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Post by liveoak on Jul 5, 2022 14:15:21 GMT -5
So the one thing I have disliked about my cabber is the end lap water supply. Maybe it's just me, but it has a valve that's either all or nothing.
So much so, that I've taken to use a separate spray bottle , because it's so uncontrollable.
Well it came to me what I needed was a mister or spray head for the valve.
And so I got a little mist head kit on Amazon , that's usually used for watering house plants, and we installed them today and they work great.
If the kit of mister heads doesn't come with it (mine didn't) you also have to order end plugs for the tubing.
Nice controllable fine spray on the discs, and the original valve now can control the water instead of just flooding or starving the place. An improvement !
Before :
After :
Patty
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Post by jasoninsd on Jul 5, 2022 23:21:58 GMT -5
Genius idea on this one Patty! I've been using a spray bottle and leaving the splash guard in place.
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Post by jasoninsd on Jul 6, 2022 0:31:56 GMT -5
That’s a nice upgrade. I’ve never used a precharged polishing pad, but I notice that it’s pretty easy to wash off the polishing compound on my leather end pads. A fine spray with an on/off valve should work really well. Those precharged pads work pretty darn well in my opinion. I'm on my third one now. I'm guesstimating they last through approximately 200 cabs...or thereabouts. I probably could've changed mine sooner than I did. I got mine from eBay. They're listed as 3M Polishing Film. Cerium Oxide. 0.5micron. (50 pack) 6"x6". |
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Post by jasoninsd on Jul 6, 2022 0:38:55 GMT -5
jasoninsd do you know off hand what the polishing pads are made from? Taken from the eBay description: Description: 3M(TM) Polishing Film 598X with PSA back is comprised of micron graded mineral that has been coated onto a fibrous (flocked) polyester film backing. Designed to break down into a slurry during use with water. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Jul 6, 2022 0:49:49 GMT -5
Taken from the eBay description: Description: 3M(TM) Polishing Film 598X with PSA back is comprised of micron graded mineral that has been coated onto a fibrous (flocked) polyester film backing. Designed to break down into a slurry during use with water. Interesting, do you feel any grab on the surface of the cab while polishing? I really don't feel like they do at all. I spray them pretty well with the squirt bottle of water while working on them. I did try them dry one time with Batcave Jasper. It worked pretty well that way as well...and didn't grab then either... |
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Post by liveoak on Jul 6, 2022 6:00:16 GMT -5
I tried the 3M cerium films, Rio sells them in a 5 pack, and honestly I didn't feel I was getting consistent results. Obviously I wasn't doing something right, as jasoninsd has done many high polish cabs. But for me ??
So I found that Cutting Edge Supply actually sold a leather faced end lap that would just screw on, BUT instead of using loose compound, I invested in Battstik. If you've never used them , it's a crayon like thing that has the compound embedded in a waxy substance.
Since my cabber is in my in-house studio I'm desperately trying to keep the mess it makes to a min.
Having to go out back, to my flat lap to polish ( especially when it's 100 degrees out) wasn't a great thing. I've been pleasantly surprised that the Battstik work as advertised - a small amount & a little water & it stays on.
Patty
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jul 6, 2022 9:59:32 GMT -5
I tried the 3M cerium films, Rio sells them in a 5 pack, and honestly I didn't feel I was getting consistent results. Obviously I wasn't doing something right, as jasoninsd has done many high polish cabs. But for me ??
So I found that Cutting Edge Supply actually sold a leather faced end lap that would just screw on, BUT instead of using loose compound, I invested in Battstik. If you've never used them , it's a crayon like thing that has the compound embedded in a waxy substance.
Since my cabber is in my in-house studio I'm desperately trying to keep the mess it makes to a min.
Having to go out back, to my flat lap to polish ( especially when it's 100 degrees out) wasn't a great thing. I've been pleasantly surprised that the Battstik work as advertised - a small amount & a little water & it stays on.
Patty
All of Jon Rolfe's (Gearloose) products work as advertised. They were originally developed for the faceting community. He makes those Battsticks with different oxides, too, in case you need Alumina or Chrome for the rock you're working. Here's a link to his products: Gearloose |
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Post by perkins17 on Jul 6, 2022 11:42:22 GMT -5
liveoak, cerium didn't work for you? I'm curious about them because I need a belt for polishing obsidian and the like and was thinking of investing in a cerium belt for my expando drum. You're right, jasoninsd does get a great polish. -Nicholas
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Post by liveoak on Jul 6, 2022 11:50:45 GMT -5
It's NOT that cerium didn't work, it was the specific cerium 3M FILM disc that I didn't like.
I'm certainly using cerium, but now in a different form.
I use the Battstik now on a leather end lap.
The Battstik is a cerium impregnated wax stick that you apply to the spinning disc.
For me it works perfectly and no mess.
I've never used that kind of expanding wheel, so I can't advise.
Patty
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,121
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Post by Tommy on Jul 6, 2022 12:05:44 GMT -5
Hi Patty, sounds very creative and I'm trying to fully understand it. So the mister you bought works with the original water supply tubing that came on the KN 6 machine?
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Post by liveoak on Jul 6, 2022 12:19:38 GMT -5
Yes, that's exactly right Tommy. The cabber came with 1/4" tubing with a valve & an elbow.( see first photo)
The water pours out the elbow, or I can shut it off.
Not very controllable.
So I removed the elbow, replaced a short piece of 1/4" tubing, added the mist nozzle , another short piece of tubing ,and an end plug.
Now the water comes out in a very fine spray & I can use the valve to control it nicely.
The whole thing I made can still swivel around sideways, like the original, so I can still put the end covers on the cab unit.
Works for me & it was cheap & easy to do :-)
Patty
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Post by perkins17 on Jul 6, 2022 12:20:16 GMT -5
It's NOT that cerium didn't work, it was the specific cerium 3M FILM disc that I didn't like.
I'm certainly using cerium, but now in a different form.
I use the Battstik now on a leather end lap.
The Battstik is a cerium impregnated wax stick that you apply to the spinning disc.
For me it works perfectly and no mess.
I've never used that kind of expanding wheel, so I can't advise.
Patty
Okay, thanks. I read that a little wrong. I've seen the battstik for sale in the Kingsley catalog and it looks like it would work well. I'm all for the "no mess" portion of this so I'll think about it. Thanks for sharing your experience. -Nicholas |
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,121
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Post by Tommy on Jul 6, 2022 12:55:15 GMT -5
Yes, that's exactly right Tommy. The cabber came with 1/4" tubing with a valve & an elbow.( see first photo)
The water pours out the elbow, or I can shut it off.
Not very controllable.
So I removed the elbow, replaced a short piece of 1/4" tubing, added the mist nozzle , another short piece of tubing ,and an end plug.
Now the water comes out in a very fine spray & I can use the valve to control it nicely. The whole thing I made can still swivel around sideways, like the original, so I can still put the end covers on the cab unit.
Works for me & it was cheap & easy to do :-) Patty
Awesome explanation, thanks Patty. I'm going to eventually put this clever upgrade on the DIY equipment page if you don't mind. |
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Post by liveoak on Jul 6, 2022 13:19:41 GMT -5
Perfectly fine Tommy , I'm flattered. If it can help someone else out, all the better. Patty |
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,121
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Post by Tommy on Aug 23, 2022 8:11:17 GMT -5
Bumped and bookmarked for above said reasons  |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,113
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Post by khara on Sept 22, 2022 14:47:41 GMT -5
It's NOT that cerium didn't work, it was the specific cerium 3M FILM disc that I didn't like.
I'm certainly using cerium, but now in a different form.
I use the Battstik now on a leather end lap.
The Battstik is a cerium impregnated wax stick that you apply to the spinning disc.
For me it works perfectly and no mess.
I've never used that kind of expanding wheel, so I can't advise.
Patty
Okay, thanks. I read that a little wrong. I've seen the battstik for sale in the Kingsley catalog and it looks like it would work well. I'm all for the "no mess" portion of this so I'll think about it. Thanks for sharing your experience. -Nicholas Oh for crying out loud, there is roughened cowhide, top grain cowhide, suede cowhide... Do you have a favorite? Do you have a preferred gluing method? And do you find that cerium covers most of your needs? I just found a great thread here that talks all about polishes so I'll be digging into that. Not sure how to link it, maybe this works?: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/64310/polishing?page=1Sorry off-topic. I've already looked into the water sprayer and am continuing to collect supplies! I'm a collector. Thus, the several hundred boxes full of rocks spread through-out my garage and house... Thanks for all your various helpful posts that I've come across on here! |
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Post by liveoak on Sept 22, 2022 17:11:08 GMT -5
So I found that Cutting Edge Supply actually sold a leather faced end lap that would just screw on, BUT instead of using loose compound, I invested in Battstik. If you've never used them , it's a crayon like thing that has the compound embedded in a waxy substance.
Since my cabber is in my in-house studio I'm desperately trying to keep the mess it makes to a min.
Having to go out back, to my flat lap to polish ( especially when it's 100 degrees out) wasn't a great thing. I've been pleasantly surprised that the Battstik work as advertised - a small amount & a little water & it stays on.
Patty
khara
"Oh for crying out loud, there is roughened cowhide, top grain cowhide, suede cowhide... Do you have a favorite? Do you have a preferred gluing method? And do you find that cerium covers most of your needs? I just found a great thread here that talks all about polishes so I'll be digging into that."
Sorry, I thought my link (Cutting Edge Supply) above, made it easy peasy.
I went the easy way & purchased smooth leather spin on discs for the end polishing.
For 21.35 they come with the leather already on them, seemed like a no-brainer to me then buying the discs & the leather........ Since the discs alone are $20.
I purchased multiple ones - one for cerium, one for tin, one for chromium, & one for aluminum.
And as I said above, the Battstik's cause I'm trying to avoid messes, remember  I probably went a little overboard, as yes I use cerium most of the time, but then yesterday I had a stone that kept getting a haze & I opened the tin & it did the trick.
So I was glad I went overboard !
I also got a felt one just in case I needed it for a troublesome stone.
But I read in John Sinkankas's book " Gem Cutting" (old good book) that if you only chose one surface for polishing, he recommended leather. So that was good enough for me, since I didn't know any better anyway, and I know he did. I'm sure there might very well be a cheaper way but it seemed like a good way to start out with my new cabber, when I got it. And honestly I wasn't sure what to ask on the forum at the time.
Hope this helps- let me know if you need more info, I'm happy to help in any way I can 
Patty
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,113
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Post by khara on Sept 22, 2022 18:57:20 GMT -5
So I found that Cutting Edge Supply actually sold a leather faced end lap that would just screw on, BUT instead of using loose compound, I invested in Battstik. If you've never used them , it's a crayon like thing that has the compound embedded in a waxy substance.
Since my cabber is in my in-house studio I'm desperately trying to keep the mess it makes to a min.
Having to go out back, to my flat lap to polish ( especially when it's 100 degrees out) wasn't a great thing. I've been pleasantly surprised that the Battstik work as advertised - a small amount & a little water & it stays on.
Patty
khara
"Oh for crying out loud, there is roughened cowhide, top grain cowhide, suede cowhide... Do you have a favorite? Do you have a preferred gluing method? And do you find that cerium covers most of your needs? I just found a great thread here that talks all about polishes so I'll be digging into that."
Sorry, I thought my link (Cutting Edge Supply) above, made it easy peasy.
I went the easy way & purchased smooth leather spin on discs for the end polishing.
For 21.35 they come with the leather already on them, seemed like a no-brainer to me then buying the discs & the leather........ Since the discs alone are $20.
I purchased multiple ones - one for cerium, one for tin, one for chromium, & one for aluminum.
And as I said above, the Battstik's cause I'm trying to avoid messes, remember I probably went a little overboard, as yes I use cerium most of the time, but then yesterday I had a stone that kept getting a haze & I opened the tin & it did the trick.
So I was glad I went overboard !
I also got a felt one just in case I needed it for a troublesome stone.
But I read in John Sinkankas's book " Gem Cutting" (old good book) that if you only chose one surface for polishing, he recommended leather. So that was good enough for me, since I didn't know any better anyway, and I know he did. I'm sure there might very well be a cheaper way but it seemed like a good way to start out with my new cabber, when I got it. And honestly I wasn't sure what to ask on the forum at the time.
Hope this helps- let me know if you need more info, I'm happy to help in any way I can
Patty
Oh sorry, I missed your leather disc link! Actually I remember now seeing it days ago but today I got side-tracked down an internet rabbit hole on about three of these topics all at once. Unfortunately I can no longer multi-task the way I used to be able to. Pretty annoying. I'm glad you mentioned the Battstik's. I can appreciate the need to limit messes. Even in the garage, I don't really want the cars and other tools sprayed with polishing compound. And if I get too cold in the winter I can temporarily move inside. Thank you for your help! |
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Post by liveoak on Sept 22, 2022 20:40:36 GMT -5
No worries khara , I know I found that there is a lot to figure out & it can get somewhat overwhelming. Hopefully, we all get there eventually. Patty.... hoping she does |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,113
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Post by khara on Sept 23, 2022 23:37:35 GMT -5
No worries khara , I know I found that there is a lot to figure out & it can get somewhat overwhelming. Hopefully, we all get there eventually. Patty.... hoping she does I can't figure out how to start a new comment without quoting someone. liveoak and jasoninsd , When your machines do leak or spray water, how much water is spraying out and about where is it going (left, right)? I'm installing a new electrical outlet on the wall behind my workbench and trying to figure out the best placement for it, or places to avoid if I can. |
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X - Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's rocks
- O Henry
