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Post by stardiamond on Sept 13, 2012 17:02:45 GMT -5
For those of us that don't use a slab saw, heels can generate some nice cabs and often are cheaper than slabs because they can be a pain to work with. I have noticed that some of the nicest patterns are next to the skin.
Heels usually have a cut side and a rough side. Some material is thin rough where there is a skin on boths sides and too thin to cut with a saw. For heels that are more than a slab thickness, but not thick enough to cut a slab, I use my trim saw to make the rough side parallel to the cut side. If the rough side is the better side, then you can remove the uneven material with your wheels when you cut the cab.
If you want to make the cut side the top then you need to make the rough side smooth and flat. I've tried using flat laps on the end of my Genie, but usually use the wheels to flatten. I don't try to flatten the entire heel just something slight larger than the preform. I work the preform across the wheel using a figure eight motion being careful not to gouge with the wheel edges. I do this 80 thru 280 grit. Depending on how much extra material is left, I may draw the shape on the now flattened back and use the trim saw to remove excess material, before grinding the shape.
Anyone else have experience working with heels and thin rough.
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Sept 13, 2012 17:13:43 GMT -5
I've been interested in some of my heels lately for those reasons. Gives me an excuse (in some cases) to go with a really high dome that is something I don't normally do.
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Sept 13, 2012 17:20:45 GMT -5
yep I'm guilty of buying end cuts and heels to work too. Some can cab out really nice and then theres the ones that are full of pits and fractures. ya win some and ya lose some
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Post by beefjello on Sept 13, 2012 19:12:48 GMT -5
I'll second Frog, sometimes heels will cab just awesome, sometimes there's too many pits and fractures to bother. Small nodules are the same way.
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keystonecops
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2010
Posts: 957
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Post by keystonecops on Sept 13, 2012 19:15:29 GMT -5
I just throw the heels in my 12lb tumbler. Later Clyde
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Sept 13, 2012 23:48:34 GMT -5
I have always used mine for cabs when I see something promising in them. Other than that they go in the tumbler with all the other saw scraps and fractured rocks.
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Post by Toad on Sept 14, 2012 7:54:25 GMT -5
I buy them for tumbling sometimes...
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Sept 14, 2012 8:10:58 GMT -5
I cut quite a few cabs from heels. Woodward Ranch plume especially, often has the best plume right beneath the outer skin of the biscuits. Cut a neat one from din bone not long ago too. Often find great heels in the cheapo 50 cent and dollar bins....Mel
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Sept 15, 2012 0:42:10 GMT -5
I found the heel from this Aztec purple lace to be my favorite part of it. Attachments:
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rykk
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 428
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Post by rykk on Sept 16, 2012 0:05:24 GMT -5
I like end cut/heel slabs, too, and the bigger ones I usually include in my specimen collections - I call them "poor man's nodules" - lol Rick
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