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 Mar 13, 2021 21:40:28 GMT -5
My first 3 cabochons ever. I did them on the hi-tech slant lap. The rectangular one was a trial as could I create the facets free hand. It has some minor issues but mostly I didn't fully get the scratchs out before polish. Since I was testing facets I leet it slide. The darker one I struggled with the girdle hieght being consistent. The cream colored on was my pride until I chipped the edge getting it off the dop stick. Oooo was I hacked off. Please take a look at the messes and let me know any constructive feedback. Thanks, Steven     |
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 13, 2021 21:49:51 GMT -5
From what I can tell, you did a great job. The second picture looks better than the one under it. That girdle looks a little wonky, but I'm glad you tried some facets. I think they are cool and fun.
I tried to use a flat lap after I learned on a genie. I never did get used to it. Keeping the girdle height consistent was hardest for me, too. I have to use a dop. I don't know if that was the issue or not.
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Post by jasoninsd on Mar 13, 2021 21:51:41 GMT -5
I think they are amazing for your first ever cabs!!!  Do you draw a girdle line with a sharpie? If not, that's what I started doing in order to keep the girdle line even. The triangular shape, I would have tried to blend those sharp edges going toward the dome. Not saying either way is right or wrong, just saying what I would have tried to do. Again, really fantastic work on those cabs! |
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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 Mar 13, 2021 21:57:22 GMT -5
From what I can tell, you did a great job. The second picture looks better than the one under it. That girdle looks a little wonky, but I'm glad you tried some facets. I think they are cool and fun.
I tried to use a flat lap after I learned on a genie. I never did get used to it. Keeping the girdle height consistent was hardest for me, too. I have to use a dop. I don't know if that was the issue or not.
Thank you. Yes I struggled with the girdles even on a dop stick. BTW... There were going to be 4 cabs but one flew off the dop stick and I haven't found it yet. Of course it went to the most inaccessible corner of my shop area. One day I will dig into that corner and find all kinds of lost treasures. |
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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 Mar 13, 2021 21:59:46 GMT -5
I think they are amazing for your first ever cabs!!! Do you draw a girdle line with a sharpie? If not, that's what I started doing in order to keep the girdle line even. The triangular shape, I would have tried to blend those sharp edges going toward the dome. Not saying either way is right or wrong, just saying what I would have tried to do. Again, really fantastic work on those cabs! Thanks Jason. I will definitively try the draw a line on the next ones. I also need a good light on station as well. The flats were a choice to see if I could keep the line down the middle and the end planes the same. There is some minor faux pas but overall not bad for freehand. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 13, 2021 22:03:48 GMT -5
From what I can tell, you did a great job. The second picture looks better than the one under it. That girdle looks a little wonky, but I'm glad you tried some facets. I think they are cool and fun.
I tried to use a flat lap after I learned on a genie. I never did get used to it. Keeping the girdle height consistent was hardest for me, too. I have to use a dop. I don't know if that was the issue or not.
Thank you. Yes I struggled with the girdles even on a dop stick. BTW... There were going to be 4 cabs but one flew off the dop stick and I haven't found it yet. Of course it went to the most inaccessible corner of my shop area. One day I will dig into that corner and find all kinds of lost treasures. I have Gene located on my kitchen table- my side of the table. My husband has his hobbies on the opposite side. Whenever I "lose" a cab, it is always on his side. The other day, he was moving stuff around and found one that I had completely forgotten about! It's kinda funny, however, when I am on the outside lap on the genie, I make sure no one is sitting across from me. I could, literally, put someone's eye out. One whizzed right past my brother's ear one time. Scared the crap outta both of us. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Mar 13, 2021 22:04:34 GMT -5
Good ones. Better than my first ones.
No worries about that chipped back edge. A bevel on the bottom edge of the girdle is a standard practice, so that will help hide it.
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USMC15
Cave Dweller 
I feel like I just came out of the tumbler ...
Member since March 2021
Posts: 273
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Post by USMC15 on Mar 13, 2021 22:06:10 GMT -5
I hope my first three come out that good. I'm actually nervous in starting, but that is part of the excitement.
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Post by jasoninsd on Mar 13, 2021 22:15:41 GMT -5
I picked up something very much like this at my local Menards. It has become invaluable with adding light as well as being able to see the cab against the slant cabber. It's a magnifying lamp. LED lighting.  |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 13, 2021 22:42:41 GMT -5
I think you did a great job on your first three! Kudos on even trying the faceted one (and it looks pretty darn good).
I think if you worked the top of that first cab a little more to bring it down just a little in the middle and blend it toward the edges, it would be a really nice cab. I can't tell from the picture for sure, but it looks like the left side of the dome is a little higher than the right side. It could be just the angle.
Try the line for the girdle trick like jasoninsd mentioned. Put the cab on a flat surface and use a stationary extra fine Sharpie up against the stone where you want the girdle line to be and turn the stone to draw the line even. It really helps to keep you from over cutting.
It all will get a lot easier after you do a few and develop some muscle memory.
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Post by jasoninsd on Mar 13, 2021 22:48:18 GMT -5
I think you did a great job on your first three! Kudos on even trying the faceted one (and it looks pretty darn good).
I think if you worked the top of that first cab a little more to bring it down just a little in the middle and blend it toward the edges, it would be a really nice cab. I can't tell from the picture for sure, but it looks like the left side of the dome is a little higher than the right side. It could be just the angle.
Try the line for the girdle trick like jasoninsd mentioned. Put the cab on a flat surface and use a stationary extra fine Sharpie up against the stone where you want the girdle line to be and turn the stone to draw the line even. It really helps to keep you from over cutting.
It all will get a lot easier after you do a few and develop some muscle memory.
Robin has mentioned a great way to draw the girdle line. I can't do it that way... probably just a mental block! LOL This is how I draw mine...this way I can set the girdle height to whatever exact millimeter I want it at.  |
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,790
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Post by adrian65 on Mar 14, 2021 1:15:03 GMT -5
Great job, especially on the long one. Looks like pet wood maybe? Anyway, very bold shape and very special dome. Not an easy job to keep the symmetry on such shape, but you did great.
Adrian
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Post by Pat on Mar 14, 2021 1:28:47 GMT -5
Good job! Cabbing is fun.
Have you tried cabbing without a dop stick? I think it is easier for most stones.
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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 Mar 14, 2021 10:04:55 GMT -5
I think you did a great job on your first three! Kudos on even trying the faceted one (and it looks pretty darn good). I think if you worked the top of that first cab a little more to bring it down just a little in the middle and blend it toward the edges, it would be a really nice cab. I can't tell from the picture for sure, but it looks like the left side of the dome is a little higher than the right side. It could be just the angle. You made me go back and look. It was just the wierd angle I took the picture at. Whew! The more refined these became the more I got attached to them. When that one chipped it was like my own kid skint their knee. lol Great job, especially on the long one. Looks like pet wood maybe? Anyway, very bold shape and very special dome. Not an easy job to keep the symmetry on such shape, but you did great. Adrian Thanks Adrian. Yes it was pet wood. I tried to shape it so the layers would stack vertically but got a little off. Good job! Cabbing is fun. Have you tried cabbing without a dop stick? I think it is easier for most stones. Yes Miss Pat I tried initially without doping them. These were small enough I couldn't get a good grip on them and I was running out of fingernail for the manicure I was getting. Thats why I ended up doping them. Maybe when my cab machine gets here it will be easier to cab without doping. Thank you all for the encouragement. Steven |
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Mar 14, 2021 11:45:02 GMT -5
Nice job! I really like the cream colored one (pet wood is my weakness). Great thing about free form cabs is that the first rule is there are no rules! I would have blended and round those facets into each other, but that is because I could never get the facets to meet evenly! It was MONTHS of practice and frustration before I got a decent polish on anything. Looks like your off to a great start!
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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 Mar 14, 2021 14:13:18 GMT -5
Nice job! I really like the cream colored one (pet wood is my weakness). Great thing about free form cabs is that the first rule is there are no rules! I would have blended and round those facets into each other, but that is because I could never get the facets to meet evenly! It was MONTHS of practice and frustration before I got a decent polish on anything. Looks like your off to a great start! Thank you very much |
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Post by greig on Mar 14, 2021 18:35:39 GMT -5
I was trying to cab some amethyst today on a flat lap. 1st problem was removing the coarse disk, as the darn thing was stuck to the pin and no amount of wobbling would remove it for about 1.5 hours of struggle. I finally got if off and then my motor died. This was a replacement motor, so I am completely frustrated. Enough about me.
I like your cabs. The shape is nice. What was your final polish grit?
Greig
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Post by RickB on Mar 14, 2021 19:23:54 GMT -5
My first 3 cabochons ever. I did them on the hi-tech slant lap. The rectangular one was a trial as could I create the facets free hand. It has some minor issues but mostly I didn't fully get the scratchs out before polish. Since I was testing facets I leet it slide. The darker one I struggled with the girdle hieght being consistent. The cream colored on was my pride until I chipped the edge getting it off the dop stick. Oooo was I hacked off. Please take a look at the messes and let me know any constructive feedback. Thanks, Steven Nice job for your first time cabbing. Is the stone in that second photo emerald in matrix from the Crabtree Emerald Mine in North Carolina? |
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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 Mar 14, 2021 20:14:59 GMT -5
I was trying to cab some amethyst today on a flat lap. 1st problem was removing the coarse disk, as the darn thing was stuck to the pin and no amount of wobbling would remove it for about 1.5 hours of struggle. I finally got if off and then my motor died. This was a replacement motor, so I am completely frustrated. Enough about me. I like your cabs. The shape is nice. What was your final polish grit? Greig Sorry to hear about the troubles with your flat lap Greig. Hope you get it fixed soon. Final polish grit on those was 3000. I have the 14K ad 50K pads but didn't take them that far as they were just practice. |
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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 Mar 14, 2021 20:17:21 GMT -5
Nice job for your first time cabbing. Is the stone in that second photo emerald in matrix from the Crabtree Emerald Mine in North Carolina? I have no idea RickB as these were some pieces gifted to me for practice. |
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