litlbit59
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2022
Posts: 1
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Post by litlbit59 on Jan 1, 2022 3:52:54 GMT -5
My name is Karen and my husband and I have been collecting rock and fossils for a long time. Me, since I met him 15 years ago and him, well before that. we're always looking down but our serious trip are mostly along the lake Michigan shorelines. Last summer we purchased a 30' travel trailer and we have a spot reserved in April at an RV park in Potasky, MI. Ed has been polishing our finds on a benchtop buffer. For Christmas I got him a All-U-Need Flat Lap from Hi-Tech Diamond. He educating himself on the different Cabbing Machines as we'll be getting one with our tax return. I have a question about the flat Lap. Is there something he can use to help hang onto the rocks, they keep getting away from him and I'm a bit worried about that. I don't think any have actually flew out of the machine but I guess it could happen. Any suggestions? Thanks, Karen
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Post by rmf on Jan 1, 2022 4:14:14 GMT -5
When you start cabbing you will discover dop wax and dop sticks. The wax is heated along with the stone, a gob of hot wax is picked up by a dop stick (about a 4.5" more or less piece of wood dowel) and placed on the back of the stone to hold it while you are cabbing the front of the stone. To remove the dop wax place in freezer. This should work fine for what you are doing.
You can also use Cyano Acrylic glue and remove with acetone or heat depending on the dop stick you choose.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 1, 2022 9:33:49 GMT -5
Welcome from Northern Arizona!
Here's a video describing some dopping techniques:
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 1, 2022 10:13:03 GMT -5
Hey Karen! Welcome to the forum from South Dakota! First...really cool Christmas present! Second...using a dop stick will work for cabbing...but if you're talking about him losing control of the larger stones he's working on the flat lap, I don't know that a dop stick will work. I believe there's going to be a size limit on that will work with a dop. If it's the larger stones you're talking about, maybe some anti-slip gloves would work to control the rock so it isn't slipping out of his hands...
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Post by opalpyrexia on Jan 2, 2022 14:10:33 GMT -5
Welcome from Washington.
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