mirdonamy
starting to shine!
Don't step on the momeraths!
Member since March 2020
Posts: 31 
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Post by mirdonamy on Mar 30, 2020 10:45:14 GMT -5
Hi friends, My goals are to do the following (in this order): 1. Turn "wild" rocks into polished stones for wire-wrapping. 2. Turn "wild" rocks into cabochons for wire-wrapping and silver jewelry. 3. Turn purchased slabs into stones or cabs for wire-wrapping. 4. Eventually get back into silver-smithing and make silver jewelry. I am a hobbyist, and a math teacher. I have a limited budget. Here are my options: Choice a) Angle Grinder with Diamond Discs (using a tub to dip rocks as I grind) and Vibe tumbler (to polish after grinding) Choice b) Lap Machine: Hi-Tech 6" but NO tumbler. This would be my ONLY tool. Choice c) Flex Shaft but NO tumbler. This would be my ONLY tool. A cab machine (Cabking or Pixie) is waaaaaaaaaaaay out of financial reach right now. So, please, based on your expertise and personal preference, help me decide!!! Please vote! a Angle Grinder with Tumbler b Lap Machine but NO Tumbler c Flex Shaft but NO Tumbler |
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 31, 2020 11:09:09 GMT -5
I would think B. You can go from start to finish. A small saw might help. You can get a cheap tile saw at the big box for like 90-100.
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Post by Starguy on Mar 31, 2020 11:32:38 GMT -5
Definitely B. An angle grinder will be dangerous due to dust. Grinding rocks requires continuous wetting.
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EricD
Cave Dweller 
High in the Mountains
Member since November 2019
Posts: 1,142
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Post by EricD on Mar 31, 2020 12:41:42 GMT -5
I was too lazy to type it out again 
A side note: I have a $125 tile saw and a vibratory tumbler that I do 98% of my work with
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Mar 31, 2020 17:57:36 GMT -5
In addition to making your own tools, used lapidary equipment is how many of us got our start.
Several of us here have lapidary equip for sale.
Look at Facebook local sales groups, craigslist, any popular selling site.
A useful tool is a flex shaft. Harbor Freight has one that goes for about $40 with their ubiquitous coupons.
Good luck!
Lynn
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southerly
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2013
Posts: 17
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Post by southerly on Apr 12, 2020 22:21:19 GMT -5
Depends on what volume of wild rocks you wish to process. If it is in the hundreds then a tumbler is a good option especially if the rocks are rounded such as river or beach pebbles. For rocks that need a lot of shaping a small saw and flat lap will do the job, and cabs are perfectly doable on the lap. Lap and tumbler would be ideal so you can preform the rocks on the lap and finish en-mass in tumbler.
I would only recommend the dremel route if you want to carve as well, the burs are expensive and wear quickly compared to a flat lap or tumbler, and you can only work one stone at a time.
David
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oldschoolrocker
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,578
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Post by oldschoolrocker on Apr 13, 2020 11:34:47 GMT -5
I would say B. Tho I have no experience with a lap personally. I currently use a dremel flex shaft to make cabs and lot o vibe to polish them with. While I'm happy with what results I've achieved I dont think they compare too well to those made with lap or cabbing machine. And like previously stated- dremel bits wear out very quickly. I typically only use a diamond cut off disc for shaping. They run close to $1 a disc. have bought from several diff places and on average only get 1 stone per disc before they dull to the point where practically useless. And that's using constant drip water delivery. In the few months I've been doing it I've bought probably 60-80 discs. As I get quicker doing them mysmall initial investment is becoming less and less cost effective. Not including tumbler cost.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Apr 10, 2021 7:26:50 GMT -5
B for sure. Hi-tech is some decent equipment (same people that make Cabking and inland)I have a CabKing 6" and love it, and the end shafts accept 6" lap plates and I tell you that is dang near as much fun as the finding wheel. I only have a 360 diamond plate and a polishing pad right now but I will be adding a lot more as I love flat lapping (and honestly you can cab on a flat lap with patience and practice). I am actually debating get the Hi-tech also just to have a machine I can dedicate to doing flats (I have a bunch of T-eggs I want to face polish). Nice thing is once you purchase the equipment and get used to it, you learn what works well and what needs tweaking. I am always amazed at how much I have tweaked and improvised my equipment to suit my needs. Also you can start to look for deals on stuff that you can use (like dremels, diamond burrs polish pads etc) as you gain experience. Build slowly. Heck I started out 15 years ago with a Tumlers Model T (still use it all the time) and now I have 4 tumblers, 2 grinders, 2 small saws, a Dremel with a flex shaft, a Dumore (Dremel on steriods)flexshaft, core drills, grinding burrs, more rock than I will ever work, and an entire shop in the basement to try to contain it all!
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Apr 10, 2021 7:30:30 GMT -5
Oh fyi this saw www.harborfreight.com/4-12-in-portable-wet-cut-tile-saw-69230.html is cheap (with coupons) and works great. It is very loud, and throws water everywhere, but thin blades are cheap and it runs true and is super light weight and portable. I got one 10 years ago (I paid $40 with coupon) and use it to trim up slabs for cabbing and it has never stalled or let me down. |
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standles
spending too much on rocks
Well all I got was a rock ... Cool!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 325 
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Post by standles on Apr 10, 2021 8:34:59 GMT -5
I have been able to do quite a bit with a hitech lap, lortone 33B and a lot-o tumbler. The hitech can grid out rough shapes and problem area to then tumble. The Lortone 33B take rocks that just need rough tumbling and it feeds the Lot-o for rest of stages. The Hitech also can go all the way to a polished cab and (if your hands are steady) simple facteted designs. Now if you want to cut your own slabs or otherwise do more gross cutting on rocks a trim/tile saw will be very helpful. I know this was not one of you options but a better path would be let us know your budget.
My path to the rock poor house was: (never thought I would get in this deep)
1. Nat Geo Tumbler
2. Lortone 33B
3. Second Lortone 33B
4. Hitech 8" slant cabber with full set of discs. (8" for more room to polish small slabs)
5. Thumler Model B Tumbler
6. 10" HP Trim Saw
7. HP CB8 Cabbing machine
8. Now trying to find a good used 16-18" slab saw
9. Faceting machines fascinate me so I figure one of those sometime down the road.
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