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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 1, 2021 1:01:15 GMT -5
I broke one of my pairs of reading glasses today...so I had to wear my wife's while in the house. I'm man enough to wear pink! LOL Thank you so much!  I'm still working on getting better with each one...and one of these days I'll post some decent pics of the cabs I make! LOL I really appreciate it! I am enjoying figuring a lot of this out. I still get frustrated with certain shapes and materials, but I know that'll all come with time and experience.  I bet you ROCKED the pink (which, incidentally, did not become a “feminine” color until 1970s. Before then, it was “manly”). People are funny. Every year at the rodeo here they have one night honoring breast cancer awareness. It's amazing how many cowboys participate by wearing pink! When I get "the look" for wearing pink, I just tell them it's not pink...it's "salmon"! LOL |
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Post by stephan on Jan 1, 2021 1:31:55 GMT -5
If you really want to mess with give ‘em a history lesson. “Back in the day” it was just the poor man’s red. Rich folk got access to the dye vats first and got darker color. Poor men got pink, but it was still “light red” — the color the War Gods, a color largely reserved for men.
Hallmark re-made it into what it is now.
I routinely a pink “Tough Enough To Wear Pink” bracelet, a Rainbow bracelet I picked up at a Pride March, and a black “Go Army” bracelet. All at once. I like to confuse people (my red, white and blue tie-dye also works).
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 1, 2021 1:55:45 GMT -5
If you really want to mess with give ‘em a history lesson. “Back in the day” it was just the poor man’s red. Rich folk got access to the dye vats first and got darker color. Poor men got pink, but it was still “light red” — the color the War Gods, a color largely reserved for men. Hallmark re-made it into what it is now. I routinely a pink “Tough Enough To Wear Pink” bracelet, a Rainbow bracelet I picked up at a Pride March, and a black “Go Army” bracelet. All at once. I like to confuse people (my red, white and blue tie-dye also works). Is this the look you've gotten used to?  I like the history lesson on pink...I will definitely remember and USE that one! Were you enlisted in the Army? |
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Post by stephan on Jan 1, 2021 2:25:06 GMT -5
Yup. Something like that.
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Jan 2, 2021 19:10:43 GMT -5
My goodness. All this time I thought that you were one that didn't have a cabbing machine! And of course this lot cannot be produced in one morning unless a cabbing machine is available! Haha! What a surprise to me!
I don't come to the 'cabbing' forum .. well .. at all really. But I guess I should more often.
This is some great material that you have obtained (much self-found I am sure). And your attention to geometric shapes is outstanding. I mean, if you are not working off of templates on 90% of these, then I just don't know where to start with the compliments. They all look great even if you stuck to the book and used templates.
I have to say that I have not used a template on anything in over a year. But this post of yours reminds me that I need to return to the old way of doing things with dop sticks (something else I abandoned over a year ago), and doing things by the numbers.
Thanks for sharing!
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 3, 2021 10:18:58 GMT -5
My goodness. All this time I thought that you were one that didn't have a cabbing machine! And of course this lot cannot be produced in one morning unless a cabbing machine is available! Haha! What a surprise to me! I don't come to the 'cabbing' forum .. well .. at all really. But I guess I should more often. This is some great material that you have obtained (much self-found I am sure). And your attention to geometric shapes is outstanding. I mean, if you are not working off of templates on 90% of these, then I just don't know where to start with the compliments. They all look great even if you stuck to the book and used templates. I have to say that I have not used a template on anything in over a year. But this post of yours reminds me that I need to return to the old way of doing things with dop sticks (something else I abandoned over a year ago), and doing things by the numbers. Thanks for sharing! Well, I did start out with the dremel, but the bug hit me so bad, I couldn't help myself and "Santa" brought me the slant cabber a month or so before Christmas! LOL You know, I never "differentiate" what forum I go to on here...I just hit the Recent Topics button and see what's been happening in the last day or so. Depending on the day, I check it way more than once a day! LOL Actually, all of this material was either give to me from forum members, bought from forum members, or bought online. I have some cabs coming up pretty soon that are from material I hounded. Yes, most of these are from templates...only a couple were true free-form from the start. I prefer to have the "guidelines" for now. I just don't have the knack for making nice shapes...my brain works better working through a "plan". LOL I've learned I prefer the metal dop sticks over the wooden ones. It's easier to remove the cab...plus you get to play with fire! LOL |
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Post by greig on Jan 3, 2021 10:34:38 GMT -5
I bet you ROCKED the pink (which, incidentally, did not become a “feminine” color until 1970s. Before then, it was “manly”). People are funny. Yeah, keep telling yourself that. LOL |
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Post by greig on Jan 3, 2021 10:41:14 GMT -5
My goodness. All this time I thought that you were one that didn't have a cabbing machine! And of course this lot cannot be produced in one morning unless a cabbing machine is available! Haha! What a surprise to me! I don't come to the 'cabbing' forum .. well .. at all really. But I guess I should more often. This is some great material that you have obtained (much self-found I am sure). And your attention to geometric shapes is outstanding. I mean, if you are not working off of templates on 90% of these, then I just don't know where to start with the compliments. They all look great even if you stuck to the book and used templates. I have to say that I have not used a template on anything in over a year. But this post of yours reminds me that I need to return to the old way of doing things with dop sticks (something else I abandoned over a year ago), and doing things by the numbers. Thanks for sharing! I prefer the look of cabs that are hand drawn without a stencil and one wastes less material. My big question: if you stopped using dop sticks, don't your fingers dry out from the water? There is one old fellow I know whose fingers are a mess and he said it was from holding the stones. |
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Post by greig on Jan 3, 2021 10:48:35 GMT -5
I've learned I prefer the metal dop sticks over the wooden ones. It's easier to remove the cab...plus you get to play with fire! LOL
Now there is a really good question. Wood dowel or metal dop stick? I have only used dowel. The trick to remove the cab is put the finished stone into a freezer. The wax pops off like magic. Someone suggested I try using a 4" metal nail as a dop. I haven't tried it yet, but in my mind it makes sense.
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 3, 2021 11:06:47 GMT -5
My goodness. All this time I thought that you were one that didn't have a cabbing machine! And of course this lot cannot be produced in one morning unless a cabbing machine is available! Haha! What a surprise to me! I don't come to the 'cabbing' forum .. well .. at all really. But I guess I should more often. This is some great material that you have obtained (much self-found I am sure). And your attention to geometric shapes is outstanding. I mean, if you are not working off of templates on 90% of these, then I just don't know where to start with the compliments. They all look great even if you stuck to the book and used templates. I have to say that I have not used a template on anything in over a year. But this post of yours reminds me that I need to return to the old way of doing things with dop sticks (something else I abandoned over a year ago), and doing things by the numbers. Thanks for sharing! I prefer the look of cabs that are hand drawn without a stencil and one wastes less material. My big question: if you stopped using dop sticks, don't your fingers dry out from the water? There is one old fellow I know whose fingers are a mess and he said it was from holding the stones. I know me...my fingers would be a lot shorter and thinner without the dop sticks! LOL I like having the control more than anything really...at least it seems like it to me. I've learned I prefer the metal dop sticks over the wooden ones. It's easier to remove the cab...plus you get to play with fire! LOL Now there is a really good question. Wood dowel or metal dop stick? I have only used dowel. The trick to remove the cab is put the finished stone into a freezer. The wax pops off like magic. Someone suggested I try using a 4" metal nail as a dop. I haven't tried it yet, but in my mind it makes sense. I tried putting the wooden dowels in the freezer overnight. I didn't see any difference with trying to remove them. They didn't "pop" off for me at least. So, I'm either doing something wrong, or my freezer isn't working right! (I really want to blame the freezer...but...everything in there's frozen, so it must be something I'm doing! LOL) I still had to use a chisel and wedge it between the stone and the dop. Then "pushed" the chisel and twisted it just a bit. They did pop off, but I wouldn't have classified it as "easy" at least for me. I've been using Gorilla Super Glue Gel...maybe it's a little "too good" and should just switch to generic cyanoacrylate... |
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Post by stephan on Jan 3, 2021 12:00:51 GMT -5
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Post by greig on Jan 3, 2021 14:12:56 GMT -5
Quote: "I tried putting the wooden dowels in the freezer overnight. I didn't see any difference I've been using Gorilla Super Glue Gel...maybe it's a little "too good" and should just switch to generic cyanoacrylate..."
I use dop wax and the freezer trick was for wax. I've never tried glue because I heard way is easier. Gorilla or super glue is difficult to remove from most things including stones. Soaking in Acetone will help.
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Post by greig on Jan 3, 2021 14:14:36 GMT -5
I was just joking. I have had some whites that turned pink when washed with red. I am cheap, so still wear them but usually just when I am in te wilds. My dog doesn't seem to mind. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 3, 2021 16:07:43 GMT -5
I prefer the look of cabs that are hand drawn without a stencil and one wastes less material. My big question: if you stopped using dop sticks, don't your fingers dry out from the water? There is one old fellow I know whose fingers are a mess and he said it was from holding the stones. I know me...my fingers would be a lot shorter and thinner without the dop sticks! LOL I like having the control more than anything really...at least it seems like it to me. I've learned I prefer the metal dop sticks over the wooden ones. It's easier to remove the cab...plus you get to play with fire! LOL Now there is a really good question. Wood dowel or metal dop stick? I have only used dowel. The trick to remove the cab is put the finished stone into a freezer. The wax pops off like magic. Someone suggested I try using a 4" metal nail as a dop. I haven't tried it yet, but in my mind it makes sense. I tried putting the wooden dowels in the freezer overnight. I didn't see any difference with trying to remove them. They didn't "pop" off for me at least. So, I'm either doing something wrong, or my freezer isn't working right! (I really want to blame the freezer...but...everything in there's frozen, so it must be something I'm doing! LOL) I still had to use a chisel and wedge it between the stone and the dop. Then "pushed" the chisel and twisted it just a bit. They did pop off, but I wouldn't have classified it as "easy" at least for me. I've been using Gorilla Super Glue Gel...maybe it's a little "too good" and should just switch to generic cyanoacrylate... Wait - you were using a wood dop still with Gorilla Glue? Therein lies the problem. Wood dops are used with wax and then they do pop right off in the freezer. Nothing wrong with using metal dops and cyanoacrylate. The only problem is that water will eventually break the cyanoacrylate down and the stone will come off. The way to get around this is put some nail polish around the bond so water can't get to the glue. I use this method when I dop small opals on a small metal dop. I don't use fire to release them though so they don't break on me. I use this: Super Solvent It works great. Only need to use a couple of drops. Anything not heat sensitive I use my butane torch.  |
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
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Post by Brian on Jan 3, 2021 16:23:02 GMT -5
Those look great, Jason! I’ll echo the earlier comment about your great eye for shapes. The triangular cabs still look organic and like worry stones just look like they are begging to be touched.
I am also amazed at how quickly you have progressed. I’ve been reading your posts since you started this journey and I can’t believe how quickly you have learned these new skills!
And I also want to say thanks for all of your wonderful posts. You are always so positive and encouraging of others that i always look forward to seeing what you will say. Keep up all the great work!
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 3, 2021 18:45:18 GMT -5
I know me...my fingers would be a lot shorter and thinner without the dop sticks! LOL I like having the control more than anything really...at least it seems like it to me. I tried putting the wooden dowels in the freezer overnight. I didn't see any difference with trying to remove them. They didn't "pop" off for me at least. So, I'm either doing something wrong, or my freezer isn't working right! (I really want to blame the freezer...but...everything in there's frozen, so it must be something I'm doing! LOL) I still had to use a chisel and wedge it between the stone and the dop. Then "pushed" the chisel and twisted it just a bit. They did pop off, but I wouldn't have classified it as "easy" at least for me. I've been using Gorilla Super Glue Gel...maybe it's a little "too good" and should just switch to generic cyanoacrylate... Wait - you were using a wood dop still with Gorilla Glue? Therein lies the problem. Wood dops are used with wax and then they do pop right off in the freezer. Nothing wrong with using metal dops and cyanoacrylate. The only problem is that water will eventually break the cyanoacrylate down and the stone will come off. The way to get around this is put some nail polish around the bond so water can't get to the glue. I use this method when I dop small opals on a small metal dop. I don't use fire to release them though so they don't break on me. I use this: Super Solvent It works great. Only need to use a couple of drops. Anything not heat sensitive I use my butane torch. Well, I think you may have stumbled upon the problem! LOL Yes, I was using super glue with wooden dop stick...it held REALLY well! LOL I have three pins I took from old hinges that I like the best for dop sticks so far...I need to go down to the Restore and see if thy have a bunch of used hinges for sale! Thanks for the nail polish idea. (We need an emoticon for "thumbs up"!) Those look great, Jason! I’ll echo the earlier comment about your great eye for shapes. The triangular cabs still look organic and like worry stones just look like they are begging to be touched. I am also amazed at how quickly you have progressed. I’ve been reading your posts since you started this journey and I can’t believe how quickly you have learned these new skills! And I also want to say thanks for all of your wonderful posts. You are always so positive and encouraging of others that i always look forward to seeing what you will say. Keep up all the great work! Thank you so much Brian! I'm a bit surprised at my progression as well! LOL For some of this, I can mentally picture how to get from point A to point B...some things I still struggle with, such as not dipping corners on a cab! Arghhh...it's my nemesis at the moment! Thank you especially for the kind words. Many years ago I watched someone who was in a position to be such a positive influence on so many people who chose not to do so. They instead chose to tear people down and try to drag them down to the level they were at in their life. I think it takes the same amount of energy on my part to try and create a smile as it does to try and create a frown... I love the quote attributed to both Henry Ford and Abraham Lincoln..."Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right!" So, I always try to remind people "they can"! |
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
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Post by Brian on Jan 3, 2021 21:24:42 GMT -5
Those look great, Jason! I’ll echo the earlier comment about your great eye for shapes. The triangular cabs still look organic and like worry stones just look like they are begging to be touched. I am also amazed at how quickly you have progressed. I’ve been reading your posts since you started this journey and I can’t believe how quickly you have learned these new skills! And I also want to say thanks for all of your wonderful posts. You are always so positive and encouraging of others that i always look forward to seeing what you will say. Keep up all the great work! Thank you so much Brian! I'm a bit surprised at my progression as well! LOL For some of this, I can mentally picture how to get from point A to point B...some things I still struggle with, such as not dipping corners on a cab! Arghhh...it's my nemesis at the moment! Thank you especially for the kind words. Many years ago I watched someone who was in a position to be such a positive influence on so many people who chose not to do so. They instead chose to tear people down and try to drag them down to the level they were at in their life. I think it takes the same amount of energy on my part to try and create a smile as it does to try and create a frown... I love the quote attributed to both Henry Ford and Abraham Lincoln..."Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right!" So, I always try to remind people "they can"! Whoever said it, I love that quote! I say almost the same exact thing to my daughter all the time. Someday I hope she understands what it means. I have never cabbed anything in my life, but I can imagine dipped corners on sharp angles are a formidable challenge. Besides, they add a little personality and let others know someone made it by hand. There is a lot of beauty in imperfections. |
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Jan 6, 2021 13:17:50 GMT -5
My goodness. All this time I thought that you were one that didn't have a cabbing machine! And of course this lot cannot be produced in one morning unless a cabbing machine is available! Haha! What a surprise to me! I don't come to the 'cabbing' forum .. well .. at all really. But I guess I should more often. This is some great material that you have obtained (much self-found I am sure). And your attention to geometric shapes is outstanding. I mean, if you are not working off of templates on 90% of these, then I just don't know where to start with the compliments. They all look great even if you stuck to the book and used templates. I have to say that I have not used a template on anything in over a year. But this post of yours reminds me that I need to return to the old way of doing things with dop sticks (something else I abandoned over a year ago), and doing things by the numbers. Thanks for sharing! I prefer the look of cabs that are hand drawn without a stencil and one wastes less material. My big question: if you stopped using dop sticks, don't your fingers dry out from the water? There is one old fellow I know whose fingers are a mess and he said it was from holding the stones. I appreciate you chiming in with this comment.
You know, I have tried to do just that for the past year. When I see a oblong chunk of rock, which to me has nice material, I tend to not want to grind away all the good material just to make a symmetrical, geometric pleasing rock. I try to end up with the largest piece that I can, and it is often funny shaped (my wire wraps being case in point).
I don't really get dry hands or anything. Doesn't seem to bother me. I do however have more difficulty with round shapes, and keeping a good shape without producing lumpy spots. The dop stick sure is good in that department. I've dopped a couple dozen rocks yesterday and will go back to templates on some of my new batch of rocks though.
I guess your buddy could just wear thin gloves. I have a bunch for stuff. I see videos of people cabbing with thin rubber (type) gloves. That'd be what I might do too.
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