turtleman
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2018
Posts: 23
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Post by turtleman on Nov 6, 2018 10:57:15 GMT -5
@hummgingbirdstones thank you so much for your details on cabbing. Someday I will go for more domes, but I honestly like the flat face on some of these stones that I make. With that being said, I need to up my skills and try to get more domes done, just to see how I like them, but I think for some stones. the flat face just has a certain quality to it. Definitely going to take your advice into account and hopefully soon, I'll be making some domed cabs!
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Nov 6, 2018 21:53:46 GMT -5
Hiya' Turtleman. When I started cutting I preferred domes higher than I do now. Can't say why - I really didn't know what I was doing.
Now I put lower domes on most everything. Putting a very low (almost flat) dome on your cabs can make polishing much easier. A true flat top makes it more difficult to work out a pesky scratch or pit. Even a millimeter or less can make life much easier.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Nov 7, 2018 9:29:14 GMT -5
@hummgingbirdstones thank you so much for your details on cabbing. Someday I will go for more domes, but I honestly like the flat face on some of these stones that I make. With that being said, I need to up my skills and try to get more domes done, just to see how I like them, but I think for some stones. the flat face just has a certain quality to it. Definitely going to take your advice into account and hopefully soon, I'll be making some domed cabs! I generally cut low dome cabs myself. When you are cutting jaspers and agates, etc. it allows more of the pattern in the stone to be seen face up. There are times I will cut for a higher dome, but those stones are usually "special" stones -- opal (because it is expensive and you want to retain as much carat weight as possible) and the translucent stones like gem silica, chrysoprase and any cab grade gemstone for the same reason, plus they are just more visually appealing imo cut with a higher dome.
It takes some time to get the technique down for doming on a flat lap, but once mastered it just becomes second nature. Practice with some junky rough first because the first couple will probably not be perfect. I know from experience.
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