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Post by holajonathan on Jan 18, 2022 15:36:20 GMT -5
...you can mark out 7 or 8 good preforms.    Coin is 1.5" diameter. It is rare to cut slabs this size that are solid and interesting from edge to edge. Slabbing and marking preforms was easy; the trim saw work will be the real challenge. |
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Post by perkins17 on Jan 18, 2022 16:11:10 GMT -5
I used to do that, so as not to create waste, but I quit when I regularly messed up the preforms while cutting. Maybe I'll add a band saw to the "want but don't need" list! (It's getting awful long! 😂) That looks like a good slab... I see some awesome cabs in the future.
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 18, 2022 17:02:19 GMT -5
Now you're marking slabs like I do!  As I was looking at them, I was wondering about the trim saw work you've made for yourself here. I'll agree though...each of those looks like they're worth it! Not that I'm really supposed to pick favorites, but the two elongated teardrops in that second slab, and the bottom elongated teardrop in the first slab I think are going to be the killers out of these! (And NO, it's not just because they're teardrop shaped! LOL) |
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Post by Starguy on Jan 18, 2022 17:22:38 GMT -5
holajonathanKeep in mind that the bottom of the trim saw is cutting farther than what you see on the top surface. I see some challenging trim saw work in your future.
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Post by holajonathan on Jan 18, 2022 17:26:18 GMT -5
jasoninsd As you know, I don't mark preforms unless I actually want to cab them. This may be the first time I have marked 7 or 8 preforms from a slab. I agree that those long teardrops will be nice. I'm starting to like that shape. It's from the Etsy templates (I forget the seller's name). perkins17 Trim saw work wasn't too bad. Took about 15 minutes total, which included cleaning up the edges the best I would with the edge of the blade. I had them all cut out in rough shapes in about 5 minute. Grinding with the blade edge is the relatively slow part (but still a lot faster than grinding on a wheel or flat lap).  Next step is to look at both sides and see which one I like the best.
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Post by holajonathan on Jan 18, 2022 17:35:36 GMT -5
Starguy That's a good reminder, and I know exactly what you mean. I used to make that mistake a lot, but not so much anymore. Any place where two cabs are close, I make sure I keep the blade perpendicular to the edge of the line, if that makes sense. I cut at least 1/8" from the line when I can, and then use the side of the blade to grind in within about 1/16" of the line. Upon initial inspection, the edges look pretty good. 
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 18, 2022 17:39:09 GMT -5
There's a debate of quality vs quantity. I tend to lay out the best patterns sacrificing utilization of the material. I also have to allow more space between preforms since my trim saw aim could use some improvement. I layout using the best side of each preform making sure not to overlap with the other side. When the sides of a preform are a lot different, I try to anticipate the appearance after grinding by looking at the edges.
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Post by Son Of Beach on Jan 18, 2022 17:50:39 GMT -5
Starguy That's a good reminder, and I know exactly what you mean. I used to make that mistake a lot, but not so much anymore. Any place where two cabs are close, I make sure I keep the blade perpendicular to the edge of the line, if that makes sense. I cut as far from the line a I can, and then use the side of the blade to get in close. Upon initial inspection, the edges look pretty good. Those would make some slick game board pieces. Purdy |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 18, 2022 18:01:19 GMT -5
Oh yeah, you've got some nice preforms there. Beautiful material, too.
Very nice trim saw work. I usually don't try to get so close to the edge with the trim saw. I use those real thin blades that bend too easy. I used to, though, when I used the tile saw. With the sintered 60, I don't worry too much about it.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 18, 2022 18:13:46 GMT -5
Nice but I see a couple of pairs of stone for earrings in the "between spaces". Tighten up the saw work there please..
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Post by holajonathan on Jan 18, 2022 18:15:00 GMT -5
There's a debate of quality vs quantity. I tend to lay out the best patterns sacrificing utilization of the material. I also have to allow more space between preforms since my trim saw aim could use some improvement. I layout using the best side of each preform making sure not to overlap with the other side. When the sides of a preform are a lot different, I try to anticipate the appearance after grinding by looking at the edges. I'm in the quality over quantity camp. Cabbing is too slow of a process to make mediocre cabs, even if that means "wasting" ok material. I mark out my favorite preforms first, with no regard for whether their placement will maximize the number of cabs from the slab. In the case of these Amy Sage slabs, I marked my favorites, and the remaining material seemed too nice for the scrap pile. My trim saw cuts 1/4" slabs about as fast as a jig saw cuts 1/4" plywood. So little time is wasted cutting a few extra preforms. If I don't cab them all, I can give them away to someone who is learning. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 18, 2022 18:29:20 GMT -5
Those are going to be some sweet cabs! Kudos on the trim saw work. I suck at it.  |
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Post by holajonathan on Jan 18, 2022 18:32:22 GMT -5
Peruano Don't think I wasn't tempted.  I do a lot of relief cuts when cutting preforms this close together. The relief cuts are usually in the form of a triangle which points at a tight cut, if that makes sense. This allows me to line up the tight cut perfectly, since the triangle shaped opening gives me some play from side-to-side with the blade. In other words, first I cut the red triangles. Then I cut cut along the black dotted lines.  To line up the tight cut, I use the thin line of oil spraying off the blade. My relief cut strategy is inconsistent with trying to salvage those earrings you are envisioning. Ever part of the slab that is not marked as a preform ends up as tiny pieces of scrap or slurry.
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Post by holajonathan on Jan 18, 2022 18:38:15 GMT -5
Oh yeah, you've got some nice preforms there. Beautiful material, too.
Very nice trim saw work. I usually don't try to get so close to the edge with the trim saw. I use those real thin blades that bend too easy. I used to, though, when I used the tile saw. With the sintered 60, I don't worry too much about it.
It is impossible to get close with a thin blade, although I enjoy the precision of the really thin blades as well. Just not when I've got this many to cut. These were all cut with a thick 8" blade. The saw has blade guides that keep the blade straight even if you grind on the edge with a decent amount of pressure. If I ever get a sintered 60 grit I might not care as much, but with my sintered 80, grinding edges is pretty slow. |
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 18, 2022 18:43:25 GMT -5
There's a debate of quality vs quantity. I tend to lay out the best patterns sacrificing utilization of the material. I also have to allow more space between preforms since my trim saw aim could use some improvement. I layout using the best side of each preform making sure not to overlap with the other side. When the sides of a preform are a lot different, I try to anticipate the appearance after grinding by looking at the edges. I'm in the quality over quantity camp. Cabbing is too slow of a process to make mediocre cabs, even if that means "wasting" ok material. I mark out my favorite preforms first, with no regard for whether their placement will maximize the number of cabs from the slab. In the case of these Amy Sage slabs, I marked my favorites, and the remaining material wan't half bad, so I just kept going. My trim saw cuts 1/4" slabs about as fast as a jig saw cuts 1/4" plywood. So little time is wasted cutting a few extra preforms that I may or may not end up cabbing. If I don't cab them all, I can give them away to someone who is learning. My trim saw also cuts like plywood. I use an aggressive 80 grit to get to the edge to preserve the blade and trimming a preform isn't the same as making the cab. I have boxes of trim saw preforms and will work on them when I need inventory. |
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Post by holajonathan on Jan 18, 2022 18:51:41 GMT -5
stardiamond I am very gentle with my expensive MK Diamond trim saw blades ($30-$35 for 0.02" x 6" blades, and $50+ for a 0.032" x 8" blade). They are fragile blades and I do zero grinding with them. But with my 8" trim saw, I mostly use these blades: www.ebay.com/itm/131996186482I bought 4 for $65 total, and the first one lasted me almost a year, which included tons of slabbing small rough like Montana agates, cutting hundreds of preforms, and hours of using the edge of the blade to grind. For the price and how long they last, grinding with the blade saves wear on my wheels, although speed is the bigger advantage.
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Post by HankRocks on Jan 18, 2022 19:47:19 GMT -5
stardiamond I am very gentle with my expensive MK Diamond trim saw blades ($30-$35 for 0.02" x 6" blades, and $50+ for a 0.032" x 8" blade). They are fragile blades and I do zero grinding with them. But with my 8" trim saw, I mostly use these blades: www.ebay.com/itm/131996186482I bought 4 for $65 total, and the first one lasted me almost a year, which included tons of slabbing small rough like Montana agates, cutting hundreds of preforms, and hours of using the edge of the blade to grind. For the price and how long they last, grinding with the blade saves wear on my wheels, although speed is the bigger advantage. What type trim saw do you have? |
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Post by holajonathan on Jan 18, 2022 20:02:09 GMT -5
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Post by holajonathan on Jan 18, 2022 20:06:21 GMT -5
I picked out the better ones and ground down the edges with 80 and 220 grit sintered wheels. This is the step in the process that I enjoy least. A few of these are from a different slab I cut the other day. I agree with jasoninsd that the two biggest elongated teardrops are probably the best. I think all of these interest me enough to finish them.  While I had the grinder going, I ground down a few other preforms that I cut recently.  The grinder could use a cleaning.  |
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Post by perkins17 on Jan 18, 2022 20:25:35 GMT -5
Nice preforms! I hate preforming too. It gets me wet because the wheel is smaller than the hood and it makes a huge mess. That grinder looks a lot like mine lol. I just cleaned mine out today. (By cleaned I mean rolled the shop vac over and vacuumed all the rock snot up! 😂)
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I do a lot of relief cuts when cutting preforms this close together. The relief cuts are usually in the form of a triangle which points at a tight cut, if that makes sense. This allows me to line up the tight cut perfectly, since the triangle shaped opening gives me some play from side-to-side with the blade. 
