ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Dec 9, 2021 9:35:32 GMT -5
You’re funny. Take your time with this stuff. It’s such a fun hobby. Tumbling is slow! Cabbing is a little faster. When you complete your first batch, you will be so proud. Just remember to post pictures here. If there aren’t pictures, it didn’t happen. I think you’re kind of hooked on lapidary stuff. Sincerely, Brent. Thanks! So funny that you should say that if there aren't pictures, it didn't happen. That's what I'm always telling my friends and family who aren't avid photographers when they go on vacation. They'll start telling me about some incredible sight or experience they had, and I'll say "OOO! Show me the photos!" Nada. Well.......it never happened then.....  |
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Dec 9, 2021 9:36:31 GMT -5
Different dop waxes melt at different temps red, green black. Most dop pots are not adjustable. I have a rock rascal one and it was taking so much time to dop just to have them fall off at about 50% of the time. I went to metal dops and use CA glue. This has resolved my problems and I am much happier. I had been looking into alternatives to the wax - I guess with CA glue, you just use acetone to get it off? |
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Post by knave on Dec 9, 2021 9:38:09 GMT -5
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Dec 9, 2021 9:39:12 GMT -5
In our clubs workshop, they place a cardboard box over the dop pot to help it heat up faster. The box is removed once it gets up to temp. Covering probably is a must, because I can tell that it gets a more solid skin at the top. |
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Dec 9, 2021 9:41:39 GMT -5
Thanks! I have been a no-show on Insta lately, but maybe you've inspired me to post something today.  |
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NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Dec 9, 2021 11:51:36 GMT -5
ericabelle there's several ways to remove dops when using super glue. Probably the easiest is to put it in the freezer just like when you use wax. Once it's frozen you can usually "snap" the cab off the stick. There is a few caveats to this method. One is you can break your cab if you use too much pressure & another is I've had divots pulled out of the back of the cab. Another way either right away or when it's frozen is to get the sharp blade underneath the glue and gently pry it off. Somewhat dangerous so use caution and heavy gloves My favorite is heat. I use aluminum dop sticks so I just clamp the stick in a vise and use my propane torch to heat the stick a bit. Either catch the cab when it falls off or grab it with a gloved hand. After it's cooled use a sharp blade to scrape off the excess glue from the back of the cab. No divots and no breakage (unless I drop the cab after 🤣) I've never used dop wax. Ali uses it, I should give it a try sometime.
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 9, 2021 12:37:25 GMT -5
I use the freezing method with superglue. It works without damaging the cab 99+% of the time. More than 90% of the time the cab pops off. When it doesn't, I put a razor blade between the cab and the dop and tap/whack the blade with a utility knife. If that doesn't work I soak the cab in acetone and scrape away the glue until the cab separates. I generally need a qtip, acetone and a xacto knife to get the remaining glue of the back of the cab.
I have very few divot where minimal force was used to separate the cab from the dop. My dops are wooden with a chair glide attached to a dowel.
I tried wax which is preferable for a lot of reasons, but I hated having the preform come off the dop when working it.
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Post by rmf on Dec 9, 2021 16:12:46 GMT -5
Different dop waxes melt at different temps red, green black. Most dop pots are not adjustable. I have a rock rascal one and it was taking so much time to dop just to have them fall off at about 50% of the time. I went to metal dops and use CA glue. This has resolved my problems and I am much happier. I had been looking into alternatives to the wax - I guess with CA glue, you just use acetone to get it off? Yes acetone, fingernail polish remover or a small torch ( not near the acetone). |
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agatewhisperer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2020
Posts: 836
Member is Online
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Post by agatewhisperer on Dec 10, 2021 15:25:41 GMT -5
I'll add a few words regarding the original post. I've always used dop wax with a dop pot and after it heats up it's been a nice consistency for putting on the dop stick. After 6-12 months, i started having more issues with rocks with smooth backs coming unstuck while grinding. So i cleaned out the dop pot, put the new wax in and heated it up. SUPER THICK. Sounds like your experience. Was so thick it was hard to get on the dop stick in any meaningful way.
I'm suspecting they were a little different kinds of wax. The original wax i had was a dark green. The new more thick wax was a more olive / lighter green.
I don't know the differences between the types of wax but there was definitely a difference between those two. It's been 6 months and is still so thick that i end up using an alcohol lamp lately and works pretty good. I should add that i have not had a rock come loose with the thick stuff.
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 10, 2021 15:46:03 GMT -5
There is some wax on the market that is from China, I believe, which is not as good as the US made wax. I bought some and threw it out.
I'll chime in about wax -v- glue. I have used both. I prefer wax and rarely if ever loose a cab unless it's too cold. That's the only downside- it doesn't like cold. But, I find that it is much faster to use. The glue is not as user friendly. I hate getting the cab off the dop. I experienced all kinds of failures from breakage to divots. I've tried the freezer, torch, acetone, razor blades.... and I heated the cab on the 50k and 100k to get it to release. That worked the best, but I run the risk of cracking the stone. I will probably use it again this winter because it doesn't care if the room is chilly, but I prefer wax.
Instead of baking soda, I use a spray accelerator which lasts forever. One squirt and you're done.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Dec 10, 2021 19:06:54 GMT -5
So this is as good a place as any to post this I suppose... Dopping me & MsAli's cabs tonight to finish up this weekend for the December cab contest and I somehow glued the cab to the countertop 🤣 Luckily I was able to pry it off without too much effort. Whew!  |
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Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
