progress once in awhile.
What I'm wondering about is how you make the dome. How do you stop at the girdle line so that the flat part around the perimeter of the cab is the same width all the way around? When you're rocking the cab back and forth, how can you be sure you're not going too far, yet you're going far enough?
No, I'm talking about when you're grinding the dome to the girdle line. The cab dop is centered (hopefully) on the back of the cab. If you tilt the cab toward the dome just a little, you can see where your girdle line is and grind to it without overcutting it. You just have to be a bit more careful than when your forming the rest of the dome. When you're rocking the stone to form the dome it's almost impossible to rock it far enough to hit the girdle line unless you aren't paying attention. I usually will do where the dome meets the girdle line first on every grit and then start the rocking, rolling and twirling for the rest of it. That way you can pretty much judge how far to tilt the stone. You'll see if you missed a spot when you're checking the dome and can go back and grind that area.
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 5, 2023 17:27:59 GMT -5
The first 9 months that I started making cabs I was strictly using a horizontal flat lap. The top surface of the lap plate was at normal counter height and I always cabbed standing up. The thing I remember most about the initial girdle grind was stopping to look at the line. It was not horrible. You just look once is awhile until you get close and then start looking way more often as you get it dialed in. I have never been able to work on stones while sitting down.
My son and I both took a cabbing class before we got any equipment and the class was taught on inland flat laps for the first cab and then the second cab we got to use vertical wheels. It was easy to see that vertical was the way to go. I do not miss changing those dang plates. Especially when I finished a cab and realized I needed to go back a few steps to remove a pesky scratch.
Jason, I think that was you who told me that you stood behind your slant lap while using it. That makes a lot of sense.
Robin, are you talking about grinding the preform to shape? Like if you just took a roughly cut circular cab from the saw to the flat lap and make it more circular? I think I could do that pretty well by just grinding and then checking may progress once in awhile.
What I'm wondering about is how you make the dome. How do you stop at the girdle line so that the flat part around the perimeter of the cab is the same width all the way around? When you're rocking the cab back and forth, how can you be sure you're not going too far, yet you're going far enough?
No, I'm talking about when you're grinding the dome to the girdle line. The cab is centered (hopefully) on the back of the cab. If you tilt the cab toward the dome just a little, you can see where your girdle line is and grind to it without overcutting it. You just have to be a bit more careful than when your forming the rest of the dome. When you're rocking the stone to form the dome it's almost impossible to rock it far enough to hit the girdle line unless you aren't paying attention. I usually will do where the dome meets the girdle line first on every grit and then start the rocking, rolling and twirling for the rest of it. That way you can pretty much judge how far to tilt the stone. You'll see if you missed a spot when you're checking the dome and can go back and grind that area.
Does that make sense?
Yes, thanks for clarifying. I thought for sure you were talking about something else. I get it now!
The first 9 months that I started making cabs I was strictly using a horizontal flat lap. The top surface of the lap plate was at normal counter height and I always cabbed standing up. The thing I remember most about the initial girdle grind was stopping to look at the line. It was not horrible. You just look once is awhile until you get close and then start looking way more often as you get it dialed in. I have never been able to work on stones while sitting down.
My son and I both took a cabbing class before we got any equipment and the class was taught on inland flat laps for the first cab and then the second cab we got to use vertical wheels. It was easy to see that vertical was the way to go. I do not miss changing those dang plates. Especially when I finished a cab and realized I needed to go back a few steps to remove a pesky scratch.
Chuck
When I only had a flat lap, I just didn't make cabs with flat sides. I just rounded them over and didn't worry about it. I've always wondered how people made nice cabs on flat laps.
The first 9 months that I started making cabs I was strictly using a horizontal flat lap. The top surface of the lap plate was at normal counter height and I always cabbed standing up. The thing I remember most about the initial girdle grind was stopping to look at the line. It was not horrible. You just look once is awhile until you get close and then start looking way more often as you get it dialed in. I have never been able to work on stones while sitting down.
My son and I both took a cabbing class before we got any equipment and the class was taught on inland flat laps for the first cab and then the second cab we got to use vertical wheels. It was easy to see that vertical was the way to go. I do not miss changing those dang plates. Especially when I finished a cab and realized I needed to go back a few steps to remove a pesky scratch.
Chuck
When I only had a flat lap, I just didn't make cabs with flat sides. I just rounded them over and didn't worry about it. I've always wondered how people made nice cabs on flat laps.
I was making cabs today so I took a step back in time 10 years. I tried to do the first step of establishing a girdle line on the flat lap. The motion and process came back to me pretty quick. I was a bit heavy handed on one spot but corrected that in the next step easy enough.
With the horizontal lap I do not see anyway to physically be able to watch the girdle at the grinding surface. It is more of a grind a little and look process. There are several reasons why cabbing on vertical wheels is better and this is on that list.
When I only had a flat lap, I just didn't make cabs with flat sides. I just rounded them over and didn't worry about it. I've always wondered how people made nice cabs on flat laps.
I was making cabs today so I took a step back in time 10 years. I tried to do the first step of establishing a girdle line on the flat lap. The motion and process came back to me pretty quick. I was a bit heavy handed on one spot but corrected that in the next step easy enough.
With the horizontal lap I do not see anyway to physically be able to watch the girdle at the grinding surface. It is more of a grind a little and look process. There are several reasons why cabbing on vertical wheels is better and this is on that list.
Chuck
Excellent video, Chuck!
Robin
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
When I only had a flat lap, I just didn't make cabs with flat sides. I just rounded them over and didn't worry about it. I've always wondered how people made nice cabs on flat laps.
I was making cabs today so I took a step back in time 10 years. I tried to do the first step of establishing a girdle line on the flat lap. The motion and process came back to me pretty quick. I was a bit heavy handed on one spot but corrected that in the next step easy enough.
With the horizontal lap I do not see anyway to physically be able to watch the girdle at the grinding surface. It is more of a grind a little and look process. There are several reasons why cabbing on vertical wheels is better and this is on that list.
Chuck
Great video! I have been cabbing on a flat lap from the beginning. My technique is very similar to yours except I hold the stone and dop in the opposite direction so that the side I'm grinding is angled toward the center of the lap. That way I can see the line while I'm grinding better. I do have to stick my face right down in the thing, with eye protection & lots of water, of course.
Favorite Quotes: "It always seems impossible until it is done." - Nelson Mandela "Life becomes easier when you learn to accept the apology you never got." - Robert Brault "You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy." - Nightbirde (RIP 2/19/22)
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