My first ever cab

billdean
starting to spend too much on rocks

Member since April 2020
Posts: 153

My first ever cab May 23, 2020 21:55:03 GMT -5 mohs, RickB, and 10 more like this

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Post by billdean on May 23, 2020 21:55:03 GMT -5

It's not perfect but I learned a lot. I liked the patterned before I started working it. It kind of washed out when I started to dome the top. Maybe I would do better if I read a book on how to cab.

stardiamond
gets rocks for Christmas

Member since July 2007
Posts: 6,086

My first ever cab May 23, 2020 22:04:19 GMT -5 RocksInNJ likes this

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Post by stardiamond on May 23, 2020 22:04:19 GMT -5

Montana? Outside my area of expertise since I'm self taught, but books talk about techniques. You are saying the pattern changed and with experience you will be able to anticipate how the cab will look. My term for it is studying the edges. When the pattern on the front is different than the pattern on the back, the edges can show where it will change. The type of dome changes the pattern and a low dome or flat top can preserve what I see.

www.etsy.com/shop/stardiamonddesigns?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

parfive no longer being taken for granite Member since August 2005 Posts: 9,612	My first ever cab May 24, 2020 1:05:47 GMT -5 hummingbirdstones, RocksInNJ, and 2 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by parfive on May 24, 2020 1:05:47 GMT -5 First cab, on a bench grinder, and a teeny one at that . . . well done.
	Consider the Earth’s history as the old measure of the English yard, the distance from the King’s nose to the tip of his outstretched hand. One stroke of a nail file on his middle finger erases human history. John McPhee - Basin and Range

hummingbirdstones2
In Memoriam

Vince A., 1958-2023

Member since August 2018
Posts: 1,461

My first ever cab May 24, 2020 10:16:44 GMT -5 RocksInNJ and billdean like this

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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on May 24, 2020 10:16:44 GMT -5

First "cab" I ever cut didn't look anywhere near that good. Could barely justify calling it a cab... .

Your first one there tells me you would be well-justified to start shopping around for some second-hand equipment. If you can find good used equipment you could have lots more fun. You obviously have a knack for cutting.

Vince
www.hummingbirdstones.com/

rockjunquie Global Moderator Member since March 2012 Posts: 35,018	My first ever cab May 24, 2020 10:31:34 GMT -5 billdean likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rockjunquie on May 24, 2020 10:31:34 GMT -5 I think that came out well no matter the measure.

Tommy Administrator Member since January 2013 Posts: 12,991	My first ever cab May 24, 2020 10:34:35 GMT -5 billdean likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Tommy on May 24, 2020 10:34:35 GMT -5 Well done billdean!
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miket misunderstood rock expert Member since April 2018 Posts: 11,240	My first ever cab May 24, 2020 12:11:03 GMT -5 billdean likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by miket on May 24, 2020 12:11:03 GMT -5 I like it, nice job!
	Too much walking shoes worn thin Too much trippin' and my soul's worn thin _______________________________ Weight of my heart, not the size

opalpyrexia
driving up their electric bill

Member since February 2017
Posts: 2,758

My first ever cab May 24, 2020 12:58:15 GMT -5 hummingbirdstones, miket, and 2 more like this

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Post by opalpyrexia on May 24, 2020 12:58:15 GMT -5

I think that you did very nice job, Bill!

When I have a slab where I am excited about the pattern — so much so that I don't want to lose it — I will either go with a low dome or even an asymmetric dome in order to keep as much of it as possible. For example, I have a small piece of a Noreena with a special pattern. That one will be cut flat: no dome at all because I don't want to risk losing any bit of it. I'll just polish it flat.

Garyㅤㅤㅤㅤ www.gkjdesigns.etsy.com

billdean
starting to spend too much on rocks

Member since April 2020
Posts: 153

My first ever cab May 24, 2020 14:46:42 GMT -5 RickB, rockjunquie, and 1 more like this

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Post by billdean on May 24, 2020 14:46:42 GMT -5

Thanks everyone. The next step is to polish it. I have only sanded it with a 14,000 grit wheel. It was fun. I have a couple small Morrisonite stones I won on e-bay barely big enough to get a small cab out of. That will be my next project. They will be even smaller. Then when I get a piece of Jade I want to try to do a pendent a little bigger, and maybe a ring. I get pretty excite about getting rocks in the mail. I started out metal detecting for gold and it kind of developed into rockhounding. It's kind of funny, I have been to Quartzsite Az many times and never have been in a rock shop. I spent 3 months there last year. This year will be different.

parfive
no longer being taken for granite

Member since August 2005
Posts: 9,612

My first ever cab May 24, 2020 16:31:25 GMT -5 rockjunquie and RocksInNJ like this

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Post by parfive on May 24, 2020 16:31:25 GMT -5

May 24, 2020 14:46:42 GMT -5 billdean said:

The next step is to polish it. I have only sanded it with a 14,000 grit wheel.

14K is usually the last wheel, Bill, and normally an excellent polish for most rocks. We’re always trying for just a little bit better, like with 50K diamond paste on a leather pad, but it’s often tough to see any improvement.

Yeah, Quartzsite’ll be different next year for sure, cause you’re gonna be pickin’ up thousands of slabs lookin’ for nice cab scenes. (happy098)

Consider the Earth’s history as the old measure of the English yard,
the distance from the King’s nose to the tip of his outstretched hand.
One stroke of a nail file on his middle finger
erases human history.

John McPhee - Basin and Range