luv2hound
freely admits to licking rocks
I try & I try, but dang it! Those rocks just keep ending up in my pockets
Member since June 2007
Posts: 890
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Post by luv2hound on Oct 20, 2007 14:21:55 GMT -5
Hey everybody. ;DWell the cabbing machine my husband Shawn has been working on is now up and running. ;D It's taken awhile as we had to save, save, save for the wheels. It all started with this cart thing we have. It's was just a steel frame on wheels. Well, Shawn primed and painted it. Them cut and painted wood to fit the top and the bottom. The machine is mounted on the top and the motor is underneath. The cart part is really great cause I can move it where ever I need it. Shawn hasnt had time to make the splash guards yet, so I ordered a single one from Kingsley North. Oh by the way. The Nova wheels came from Rons Rocks and the Solid steel ones from Jadecarver. We're using the same grits as come on the Genie. The wheels are set up kinda funny right now because of the single splash guard. It is a pain in the a$$ right now because of the single splash guard but at least I get to cab. OK on with the pics. The motor underneath Isnt my hubby great? I've been having a great time on the machine so far. I have 5 cabs I'm working on now. They are through the 600 grit. Maybe tomorrow I'll have time to finish them. Thanks for looking. ~~Mitzi~~
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Post by LCARS on Oct 20, 2007 15:14:52 GMT -5
Alright Mitzi, way to get cabbin'!
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erbojones
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2006
Posts: 659
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Post by erbojones on Oct 20, 2007 15:15:46 GMT -5
Very cool!
Well done Shawn!!
And have fun Mitzi!
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stonesnbones
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2007
Posts: 255
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Post by stonesnbones on Oct 20, 2007 15:30:21 GMT -5
Looks like any time now we will be admiring your cabs.Your set up looks like it will do the job and then some.But I do have a couple of questions/comments.Are you going to put the wheels in order of grit sizes?I appears you have one coarse wheel on one side of the motor and one on the other.Are you going to have a varialble speed swith on it?
Brad
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luv2hound
freely admits to licking rocks
I try & I try, but dang it! Those rocks just keep ending up in my pockets
Member since June 2007
Posts: 890
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Post by luv2hound on Oct 20, 2007 15:57:30 GMT -5
Stonesnbones: The 80 grit and the 220 grit are solid steel, so one has to go on each side so it's balanced and wont shimmy. The other grits are all in order. There is no variable speed.
~~Mitzi~~
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stonesnbones
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2007
Posts: 255
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Post by stonesnbones on Oct 20, 2007 16:15:16 GMT -5
I asked for a reason as you may have guessed.I am concerned abouth the possibility that you may conataminate the other wheels.Do you plan to have individual splash guards over the 80 and 220?May want to consider it for this reason.Debris from the coarse wheels will build up on the hood,if its a mutual hood then grit could fall on the other wheel.You will know if you start getting alot of scratches on the finer stages.
No variable speed,Be cautious at first when cutting soft material on the 2 coarse wheels.Nothing worse than touching a opal to a wheel then you look and there is no more stone.Once you have a feel for the machine,you will instictively know what to do.
Brad
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luv2hound
freely admits to licking rocks
I try & I try, but dang it! Those rocks just keep ending up in my pockets
Member since June 2007
Posts: 890
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Post by luv2hound on Oct 20, 2007 16:24:49 GMT -5
Thanks for the warning stonesnbones, but have no fear. Each time the machine is used, the splash hood and pan are washed and cleaned. This is how we were taught in class so we will continue this. So there will be no chance of contamination.
We learned on a Genie with no variable speed so that wont be a problem. I think it will be a long long time before I even attempt anything will opal.
Thanks for the tips.
~~Mitzi~~
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stonesnbones
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2007
Posts: 255
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Post by stonesnbones on Oct 20, 2007 16:34:16 GMT -5
Mitzi,thanks for the background info which I was not aware of.
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Post by sandsman1 on Oct 20, 2007 17:01:48 GMT -5
lookin good i bet when you get your splash guards and trays on there you will be doin great thats a real nice setup --- do you find its harder on the back to lean into the wheels at the center of the table?
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Oct 20, 2007 19:00:13 GMT -5
Congratz Mitzi! That is a sweet looking cabbing machine, and just think of the $$$ you saved. It loks like it was well built, and I'm sure you're really going to enjoy it. Can't wait to see some new cabs. Steve
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Post by stoner on Oct 20, 2007 21:04:39 GMT -5
Simplicity at it's finest! Great way to build a Genie without the expense. My only comment would be on the part about the shimy you were talking about. Maybe it would be better to move the bearing blocks over one wheel each towards the outside of the shaft, then you could have both hard wheels in between the bearings and kill 2 birds with one stone(pun intended) As for cross contamination, I wouldn't worry about it. I have an 80g hard wheel 1/2" away from my expanding drum on which I use all my diamond belts up to 8k and haven't had any problems. You're gonna get a lot of use out of that machine, congrats on a job well done.
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luv2hound
freely admits to licking rocks
I try & I try, but dang it! Those rocks just keep ending up in my pockets
Member since June 2007
Posts: 890
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Post by luv2hound on Oct 20, 2007 21:45:58 GMT -5
Sandsman1: I guess in the pics it does look like the cabber is pretty far back. But it's really not. I dont find myself bending over to get to it and when sitting it's ok too. We measured with each of us pretending to cab before Shawn bolted it all down.
Stoner: It would be kind of hard to switch the bearing blocks now as they are bolted down already and the hole is cut for the belt. Dont want anymore holes put in the top and have to plug the others it would leave behind. As of right now with the way they are set it's not doing any shimmying. And if we changed it, Shawn would have to build 3 splash guard pans instead of 2. Thanks for the suggestion though.
~~Mitzi~~
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Post by akansan on Oct 20, 2007 21:52:15 GMT -5
Looks great! Where did you get the shaft from? I like that it's threaded on both ends (right?). There's plenty of room on there for a few more wheels as well!
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Post by BuiltonRock on Oct 20, 2007 22:36:34 GMT -5
Hey Mitzi, That is a great job. Congrats!! Maybe Shawn and you could give us a run down on things like the shaft, motor, bearings, what he used for wheel spaces. You know specs. length , size, where you got them and why you got these items. I'm going to build one some day and would love the particulars. This is a geat design and like Stoner said simple and for me do-able. Thanks and ENJOY john
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,789
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Post by adrian65 on Oct 20, 2007 23:08:18 GMT -5
That machine looks great! I am also in progress of building one. I like the fact that the motor is hidden underneath, thus getting rid of the moist problem.
I still find a minus to that machine ... where's the first cab? ;D
Adrian
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Post by Lady B on Oct 25, 2007 21:09:17 GMT -5
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Post by flintfish on Oct 26, 2007 3:18:34 GMT -5
That's fabulous Mitzi and Well Done Shawn! That's Awesome!!!! ;D ;D ;D So there's nothing to stop you now!! Can't wait to see those cabs. Thanks so much for all the information, that looks like quite a project and getting everything accurate and lined up is no mean feat. Congratulations and thanks again for sharing your experiences. I'm inspired! ;D Cheers, Harry.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Oct 26, 2007 10:12:03 GMT -5
Damn fine machine!!!! I worry a bit about the closeness of the bearing blocks- but it seems to be working ok!!! I think the only mod I would make is to add 2 more bearings towards the ends of the shafts---- wait- never mind I looked at the picture a little more closly- the closeness of the bearings is more an Optical illusion than anything- My bad!
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Oct 26, 2007 11:18:08 GMT -5
What a great machine! Thanks for posting the pics and the details Mitzi. This makes me seriously think about building my own but then maybe your husband just makes it LOOK easy. Dan
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