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Post by Alice on Mar 9, 2005 8:50:02 GMT -5
I'm just wondering, what I would need to get as far as equipment goes to start making cabochons? (just the very basics).
How much would I expect to spend?
And most important, is it safe for kids? (age 9)
Thanks Alice
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Post by mrbrett on Mar 9, 2005 9:20:41 GMT -5
The most important thing to know is that rock dust contains silicone and can be harmful to anyones lungs. Even though there is water or oil to cool the grinders and blades down the dust or mist is still in the air. In the lapidary site I wrote alittle about the harms of breathing dust.
When I started I bought preformed cabs on e-bay. The only thing I had to do was to round them off and polish them. I used a drimmel with a silicone carbide grinding wheel. To sand them down I used sandpaper from 100 grit down to 600 grit. When I polished them I used a piece of leather with tin oxide on it and rubbed and rubbed and rubbed. Took a while but they looked good.
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Post by Alice on Mar 9, 2005 9:31:16 GMT -5
A dremel is good! I have one. That's one less investment I have to make All I need now is a silicone carbide grinding wheel - Do I have to wet that with water or can I let him grind with it dry? I was going to get him to wear a face mask and safety glasses anyway, but thanks for posting up that little bit on safety (now he's got no excuse). you mentioned tin oxide. in powder form? Do you think he'd get the same results if he used those little buffers you get with your dremel, instead of leather? (I have a few of them that came with my dremel, but never used them). Does anyone know if they make silicone carbide grinding wheels big enough so that it can be attached to a drill press?
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Post by Condor on Mar 9, 2005 9:37:06 GMT -5
There's so many ways. It can get expensive. A good all around unit is the All You Need Cab Maker. Runs about $300.00 and has all the grinding wheels to make a cab. You can buy preformed cabs or buy a small trim saw to make your own. That will cost around $200.00 - $300.00 also. From there you will need dop wax and a dopping pot. Once you have the materials, you can make a cab in about thirty minutes from start to finish. This machine is also perfectly safe for kids, and easy to use.
Condor
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Post by Alice on Mar 9, 2005 10:37:54 GMT -5
Does sound like it can get expensive. He's only 9, and kids at that age tend to loose interest in their hobbies after a few weeks or months. I really don't want to spend that much on equipment. I'm not sure if it's cabochons that he's interested in making, but definately he want's to shape, and round out rocks (some like marbles, some like dice, and whatever other shapes he can dream of). It DOES sound like the equipment you're talking about is safer then a dremel. For all I know he could accidently drop the dremel in a bucket of water and reach for it, before unplugging it. Or he can forget to turn it off and just leave it laying there for my youngest (3 yeas old)son to grab and put it in his mouth. Kids aren't very alert when it comes to some potential dangers that surround them. that's why I was asking if they make the wheels a little bigger then the dremel wheels, so that I can attach it to my drill press. No chance of him in dropping a drill press into a bucket of water , and not much chance of my youngest putting a drill press in his mouth either I COULD put the little dremel wheel on the drill press, but I can't help but wonder if they make something more of the size of a sanding drum. Looks like I'll be making a trip to the hardware store this weekend and find out. What speed should your grinding wheel be turning at? I'm wondering now if my drill press is fast enough.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Mar 9, 2005 11:08:13 GMT -5
The dremel equipment is designed to run at VERY high RPM (around 35,000 rpm) whereas a good drill press would be strained to get to 10,000 rpm- Not a biggie excepth the dremmel bits will wear out very quickly- they use speed not torque to do the work! As with anything involving kids SUPERVISION is the key! If you prctice good habits and take the time to show them good habits- they will pick it up- My daughter (also 9) love to help me break rock- I was gonna split something the other day (just real quick like) and she grabbed my safty glasses and said to put them on- well I did and guess where a rock chip hit me? Well she was right and saved me a lot of pain!
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Post by mrbrett on Mar 9, 2005 11:19:22 GMT -5
watch out for the fingers! before I got my dop pot I was holding them with my fingers and they were getting very sore. Good thing about the dremmel is that you can hold it and the piece you are working with closer to your face to see the detail. They have cone shaped grit wheels that work great.
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Post by Alice on Mar 9, 2005 11:54:20 GMT -5
I can't tell you the amount of times I've sanded my knuckles down woodworking using a sanding disc working on small pieces . But I'm assuming with a wheel made of rock, chances are that it won't have the same affect as sand paper if my son were to accidentally rub his knuckle against it? Yes, of course he'll have supervision, but I won't be over his shoulder constanly. It will definately stress him out (just like anyone would) and make the hobby less enjoyable. And also, I'll be keeping more of an eye on my 3 year old so he doesn't bother his brother.... Maybe I'll hold off on the rock grinding for another year or 2, and just let him use a file for now
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Mar 10, 2005 10:10:55 GMT -5
Hi Alice,
You might want to check your local rock and gem clubs ... sometimes they have equipment that the whole group gets to use. It would be a way of learning from others and utilizing equipment to teach your son how to cut cabs. Best part about it is ... that the equipment has already been paid for ... and it doesn't have to come out of your pocket.
Then if your son looses interest in cab cutting ... you are not stuck with all of the equipment.
Just a suggestion,
John
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Post by Alice on Mar 10, 2005 14:59:56 GMT -5
Thanks John That sounds like a wonderful idea! I'll call around and see if anything like that exists in our area.
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Duckbean
fully equipped rock polisher
Looking for rocks in all the wrong places
Member since February 2005
Posts: 1,072
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Post by Duckbean on Mar 12, 2005 0:18:18 GMT -5
Hi Alice When I started I bought a1 7/8 diamond wheel on ebay for my dremel.I had a drill press stand and a 90 degree adapter put the tree together and i had a cheap diamond grinder/cutter. used a spray bottle to wet the wheel and stone. still use Bob it some times
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