1st attempt at cabs

Happy Anniversary Kim, and you sure are spoiled with that nice present.
And already having so much fun with it.
For a first day you have been doing very well .

I can see an improvement already haha. WTG

Jack

WOOHOO! Those are too cool. I guess now I have to figure out how to fire my cab machine too...You've inspired me! Really great results. I can hardly believe that's your first go round.

Happy Anniversary to you and your hubby Kim. Those are really great for a first attempt, it isn't going to take you long and you'll have them on ebay too. I'm impressed and like the others want to know what your present was. ;D

Cher

lol i just noticed the magnified cat hairs on the towel. very attractive. that's what my carpet looked like the night i dropped beads on the floor and was crawling around looking for them with the magnifying glasses.

i got a genie friday. my 5 yr old was very excited about it until she saw it and realized it was not a "genie". i don't have a work table yet so i set it right on the kitchen counter and worked from about 6:30 friday night until 4 am saturday morning, caught 4 hrs sleep and jumped up and started again until what ever time i posted the pics. it really does not make a big mess. i can easily clean up the water that does spray out. when i quit sat am it was because one of those rocks had caused my nose to burn like crazy and it was giving me a headache. at first i thought it was the silver sheen obsidian but when i started again on saturday and got back to the heart rock my nose starting burning again so i put my dust mask on for those 2 rocks and that cured it.

i tried using cerium polish and it wasn't suiting me so i changed to the tin oxide and it did the trick. thank goodness sands was up to guide me on the polish. i only broke 1 rock and only got splatted in the face once with a dob of polish (of course it was when i had the safety glasses on top of my head and it just missed the eye). the leopard skin jasper might have done a little better with this process but that rock just will not give me the results that i want. unlike sands cabs which are great front and back - mine are lacking on most of the backs. 2 of the 3 pieces of morrisonite have areas that i was unable to smooth out and keep the shape i wanted so i decided it made them unique and kept going.

llana my back was killing me by the time i finally stopped. but i was the obsessed cabber and couldn't stop. i'm pretty sure this is how drug addicts feel. can't sleep, can't stop for food, must keep at it.... . when my friend stopped by yesterday i think i was starting to look like edward scissorhands ;D especially the hair. her only comment was that it was a shame they didn't have 2 lights on the thing so she could work on one end while i worked on the other .

i'm trying to stay away from it today as my child has to go to dance practice for the nutcracker ballet and i'm scared if i start i'll forget to take her - but when i get back.........and i think i might have some back pills somewhere .

kim

kd i've been putting this genie in my basket at kingsley north since february lol then taking it back out. then i'd go put the lortone combo unit in the basket and take it out. but the anniversary was good enough excuse to take the plunge. now i've got to figure out how to cut a proper slab or push for a real slab saw for christmas .

i did mount that canvas thingy and john sands suggested i get a bowl with polish, a bowl with water, and a clean new sponge - i moistened the polish, dampened the sponge then dipped it in polish and applied it to the spinning canvas. the syringe of diamond polish said to use a silicon lubricant with it and that was over my head and not something i have hanging around i don't think. how are you polishing yours if you haven't put the canvas thingy on?

i just held the stone to grind and shape.

the ones i got from john sands are so good i took them to my neighbor to set them in silver - he has traced them and is designing a setting. i'd like to learn to do this myself at some point.

now i want a slab saw and a trim saw . do we ever stop wanting with this hobby?

how long do those wheels last?

kim

Well, the pics finally pulled up for me.
Great job! and way too much fun for a person to have. I bet your husband is sorry he got you that.
"Honey, are you coming to bed soon?"
"Hey, I'm cabbin. Leave me alone."
;D

cookie

i don't think there is a "never stop wanting" stage with this addiction...if it ain't machinery, it's more and different rock to play with.

and that's all i want to do is work (say play) with them....the rest of this mundane life keeps getting in the way tho! our plumbing went south the other day, as it happens i was changing out barrels, so i used bottled water to finish (you know when you addicted when...)

the rework to the plumbing is going to set us back some, the good news is i cleared a new workspace out for the new tile saw. i need some tips and pointers on this new (fairly intimidating) machine...

i sold a necklace today (yay), and a few peeps want to look at my stuff tomorrow night....i need to work on more production!

KD

kd how exciting! you will have to let us know how it goes tomorrow night. hope you sell all you have and get orders for more!

kim

oh and thanks for the complements and yes cookie my husband wanders into the kitchen shaking his head late at night cause there i still am lol.

Hey KD, congrats on selling a necklace!

I have been at the grinder for a couple of hours working on two specific stones, with another in waiting. Saw this really cool necklace today on this chick on TV. The never did show it real close up, but close enough for me to get the basic idea of how to do it. At least in my head! Whether or not I can get if from my head to reality is going to be the challenge. I have the two stones about the shape I want them, but am sure having a hard time beveling them! I may end up grinding them away trying to get the bevel right! ;D

Since I only have two wheels and a disc on my grinder, I have yet to go fro the 100 grit stage to the polished stage. I have a butter dish full of ones I have done on the 220 belt and was thinking I would put on the 400 belt and the 600 disc (If I get the disc pad tomorrow) and get them through those stages. Then I sat down and started really looking at them and thus far all have been rejects and have to go back to the 100 wheel for just a bit more beveling and smoothing. One of these days I will get a few competely finished, I HOPE!

llana