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Post by rockjunquie on Nov 21, 2017 9:58:56 GMT -5
It might- the problem is I have to heat it with a flame to release the stone and I seem to remember that galvanized is poisonous when torched. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Nov 21, 2017 10:00:18 GMT -5
You have bad hands, right? If you don’t get aluminum gutter spikes, hammer your little nails into a piece of dowel stock or broomstick so you have something substantial to hold on to. Heads ain’t flat enough for ya? A pinch of 60/90 or 120/220 and a drop of water on a piece of glass’ll fix that in a jiff. Yes, the diameter is a concern. I thought of having a handle that I could swap out or have for each one. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Nov 21, 2017 10:20:31 GMT -5
Yes, the diameter is a concern. I thought of having a handle that I could swap out or have for each one. I have a handle that I can put my dop sticks in when my hands are bothering me. I dop with wax usually, but if it's a small stone those skinny dop sticks can really cause me some pain after holding on to them for too long. DH found it somewhere around here and suggested it. Works great. Find something that already has a wooden hand that has a hole small enough for that you can drill out to accomodate a nail. If the handle isn't big enough to comfortably grip, you could always wrap it with some kind of tape or do multiple dips in that plastic coating stuff until it's a comfortable size. Something like this might work, too: www.riogrande.com/product/collet-type-needle-file-handle/114228 |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723 
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Post by Fossilman on Nov 21, 2017 10:40:42 GMT -5
I'm not much for wraps,but this one is killer cool...Like the way the lines form and it brings out the stone beautifully!!
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Post by 1dave on Nov 21, 2017 11:34:20 GMT -5
I always used double headed nails - keeps the fingers from sliding down too far.  I've wondered about dipping the head into a molten aluminum can to increase the size for larger stones. |
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Post by fantastic5 on Nov 21, 2017 13:40:02 GMT -5
A friend of mine who showed me how to cab gave me several suggestions for dopping. My Genie came with a wax dopping pot, so he showed me that. But he also showed me Loctite superglue gel with a nail. I don't remember the nail being anything special. Just some nails we had in the garage. I think they were galvanized, and I remember not liking the feel. He also showed me the 5 minute quick set two part epoxy on both a nail and an unsharpened pencil (new from the box, with the flat end). I don't usually bother to dop, but when I do I like the pencil and two part epoxy method.
I really like the lapis wrap you did. Has a sci-fi feel to it.
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Post by orrum on Nov 21, 2017 17:32:11 GMT -5
Golf tees work well too, you can get the longer variety at Walmart.
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Post by drocknut on Nov 27, 2017 20:49:41 GMT -5
Beautiful wrap, I like the negative spaces too. It is different from some of your other wraps but still can tell it's your style.
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Post by taylor on Nov 27, 2017 22:12:11 GMT -5
For very small cabs we select short nails with the right size head and tap them into my favorite size dowels. Works with super glue or wax. We did try screws once but they didn't work well. I didn't like the feel of the metal in my fingers when I tried using just nails.
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imakedust
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2013
Posts: 4
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Post by imakedust on Dec 1, 2017 12:04:15 GMT -5
I was just looking up aluminum rods on amazon. Maybe that's a way to go. Good morning! I have only posted here long ago to buy a box of rocks...who can resist a box of rock? First of all, I love your work! I love this whole boards work  I do production work and I normally just lurk about drooling over everyone's work but maybe I can help a little. I started out faceting. So when I moved to cabs I just used the same brass dops, in the same size, 1/4 inch. When I started having to cut 1 and 2 hundred stones at a time, I went through a lot of different things to use as dops. Even going so far as to think about buying more pre-made brass dops. Enter smart Hubby, buy brass stock from hardware store and cut it up into slightly over 2" segments (just my preference in length). These fit my facet machine perfectly and I used it to flatten one end (I'm sure you could do this by hand) and the edge of a lap to cut a cross mark on the other end (so I know back from front). I now have 200+ dops that I use with superglue gel (I only use gel), most soak off with acetone, but some have to be heated, depending on the stone. I'm not sure this photo will show, but if it does, it should let you see what I'm going on about:  Size of stone really does not seem to matter, unless they are smaller than the dops. And best of all there are no ridges or points to hurt your hands. I am also sure you could any size stock that suits you. I can only tell you what works for me, I hope it has been of some help. Have a wonderful day! Sheila |
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 1, 2017 15:25:40 GMT -5
imakedust Welcome! Don't be a stranger. Our faceting section would benefit greatly from your experience. We love to see the sparklies. Thank you for sharing your system! I had looked at some brass dops for faceting. They were made by graves. They had a removable head that I figured would probably spin at the wheel. I was considering something like what you did, but a secret hero came to my rescue with a tool that I am using now. As soon as he gives the go ahead, I'll share about it. I love it! Works great! It was too chilly to cab today, but with this tool and glue, I was able to.
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Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
