scottiey
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2023
Posts: 7
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Post by scottiey on Mar 10, 2023 17:06:36 GMT -5
Hi, My wife creates jewelry from quahog shells (https://www.carolesjewelrydesign.com/). She uses a dremel tool with a diamond bit to grind down the back of the shells and rough cuts the design. Once the design is complete they go into a rock tumbler for a few weeks. Due to the toxic nature of the dust, she has to cut outside and where a full respirator mask. I have been looking to upgrade her technology as I have seen a number of people use a cabbing machine. If theory this should help speed up the grinding & polishing process while reducing the amount of dust. I am looking at purchasing the following: kingsleynorth.com/kingsley-north-cabber-6-nova.htmlQuestion: Does anyone use a cabbing machine to work on shells? Does anyone have feedback on the KN Cabber 6 - Nova |
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 10, 2023 18:56:46 GMT -5
I own the competitor, but everyone I hear say they love their Kingsley North (KN).
Your wife does beautiful work!  If she is working on the concave side of the shell- a cabber won't help much. The round wheels won't go into the hollow. Otherwise, I'm sure it will work. They have good irrigation, too. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Mar 10, 2023 19:01:23 GMT -5
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Post by liveoak on Mar 11, 2023 7:35:04 GMT -5
I also have the KN 6 Cabber & love it.
I'm not sure that it would help your wife's current process with shell carving, but seeing her creativity, I'm sure she'd put it to good use.
For carving & dust I'd think adding a water source to her dremel or flex shaft would be better.
I set mine up using my cabber as the water tray- but any thing would work.
It allows me to use much smaller wheels to get inside curves & use diamond burs, etc. All with water spray.
I also found that keeping the carving spindle stationary works better for me.
I can hold the work piece with 2 hands if I need to.
Good Luck,
Patty
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 345
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Post by gunsil on Mar 11, 2023 9:49:26 GMT -5
I know several of the premium Vineyard wampum jewelry makers, they all use water to all their grinding/carving machines. They also wear face shields over respirators and try to make sure none of that clam dust gets on them. The dust from shells is nasty stuff when taken into your body, worse I think than stone dust. Yes, a couple of them have various cab machines for their work. One uses a slant cabber for some work. None use tumblers which will remove detail. Most of them buy high grade shells from the New Bedford clammers, just takes them too long to try and find enough high grade shell on the beach.
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scottiey
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2023
Posts: 7
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Post by scottiey on Mar 11, 2023 18:29:53 GMT -5
Thanks Patty! That is a very cool idea! I'll look into that in the short term. I also have the KN 6 Cabber & love it.
I'm not sure that it would help your wife's current process with shell carving, but seeing her creativity, I'm sure she'd put it to good use.
For carving & dust I'd think adding a water source to her dremel or flex shaft would be better.
I set mine up using my cabber as the water tray- but any thing would work.
It allows me to use much smaller wheels to get inside curves & use diamond burs, etc. All with water spray.
I also found that keeping the carving spindle stationary works better for me.
I can hold the work piece with 2 hands if I need to.
Good Luck,
Patty
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scottiey
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2023
Posts: 7
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Post by scottiey on Mar 11, 2023 18:32:04 GMT -5
Thanks and we are very aware of the dust issues and a full respirator is worn. I know several of the premium Vineyard wampum jewelry makers, they all use water to all their grinding/carving machines. They also wear face shields over respirators and try to make sure none of that clam dust gets on them. The dust from shells is nasty stuff when taken into your body, worse I think than stone dust. Yes, a couple of them have various cab machines for their work. One uses a slant cabber for some work. None use tumblers which will remove detail. Most of them buy high grade shells from the New Bedford clammers, just takes them too long to try and find enough high grade shell on the beach. |
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scottiey
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2023
Posts: 7
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Post by scottiey on Mar 11, 2023 18:35:50 GMT -5
Thank you, yes she has come a long way over the past 10 years! Grinding down the backs of the shells is one of the key issues we are looking to solve, the diamond wheels look like they would make quick work of it! She will still need to do some cutting with the dremel for the finer details. I own the competitor, but everyone I hear say they love their Kingsley North (KN).
Your wife does beautiful work! If she is working on the concave side of the shell- a cabber won't help much. The round wheels won't go into the hollow. Otherwise, I'm sure it will work. They have good irrigation, too. |
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If she is working on the concave side of the shell- a cabber won't help much. The round wheels won't go into the hollow. Otherwise, I'm sure it will work. They have good irrigation, too.
