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Post by TheRock on Apr 3, 2019 0:00:25 GMT -5
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jimaz
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2018
Posts: 476 
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Post by jimaz on Apr 3, 2019 1:00:53 GMT -5
I don’t cab, but it looks like you are off to a good start.
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Post by fernwood on Apr 3, 2019 4:00:35 GMT -5
Nice results.
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 3, 2019 6:20:13 GMT -5
There are lots of ways to cab, but that one is a first for me.  The end result looks good. It looks like the top isn't fully domed in the pictures, though. We all know you love your toys, Duke. Can't fault you for that. Who doesn't. But, you could save a lot of time and do it all on the cabking. Just throwing that out there because I know this is a learning process. I like your dop sticks! |
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Post by TheRock on Apr 3, 2019 7:33:56 GMT -5
There are lots of ways to cab, but that one is a first for me. The end result looks good. It looks like the top isn't fully domed in the pictures, though. We all know you love your toys, Duke. Can't fault you for that. Who doesn't. But, you could save a lot of time and do it all on the cabking. Just throwing that out there because I know this is a learning process. I like your dop sticks! A First as in? I have a whole lot to learn no doubt. Does a Cab need to be fully Domed? Another 15 minutes or so On The Cab King and it could be fully domed. I have a Total of 15 to 20 minutes time in that partially domed Cab now what would be the average time to make a complete cab? Steve Hart the Guy Who Wrote the Book On Rock Polishing Told me with the Automatic Cabochon Machine (Complete Kit with improved 2-sided tape & templates, by Tagit)Cab He says he can make 10 Cabs per day. I really don't know how to mount it on my Cab King so I used the pieces and made my own Dopping sticks that work fantastic beats screwing around and heating up wax. anyways I am open for suggestions. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 3, 2019 7:54:25 GMT -5
There are lots of ways to cab, but that one is a first for me. The end result looks good. It looks like the top isn't fully domed in the pictures, though. We all know you love your toys, Duke. Can't fault you for that. Who doesn't. But, you could save a lot of time and do it all on the cabking. Just throwing that out there because I know this is a learning process. I like your dop sticks! A First as in? I have a whole lot to learn no doubt. Does a Cab need to be fully Domed? Another 15 minutes or so On The Cab King and it could be fully domed. I have a Total of 15 to 20 minutes time in that partially domed Cab now what would be the average time to make a complete cab? Steve Hart the Guy Who Wrote the Book On Rock Polishing Told me with the Automatic Cabochon Machine (Complete Kit with improved 2-sided tape & templates, by Tagit)Cab He says he can make 10 Cabs per day. I really don't know how to mount it on my Cab King so I used the pieces and made my own Dopping sticks that work fantastic beats screwing around and heating up wax. anyways I am open for suggestions. First time I seen someone use 2 machines to cut a cab. But, that's just me. "Does a cab need to be fully domed?" If it is NOT a flat top/buff top, then yes, it should be fully domed. That is the definition of a cab. BUT, I have seen people leave a flat dome. I guess it depends on what you are aiming for. Time to finish a whole domed cab? That depends on the cab, the material, the condition of your wheels and the cabber. I have done 10 in a day easily with a genie. I don't really have any suggestions- other than trying it all on your cabking. If you are happy with the cab, then that's all that matters. There's nothing wrong with it. |
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Post by TheRock on Apr 3, 2019 8:52:21 GMT -5
A First as in? I have a whole lot to learn no doubt. Does a Cab need to be fully Domed? Another 15 minutes or so On The Cab King and it could be fully domed. I have a Total of 15 to 20 minutes time in that partially domed Cab now what would be the average time to make a complete cab? Steve Hart the Guy Who Wrote the Book On Rock Polishing Told me with the Automatic Cabochon Machine (Complete Kit with improved 2-sided tape & templates, by Tagit)Cab He says he can make 10 Cabs per day. I really don't know how to mount it on my Cab King so I used the pieces and made my own Dopping sticks that work fantastic beats screwing around and heating up wax. anyways I am open for suggestions. First time I seen someone use 2 machines to cut a cab. But, that's just me. "Does a cab need to be fully domed?" If it is NOT a flat top/buff top, then yes, it should be fully domed. That is the definition of a cab. BUT, I have seen people leave a flat dome. I guess it depends on what you are aiming for. Time to finish a whole domed cab? That depends on the cab, the material, the condition of your wheels and the cabber. I have done 10 in a day easily with a genie. I don't really have any suggestions- other than trying it all on your cabking. If you are happy with the cab, then that's all that matters. There's nothing wrong with it. Well Actually I used (4) Machines. (1) BD-10 Saw to cut the slab. (2) Harbor Freight 4.5" Tile saw to trim the Cab to size. (3) Insaria Grinder to Shape the Cab. (4) The Cab King to partially Dome the Cab. Oh and the Vinyl Machine to cut out the Vinyl Pattern. It's a learning process for sure.  |
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Post by miket on Apr 3, 2019 9:20:44 GMT -5
I like it, too. That rock has some nice colors! I also like how you found a way around the wax. Unfortunately I'm still using a dremel to make cabs and it takes me way longer than 15 minutes just to shape them. I'm lucky if I can get one shaped in an hour depending on the stone I'm working with. Then I still need to get them polished. Knowing you you'll be cranking out masterpieces in no time! |
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Post by Starguy on Apr 3, 2019 10:25:54 GMT -5
TheRock I like to make a line around the base of the cab, (photo 1). I also like to bevel the bottom of the cab to remove any small chips. I grind (80 grit) back to the line at three different angles keeping an eye on the flat spot on top. After each angle grind, the flat spot should keep a similar shape to the original preform, just smaller. After that, I rock back and forth on the coarse wheel then the 220 wheel to round out the dome, (photo 2). Next I go on to sanding and polishing. photo 1  photo 2  Your cab turned out nice but I think you will like a more domed profile. You will also see an improvement in your polish because rounded surfaces are much, much easier to sand and polish than flatter surfaces. I trim most agate with with a heavy duty glass cutter I probably have 15 minutes into that Cab but will probably be 10 more minutes to polish. I hope this helps. Keep up the good work and keep posting photos. later.
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Post by Starguy on Apr 3, 2019 10:42:53 GMT -5
Finished product to 50K grit.  |
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,993
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Post by Tommy on Apr 3, 2019 10:54:00 GMT -5
Nice post TheRock thank you! Always fun to see you and your toys in action I don't dop anymore but based on my years of searching for a disposable dop-head surface I'm curious and maybe jealous of your black caps idea. You may have already said it but what are they? Did you make those? Does a Cab need to be fully Domed? My answer to this would be absolutely yes because if it's not perfectly domed it will drive you crazy trying to get the scratches out unless you either toss in the tumbler or as rockjunquie said turn it into a buff top on the flat lap. When I'm forming a cabochon dome I will spend the longest amount of time making sure the dome is *perfect* because I know if I don't I'll get all the way down the road to polish before realizing I have a scuff and scratches problem in the flat spot on top. |
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Post by TheRock on Apr 3, 2019 17:42:05 GMT -5
Thanks All! For you that want to know how I made them, I got to know Steve Hart the Author of the Book Modern Rock Tumbling I own the book very Informative I might add and Steve is a real nice guy. Anyways one thing led to another and in the course of our conversations he told me about his Automatic Cabochon Machine that he sells for $68.00 plus shipping. It Looked like a neat Gadget anyways Steve was suppose to make an adapter and mount with an Instructional Video on how to use this thing but his movie maker guy flew the coop on him. So there I sit with with no mount or video to follow on how to mount or use it. Anyways I got the box out and played with it the other day and took the arm off the machine ad put one of those black Cab Ends On and used the Square Arm as a Dopping Stick. I liked it so well I decided to Make dedicated Sticks for each size end piece. So I went to Lowes and purchased 1/4" Aluminum Rod and 1/2" Aluminum Rod and made a set for 5 1/2" Length and 6 1/2" Length. There are 4 of them that takes 1/4" and Two that I used 1/2" aluminum on but the 1/2" needs to be epoxied cause they are a lil loose. So that's how I made them. Pictures are Below Steve sells just the ends for $ 8.50 Plus Shipping. Here are some Other Pics Below.    |
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Post by TheRock on Apr 3, 2019 18:30:21 GMT -5
One thing I would like to add is that the Vinyl Template Stickers that I cut you have To clean the Stone real good with alcohol or Lacquer Thinner to remove any oils contaminates that may be on the stone from your saw. The Double Sided tape that you can get from Steve is High Quality and sticks real well to my Vinyl Stickers I have not used the double sided tape to just a rock yet, but it should work. Whatever you do you need to clean the stone or preform with Alcohol or Lacquer Thinner before you apply the double sided tape to remove all contaminates so you get good adhesion. |
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Post by Starguy on Apr 4, 2019 11:32:08 GMT -5
TheRock Does the adhesive from the double sided tape come off easily?
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Post by TheRock on Apr 4, 2019 16:35:24 GMT -5
TheRock Does the adhesive from the double sided tape come off easily? Yes and the roll of tape he sells lasts a pretty long time. |
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Post by Rockoonz on Apr 5, 2019 11:08:15 GMT -5
What brand of tape does Steve use for his dops?
I was using a 3m tape, liked it but switched to Gorilla and like it better.
I have one of those dome maker, never ended up using it because by the time I had a place to set it up I had virtually stopped making standard oval cabs. Out of hundreds I have probably only made a dozen ovals, and would only make one if replacing a stone for someone. There's a lapidary I know from the Seattle area who cuts cabs start to finish on a flat lap, he holds the dop and turns his wrist like the machine to form his domes. interesting to watch, he's in his 80's and he can rough shape a cab in 2 or 3 minutes by his method. Again, it's only good for ovals and similar shapes.
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Post by Rockoonz on Apr 5, 2019 11:14:51 GMT -5
rockjunquie I have always cut my cabs on more than one machine. Used to be 2 or 3 2 wheel arbors, now it's a Graves 1 wheel cabmate with a 80 grit textured wheel and fresh water to shape the cab (dirty part) and a genie for the rest. 
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Apr 5, 2019 11:56:57 GMT -5
rockjunquie I have always cut my cabs on more than one machine. Used to be 2 or 3 2 wheel arbors, now it's a Graves 1 wheel cabmate with a 80 grit textured wheel and fresh water to shape the cab (dirty part) and a genie for the rest. I think using two machines in that sequence is pretty normal. Your graves is really just an extension of the genie. An extra 6" vertical grinding wheel. I use my lortone Lu6X with 2 vertical hard wheels mounted which free's the genie up for 6 soft wheels. I think using a flat lap (disc) for the initial rough grind including the initial doming then moving to vertical wheels to finish would throw me off. I have fully cabbed on both types of machines and they each require a different motion so I would not want to mix the two if I did not need to. My flat lap still gets used for it does best which is the flat backs of my cabs. TheRockThis quick tutorial is made for a flat lap but the doming applies to any type of machine. create a uniform girdle reference line, grind at 45 degrees to meet the line, then 30 degrees, then 15 degrees, then 5 degrees, then smooth out the facets with a rocking motion. inlandcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/how-to-make-cabochons.pdfChuck |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Apr 5, 2019 12:02:19 GMT -5
Are these decals being placed on the back of the cab and then the dop stick attached to the decals?
Chuck
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 5, 2019 14:48:32 GMT -5
Rockoonz, TheRock and anyone else who uses more than one machine-- I have only ever actually seen one other person cab- with a genie. Apparently, I don't know much. I can't even imagine having the room for more than one machine let alone use more than one. I just thank goodness for spin on wheels. Maybe one day I'll have a proper shop like Duke.
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Anyways I had one of those Taggit Cabbing machines I bought from Steve Hart from the Lil Red Store and I started Playin with that last Night Took the machine apart and used the shaft with the ends that you use double sided sticky tape with and worked on the 3 Cabs that had rounded edges and finished them up. Today I took the Plastic Cab Black end pieces and went to LOWE'S and picked up some Aluminum Rod and made 5 1/2 and 6 1/2 inch sets and boy they work nice. I timed myself and it tool me 15 minutes total to make the cab that is Shown. I first used my Insaria Lap Machine with a 80 grit wheel and formed the Cab and followed the Vinyl pattern that is attached to the slab that had been previously cut on MY BD Saw for being slabbed 1/4 to 3/8 thick. Then over to my Cheapie HF 4 1/2" Tile Saw with a Diamond Pacific Diamond Blade and cut Out to the Preform shape. Then over to the Insaria Grinder. Once it was shaped to the Vinyl Sticker Template I also used the Insaria Grinder to put a Bevel edge on the Cab after that I applied the double sided sticky Tape to the Cab after it was cleaned with Rubbing Alcohol (To get any film off) and starting in Cabbing on the Cab King. 15 minutes later this is what I came up with. Here are some pics. 
Anyways I had one of those Taggit Cabbing machines I bought from Steve Hart from the Lil Red Store and I started Playin with that last Night Took the machine apart and used the shaft with the ends that you use double sided sticky tape with and worked on the 3 Cabs that had rounded edges and finished them up. Today I took the Plastic Cab Black end pieces and went to LOWE'S and picked up some Aluminum Rod and made 5 1/2 and 6 1/2 inch sets and boy they work nice. I timed myself and it tool me 15 minutes total to make the cab that is Shown. I first used my Insaria Lap Machine with a 80 grit wheel and formed the Cab and followed the Vinyl pattern that is attached to the slab that had been previously cut on MY BD Saw for being slabbed 1/4 to 3/8 thick. Then over to my Cheapie HF 4 1/2" Tile Saw with a Diamond Pacific Diamond Blade and cut Out to the Preform shape. Then over to the Insaria Grinder. Once it was shaped to the Vinyl Sticker Template I also used the Insaria Grinder to put a Bevel edge on the Cab after that I applied the double sided sticky Tape to the Cab after it was cleaned with Rubbing Alcohol (To get any film off) and starting in Cabbing on the Cab King. 15 minutes later this is what I came up with. Here are some pics. 
The end result looks good. It looks like the top isn't fully domed in the pictures, though. We all know you love your toys, Duke. Can't fault you for that. Who doesn't. 
