RockingRuralMo
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2022
Posts: 134
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Post by RockingRuralMo on Nov 19, 2023 17:01:24 GMT -5
Title pretty much sums it up. I got a cabking for Christmas last year, and I think I've been too heavy-handed with it. My soft wheels are shiny now and feel smooth to the touch.
From the time I got it I intended to upgrade the wheels when I wore out the factory ones. I liked the cabking watering system, but Nova wheels. But now it's time, and I'm getting some analysis paralysis.
I work mostly with harder stuff - petrified palm is a special guilty pleasure, as are agates and jaspers. I'm going to go from a 280 soft to a 220 soft, and do 600, 1200, 3000.
What wheels will give me bang for my buck? I know I can get Novas resurfaced - can I do that with other soft wheels?
I was looking at the "Rez" wheels from Cabking (especially since they've got a black friday thing on now) but also at Novas, and at Supernovas at Johnson Bros.
What do experienced people recommend for a newbie? I don't object, on one hand, to buying quality. On the other hand I wore out my factory wheels in 10 months, so I also realize I may not be ready for the good stuff yet. What will last me a long time and let me keep learning and improving economically?
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 341
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Post by gunsil on Nov 19, 2023 18:47:38 GMT -5
Kind of like Chevys or Fords. Some folks prefer the DP Novas, some like the Kingsley Norths, some prefer the Baltic wheels. If your CabKing wheels are worn Johnson Bros will resurface any soft wheels. You don't mention what size CabKing you have but if it's an 8" machine the DP Novas are actually 7&5/8". I have some Kingley North and Johnson Bros along with some DP Novas but haven't been cabbing much lately so I don't know which ones last longer. (Mine are all on 8" machines which cut faster than 6" machines due to higher surface speed). Others will be along who have used different brands until they were used up and have more longevity answers.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Nov 19, 2023 19:25:03 GMT -5
Please post a picture of your wheels. Just because they are shiny does not mean they are goners. They all get like that from using them. You can use them until you start seeing the actual wheel from behind the resin. I don't know what color the wheel is on a CabKing, but Novas are black. Here's a picture I've posted before of a really worn wheel:  |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
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Post by khara on Nov 19, 2023 20:23:44 GMT -5
My first set of wheels are the DP Nova’s. I’ve been happy with them since day one. I’ve had them about 14 months now but I don’t get a lot of hours on my machine. I’ll be interested to hear what you ultimately try and how you like them…
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Post by rockjunquie on Nov 19, 2023 20:58:19 GMT -5
I am partial to DP. I agree with hummingbirdstones. You can also try dressing the wheels with a 220 dressing stick and a light touch. I do it. I tried a rez wheel and absolutely hated it. I did buy a 220 soft from JB. I haven't used it yet, but DP stopped selling theirs, so I got a JB. I think you'll be happy with that swap. |
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RockingRuralMo
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2022
Posts: 134
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Post by RockingRuralMo on Nov 19, 2023 21:34:11 GMT -5
Please post a picture of your wheels. Just because they are shiny does not mean they are goners.
I edited the main post to put pics in. Thanks for the reminder! I may be getting overzealous, but definitely appreciate expert input!
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Post by stardiamond on Nov 19, 2023 22:19:47 GMT -5
Some of the wheels look ok. The ones with fabric showing not ok. I'll repeat what I say on every wheel post. Nova wheels are great but I consider them overpriced. I have used Johnsonbrothers, Baltic abrasive and HP lapidary soft wheels. I use all my soft wheels as sanding wheels, not cutting wheels so they last a long time.
Hp 6 inch wheels are 10% off with their Black Friday sale. Free shipping and no sales tax, $63 any grit. Ron's rocks on ebay sells 6 inch Novas for $105 plus tax and shipping. A 6 inch wheel will work on any 6 inch machine. Same with 8 inch machines. A set of wheels don't need to come from the same manufacturer, so try different mnaufacturers.
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 341
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Post by gunsil on Nov 19, 2023 22:39:12 GMT -5
Please post a picture of your wheels. Just because they are shiny does not mean they are goners.
I edited the main post to put pics in. Thanks for the reminder! I may be getting overzealous, but definitely appreciate expert input!
I haven't used CabKing wheels but in general if they still have the little "bumps" on them they are not worn out. Like rockjunquie says, if they don't seem to polish as fast you can try dressing the wheels. Hummingbird has a good pic of a worn out one, the ones on either side still have life left in them. The worn one shown by hummingbird also shows the effect of staying too much in the center of the wheel. One should strive to use the entire face of the wheel evenly for longest life. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Nov 20, 2023 8:16:17 GMT -5
Just for reference, the wheels on Vince's machine are years old. How many years? Too many to remember when the last time he had actually replaced a wheel on his machine. I have a few newer wheels on my machine, but the ones I replaced were years old also. Granted, we didn't have marathon cutting sessions like some folks on the board do, but we cut enough. Vince actually liked his worn wheels for cutting opal, so there ya go. I really don't like the looks of that one wheel that's fraying on the edges even though it doesn't look like it's a goner on the face of it. It looks defective. I have never seen a DP wheel do anything like that. DP may be more expensive, but the quality of their product is very high. I have never been tempted to buy a different brand. I may do like rockjunquie though and buy a soft 220 from Johnson Bros. |
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