The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Oct 8, 2012 21:46:11 GMT -5
Soooo all you slabbin/cabbin crazy aficionados....... how thick should a slab be to make a standard cab??? By standard I mean a cab that is not a high dome cab, is there a set thickness people prefer???
I see them advertised on Ebay @ 1/4", 6mm, 8.5mm, 1/16", 1/8"... heck I even saw one listed as thin @ 10.2mm thick!!!
I ask because I have cut a couple hundred slabs (2-300) so far but all are of various thickness because i don't have a clue how thick/thin to make them... And, I hope to be able to sell some as I have more than I can cab in a year and plenty more that i want to cut.... heck ... I gots buckets of Montana and Lake Superior small/med/large agates... plus a couple boxes/buckets of already sliced rock that I am working on turning into slabs... should have about 500-600 slabs by Christmas and that's taking my time!! And don't get me started about Thunder Eggs....
Help this poor ole' Southern Yankee find his way through the jungle of slab sizes... P L E A S E !!
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Post by paulshiroma on Oct 8, 2012 21:55:07 GMT -5
Bump for The Dad_Ohs ...
Personally, I haven't a clue. Not enough of an artist in me to figure on even asking the question! HA
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Post by stardiamond on Oct 8, 2012 22:02:19 GMT -5
To me, the standard is 1/4". I will buy slabs that are 3/16. The thinner the slab the more you get out of a piece of rough which is the way to go if the material is expensive. If the rough isn't real expensive, 1/4" allows for higher domes.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Oct 8, 2012 22:08:35 GMT -5
I try to cut everything at 1/4" thick which on my saw happens to be 10.5 turns of my vise feed knob. I dont measure anything now, I just always go at least 10 turns and never over 11 and it saves a ton of time.
Chuck
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Post by stoner on Oct 8, 2012 22:11:22 GMT -5
On average, 1/4" is the norm. For me, it doesn't matter how thick the slabs are or even is they're an end piece where the slab can be 1/8" on one end and 3/8" on the other end. When I cut agates with inclusions, plumes, moss, etc, I like to cut the slabs thin, 1/16-1/8", that way a single plume can be featured in the cab.
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
|
Post by The Dad_Ohs on Oct 8, 2012 22:32:06 GMT -5
Thank you all for the info ... I really appreciate it.... paul, Thanks for the bump !! chuck... my vise is 1/16 per turn I read @ the Lortone site, so I usually do 5 turns to allow for the thickness of the blade, sometime If I am getting closer to the edge of the vise I'll make 2 cuts @ 4turns each to get an extra slab. stardiamond, I have some Amethyst of slight to moderate value but everything is equal in my eyes... I have small amounts of this and that.. and TONS of Agates!! stoner, I know what you mean I cut a nice banded agate that I thought would be better for a wind chime type arrangement so I cut it really thin to get the most pieces all close to the same look.
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Post by deb193redux on Oct 8, 2012 22:49:29 GMT -5
for selling 1/4 or 6mm seems to work. for personal use, whatever thickness suits you. thinner for plumes or making doublets. thicker for high dome, but domes higher than 3/8 look a bit funny.
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Post by frane on Oct 9, 2012 18:32:50 GMT -5
My preference seems to be more a 3/16th inch but I have a ton of 1/4 inch slabs also. I keep an old wooden ruler by the saw and check it that way before making the cut. Standing directly in front I hold the ruler next to the blade and see how far past the slab is. Seems to keep me on target. Fran
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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 Oct 10, 2012 17:51:22 GMT -5
It's a matter of taste I guess. I prefer shallow domes so use mainly 3/16 - 1/4. Got a buddy that likes high domes and uses 3/8 or more. Also for larger cabs, it's sometimes necessary to slice the stone thicker to allow for a good dome. For sale like on E-Bay, 1/4 inch seems to be the preferred thickness....Mel
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
|
Post by The Dad_Ohs on Oct 10, 2012 20:07:47 GMT -5
well for me there is no doubt that at least some of it will go to Ebay for sale to help raise capital for my next rock excursion!!
Also because I have so much of the same thing... any money can also go towards different materials.. and eventually more equipment!! A 10-12" slab saw would be nice and a cabbing station, right now all I have is a Richards machine which is better suited for flats than cabs, and a bull wheel polisher.
<gotta get to Oregon and dig for Ob!!!> LOL
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Oct 11, 2012 20:02:25 GMT -5
Everyone has their own preference. I like slabs 3/16" to 7/32" thick.
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marinedad
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2010
Posts: 813
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Post by marinedad on Oct 16, 2012 7:09:40 GMT -5
i gauge mine by how many cranks on the saw. 4 cranks is 3/16" 5 cranks is 1/4"
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
|
Post by The Dad_Ohs on Oct 16, 2012 8:31:40 GMT -5
i gauge mine by how many cranks on the saw. 4 cranks is 3/16" 5 cranks is 1/4" Thats the same measurements I have on my saw... 1 turn allows for the thickness of the blade and the rest is the thickness of the cut.
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