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Post by 150FromFundy on Jan 12, 2011 8:07:15 GMT -5
Here is a sample of what I have been doing with my new toy. I bought an Ameritool Universal Grinder from JS Gems to polish some end cuts and try my hand at some cabochons. I`m not bragging about my end cuts yet, but I am pleased with my first attempts at some cabs. They are not geometrically perfect and I am still struggling to cut a uniform girdle, but a little more practice should help with that. These first 9 were made over 3 days. What a blast! Unfortunately, there are not enough hours in the day for play. Darryl. Brazilian Amethyst ![](http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu300/150fromfundy/Cabochons/January%202011/Amethyst1b.jpg) Crazy Lace ![](http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu300/150fromfundy/Cabochons/January%202011/CrazyLace1a.jpg) Crazy Lace ![](http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu300/150fromfundy/Cabochons/January%202011/CrazyLace2b.jpg) Flow Banded Obsidian ![](http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu300/150fromfundy/Cabochons/January%202011/FBObsidian1b.jpg) Arizona Petrified Wood ![](http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu300/150fromfundy/Cabochons/January%202011/PetWood1a.jpg) Montana Agate ![](http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu300/150fromfundy/Cabochons/January%202011/Montana1b.jpg) Montana Agate ![](http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu300/150fromfundy/Cabochons/January%202011/Montana2b.jpg) Picasso Jasper ![](http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu300/150fromfundy/Cabochons/January%202011/PicassoJasper1b.jpg) Picasso Jasper ![](http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu300/150fromfundy/Cabochons/January%202011/PicassoJasper2b-1.jpg)
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mc2
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since April 2009
Posts: 1,147
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Post by mc2 on Jan 12, 2011 8:20:33 GMT -5
Those are some great looking specimens! The shaping isn't too bad, you will have it perfected in no time at all. Congrats on the new machine!
Mike
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Jan 12, 2011 8:46:01 GMT -5
they are all very good for your first cabs! A lot better than my firsts
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Jan 12, 2011 9:04:29 GMT -5
Lookin' Good! Keep at it, you will have it down it no time at all!
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cabjunky
has rocks in the head
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Regency Rose Plume
Member since November 2008
Posts: 683
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Post by cabjunky on Jan 12, 2011 13:45:12 GMT -5
Not bad for first cabs!! keep at it, it gets easier the more cabs that you cut.
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 12, 2011 14:15:02 GMT -5
Congrats Darryl!
Yes, girdles are my nemesis, too.
You'll have to cab some of your local material! I made several of the plume/flame/moss agate that you sent, but they're not ready for posting yet. It cabs really well!
Chuck
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jan 12, 2011 16:28:01 GMT -5
Good for you Darryl, it's great to see you cabbing! You've done some great work. For the 1st 9, I'd say you knocked 'em out nicely. Round ones are tough, but you'll get it in no time. You worked some different hardness materials too, and they all look good.
Nate
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pporky
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since May 2007
Posts: 1,932
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Post by pporky on Jan 12, 2011 19:42:26 GMT -5
Goodonya Darryl they look really nice, a good variety of material also. I really like them crazy lace Bill
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Post by Toad on Jan 12, 2011 20:05:31 GMT -5
Wow. Great job. You'll be a world class cabber in no time. Love the variety.
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Post by rockrookie on Jan 12, 2011 20:15:57 GMT -5
Woah !! nice Cabs , Darryl --paul
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Post by christopherl1234 on Jan 13, 2011 4:18:20 GMT -5
Those look good. The single thing that helps me the most on getting an even girdle is to scrib a line on the side of the cab. Sometimes I will have to stack playing card to get the right height. It works good. Here's a couple of photos that might explain it better. ![](http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp59/christopherlesso/MARKNGIRDLENEWCAB2.jpg) ![](http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp59/christopherlesso/MARKNGIRDLECLOSEUPNEWCAB.jpg) cut to the line and....vola...perfect girdle
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Post by tanyafrench on Jan 13, 2011 12:26:39 GMT -5
Darryl, those are beautiful. For the first ones you have really put a great shine and the shapes aren't bad. Your starting with a very high bar. Keep up the good work.
Tanya
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Post by stoner on Jan 13, 2011 21:57:43 GMT -5
Those are a lot better than my first cabs! Keep on going, you've got a good start and practice makes perfect. Here's a link that may help get you in the right direction. www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/oplc_cab.html
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rockhound97058
freely admits to licking rocks
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Thundereggs - Oregons Official State Rock!
Member since January 2006
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Post by rockhound97058 on Jan 13, 2011 23:46:18 GMT -5
Looks great - Good job, After I finished my very first cab, I glued it to a note card and hung it in my shop for a reminder. It was done in December of 1998.
Christopher - Your trick with the pencil works great - Another suggestion to for the correct height... I use a small aluminum nail on top of a US Quarter and it make's a perfect line on a 1/4 cab. Great tip though you posted! Always works better with photo's!
Jason
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since December 2009
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Post by chromenut on Jan 13, 2011 23:47:26 GMT -5
Those look good. The single thing that helps me the most on getting an even girdle is to scrib a line on the side of the cab. Sometimes I will have to stack playing card to get the right height. It works good. Here's a couple of photos that might explain it better. cut to the line and....vola...perfect girdle Great idea Chris, thanks for that! I've been wandering aimlessly trying to get my girdles to match up, now this will help tremendously. Darryl - great first job! My first job, well it didn't go so well! lol.. I wasn't ready for my cabs to be tossed across the room and splintered into a million pieces. Course the first one bounced off my workbench and hit me in the eye, kind of like telling me I was doing something wrong! lol
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Post by Tony W on Jan 15, 2011 13:14:32 GMT -5
Really nice material for your first cabs. I'm glad you did a Lace as they take such a good shine they are great encouragement for first time cabs. Nice work! Tony
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