unclestu
Cave Dweller 
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on May 21, 2011 11:34:48 GMT -5
ok i feel wierd stickin my own post --- ill see how it feels then decide haha Don't be shy Just STICK IT!!! Why does that not sound right?LOL ;D |
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on May 21, 2011 11:38:06 GMT -5
ok i feel wierd stickin my own post --- ill see how it feels then decide haha Remember it is better to stick then be stuck |
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Post by jakesrocks on May 21, 2011 11:40:00 GMT -5
Ah, just go for it. Even us old goats can learn a new trick once in a while.
Don
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on May 21, 2011 12:36:33 GMT -5
I am still trying to figure out the girdle thing. How important is it for the bevel to be 12 degrees? I am gathering that many of you do it by eye as opposed to actually measuring. I guess measure twice cut once does not apply to cabbs.
Is the 12 degree bevel something that only comes into play if you are using pre made settings?
I would still like to know if there is some sort of devise to measure the angle for the bevel so as to be able to have an accurate bevel cut all around.
Thanks
Stu
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rockgirl
noticing nice landscape pebbles
great state of ohio
Member since April 2011
Posts: 99
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Post by rockgirl on May 26, 2011 15:12:38 GMT -5
i for one am glad you stickied this or stuck it or just moved it......i am in this position right now and it is a great tool for me....between this old thread and ralph's YOUTUBE video.....i will get to keep all my knuckles for sure......but the nails are sure taking a beating....and my ring on my middle finger has a couple of rough spots now.....this is not good....i have to start taking that off....gold and a grinding wheel does NOT mix...
but i for one have been just kinda jumping around trying to get the bevel right....must remember to go clockwise
thanks for the tips,
karon
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Post by sandsman1 on May 27, 2011 5:04:48 GMT -5
it is allot easier to go one way or the other because each wheel will move the lines so they need to get evened up at the end of every wheel,, it don't matter what way you go but keep goin the same way and they will line up for you
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on May 27, 2011 8:03:15 GMT -5
I to am just starting out and want to know is there any special device one uses to measure the angle of the bevel? Or is it mostly just done by site? Also I am not the best at being able to draw a straight line. Is there any trick to tracing the girdle line around the edge of the cab?
Thanks
Stu
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Post by sandsman1 on Jun 5, 2011 23:04:08 GMT -5
stu i dont measure anything i just do it by eye -- only reason i can think to make the girdle bevel anything but strait is when your gonna set it in a full metal setting and bend over the sides to hold it in -- when i was doin this steady most of them went to wrappers and flat sides seamed to be the way to go -- so id say go flat if you are gonna wrap them
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tfbc
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2011
Posts: 117
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Post by tfbc on Aug 21, 2011 8:35:50 GMT -5
What an awesome thread ! Thank you for making it a sticky, as this info is vital for beginners like me, and this entire forum (it's my second day here) is JUST SOOO FULL of threads and info and kinda overwhelming (kinda how you feel when you walk into a 'rock show'
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Post by Pat on Mar 3, 2012 13:35:22 GMT -5
Re marking for the bezel: I lay the cab flat on the bench and lay either an aluminum marker or a fine Sharpie flat on the bench. Get the two together and move the cab around the marker. Depending on the depth of the cab, you might have to tilt the pen a bit, but keep it steady.
Re how to gauge that 12 degree angle: Diamond Pacific has an angled table that snuggles up close to the grinding wheel. Put the cab on that, and the result is the perfect angle. I suspect you could make your own such table. I'll try to find a picture of it.
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Post by Pat on Mar 3, 2012 13:39:51 GMT -5
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Post by paulshiroma on Mar 9, 2012 23:35:42 GMT -5
Great tutorial, thank you for "sticking" it. I also have a feeling that the rest of my free time will be slipping away now ...  |
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chinook203
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2006
Posts: 849
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Post by chinook203 on May 18, 2012 7:11:13 GMT -5
Thanks for sticking this. I won a cab machine on here a few years ago. We still have it. I am cab challenged! My boyfriend was taught by rockmanken years ago and he was a natural at it. I am so wanting to learn to make some. Going to really study this and make it a point to go out and try again.
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dbucsko111
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2012
Posts: 5
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Post by dbucsko111 on Apr 17, 2013 1:54:23 GMT -5
Just got interested in cabochons recently and I gotta say this: It's addciting! Want to learn more from this thread. Thanks! ______________ Dbucsko danielbucsko.net/ |
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Nov 22, 2013 15:02:52 GMT -5
I to am just starting out and want to know is there any special device one uses to measure the angle of the bevel? Or is it mostly just done by site? Also I am not the best at being able to draw a straight line. Is there any trick to tracing the girdle line around the edge of the cab? Thanks Stu I generally cut a very slight angle to me girdles or leave them flat. This is how I was taught and how I teach also. it is useful for wrapping or silversmithing, placing the finished cab into a holder to make jewelry. I generally make my girdles about 1/3 of the height of the cab before grinding and draw a line so I know where to stop. Diamond pacific includes a stand for cutting cabs with the right angle with their machines and also sells it alone for those who want/need one. it's not cheap, but works well,. eventually if you do it long enough you will develop a feel for what you think is right. Also, as this is a form of Art, there is always room for interpretation!! If you have an eye on competition, that is another matter. my mentor just took 1st & 3rd place in the Jacksonville and the southern federation / american federation cab comp and found out that they are changing the rules for cabochons to no longer require a girdle on the finished cabs.... In other words the dome will go, from now on, from edge to edge which makes it much more difficult for wrapping/jewelry making as it would have a very thin, brittle edge to it at this point. |
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moogie
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since December 2013
Posts: 77 
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Post by moogie on Apr 14, 2014 16:38:53 GMT -5
This is inspiring me to try grinding again. I took a class years ago that was a blast, but I look at those rocks now and wince, they look pretty bad. I inherited a grinder from my Mom, this summer I should get going. Great bunch of pictures, glad your finger wasn't in as bad a shape as it looked! I love the idea of using those rubber tip things from Staples, I might just try that.
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Post by sandsman1 on Apr 17, 2014 11:19:02 GMT -5
you should get goin when i got my first grinder i just took all the small ugly pieces i had sitting around and watched tv and at the same time sat there an tried shaping them , the more you doit the easier it gets -- good luck
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,722 
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Post by Fossilman on Nov 21, 2015 10:40:15 GMT -5
Glad I found this thread-After I finally invested in a cabbing machine,I was told to start with scraps too,getting better as I go along...
Now after watching this thread,it helped me gain a bit more experience on making a cab..
I even tried a fire agate I had laying around,it seemed easier to work with than most rock...Montana agate,(which is my favorite) seems to be the hardest to work with! (not giving up either) LOL
One cab at a time and I will get it down to perfection!! Thanks for the photos and skills to pass onto other hounders...
Glad it was pinned!!!
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Post by rocklicker on Sept 2, 2016 17:04:16 GMT -5
Glad Cab-o-Johns are still a thing! Hey Sands, remember me? I'm back!
Steve
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bsky4463
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2013
Posts: 1,696
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Post by bsky4463 on Sept 2, 2016 20:05:51 GMT -5
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