rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,120
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Post by rockbrain on Oct 29, 2024 11:19:55 GMT -5
I'm still really liking my KN6. I think the wheel spacing on the HP unit might even be slightly more than the KN. I'm not totally thrilled with the light connection on the KN but it hasn't caused any issues and I've used it quite a bit. I like the fact that the KN is built in the USA. Price is about the same as the HP. The upgrade to Nova wheels is $730 which is a decent chunk of change for the upgrade. I love the Nova wheel but at the early point of my cabbing experience I used a Super Nova and liked it a lot. I think at this point I would be really tempted to buy the KN with the standard wheel and then upgrade the soft wheels down the line as needed. Super Nova is also available as a 220 grit which I really like for the first soft wheel. I also used an expando drum early on. I liked it a lot. The width is really nice! Keep in mind, the less expensive SIC belts only go up to 1000 grit. Anything higher you need to buy diamond belts.
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rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 543
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Post by rocknrob on Oct 29, 2024 12:05:03 GMT -5
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tribeunited
fully equipped rock polisher
Not all materials look exactly the same. But all exact materials are exactly the same.
Member since May 2024
Posts: 1,976
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Post by tribeunited on Oct 29, 2024 12:29:11 GMT -5
More time for research! Also, maybe you'll come across a used one while you're waiting. Keep willing a cabbing machine your way...
Happy Birthday to you!
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rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 543
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Post by rocknrob on Oct 29, 2024 12:52:36 GMT -5
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 29, 2024 13:39:44 GMT -5
Aw no- sorry.  |
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tribeunited
fully equipped rock polisher
Not all materials look exactly the same. But all exact materials are exactly the same.
Member since May 2024
Posts: 1,976
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Post by tribeunited on Oct 29, 2024 14:23:16 GMT -5
I love spongebob! Every time I make hamburgers, I say, "People order our patties. Awe poop, you never let us down!" |
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Post by liveoak on Oct 29, 2024 14:38:49 GMT -5
Christmas is coming quicker than not & what better present to find under the tree ! ?
Make sure you let it be known, exactly which cabber, from what company.
Leave pictures around - and leave hints to the wife about the beautiful handmade jewelry you'll be showering her with.
Patty
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Post by chris1956 on Oct 29, 2024 16:21:15 GMT -5
I love my Knigsley North 6" cabber  . I got mine with the stock KN wheels, it came down to what I could afford.
Having never used a "Nova" wheel, I don't know the difference.
But as I've had to replace a wheel I've gotten Johnson Brothers "Super Nova" (again for price) and like them a lot.
There were a couple of selling points to me on the KN.
Separate motor- I like that if the motor goes, I can replace it. End laps - really nice, it has the ability to take a lap on both ends.
AND that they are inside the case with water feed.
The space between the wheels is generous, much more than other 6" cabbers I looked at.
ALSO, since I got mine they have fixed a couple of leaking issues, I understand, so you should be good to go.
BTW- Happy Birthday !
Rob's video sold me :
Patty
Great points! Agree on the motor setup and end laps. Also, the 8 inch has even more space between the wheels. Now I recall that I was thinking about the arthritis in my hands when I chose the 8 inch for the more spacing and bigger wheels thinking it would require less stress on my fingers. |
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Post by whalecottagedesigns on Oct 29, 2024 19:16:38 GMT -5
Sorry about the delay, stoopid tires!
I do have one more thought for you. If you can, do keep the flat machine you are currently using. We went through the same steps, All-U-Need cabber, then progressing to the Cabking. And the only way we were able to afford that big monster truck was due to covid I was not able to take leave for a year and a half, and they paid out my leave! A little bit of rainbow in the rain!
Point is - we passed on the flat one to our kids when we got the big machine, and that was a couple of years ago. But now I have invested in the 8 inch slanted cabber again. I want to have more polishing solutions on a bigger lap than the wee little jobbie you spin on on the side of the Cabking. I have made up an 8 inch leather lap for Linde-A, but also I have two other felt laps that can now also accommodate cerium and possibly Tin Oxide. And the slanted cabber has a speed control so you can slow it right down for the polishing. Also, I got the glass version so it came with a bunch of metal grit discs for me to easily do the backs of cabs on too.
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Post by Rockoonz on Oct 29, 2024 22:41:58 GMT -5
What? Tires? Priorities, man, and besides bald tires in WA are fun, drift around corners like a racecar...  Seriously though, for an actual machine I have heard a lot of good things about the EZCab, only possible downside is it's at the upper side of the price range and it requires a wider section of bench than others to get that nice wheel spacing. I was grumbling just a little today doing something larger on the genie, wheels are close together. |
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rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 543
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Post by rocknrob on Oct 30, 2024 10:24:30 GMT -5
Sorry about the delay, stoopid tires! I do have one more thought for you. If you can, do keep the flat machine you are currently using. We went through the same steps, All-U-Need cabber, then progressing to the Cabking. And the only way we were able to afford that big monster truck was due to covid I was not able to take leave for a year and a half, and they paid out my leave! A little bit of rainbow in the rain! Point is - we passed on the flat one to our kids when we got the big machine, and that was a couple of years ago. But now I have invested in the 8 inch slanted cabber again. I want to have more polishing solutions on a bigger lap than the wee little jobbie you spin on on the side of the Cabking. I have made up an 8 inch leather lap for Linde-A, but also I have two other felt laps that can now also accommodate cerium and possibly Tin Oxide. And the slanted cabber has a speed control so you can slow it right down for the polishing. Also, I got the glass version so it came with a bunch of metal grit discs for me to easily do the backs of cabs on too. I was thinking of getting some of the glass grinder bits to groove the thicker cabochons for wire wrapping. Similar to how Michiganrocks does it. Mostly also out of curiously as I would like to see how that works on this machine. Also... dumb tires! |
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rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 543
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Post by rocknrob on Oct 30, 2024 10:30:20 GMT -5
What? Tires? Priorities, man, and besides bald tires in WA are fun, drift around corners like a racecar... Seriously though, for an actual machine I have heard a lot of good things about the EZCab, only possible downside is it's at the upper side of the price range and it requires a wider section of bench than others to get that nice wheel spacing. I was grumbling just a little today doing something larger on the genie, wheels are close together. Yeah, I saw the EZcab mentioned above and that is a bit more machine than I have room for in the garage. I was even thinking of going the combination machine route as having a extra water based trim saw is never a bad thing but that would put me firmly into the flex drum family. Not bad but also nothing I've ever worked with before. Hehe, all it takes is me not tossing in a couple hundred pounds of gravel in the back of the truck on a rainy day and I can get that drift action pretty easily. |
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Post by whalecottagedesigns on Oct 30, 2024 19:31:33 GMT -5
Sorry about the delay, stoopid tires! I do have one more thought for you. If you can, do keep the flat machine you are currently using. We went through the same steps, All-U-Need cabber, then progressing to the Cabking. And the only way we were able to afford that big monster truck was due to covid I was not able to take leave for a year and a half, and they paid out my leave! A little bit of rainbow in the rain! Point is - we passed on the flat one to our kids when we got the big machine, and that was a couple of years ago. But now I have invested in the 8 inch slanted cabber again. I want to have more polishing solutions on a bigger lap than the wee little jobbie you spin on on the side of the Cabking. I have made up an 8 inch leather lap for Linde-A, but also I have two other felt laps that can now also accommodate cerium and possibly Tin Oxide. And the slanted cabber has a speed control so you can slow it right down for the polishing. Also, I got the glass version so it came with a bunch of metal grit discs for me to easily do the backs of cabs on too. I was thinking of getting some of the glass grinder bits to groove the thicker cabochons for wire wrapping. Similar to how Michiganrocks does it. Mostly also out of curiously as I would like to see how that works on this machine. Also... dumb tires! I imagine that would work! Let us know when you try! |
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ThomasT
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2022
Posts: 604
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Post by ThomasT on Oct 31, 2024 16:46:45 GMT -5
I have the 6" Diamond Pacific with geysers and the 8" HP ... both are good machines.
I set the HP up on a stainless cart with a water pumping/recycling setup underneath... works real good with plenty of elbow room around the spaced wheels.
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Post by stardiamond on Nov 2, 2024 18:36:46 GMT -5
HP lapidary is having a Black Friday sale. Their 6 inch machine is about the same as the KN. The sale will likely be 10% off with no sales tax and free shipping. Their website shows the machine with wheels but they have been selling the machine and wheels separately. 10% off the machine and 15% off the wheels. Special deals are shown at their webinars.
I have a Genie and I like spitters as opposed to overhead drip. If I were considering and entry level situation I would consider a two wheel arbor. Batching work and swapping in different wheels.
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