casco1
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since December 2005
Posts: 79
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Post by casco1 on Apr 27, 2006 20:22:22 GMT -5
Hi all?
Just wondered what kind of machines everyone is using for their cabbing? What are the basic machines and which are the ones that when you see them gotta have them?
If ya can post a pic?
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fatrichie
has rocks in the head
Member since July 2004
Posts: 651
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Post by fatrichie on Apr 27, 2006 22:12:00 GMT -5
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Post by rockds on Apr 28, 2006 0:39:51 GMT -5
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Apr 28, 2006 10:56:46 GMT -5
 Mine!!! Old Lortone- Used to Be Sands- before that it was BearCreeks |
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casco1
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since December 2005
Posts: 79
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Post by casco1 on Apr 28, 2006 13:09:53 GMT -5
Stefan,
Are you able to shape & polish on that machine? Just change the belts and clean the machine up a bit between stages?
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Post by gemkoi on Apr 28, 2006 13:28:31 GMT -5
I use a basic Lortone 2wheel, 8inch arbor model with a 1/3hp motor. For shaping, i use a metal bonded diamond wheel in 100 and 220 grits. Then i switch over my 220 to an expand drum, and start again on 220, and take it to 1200 silicon carbide. After which the prepolishing starts on resin belts at 3000 grit, up to 50000 grit diamond paste. Then i polish on a resin belt using either optical cerium, or rapid polish.
Now, this is for heavy grinding, i put out maybe 40-60 cabs a week to clients. I have an old raytech 4 wheel, 8inch model that i need to replace the barrings, sand blaste it and repaint it. Once that is done, i will use that machine for all heavy grinding. upto a 220 belt on a drum. Then use the lortone 2wheel arbor for fine sanding and finishing. To reduce cross contamination which can play hell when trying to polish.
Over the years the only thing in lapidary i cant live without, is a basic 2 wheel grinder and trim saw. Oh ya, and a pair of tile nippers, just in case.
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Post by stoner on Apr 28, 2006 13:59:34 GMT -5
Shain, do mean to tell me that you use a polish AFTER the 50k diamond paste? I'm no expert, but I believe 50k diamond paste is much finer than cerium or any other oxide polishes. When I'm done with the 50k diamond paste, the surface of the cab is like glass, and it seems that trying to get anything better would be over-kill.
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Post by gemkoi on Apr 29, 2006 12:47:03 GMT -5
Hey Ed, NOt in all cases, but certain softer stones like lapis really benfit from a buzz on a polish cycle. I would say the stone in contact during polish for less than5 seconds for each stone. AS well, certain blue jaspers, like gem morrisonite and Blue Mt react funny with diamond paste if you use to even a slight to much. BUt they reall sing after which it i buzz them fast on optical cerium. The key as you know, is you need very little of any compound to get the job done. Sometimes i go months without reloading the resin belts with paste. AS there is such things as a coat polish with diamond compound. So i try to use very little in all cases.
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Post by joe on Apr 29, 2006 21:36:14 GMT -5
Shain I'd like to ask about those resin belts. I just got some and am unfamiliar with them. Any special tips on using them for polishing with diamond paste? Do they differ from leather belts in how you work them? Is it the kind of thing I should only use with a very light touch? I keep the belt from drying out with a spray bottle. Is this ok? Any advice on using those resin belts would be appreciated.
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Post by gemkoi on Apr 29, 2006 21:44:33 GMT -5
Hey Joe,
The things to watch out for on those resin belts is when they get wet, they can shrink. As well, if you press to hard, they like to stick to your rubber wheel when wet. Always store them separately. If i use water, its always clean, and only to cool the stone, but most times i try to work the cab very fast, and never holding it on the belt for too long. So i dont have to use much if any water. Each ca is wiped with a paper towel in between stages.
When the belts get old, they fray on the edges, but other than the shrinking and sticking to rubber when wet. That’s it. i prefer them to diamond belts because they are inexpensive, and last a long time.
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Post by joe on Apr 29, 2006 21:51:59 GMT -5
Thanks Shain! I'll try them again and see how I do. I may have been pressing too hard.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on May 3, 2006 9:55:32 GMT -5
casco- that is exactly what I do- Stop the machine- a quick cleanup- swap out belts and zing-
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