zsark72
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2021
Posts: 80
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Post by zsark72 on Apr 11, 2022 0:43:19 GMT -5
Hello my name is Zachary and I'm looking to get an 8" Ameritool flat lap to start seriously making cabs. I currently use a dremel and make sphere shaped cabs and want to make a wider variety. I am interested in hearing everyone's thoughts and seeing some of your own methods to making cabs. Any tips and guidance is also very appreciated. Thank you  and when I get a chance I'll show off a few of the cabs I've made. |
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller 
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,504
Member is Online
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Post by realrockhound on Apr 11, 2022 1:33:09 GMT -5
Diamond pacific genie cabing wheels. If you want to get serious. I’d personally suggest saving the money and buying a cabing machine.
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Post by vegasjames on Apr 11, 2022 1:50:36 GMT -5
I was using a Genie with 6 inch wheels. Now using a Titan with 8 inch wheels.
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 11, 2022 4:52:37 GMT -5
I have/had an 8" Ameritool. It was really hard for me to use. BUT, I learned on a Genie first. I do think the Genie is easier to use, which is what I have now.
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Post by liveoak on Apr 11, 2022 6:09:44 GMT -5
I started with an 8" craftsman flat lap & found it difficult for cabbing.
I now have a Kingsley North 6" cabbing unit & it made all the difference.
Before getting the cabber, I had considered a more economical way, could be to set up a shaft & motor with drip system and switch out wheels.
Certainly not as fast & easy, BUT it might give you a way to start out that's more affordable.
I'm sure in the equipment sub forum there's knowledgeable people that could advise you if you wanted to make your own.
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Post by jasoninsd on Apr 11, 2022 8:11:04 GMT -5
Hey Zachary...you're heading further down the rabbit hole!!
I started making cabs with a Dremel. Didn't last long...only a couple months.
Bought a Hi-Tech 6" Slant Cabber (flat lap on a slant) and used that for about a year.
Just switched to a Kingsley North 6" Cabber with Nova wheels.
Bottom line, it depends on how "serious" you are with wanting to produce cabs. Dremel "works". The flat lap also worked, and I think I made some pretty decent cabs on it. The only thing I couldn't seem to work on it was Obsidian...otherwise, I had no issues producing nice cabs with it. The KN6 is by far faster, more efficient, easier to use, and no headache with having to switch disks out to move up or down in grits.
You've got to be honest with yourself with regards to what you want to accomplish with the cabs...but more importantly how much money do you want to spend...
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,989
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Post by Tommy on Apr 11, 2022 8:44:51 GMT -5
I started (and finished lol) on a home made machine that my brother built and that I've made a LOT of modifications to over the years. It can accommodate six 8" wheels or eight 6" wheels. For the last few years that I was actively cabbing, I have had it set up with seven diamond Nova wheels, four 6" on the left for the lower grits (280-1200) that wear out fairly quickly, and three 8" wheels on the right in the higher grits (3000-50k) that last a very long time.
I have a second machine that houses two 8" grinding wheels (80 and 220) on the left and an 8" rubber expando wheel/drum on the right for SiC belts (120 up to 1000) for initial scratch removal assistance.
I also have a 9" high speed metal flat lap for doing backsides, and another 9" flat lap, this one very-slow-speed with a special surface loaded with AO for final polishing on agates and such.
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Post by perkins17 on Apr 11, 2022 9:22:09 GMT -5
I started with an old Poly D-14 with a 100 grit silicon carbide wheel on one side and an expandable drum with silicon carbide paper on the other. I still use it, but I've incorporated more diamond into the system. It only cost $50 for the base machine so I think I've gotten my money's worth.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 11, 2022 10:08:53 GMT -5
I started with a Hi-Tech Diamond flat lap many years ago when I started cutting opals. It worked fine (and still does) to this day. It is a little more difficult to cab on than a wheel cabbing machine and also it takes longer, but it works. I still use it for the backs of cabs and when I am working a "delicate" material where being able to adjust the speed is advantageous.
It really does come down to how serious you are about continuing to make cabs and also your budget. What I will say is if your budget dictates flat lap and not a cabbing machine is and you are serious about continuing in the hobby, get the flat lap. Then start saving up for your cabbing machine.
Vince and I both have used Genies. I bought mine on Ebay and he bought his from a jeweler friend who acquired it from someone else. A used Genie works just as well as a new one. The only thing you need to watch out for is whether or not the machine was sitting idle for a long period of time. If it has, then you need to replace the capacitor on it before you use it or else you can fry the motor. The capacitor is not expensive.
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Post by rmf on Apr 11, 2022 12:24:47 GMT -5
zsark72 I was going to purchase a "Sears" grinder some 50 years ago and I was talking to the local rock shop owner who told me most cabbers prefer to use vertical wheels. I ended up purchasing a Lortone Lu6. I wore the bearings out on that machine (they were not sealed at the time). Then I found Beacon Star 8" grinders. My point here is that was great info at least for me wanting to cut cabs. I have never regretted it. Of course the flat lap has a dual use for small flats and backs of cabs yet I think if you cut many cabs they way the average person would hold the stone is more natural with a vertical wheel. I later years I have sacrificed the good open area of the "Beacon Star" grinders for a Diamond Pacific Titan. I still use my Beacon Star grinders for the one off wheels like 8" SiC used mostly for mower blades now but some metal work, a 46 grit diamond wheel for hogging, 3000 grit and 8000 grit and one grinder for polishing with muslin, felt and leather. I you don't know if you will like cabbing get a used piece and put up with the inconvenience of changing out wheels/belts till you have a handle on what works best for you. If I were going to start new today, I would look into a Cabking due to price, DP is good hardware and Kingsley North has some of their own branded I suspect Lortone is making for them. All there look good depending on size and cashflow. My one dislike with DP is their machine (Titan) and their "8"" wheels are really designed around 7 5/8" wheels not 8"
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Post by stardiamond on Apr 11, 2022 12:54:13 GMT -5
I like the Genie because it uses geysers, has a removeable right arbor so more wheels can be used. On a budget, I would get 2 wheel lapidary arbor, changing wheels, working in batches. Checking for local used equipment is always a good idea. Some here grind and tubmble.
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rixrocks
having dreams about rocks
Member since September 2019
Posts: 51
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Post by rixrocks on Apr 12, 2022 12:42:58 GMT -5
I use the Genie for cabs. I also have an 8 inch Ameritool flat lap which is good for polishing flats but I find it difficult to make cabs with. I do like the Ameritool flat lap though and it's also a breeze to clean out when you're done. I would try to find a cab machine if you can. Maybe a used one will turn up.
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Post by Starguy on Apr 13, 2022 15:44:30 GMT -5
zsark72I started with a Lortone 6” arbor with carborundum wheels. Eventually I got diamond wheels for it. Next I added a second 6” Lortone with expando wheels and a 6” flat disk for fine sanding and polishing. Now days I’m working on a CabKing 8V1 with the optional trim saw attachment. This is truly a production setup. The machine is wide and powerful enough that two people can work on it at the same time.
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,179
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Post by rockbrain on Apr 15, 2022 14:57:07 GMT -5
Right now my work is done on this fine piece of lapidary goodness.  |
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Apr 17, 2022 10:59:43 GMT -5
I started with an old Lortone with 2 8" expando drums. I recently got a Cab King 6". I almost got a Hi-Tech but invested a little more as I can add flat laps to the ends of the CabKing  |
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and when I get a chance I'll show off a few of the cabs I've made. 
