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Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 11, 2022 16:42:43 GMT -5
I thought that you might be interested in seeing this.
Last year I received a request from a local customer of mine. She's a metalsmith who sells her jewelry at local fairs and events. While in the sales process, her customers often ask how the cabs in her pieces are created. With no lapidary experience it's been difficult for her to describe how cabs are cut. So she asked if I could create some sort of visual aid or kit for her to display along with her creations.
Here's the kit that I made for her. It shows a progression from rough through polishing. I also think that the kit, when displayed, will also have the benefit of helping to bring potential customers into her booth.
I used sodalite because I have a supply and it's easy cutting. The dops were attached to the cabs with epoxy and I simulated wax with a moldable, 2-part sculpting compound.
I also had to create a solution for transporting it to shows:
And it all packs up tight in the box. It was fun project, but I wouldn't want to make any more of them.  |
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Post by stardiamond on Feb 11, 2022 16:55:22 GMT -5
Very nice! I'm self taught and when I started out, I got a pamphlet on making cabochons. I didn't see the relevancy since I don't cut circles and ovals. It took me almost 20 years to realize that working circular is good for all shapes including free forms.
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 11, 2022 18:14:19 GMT -5
That should be really helpful to her. It looks so professional, too. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 11, 2022 18:32:54 GMT -5
Gary, this is beyond awesome! I always love seeing "before and after" pics...but this just put that into a 3-D, real world, hands on "way before" and after display! It's freakin' cool! |
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Post by fernwood on Feb 11, 2022 18:34:33 GMT -5
That is a perfect explanation of how a rock becomes a cab.
Well done.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 11, 2022 19:27:49 GMT -5
Very nice! I'm self taught and when I started out, I got a pamphlet on making cabochons. I didn't see the relevancy since I don't cut circles and ovals. It took me almost 20 years to realize that working circular is good for all shapes including free forms.
Thank you. I started out trying to self-teach (after lots of reading) but my teacher wife kept saying, "Isn't there a class you can take? You should sign up for a class!" I wanted to buy some opal rough and mentioned that the Village Smithy in Montana was offering an opal-cutting class, and that was that. So I took his class and the opal hook was sunk irretrievably deeper.
That should be really helpful to her. It looks so professional, too.  Thanks. She was quite pleased with it. I am anxious to hear how it's influencing her selling once the Spring events start. Gary, this is beyond awesome! I always love seeing "before and after" pics...but this just put that into a 3-D, real world, hands on "way before" and after display! It's freakin' cool! Thank you, Jason. My initial thinking was about graphics, photos, and text, but realized that her jewelry is the focus and that this is the sideshow. So it had to be simply see, touch and feel.
That is a perfect explanation of how a rock becomes a cab. Well done.
Thank you!!
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
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Post by Brian on Feb 12, 2022 9:09:18 GMT -5
That is such a cool display piece! It’s cool how you were able to tell the whole story of the process so simply and effectively. I like the travel kit, too.
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agatewhisperer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2020
Posts: 836
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Post by agatewhisperer on Feb 12, 2022 9:15:03 GMT -5
Really like this. Very professional looking and the amount of time spent shows through. Something like this might help show people that I didn't "paint on a polish" on to the rocks and that it's natural.
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 476
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Post by herb on Feb 12, 2022 10:12:02 GMT -5
Our club has a similar display. It is a flat display that has the stones in various stages glued to it along with a brief note next to each explaining what the steps are. We use it at our annual show. People really seem to understand the process better with a visual aid. It is much easier than trying to explain the steps verbally each time someone comes up to the cabbing demonstration and asks how it is done!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 12, 2022 11:02:56 GMT -5
Gary what a well thought out and beautifully executed display! The fact that you had to cut each phase of a stone out of a separate stone is a testament to your patience. I'd love to hear the feedback she gives you regarding if it influences her sales. I also like the way you thought out how to put it all together into a cohesive traveling display for her.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 12, 2022 11:12:25 GMT -5
That is such a cool display piece! It’s cool how you were able to tell the whole story of the process so simply and effectively. I like the travel kit, too.
Thank you. My customer arranged to come by to pick it up, which also enabled me to show and explain my saws, lap and cabbing machines.
Really like this. Very professional looking and the amount of time spent shows through. Something like this might help show people that I didn't "paint on a polish" on to the rocks and that it's natural.
Thanks — I had not heard about any "paint on a polish" reactions. I suppose that clear gloss varnish does a pretty good job.
Our club has a similar display. It is a flat display that has the stones in various stages glued to it along with a brief note next to each explaining what the steps are. We use it at our annual show. People really seem to understand the process better with a visual aid. It is much easier than trying to explain the steps verbally each time someone comes up to the cabbing demonstration and asks how it is done!
That's a really useful idea. Our club has no such display. I'd say that roughly half of the people who wish to join the club have no experience. They would certainly benefit from a display like yours.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 12, 2022 11:17:57 GMT -5
Gary what a well thought out and beautifully executed display! The fact that you had to cut each phase of a stone out of a separate stone is a testament to your patience. I'd love to hear the feedback she gives you regarding if it influences her sales. I also like the way you thought out how to put it all together into a cohesive traveling display for her. Thanks, Robin. Yes, yes, patience!! I was definitely impatient after the just second dop. I'll post an update later this year after checking with her. |
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Post by perkins17 on Feb 12, 2022 11:31:48 GMT -5
That's really neat that you made that. It would be super helpful for beginners too. The person who taught me how to cab had one of those models to show how to dome a cab. It was really great to know what angle to put on the dome.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 12, 2022 12:00:52 GMT -5
That's really neat that you made that. It would be super helpful for beginners too. The person who taught me how to cab had one of those models to show how to dome a cab. It was really great to know what angle to put on the dome.
Thanks. I certainly would have benefited from the model you mention.
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brotherbill
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2018
Posts: 388
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Post by brotherbill on Feb 12, 2022 15:52:37 GMT -5
I made the same display with BMJ. I also put labels indicating the grit stage of each cab. People were amazed at the progression from 80 grit to 50,000.
I also display a crucible with silver scrap, an ingot, a rolled silver sheet, a cab wrapped with bezel wire, and bezel wire soldered to a sheet.
When a customer sees how many steps go into the fabrication process they understand what "handmade" entails!
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Post by Starguy on Feb 12, 2022 16:34:50 GMT -5
That’s pretty cool Gary opalpyrexia. That’s some fantastic customer service on your part. Well done! I can see why you wouldn’t want to do any more. |
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Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 12, 2022 17:07:09 GMT -5
I made the same display with BMJ. I also put labels indicating the grit stage of each cab. People were amazed at the progression from 80 grit to 50,000. I also display a crucible with silver scrap, an ingot, a rolled silver sheet, a cab wrapped with bezel wire, and bezel wire soldered to a sheet. When a customer sees how many steps go into the fabrication process they understand what "handmade" entails!
That's a clever idea to include the metalsmithing process, Bill. I don't do shows, but I will pass your comment on to my customer.
That’s pretty cool Gary opalpyrexia . That’s some fantastic customer service on your part. Well done! I can see why you wouldn’t want to do any more.
Thanks. I charged her $50 for it — about $5/hour, my standard rate. 
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 12, 2022 18:11:53 GMT -5
I made the same display with BMJ. I also put labels indicating the grit stage of each cab. People were amazed at the progression from 80 grit to 50,000. I also display a crucible with silver scrap, an ingot, a rolled silver sheet, a cab wrapped with bezel wire, and bezel wire soldered to a sheet. When a customer sees how many steps go into the fabrication process they understand what "handmade" entails!
That's a clever idea to include the metalsmithing process, Bill. I don't do shows, but I will pass your comment on to my customer.
That’s pretty cool Gary opalpyrexia . That’s some fantastic customer service on your part. Well done! I can see why you wouldn’t want to do any more.
Thanks. I charged her $50 for it — about $5/hour, my standard rate. 
I was wondering what you charged her to do it, but thought it would be rude to ask.  I'm thinking you undercharged by a huge amount! |
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Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 12, 2022 19:41:37 GMT -5
Thanks. I charged her $50 for it — about $5/hour, my standard rate.
I was wondering what you charged her to do it, but thought it would be rude to ask.  I'm thinking you undercharged by a huge amount!
I suppose I did, but she's been a very good customer. She likes to use cabs from Washington State and the Northwest for the tourist crowd, and I've modified my mix to include more material from here.
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Post by stardiamond on Feb 12, 2022 19:47:38 GMT -5
I was wondering what you charged her to do it, but thought it would be rude to ask. I'm thinking you undercharged by a huge amount! I suppose I did, but she's been a very good customer. She likes to use cabs from Washington State and the Northwest for the tourist crowd, and I've modified my mix to include more material from here.
My best customer is a silversmith in New Mexico and I include a Cuban cigar with her orders. She also gets 25% off. |
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I'm thinking you undercharged by a huge amount!
I'm thinking you undercharged by a huge amount!
