sifu
starting to shine!
Member since September 2010
Posts: 35
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Post by sifu on Apr 17, 2020 13:54:43 GMT -5
 So what's the issue here? Am I not doing a thorough enough job on one of the wheels? Or is the lack of a good finish in the middle because it isn't domed enough? I'm just not happy with this. Here's a different angle:  Harder to see imperfections in this photo. But seriously, comments? |
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Post by knave on Apr 17, 2020 13:59:40 GMT -5
I recently learned the first dome cut should start at the girdle line and go 1/3 across the cab. So when part 1 is complete you have 1/3 flat and 2/3 angles.
As far as the dimply undercutting, a light touch on the wheels can help the hard material stay more even with the soft.
Just my $.02.
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Post by knave on Apr 17, 2020 14:00:12 GMT -5
Btw that 2nd pic looks amazing.
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 17, 2020 14:04:01 GMT -5
It looks like you have brand new wheels. Moss will undercut on new wheels and on old ones sometimes. If your wheels are new, work a few hard agates or jaspers without inclusions to break them in.
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Post by mohs on Apr 17, 2020 14:30:34 GMT -5
are you pretty new to cabbing ?
if so don't get bogged down
right away
ya can always go back to it
few more cabs and all this will become second nature
if your a old pro
then I certainly don't know
where fore I speak
off the cuff
not around enough dome
flats can be difficult
that I do know
ha
and that really fine looking
polished stone
Ed
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Post by stardiamond on Apr 17, 2020 14:40:48 GMT -5
Flat, low, medium, high domes should all polish the same. The material, the wheels, the sanding and pre-polishing all impact the polish. Except for really soft material, lower grit problems may not be fixed by higher grits.
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sifu
starting to shine!
Member since September 2010
Posts: 35
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Post by sifu on Apr 17, 2020 14:47:21 GMT -5
Thanks for all the tips. This is my second cab. I've had the machine for awhile, but life has pulled me in other directions. The silver lining, for me, of this pandemic situation is that I'm diving into cabbing!  The material was gathered by myself in the region between Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams. I'll post a follow up here if I'm able to improve it. |
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wpotterw
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2016
Posts: 446 
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Post by wpotterw on Apr 17, 2020 15:57:47 GMT -5
So what's the issue here? Am I not doing a thorough enough job on one of the wheels? Or is the lack of a good finish in the middle because it isn't domed enough? I'm just not happy with this. Here's a different angle: Harder to see imperfections in this photo. But seriously, comments? It looks to me like maybe the plumes are slightly softer than the surrounding chalcedony/agate and they are undercutting a little bit. Cool cab no matter what. |
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Post by pauls on Apr 17, 2020 21:55:54 GMT -5
A bit of undercutting which is very difficult to get around on some stone.
The flat spot in the middle take note of what Knave said, first cut is the angle that sets your girdle height and at the same time it needs to go 1/3 across the stone, that is 1/3 this side and 1/3 on the other side with 1/3 flat spot in the middle, then just grind the ridge off the top and you should have the beginnings of a nice even dome.
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