beachbum
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2004
Posts: 8
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Post by beachbum on Jul 24, 2004 22:05:07 GMT -5
I understand if noboby wants to respond because I know that newbe questions get old.
Just trying to understand what the term "lap" means. I believe "cab" is short for cabochon, correct? And cabs are made for jewlery pendants, etc.? Also, what exactly do you do with "slabs" afetr you cut them up into pieces and polish them?
For what it's worth, the smooth marble pebbles I am polishing I just like to display in glass vessels and run my fingers through them.
Thanks if anyone responds.
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Post by docone31 on Jul 24, 2004 22:21:57 GMT -5
Newbie I feel I speak for 99.9% of the folks on this forum. We all started once, stumbled more than once, and tore our hair out seeking answers. I do not care how many times you ask what seems obvious questions. You will have my attention. I suspect you will get to meet some folks who share my entheusiasm also. A cab., is short for cabachon. Lap., is short for a diamond impregnated disc or a copper disc or tin disc that will accept grit. Most likely diamond. The lap creates a plane for cutting. Wheels provide a rotary plane, laps create a stationary plane. The lap provides a more precise cutting plane. A wheel can be very precise if a stationary jig is incorporated into the dop. A dop is a rod, either metal or wood that holds the stone to be cut. Usually dop wax is used to adhere the dop to the stone. The wax is sealing wax, not candle wax. The sealing wax provides a positive holding device that can be heat removeable. I use wood dowels for cabbing, metal dops for faceting. I encourage you to drop in with us, even if it is to say hi., or you are having a lousey day. We can help you make homemade equipment. Velcommen! Doc
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Post by sandsman1 on Jul 24, 2004 22:37:10 GMT -5
yea what doc said hahaha ---- as for slabs you can keep goin smaller with a trim saw for cabs or you can make anything you can think of from whole slabs ive seen light shades,, wind chimes,,clock faces,, table tops,,jewlery boxs what ever you can think of ---and like doc said (if ya dont ask you wont know) seeya ---john
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bwalters
has rocks in the head
Member since March 2004
Posts: 557
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Post by bwalters on Jul 24, 2004 22:51:19 GMT -5
Hi Beachbum, and WELCOME to the forum!!! I really am glad that Doc answered your questions cuz I had no clue what a lap is. As far as newbie questions go, most (although not all) of us here are relative newbies. I lost my hesitation about asking what I thought might be less than intelligent questions awhile back, because the folks here are so kind and will graciously answer any query. I hope that you enjoy it here and come back often. BE Hey Cookie - Did you notice that Beachbum likes to run his fingers thru the rocks just like we do?
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Djinjuice
starting to shine!
Member since March 2003
Posts: 47
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Post by Djinjuice on Jul 24, 2004 22:56:35 GMT -5
Doc needs to get it over with and open a school, I would enroll !!
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jul 24, 2004 23:01:42 GMT -5
Yeah, BE, that's the best part. Beachbum, I have asked more "stupid" questions than you can imagine and now, because of you, I know what a lap is. And (knudging Doc) A pitch bowl is used to hold stones while you shape them with a Dremel hand held drill. It's a bowl. Filled with pitch. Welcome newbie, you have been initiated by fire ;D cookie
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Post by docone31 on Jul 24, 2004 23:14:39 GMT -5
My wife is pushing me to start a school, I am relutant as I still lack confidence. A pitchbowl is used more for engraving, and planishing pave' settings than for drilling stones. The pitch is easy to remove from the work and does not leave vise marks. We are moving to the Ft. Lauderdale area, possibly in two weeks. Our obligation here is finished, the engine has been replaced in our van, and I have been able to teach my wife, a former insurance agent from Los Angeles, that should say it all, and we are going to try to set up in one of the 7 day a week fleamarkets. I have to go to school in Jupiter for advanced diamond setting, My wife is going for diamond grading and jewelery repair, and I will teach wire wrapping from there. I will let everybody know where I am so us folks can see what a freezer burned freeze dried hippy looks like. Beachbum, I have met a lot of great folks here. I have ended up a miserable postioin and got to express my pain, controversy, hopes, fears, a little lapidary, and some fun. Welcome aboard.
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beachbum
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2004
Posts: 8
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Post by beachbum on Jul 24, 2004 23:51:26 GMT -5
Wow, and bravo, bravo to you all for your wonderful responses and your passion for stone. I am speechless, but thank you so much for being so informative and kind, especially your kindness.
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Jul 24, 2004 23:55:32 GMT -5
One other thing be sure to post some pictures of what you are doing. It will take some doing but try and read through the old posts here the information will help you on your way to incurable rock sickness.
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Jul 25, 2004 0:34:25 GMT -5
Hello and welcome Beachbum,
There are no dumb/stupid questions, we have all had them and we will continue to have them as our hobby is an ever changing hobby with new technology and processes being developed all the time.
How else can we learn if we do not ask?
Again, welcome!
Enjoy,
John
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deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
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Post by deepsouth on Jul 25, 2004 3:08:42 GMT -5
Hello beachbum, welcome on board . indeed there are only good questions which we hopefully give a good answer to. Hope you learn a lot like I do here.
enjoy
Jack
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Post by hermatite on Jul 25, 2004 8:16:30 GMT -5
Hi beach, Without a doubt, this is the friendliest, most gracious group of people I have come across on the net (and I'm a veteran of many MANY chatboards). Ask away without fear. People here know so much and are so willing to share it often reinforces my faith in community. And even better? They have actual senses of humor...a rare commodity in a place that thrives on anonymity (is that how you spell that? it looks wrong to me). Anyway, welcome aboard.
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Post by connrock on Jul 25, 2004 10:00:58 GMT -5
Hi beachbum and welcome,,,,,
This is the heading of another board I belong to that's run by one of the top geologists in the USA :
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Post by connrock on Jul 25, 2004 10:40:02 GMT -5
Hi beachbum and welcome,, This is the heading of another board I belong to that's run by one of the top geologists in the USA : IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU ARE AN EXPERIENCED OR A BEGINNING ROCKHOUND, WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO POST MESSAGES. THERE ARE NO STUPID QUESTIONS HERE! The same goes for this board so PLEASE ask away. If we can't help someone,,,,,,, What good are we to ourselves? Now i'll add my 2 cents on a discription of cabs,slabs,laps,etc. Slabs can be cut for many uses and one of them is to cut cabs for jewelry,,,, Or creating a collection of different materials for display.. MORRISONITE JASPER Or to polish the slab itself for a collection,,,,,, Coyamito Agate Coyamito Agate Coyamito Agate
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Post by connrock on Jul 25, 2004 11:04:17 GMT -5
OOPS,,,,,,I hit the wrong key...... Now i'll add my 2 cents on a discription of cabs,slabs,laps,etc. Part 2: Slabs can be cut for many other uses such as wind chimes,clocks and the list goes on and on.Let YOUR imagination and creativeness lead the way. As Doc has already explained there are several materials that a "lap" can be made of depending what material you are polishing. Rotating flat laps consist of a round disc which rotates that can be impregnated with diamond of different grit sizes for roughing right down to a mirror like polish. They can also be made of castiron where silicone grit and water are added to do the same job but take a lot longer. There are a variety of materials that can be used for a flat lap including hard wood,glass,plastic,leather adn the list goes on and on. Here is a link that can be very helpful in discribing all sorts of lapidary techniques : www.tradeshop.com/gems/howcut.html#sawingCan you tell i'm getting tired of "2 finger typing" and taking a short cut? LOL I've been at this for over an hour and deleted it by mistake 3 times so i'm going to quit while i'm ahead!LOL Ask away my friend,,,,,,,ask away! Tom
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Post by Beachbum on Jul 25, 2004 12:51:08 GMT -5
HOLY MERCIFUL MARBLES!!!
Greetings to all. I just learned more in minutes from reading your responses than from hours of web surfing. I have been both informed and inspired by your words and the time you have taken to help me.
Connrock, thank you in particular for your response. The time you took to put that together is obvious, and very much appreciated. "If we can't help others, what good are we to ourselves" is a phrase I truly love for all that it implies.
All the best, Jeff
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Post by connrock on Jul 25, 2004 17:42:22 GMT -5
No problem Jeff,,,,,,that's what we're here for,,,,,, Tom
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jul 27, 2004 9:13:44 GMT -5
Hey Beachbum, sorry it has taken me so long to say hello and welcome aboard. Needless to say, there are alot of great folks here and tons of valuable information.
Seeing all the pics of stones that everybody has turned out will have you drolling over you keyboard! Of course, the real disadvantage of this place is that it will assist in reducing the size of your wallet 'cause you're just gonna have to have some of those rocks, a new tumbler, a saw and all the other goodies. LOL!
Tom, that Coyamito Agate is absolutely lucious! I would love some of that! Where did you get it? The jasper is also wonderful.
llana
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shorty
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2003
Posts: 392
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Post by shorty on Jul 27, 2004 12:23:24 GMT -5
;D welcom bum thanks for asking about laps and stuf and i would like to now what is resen. like tree resin does it harden or stay pliable and how do you get it off the piecs .welcom . from shorty
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shorty
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2003
Posts: 392
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Post by shorty on Jul 27, 2004 12:30:11 GMT -5
hi all im sory not reson i mean pitch sorry
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