kislany
starting to spend too much on rocks
wire wrapper learning to tumble and cab rocks
Member since May 2008
Posts: 155
|
Post by kislany on Jul 25, 2008 13:30:44 GMT -5
Ok finished officially my first cab. Woohoo...even though it's not exactly as expected. but hey, it's my first! ;D And I have to say that I really enjoyed making it. I was a bit skeptical while waiting for the machine to arrive, as I had no idea if I would actually enjoy the process, but I do! So this is my first morrisonite, free form (have no templates as of yet). Just took a small slab that Amy sent me and started grinding away at it. Sorry about the pics quality, it's night here so lighting is not the best. Now for my question. Right before the polishing stage, the morrisonite was really smooth, I was also going with my fingers on the surface and felt nothing. As soon as I polished it, see that crack line at the bottom of the first pic (and top of the other two), it showed and I could suddenly feel it with my fingers. Help, I'm confuzzled, what am I missing here?  I will go back to previous stages again, I just wanted first to show the pics so you can see what I mean. Any ideas? Also any other tips, hints, greatly appreciated! Marika    |
|
adrian65
Cave Dweller 
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,790
|
Post by adrian65 on Jul 25, 2008 13:45:31 GMT -5
Congratz for your first cab, Marika! Great material you've chose for starting your cabbing career!
Now about the cracks: don't even think they will hide during the polish, they will only become more visible as you advance in the polishing process. A method to detect them is to wet the slab and then let it dry. The cracks will dry harder (it will be still wet while the rest of the slab will be dry). You can either avoid the cracks, or fill them with a stabiliser (professionals use opticon, but it also works with super glue) and then (after 24 hours) re-sand and re-polish the cab. It will look like transparent agate.
Adrian
|
|
Wolfden
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2007
Posts: 1,368
|
Post by Wolfden on Jul 25, 2008 13:50:05 GMT -5
That came out great .. you will want to get an eye loop at less a 10x .. I keep one next to my machine so I can check each cab for scratches ... before moving to the next step
Dennis
|
|
|
|
Post by stoner on Jul 25, 2008 14:03:16 GMT -5
Great cab! It sure is fun, isn't it?? It's entirely possible that the crack wasn't there before you started polishing it. It may have happened as a result of heat build up during polishing. If it were my cab, I would just break it at the crack and re shape and polish it. You'll still have a nice cab.
|
|
kislany
starting to spend too much on rocks
wire wrapper learning to tumble and cab rocks
Member since May 2008
Posts: 155
|
Post by kislany on Jul 25, 2008 14:03:29 GMT -5
Thanks guys. For this particular crack, what is the best way to proceed now, shall I go back to step 1 until I smoothen it all out?
Ah ok just saw stoner's post, we must have written at the same time. Ok thanks for the tip! So it's between cutting off that part or using super glue (I don't have the professional stuff, but I have the glue).
|
|
|
|
Post by akansan on Jul 25, 2008 14:05:27 GMT -5
The crack might be a heat fracture - this happens as you work the stone. If the stone is sensitive to heat (which most are), the stress of the heat will fracture the stone.
It could also be that the crack was there on the back or inside the slab, and the process of working the stone worked it down to the section where the crack was.
Unfortunately, all you can do at this point is what Adrian mentioned - fill it in and back up a few steps to sand off/polish the filler.
|
|
|
|
Post by fishenman on Jul 25, 2008 16:33:49 GMT -5
WOW! Great first cab. You sure picked a winned there. Since it's a free-form, I say grind that crack away to a new shape.
|
|
free4rms
freely admits to licking rocks
My little pet walrus
Member since January 2007
Posts: 839
|
Post by free4rms on Jul 25, 2008 19:39:15 GMT -5
Yeah, I agree with the consensus so far... grind or cut back to the crack until it is gone and then re-shape it. But I have to say, for your first attempt, you did really well. I can't wait to see some of your later freeforms when you have even more practice!
|
|
|
|
Post by beefjello on Jul 25, 2008 22:28:10 GMT -5
Nice cab Marika, especially for your first! There's some great advice here for you in this thread, the only thing I'll add is keep at it.. you're a natural!
|
|
|
|
Post by Tony W on Jul 25, 2008 23:43:04 GMT -5
Nice job, Marika! Sure didn't take you long to get it out of the box and set up. I think heat is a good bet for the crack like others are saying. You might keep a spritz bottle close by and cool the cab with water every little bit I'm with the others who suggest you cut back to the crack. It will be your first adlib and first real freeform  Tony |
|
kislany
starting to spend too much on rocks
wire wrapper learning to tumble and cab rocks
Member since May 2008
Posts: 155
|
Post by kislany on Jul 26, 2008 0:39:43 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for the wonderful advise and encouragements I will gring back to the crack and re-form it and will post back the new one afterwards. |
|
Tony
