rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 612
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Post by rocknrob on May 28, 2024 14:49:49 GMT -5
The subject pretty much says it all. I've got a Hi-Tech flat lap (not slant) at home and I'm admiring the gorgeous concave cabs I've been seeing with a little bit of envy. While I wouldn't turn down a cabbing machine, I certainly don't have $1200-$2000 to toss at one to get those beautiful cabs made.
The closest thing I've been able to find are the glass bits they have for the alternate configuration on the Hi-Tech but they don't allow for much room to move around. Does anyone make a 45 degree angle diamond plate cup that could attach to the Hi Tech? You would then use the edge of the "cup" to cut away the parts you want concave. I guess it's either that or a dremel but I shudder thinking of how much time it would take to get that done on a dremel.
- Rob
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller 
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,488
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Post by realrockhound on May 28, 2024 14:56:59 GMT -5
Inside curve for others who might be confused. I don’t think there is an easy way to cut an inside curve on a flat lap. It’s done by using the radius of the wheel. It would be almost impossible to get a good cut from where I stand.
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rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 612
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Post by rocknrob on May 28, 2024 15:46:01 GMT -5
Inside curve for others who might be confused. I don’t think there is an easy way to cut an inside curve on a flat lap. It’s done by using the radius of the wheel. It would be almost impossible to get a good cut from where I stand. That's kind of what I was afraid of. I've heard of modified wheels where they're thicker than a lap disc with a rounded edge but they were for use with arbors and such. Deep down I was hoping there was something like that for a flat lap. Thanks though. |
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,488
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Post by realrockhound on May 28, 2024 16:13:59 GMT -5
Inside curve for others who might be confused. I don’t think there is an easy way to cut an inside curve on a flat lap. It’s done by using the radius of the wheel. It would be almost impossible to get a good cut from where I stand. That's kind of what I was afraid of. I've heard of modified wheels where they're thicker than a lap disc with a rounded edge but they were for use with arbors and such. Deep down I was hoping there was something like that for a flat lap. Thanks though. You can always purchase different machines that are much cheaper than a cabing machine. The pain however is you’re still going to have to buy all the wheels and then change them out during each step. I can’t think of the name of the equipment right now. But it’s like a two wheel arbor or something like that. |
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Post by jasoninsd on May 28, 2024 21:35:05 GMT -5
The subject pretty much says it all. I've got a Hi-Tech flat lap (not slant) at home and I'm admiring the gorgeous concave cabs I've been seeing with a little bit of envy. While I wouldn't turn down a cabbing machine, I certainly don't have $1200-$2000 to toss at one to get those beautiful cabs made. The closest thing I've been able to find are the glass bits they have for the alternate configuration on the Hi-Tech but they don't allow for much room to move around. Does anyone make a 45 degree angle diamond plate cup that could attach to the Hi Tech? You would then use the edge of the "cup" to cut away the parts you want concave. I guess it's either that or a dremel but I shudder thinking of how much time it would take to get that done on a dremel. - Rob Truly, it doesn't take as long as you'd think using a Dremel. miket used to make all his cabs with a Dremel...and it's because of him that I started doing it too. It didn't take me long to get a Hi-Tech Slant Cabber though! LOL (Since moved onto a 6" cabbing machine...) Just saying, it "can" be done...and really the time to do it isn't as bad as you'd think... |
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rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 612
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Post by rocknrob on May 28, 2024 23:06:06 GMT -5
The subject pretty much says it all. I've got a Hi-Tech flat lap (not slant) at home and I'm admiring the gorgeous concave cabs I've been seeing with a little bit of envy. While I wouldn't turn down a cabbing machine, I certainly don't have $1200-$2000 to toss at one to get those beautiful cabs made. The closest thing I've been able to find are the glass bits they have for the alternate configuration on the Hi-Tech but they don't allow for much room to move around. Does anyone make a 45 degree angle diamond plate cup that could attach to the Hi Tech? You would then use the edge of the "cup" to cut away the parts you want concave. I guess it's either that or a dremel but I shudder thinking of how much time it would take to get that done on a dremel. - Rob Truly, it doesn't take as long as you'd think using a Dremel. miket used to make all his cabs with a Dremel...and it's because of him that I started doing it too. It didn't take me long to get a Hi-Tech Slant Cabber though! LOL (Since moved onto a 6" cabbing machine...) Just saying, it "can" be done...and really the time to do it isn't as bad as you'd think... Well I did go to all that trouble to find a flex shaft for the dremel I have. Those things were like unicorns around here. |
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Post by jasoninsd on May 29, 2024 0:59:19 GMT -5
Truly, it doesn't take as long as you'd think using a Dremel. miket used to make all his cabs with a Dremel...and it's because of him that I started doing it too. It didn't take me long to get a Hi-Tech Slant Cabber though! LOL (Since moved onto a 6" cabbing machine...) Just saying, it "can" be done...and really the time to do it isn't as bad as you'd think... Well I did go to all that trouble to find a flex shaft for the dremel I have. Those things were like unicorns around here. This is one of the first cabs I ever made. It was done with the Dremel. I have it sitting on top of the stereo...as a reminder of where it all started. LOL   |
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Post by liveoak on May 29, 2024 6:18:14 GMT -5
You could grind an inside curve using a glass grinder,I use one to true up my pre-forms before cabbing. That would give you the shape fairly quickly, but then you'd likely be on the flexshaft (or dremel) for doming it.
Glass grinders can often be had used, so not a huge investment. AND you can get another bit to create groove wrapped cabs as well.
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on May 29, 2024 8:22:22 GMT -5
You could grind an inside curve using a glass grinder,I use one to true up my pre-forms before cabbing. That would give you the shape fairly quickly, but then you'd likely be on the flexshaft (or dremel) for doming it.
Glass grinders can often be had used, so not a huge investment. AND you can get another bit to create groove wrapped cabs as well.
Patty
You beat me to it liveoak. I got a glastar glass grinder on ebay for cheap and then got an assortment of grinding heads (look for best prices). As an added benny you can cut grooves in stones for doing groove wrapped jewelry. |
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rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 612
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Post by rocknrob on May 29, 2024 10:33:29 GMT -5
Well I did go to all that trouble to find a flex shaft for the dremel I have. Those things were like unicorns around here. This is one of the first cabs I ever made. It was done with the Dremel. I have it sitting on top of the stereo...as a reminder of where it all started. LOL That's a really nice cab! I'm trying to guess as to what kind of agate that is. Laguna? I do have a ton of polishing heads (the cheap ones with the sandpaper velcro attachment) for polishing so I guess it wouldn't be too hard to give it a run. I'll be sure to start on a thinner cut though as a high dome on that would be a bit tricky for me. I'm still grinding away at being better  . (Pun intended of course) |
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rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 612
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Post by rocknrob on May 29, 2024 10:40:02 GMT -5
You could grind an inside curve using a glass grinder,I use one to true up my pre-forms before cabbing. That would give you the shape fairly quickly, but then you'd likely be on the flexshaft (or dremel) for doming it.
Glass grinders can often be had used, so not a huge investment. AND you can get another bit to create groove wrapped cabs as well.
Patty
You beat me to it liveoak . I got a glastar glass grinder on ebay for cheap and then got an assortment of grinding heads (look for best prices). As an added benny you can cut grooves in stones for doing groove wrapped jewelry. They do make glass attachments for the Hi-Tech that cut or notch glass but nothing stands out to me as something that would make short work of making an inside curve. Do you know if there are any attachments from other manufacturers that would fit the shaft of Hi-Tech's flat lap? |
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Post by rockjunquie on May 29, 2024 10:42:56 GMT -5
Glass cutters do have round drums for cutting and polishing.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059 
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Post by gemfeller on May 29, 2024 13:43:57 GMT -5
Glass cutters do have round drums for cutting and polishing. Where were you able to find the needed range of drums to go from coarse to fine grinding? I've looked and can only find coarse to medium grits. Seems to me you'd have to sand & polish radiused cuts with a flex shaft. Other ideas? Also, if one wanted to go to the expense and trouble, I think regular diamond wheels can be run on a slant cabber. I have a different brand I use only for polishing but I could easily run 4 or 6-inch wheels on it if I wanted to tinker with the water feed a bit. It would be a little awkward cutting from that angle but doable. I used to do it with my Dad's ancient Sears machine. |
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Post by rockjunquie on May 29, 2024 14:21:07 GMT -5
Glass cutters do have round drums for cutting and polishing. Where were you able to find the needed range of drums to go from coarse to fine grinding? I've looked and can only find coarse to medium grits. Seems to me you'd have to sand & polish radiused cuts with a flex shaft. Other ideas? Also, if one wanted to go to the expense and trouble, I think regular diamond wheels can be run on a slant cabber. I have a different brand I use only for polishing but I could easily run 4 or 6-inch wheels on it if I wanted to tinker with the water feed a bit. It would be a little awkward cutting from that angle but doable. I used to do it with my Dad's ancient Sears machine. I found them on eBay- a range of 4 or 5, can't remember which. |
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Post by jasoninsd on May 29, 2024 14:25:23 GMT -5
This is one of the first cabs I ever made. It was done with the Dremel. I have it sitting on top of the stereo...as a reminder of where it all started. LOL That's a really nice cab! I'm trying to guess as to what kind of agate that is. Laguna? I do have a ton of polishing heads (the cheap ones with the sandpaper velcro attachment) for polishing so I guess it wouldn't be too hard to give it a run. I'll be sure to start on a thinner cut though as a high dome on that would be a bit tricky for me. I'm still grinding away at being better . (Pun intended of course) Thanks!  I actually don't know the material. I don't believe it's Laguna. The "moss" areas are undercut...so I'm thinking it "might" be Agua Nueva...but that's a total guess at this point... |
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. (Pun intended of course)
