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Post by rockds on Mar 17, 2006 14:27:41 GMT -5
I'm looking for honest opinions, don't tell me they all look great, bla bla bla. I want to improve and to do so I need your help. Please, I need to know what could be better and what I'm doing wrong or things I should change. Don't make me get DOC in here. There will be no hard feelings so please be honest, Thanks. Ribbon Agate  Poppy Jasper (sorry no poppies)  Poppy Jasper  Ocean Jasper  Ocean Jasper  Botswana Agate (small chips in top right corner)  Green Moss Agate   Red Mex Crazy Lace  Rhodonite  Ocean Wave Agate  Misty Mountain Jasper  Stone Canyon Jasper (when I slabbed this there was a screaming eagle's head so I thought that would make a good shield, but as you can see during the cabbing cycle it kinda changed into a blob)  Thanks again for your help, Robert |
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Post by stoner on Mar 17, 2006 15:05:09 GMT -5
Well, to be totally honest, I'm not sure why you think there's something wrong with your cabs. They have nice shapes to them, the domes look good, and they have a nice shine to them. Maybe a better way to approach your questions would be to have you tell us what YOU don't like about them. How's that for laying it back on you? But seriously, they do look great. The only thing I see that might help is instead of grinding the sides all the way down to the back side of the cab, try drawing a line around the cab about 1/8" up from the backside and only grind down to that level, thus leaving a flat area around the outside edge of the cab. If you are planning to mount these in a cinch mount, you need this flat area anyway.
I think you're being too hard on yourself, so lighten up dude! hehe
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Post by rockyraccoon on Mar 17, 2006 16:15:16 GMT -5
robert i'm with stoner unless there is something i can't see in the pics, it looks like you have done an A-1 job on them. i haven't used a cinch mount but for wire wrapping i leave a flat edge all the way around but i have no certain measurement - just fit the # of wires or size based on what is there to work with.
kim
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Post by gemkoi on Mar 17, 2006 16:26:11 GMT -5
rockds, Constructive Criticism rocks, and i can give you some. Frist, your cuts do look good, however, most stones seem to dark. This is a quality issue, or a photographing issue. What attracts me to cabs, is good color, and high contrast. The 2nd photo of the green moss, and the Rhodonite cabs seem to have good color, but that’s it in my opinion. Pattern would be second to color in my opinion, as with the Ocean Jasper cab for example, nice pattern, but drab color. This will all come with time and working more materials, so dont worry much about that. However you have a bad reflection in your cabochons, looks like curtains? Get rid of that and you photos will begin looking better making your cabs look better. IF you use it as alight source, you have to rethink that source. I suggest using table lamps, desk lamps that you can point in many directions. AS stoner suggest, there is many different ways people cab. And i have found out if you want jewelers to buy your cabochons, there is a jeweler cut. AS most jewelers now a days like low dome cabochons, with a sharp, flat 15degree bezel to the dome. So instead of taking the dome all the way down to the side. Give it more of a vertical bezel. But I cant really tell from your photos i you already doing this. The last bit would have to do with Balance. AS you have a few shapes that are rather blobish but still suitable in my opinion. Freeform are the best, but you can still keep uniform and/or designer like shapes. Like you set of Rhodonite or your stone canyon cab. And know that this can always happen even after you have many years under your belt. That’s just how the stones will come out. But i myself have recut many fine gems i did years ago, simply because the shape was not uniform, and with a little tweaking, i could recut it much better. Ovals are good stand bys, but i rarely sell them myself because anybody can buy ovals or round cabochons from many source at super low prices. So always think unique shapes, quality material that has good color and/or(very important)high contrast of colors. Here a link to a cabochon that shows real good bezels; www.gemkoi.com/catalog/cab%2B-061-5.JPGSee how vertical the bezel is to the dome. That’s what i learned professional jewelers really like. Though i am sure there are pro jewelers out there that may prefer a different method. Keep up the good work, as your are doing nice stuff! |
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Post by rockds on Mar 17, 2006 17:33:27 GMT -5
Okay, maybe I'm being too hard on myself. Thanks for the input all, the reason why I'm asking is I think this is something I would like to do but want to make sure that if I do it, I can sell the stuff I make.
Robert
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Post by stoner on Mar 17, 2006 18:02:50 GMT -5
Go for it Robert.
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offbeat
no posts
Member since May 2010
Posts: 0
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Post by offbeat on Mar 17, 2006 19:04:45 GMT -5
My only thought would be as mentioned above, the need for a girdle. If I was going to buy a cab I would need that as I mount my cabs in a sterling cap. Other than that, I think your photos would show a little more depth if you would use a light tent to photograph them in. I'm guessing those are blinds that can be seen in the reflection on the cabs. Good that they can reflect that much, not so good because you can't see into the stone as well because of the reflection. I'm a freeform person too, calibrated cabs can be purchased cheeper than you can make them. I worked for a guy that made his living doing that. Purchase rough, slab it, mark it, send it off to China to be cabbed. They did a heck of a job too, 25 cents a stone! Freeforms are the way to go if you plan on grinding cabs to sell and make a little money. With all that said, you have done a very nice job. Keep it up!! Bill
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Mar 17, 2006 19:29:54 GMT -5
Robert,
Whatever makes you think your doing bad?!? I'll tell you what, whichever ones you don't like, just send them to me. I'll take care of them for you. I don't cab, so I don't have any advice , but I do like your shapes and stones.
Steve
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Post by deb193 on Mar 17, 2006 23:12:54 GMT -5
WHenever I see a cab I like, whether on ebay, theGemSHop, or other site, I save the picture. I look at them from time to time and thinkabout what I do/don't like. Not to copy, but to inspire and keep me thinking outside the box. Hopefully it will all come back out when I start making more cabs.
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Mar 18, 2006 11:54:49 GMT -5
OK you got be baffled- I think your cabs are great- Blah Blah Blah- You do need a bezel (that is the hardest part for me too- I just don't know where and what it is really all about- but I'm learning) Also you got to get rid of the Vanician (sp) Mini blinds- they are distracting from the depth of the cab- As GemKoi pointed out color and contrast are very important- But It takes a ton of practice- What I see today as a winning cab- I totally missed 6 months ago- and vice versa- It is fun to look at a slab and try to see the "Perfect cab" But realistically it does not always work out (chips, fractures, ect>) I think you have a good eye for the freeform- your domes are stellar and the shine speaks for itself- Now broaden your horizons- I love to freeform but I am now discovering the Joys of Standardized- Ovals circles, eggs, hearts- are all challanging- and are a good way to work on the Structure of cabbing (patterns, contrasts, attention to detail) Yes ovals are Cheap to purchase- so make yours Exceptional- of is some way different (Lace Agate is a good choice here as the Pattern will sell itself) also look carefully at patterns that are not as common (Hexagons, half circles, cresents) You have the basics nailed down- Now explore other realms, Heck I keep thinking about bullet shapes- I've seen em- and I love em- But to find just the right stone to accomplish this- well that is the challange. So does any of that make sense?
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Post by Cher on Mar 19, 2006 11:01:50 GMT -5
I probably don't belong in here since I don't make cabs of any kind but I'm poking my nose in anyway. Looks to me like you got the shine down with no problem or no one would be complaining about the glare. I like what you've done with the ovals, those really look nice, but I'm not crazy about the triangles. It doesn't look to me like there's enough flat area on top, to much of a pyramid shape to them. Those would be hard to work with though they might be good to drill a hole in the top and make earrings.
One thing I remember that Bearcreek mentioned was to put away one cab a week, date it so you know and have something to look back on what you learned (and forgot). You'll be able to see your improvement which will also give you encouragement.
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beechcomber
spending too much on rocks
Summertime!
Member since March 2006
Posts: 345
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Post by beechcomber on Mar 20, 2006 8:37:25 GMT -5
No criticism here! Just admiring your beautiful work. The two that caught my eye are the ocean jasper and the ocean wave agate. Beautiful color and motion to them. Great work!
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Mar 21, 2006 20:41:06 GMT -5
Hey rockds, I am getting caught up in my postings, as I have been gone for some time. I am a lapidary and have been since 1979, when I was first introduced into lapidary and cutting cabs to be more specific. Since then, I have literally cut thousands of cabs. I have to aggree with most of the other people on this subject ... there is nothing wrong with your cabs! I will aggree that your cabs should have a bezel around the base, as this is a fundamental aspect of cutting cabs that helps the individual setting the stones, to do so without damaging the stone during the process. As for color, shape and ?? ... it all depends on what you are initially trying to achieve. If you are looking for a free-form cab, then cut a free-form cab. If you are trying to achieve a calibrated cab ... then that is what you need to end up with. For anyone to give you specific advise as to what you are doing ... they need to know exactly what you were trying to do initially. If an oval stone is a little out of shape and someone mentions that your oval is mis-shapen ... then it all comes down to ... did you intend on that shape to be your original shape or was it in fact a little mis-shaped. Without knowing exactly what your were trying to do initially ... we can not give you any advise, what so ever. Your cabs look extremely well cut to me and I have cut a few myself  I have done a lot of custom cutting for some of my area jeweler's and I can tell you that stones with chips in them will be hard to sell. You should always try to achieve a flawless stone ... whenever possible. Some stones do not offer you the opportunity to cut flawless stones, it all depends on the quality of the stone you are working with. Some slabs have crystalline vugs that make wonderful cabs, known as drusy cabs. Some people like them and others do not. It all comes down to personal interest! As far as I am concerned ... you are learning the process and that my friend just takes time. After ten or fifteen years, you will have a pretty good idea as to what you will need to achieve to keep the majority of the people in awe of your creations. Hope this helps Sincerely, Bear |
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