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Post by captbob on Feb 16, 2008 11:52:07 GMT -5
I've got this big honkin' saw now and tons of rough, so I was thinking about cutting some slabs when I wasn't cutting stuff to feed the tumblers.
I'm wondering why most of the slabs I see on eBay are ¼" thick.
Is that the optimum thickness for making cabs and any thicker is too thick for a cab? Does a hair (or two) either side of that thickness matter?
< /font = curious >
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Post by akansan on Feb 16, 2008 12:51:25 GMT -5
LOL - love your close tag.  1/4" is a good thickness for cabs when you think of dividing the cab into dome and side. For people that like high-dome or large-sized cabs, slightly thicker is nice, as it gives you extra doming room. For stones that need light or backing to really show their beauty, then you go thinner than 1/4". I've seen slabs range from 1/8" to 1/2". I prefer in the range of 3/16" to 5/16"...averaging out at 1/4". But it's really a preference issue, and a smidge on either side doesn't hurt anyone. |
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Post by BuiltonRock on Feb 16, 2008 13:09:27 GMT -5
I like them 5/16" to 3/8"as I often finish both sides.
john
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Post by Michael John on Feb 16, 2008 14:18:21 GMT -5
I don't measure when I cut slabs, but I cut my Chrysocolla slabs on the thick side. Two "locals" who buy from me told me that they should be thick so that finished pieces will be more durable than thin pieces. That was a couple of years ago, and I've cut them thick since then. Nobody has ever complained about the thick slabs, so I assume that's the preference for most people. However, as akansan said, if it's material which is clear or opaque, you'd want the slabs on the thin side.
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 16, 2008 17:51:58 GMT -5
I think the main reason is that they are 1/4" is because the cross-feed is threaded 20 threads to the inch, so 5 turns equals 1/4 inch.
It is a good size too, but if our hardware was 18 threads to the inch, or 22, or if we were metric, then it would be a hair thicker or a hair thinner.
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Post by krazydiamond on Feb 16, 2008 18:20:58 GMT -5
i prefer a little less than 1/4" when i am making smaller cabs (10mm x 14mm), but for the larger ones, especially the belt buckle sized (40mm or so), 1/4" is good.
KD
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Terry664
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2005
Posts: 1,146
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Post by Terry664 on Feb 17, 2008 11:16:56 GMT -5
Well I cut shapes more than cabs. Like Akansan said, it also depends on type of stone and what you want to see. My last batch I used 1/4 inch slabs I had bought, and for pendants and the size pieces I make thought they were too thick. I usually cut mine 3/16. But I see that on e-bay they are usually 1/4 inch.
Terry
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,509
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Post by Sabre52 on Feb 17, 2008 12:58:29 GMT -5
I've found that I prefer 3/16" slabs for my own cabbing as preforming takes forever on the thicker slabs. However, Ron at Ron's Rocks told me 1/4" is the preferred thickness for most cabbers and the optimum thickness for slabs you plan on selling....Mel
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Post by Bikerrandy on Feb 17, 2008 17:38:39 GMT -5
I use both 3/16 and 1/4 slabs. 1/4 gives me a little room to grind down. The problem with thicker slabs is the when you see a cool pattern that you want to show on your cab, it may not look the same after you've grinded 1/8 inch off the top.
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Post by Michael John on Feb 17, 2008 17:49:01 GMT -5
Hmmm ... thanks all! And here I thought I was doing everyone a favor by cutting my slabs thick!
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Post by captbob on Feb 17, 2008 19:46:24 GMT -5
Thank you all for your input. I guess ¼" is a safe size to cut then AND that a little either way wouldn't ruin someone's day.
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Post by stonesthatrock on Feb 20, 2008 19:59:38 GMT -5
i also cut them 1/4 " thick, I have a jeweler friend that said thats the perfect thickness for them.
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 20, 2008 21:02:09 GMT -5
Bob- if you are cutting for yourself you can adjust domes as needed. If you cut to sell it's almost impossible to sell thin or thick slabs. Too thin and you have to cut low dome or flats or small cabs. Too thick and you have to make high domes or giant cabs or grind a lot of material away.
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dshalldms
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 113
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Post by dshalldms on Feb 21, 2008 5:11:02 GMT -5
I use both 3/16 and 1/4 slabs. 1/4 gives me a little room to grind down. The problem with thicker slabs is the when you see a cool pattern that you want to show on your cab, it may not look the same after you've grinded 1/8 inch off the top. Why not do what the opal cutters do... cut to the colour, then take any excess material off the back Derek |
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 21, 2008 10:34:35 GMT -5
Drek, for small abs nd usin diamond wheels you are absolutely right. If you are talking large freeform agate cabs it is pretty hard to grind flat backs with wheels. You'ld need a flat lap. It might go back to the silicon carbide days when grinding excess agate cost you in wheels.
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Post by stardiamond on Feb 21, 2008 14:40:48 GMT -5
The bigger the cab the thicker you need the slab to be to get the right dome. If I have piece of material that is over 1/4" and the pattern is likely shallow, I preform the cab, take a slice off the back, flatten it with my wheels, redraw the pattern on the bottom and then cab. It is also tempting to split a piece of very attractive material that is over 5/8".
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