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Post by Noosh9057 on Mar 12, 2013 13:10:56 GMT -5
Hi all I would like to know what the minimum amount of equipment I would need to start making some Cabs. Could I get by with a dermal tool just to start having some fun?
Thanks Roger
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 12, 2013 13:52:46 GMT -5
Yes, several people have started with just a Dremel, but you'll soon want a dedicated machine. At the very least you'll need a trim saw (perhaps a tile saw), an expanding drum, and a polishing disc.
Chuck
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Marie
starting to shine!
Member since March 2013
Posts: 40
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Post by Marie on Mar 12, 2013 13:54:38 GMT -5
I'm guessing the cheapest way to start would be a cheap tile saw and a dremel.
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 12, 2013 14:45:10 GMT -5
If you can find a used two wheel arbor and put a grinding wheel and expando you could cab very easily. A spin on polish hub or leather or felt belt would do well for polish. Dremel would do it but it would be a tedious process.
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Charles
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2012
Posts: 161
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Post by Charles on Mar 12, 2013 14:57:00 GMT -5
I don't know where you are at, but you might check to see if a gem & mineral club is fairly close. Some have shops for members to use and you might be able to watch and learn. Then you can see what and why on the equipment. A cheap tile saw and the dremel would certainly work, but you would really need some patience.
Charles
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Post by talkingstones on Mar 12, 2013 15:01:50 GMT -5
Roger, I've got a Lortone LU 6 combo unit that I started with a couple of years ago and am looking at selling but haven't taken down or listed yet. PM me if you're interested.
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hubrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2011
Posts: 1,563
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Post by hubrocks on Mar 12, 2013 15:07:37 GMT -5
Hey that is what I started with too Cathy, It's a good way to go for a newbie, I still use mine at times, and you can get parts easily.
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Post by talkingstones on Mar 12, 2013 15:21:10 GMT -5
It's served me well and I hate to let it go, but I've grown into other machines and space is an issue. :/
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Post by Noosh9057 on Mar 12, 2013 15:23:28 GMT -5
It's served me well and I hate to let it go, but I've grown into other machines and space is an issue. :/ I PM you
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keystonecops
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2010
Posts: 957
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Post by keystonecops on Mar 12, 2013 15:24:56 GMT -5
I've got an LU6, its what I use fer pre forming. Put daiamond on it, 100 and 180 grit. Later Clyde
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 12, 2013 15:55:06 GMT -5
I started with a flat lap then got got a lortone LU6 and even though I cab on the genie now I still use the LU6 all the time for the trim saw and like clyde I put some preforming diamond wheels on there so now with that and the genie usually two of us can work at the same time. like others have said parts are easy to get. I did a full refurb on mine last year for about $50.00.
chuck
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Post by Noosh9057 on Mar 12, 2013 16:31:39 GMT -5
I am very interested in LU6. I live in an apartment and don't have a lot of space to work but I hope I would be able to use it outside on my deck. I would love to get into making cabs.
Roger
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 12, 2013 17:45:04 GMT -5
It would be a good choice. I've seen pictures and Cathy's unit is like new. She bought the drum, blade (BD303C), and belts from me so I can verify it is well equipped. It looks like all it needs is a grinding wheel. The SC wheel on it is a 1/4" shy of being gone by the picture. A 100 grit diamond wheel is what I would replace it with. The last used one I refurbed was just about rusted through. I sand blasted and painted it Many coats to cover the bumpy/rusted pan). I put the cheapest Chinese blade I had in stock, left the good SC wheel, and threw in 4 SC belts for the existing drum. I think I sold it for $425.
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cccbock
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2011
Posts: 502
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Post by cccbock on Mar 13, 2013 17:10:33 GMT -5
I will chime in here. Bear in mind I do not have near the experience as most of the cabbers on this site but I did do quite a bit of research before I decided my final solution. .... First. Yes you could start out with a dremal. But do so would frustrate you much more in the begining and reward you only after MUCH time and effort. A dedicated machine will reward you much faster on the front end but also be much more expensive on the front end. On another rock website I saw a post where a fellow cabbed with a dremal and basicly said look what you can do with minimal equiptment. Well yes you can , but thats like Tiger Woods taking my golf clubs and saying look what I can do with junk clubs. He could play a comparatively excellent game with my clubs but I can not. Same with the dremal. Talented cabber can use one effectively. A beginner is very likely to get frustrated to the point of quitting. Second. building your own can be much more economical than buying even a used comercial dedicated unit. Thats what I did. For my first ever cabbing machine I built a 6 wheel all diamond dedicated cabber. Total cost was around $650. The largest portion of that was obviously the diamond wheels. Third. Now for my recomendation for a rank beginner that wont cost a horrible amount and yet will offer success rather quickly on the front end. Build a unit consisting of a motor , an arbor adapter and an expando wheel. Add some belts , a drip system and a spray shield and off you go........here is a link to a pic here on this site of a setup like I am describing. This would not be as good a a multi wheel dedicated unit but would be light years ahead of a dremal and could be done at a very reasonable cost forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=hmequip&action=display&thread=21952 .................just my two cents........Chris
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