pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,401
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Post by pebblesky on Aug 9, 2023 12:25:40 GMT -5
The cabbing machine is "Star Diamond GP6 Four Wheel Harbor". I plan to use it to process my rocks for tumble so that I have more control over how they eventually look like, and maybe hand-polish some soft rocks such as Petoskey stones in the future. My first and very naive question is: where shall I get the connector (did some Google search and not sure if "connector" is the right term) to supply water from my backyard faucet to the water feeding entrance (don't know the right term of it) of the cabber, marked in red circle in the 2nd image above? The seller also mentioned that the polishing pad (on the right side of the 1st image) needs to be replaced since it has been stained by some green stuff (Zam Buffing Compound maybe?). Where do you usually buy a polishing pad? I did some search and was puzzled by the options. There are diamond pads (bond with resin), and cowhide leather, sheepskin leather and clothes. Also some people mentioned spraying diamond pastes on the leather pads but some others seem to use leather pads directly? Thanks for taking a look at my questions!
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 325
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Post by gunsil on Aug 9, 2023 22:01:57 GMT -5
I can't see your water connection, but Home Depot has all sorts of water line fittings. If you use tap water you might need a pressure reducer inline to your machine. Some people use a fountain pump in a 5 gallon pail for water feed. Fountain pumps available at Home Depot also and won't have too much pressure.
Some people use leather polish pads, some felt. All need to be charged with a polish compound, some use diamond, some use alumina, chrome oxide, cerium oxide, etc. Polishing pads mount to the end disc with pressure sensitive glue available in spray cans for ease of use. Yhe old pad should be easy to remove unless somebody used the wrong glue. There should be a neoprene pad on the disc, the new leather or felt pad goes on top of the rubber pad. I use leather pads with the rough sside out with Linde A (alumina) as a final polish on most of my cabs.
Don't worry about asking questions it is a smart way to learn so ask away, there are many here with lots of knowledge and often there is more than one way to solve a problem or complete a job.
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,401
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Post by pebblesky on Aug 9, 2023 22:22:43 GMT -5
I can't see your water connection, but Home Depot has all sorts of water line fittings. If you use tap water you might need a pressure reducer inline to your machine. Some people use a fountain pump in a 5 gallon pail for water feed. Fountain pumps available at Home Depot also and won't have too much pressure. Some people use leather polish pads, some felt. All need to be charged with a polish compound, some use diamond, some use alumina, chrome oxide, cerium oxide, etc. Polishing pads mount to the end disc with pressure sensitive glue available in spray cans for ease of use. Yhe old pad should be easy to remove unless somebody used the wrong glue. There should be a neoprene pad on the disc, the new leather or felt pad goes on top of the rubber pad. I use leather pads with the rough sside out with Linde A (alumina) as a final polish on most of my cabs. Don't worry about asking questions it is a smart way to learn so ask away, there are many here with lots of knowledge and often there is more than one way to solve a problem or complete a job. Thanks ! I will give it a try this weekend.
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 9, 2023 22:29:08 GMT -5
The machine is designed to use two grinding wheels and the rest with belts. If you are only interested in shaping for tumbling, you only need the two wheels and finish the rest in a tumbler. I don't believe in cross contamination and using an 80 grit and 220 grit wheel, there is nothing to contaminate. If it were my machine, I would close the drain hole and buy an aquarium pump with two outlets and two brass Geysers. When the water gets real dirty I would drain it and put new water in.
I can sell you servicible used 80 and 220 grit diamond wheels for the cost of shipping.
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,401
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Post by pebblesky on Aug 10, 2023 0:17:41 GMT -5
The machine is designed to use two grinding wheels and the rest with belts. If you are only interested in shaping for tumbling, you only need the two wheels and finish the rest in a tumbler. I don't believe in cross contamination and using an 80 grit and 220 grit wheel, there is nothing to contaminate. If it were my machine, I would close the drain hole and buy an aquarium pump with two outlets and two brass Geysers. When the water gets real dirty I would drain it and put new water in. I can sell you servicible used 80 and 220 grit diamond wheels for the cost of shipping. Thanks stardiamond for the info! All these are new to me so I am trying to digest. So basically you are suggesting putting an aquarium pump in a big bucket of water and recycle the water from the tray to the same bucket until the water is really dirty, right? I also saw solutions that use two aquarium pumps with lower GPH to serve two wheels. Maybe it's just a matter of which solution is more cost-efficient? Also about the 80 grit and 220 grit diamond wheels, my understanding (as the seller told me) is that the machine comes with 100 and 220 diamond wheels that I could use already, and they just could get smaller and smaller over time, until I have to replace them. I will take some close-up pictures later. Maybe you can tell me if the wheels are still serviceable or I would need to replace them pretty soon. Thanks again!
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Post by jasoninsd on Aug 10, 2023 0:18:04 GMT -5
Congrats on the new tool PS!! *If I were you, I'd take stardiamond up on his offer on those wheels!! Nice offer Stephen!
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Post by liveoak on Aug 10, 2023 6:40:46 GMT -5
pebblesky . Congrats on your new machine
I'm not sure if I'm repeating what someone else already said, and if so apologies.
But the hard wheels you have on the machine, are "old school" grinding wheels.
Perfectly use-able, I'm sure, many many people used those type of wheels (and I'm sure some still do) for grinding.
Current technology is diamond wheels - they grind faster than the SIC vitrified wheels you have. So taking up stardiamond on his offer would be to your benefit.
Heck you can even compare which you like better.
It looks like the wheels have separate water controls - which should mean that you can turn on & off the water to the wheels as you use them ( a good feature).
Your in luck, as I've been researching hooking up a garden hose to my cabber & here's the pressure regulator you need on Amazon. If you're using it outside or in the garage, a simple bucket to drain in, is easy enough. But you could also rig up a drain hose and drain it outside somewhere.
It looks like they still sell the exact machine (although newer version)- at QUITE the price !
Look forward to seeing how it works out.
Patty
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Post by Peruano on Aug 10, 2023 7:01:35 GMT -5
Leather for chromeoxide; felt for cerium oxide polishes. Chrome you use as a paste, cerium wetter. Zam is chrome oxide that comes in a wax version and is usually used on a felt wheel, rather than a flat disk. Use any water system what works for you. Even a small container higher than your machine can provide gravity or siphon feed. An aquarium pump is great if city water is not handy, but let it go to a separate waste bucket, not into one that recirculates. Its a great machine and the expando belts give you infinite flexibility in going as far along the polish process as you want. If you use the sic wheels, read the cautionary comments on not letting them get water logged and out of balance which can cause them to self-destruct. Making sure your water is off when quitting and spinning them for a few minutes after the water is off is adequate safety precaution, but if one is ever found wet on the bottom due to a leaking valve, don't stand in front of it when you start it up, and let it dry for days before even doing that. Everyone has their own technique, but you will figure out yours with a modicum of common sense and guidance from near and far. Enjoy.
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 10, 2023 10:46:48 GMT -5
The machine is designed to use two grinding wheels and the rest with belts. If you are only interested in shaping for tumbling, you only need the two wheels and finish the rest in a tumbler. I don't believe in cross contamination and using an 80 grit and 220 grit wheel, there is nothing to contaminate. If it were my machine, I would close the drain hole and buy an aquarium pump with two outlets and two brass Geysers. When the water gets real dirty I would drain it and put new water in. I can sell you servicible used 80 and 220 grit diamond wheels for the cost of shipping. Thanks stardiamond for the info! All these are new to me so I am trying to digest. So basically you are suggesting putting an aquarium pump in a big bucket of water and recycle the water from the tray to the same bucket until the water is really dirty, right? I also saw solutions that use two aquarium pumps with lower GPH to serve two wheels. Maybe it's just a matter of which solution is more cost-efficient? Also about the 80 grit and 220 grit diamond wheels, my understanding (as the seller told me) is that the machine comes with 100 and 220 diamond wheels that I could use already, and they just could get smaller and smaller over time, until I have to replace them. I will take some close-up pictures later. Maybe you can tell me if the wheels are still serviceable or I would need to replace them pretty soon. Thanks again! There are two ways to cool wheels, drip and geyser. I am suggesting you use geyser. You can put two geysers under the wheel you are using. More water is better.
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,401
|
Post by pebblesky on Aug 10, 2023 11:34:48 GMT -5
Congrats on the new tool PS!! *If I were you, I'd take stardiamond up on his offer on those wheels!! Nice offer Stephen! Thanks Jason! Used the club cabber before and really loved it for preforming so I am excited.
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,401
|
Post by pebblesky on Aug 10, 2023 11:48:41 GMT -5
pebblesky . Congrats on your new machine
I'm not sure if I'm repeating what someone else already said, and if so apologies.
But the hard wheels you have on the machine, are "old school" grinding wheels.
Perfectly use-able, I'm sure, many many people used those type of wheels (and I'm sure some still do) for grinding.
Current technology is diamond wheels - they grind faster than the SIC vitrified wheels you have. So taking up stardiamond on his offer would be to your benefit.
Heck you can even compare which you like better.
It looks like the wheels have separate water controls - which should mean that you can turn on & off the water to the wheels as you use them ( a good feature).
Your in luck, as I've been researching hooking up a garden hose to my cabber & here's the pressure regulator you need on Amazon. If you're using it outside or in the garage, a simple bucket to drain in, is easy enough. But you could also rig up a drain hose and drain it outside somewhere.
It looks like they still sell the exact machine (although newer version)- at QUITE the price !
Look forward to seeing how it works out.
Patty
Thanks Patty! Your reply explained a lot to me what I did not understand. I saw some old posts that people talked about SIC wheels vs Diamond wheels but that was beyond me back then. I will also check the pressure regulator out to see if I need it for my water supply solution. I am looking forward to seeing it working, after I get all the extra stuff I need.
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,401
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Post by pebblesky on Aug 10, 2023 11:54:52 GMT -5
Leather for chromeoxide; felt for cerium oxide polishes. Chrome you use as a paste, cerium wetter. Zam is chrome oxide that comes in a wax version and is usually used on a felt wheel, rather than a flat disk. Use any water system what works for you. Even a small container higher than your machine can provide gravity or siphon feed. An aquarium pump is great if city water is not handy, but let it go to a separate waste bucket, not into one that recirculates. Its a great machine and the expando belts give you infinite flexibility in going as far along the polish process as you want. If you use the sic wheels, read the cautionary comments on not letting them get water logged and out of balance which can cause them to self-destruct. Making sure your water is off when quitting and spinning them for a few minutes after the water is off is adequate safety precaution, but if one is ever found wet on the bottom due to a leaking valve, don't stand in front of it when you start it up, and let it dry for days before even doing that. Everyone has their own technique, but you will figure out yours with a modicum of common sense and guidance from near and far. Enjoy. Thanks Tom! It seems everybody would prefer diamond wheels if working on hard rocks such as agates. Do diamond wheels not have the problem on self-destruct when overloaded with water?
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,401
|
Post by pebblesky on Aug 10, 2023 12:02:05 GMT -5
Thanks stardiamond for the info! All these are new to me so I am trying to digest. So basically you are suggesting putting an aquarium pump in a big bucket of water and recycle the water from the tray to the same bucket until the water is really dirty, right? I also saw solutions that use two aquarium pumps with lower GPH to serve two wheels. Maybe it's just a matter of which solution is more cost-efficient? Also about the 80 grit and 220 grit diamond wheels, my understanding (as the seller told me) is that the machine comes with 100 and 220 diamond wheels that I could use already, and they just could get smaller and smaller over time, until I have to replace them. I will take some close-up pictures later. Maybe you can tell me if the wheels are still serviceable or I would need to replace them pretty soon. Thanks again! There are two ways to cool wheels, drip and geyser. I am suggesting you use geyser. You can put two geysers under the wheel you are using. More water is better. Thanks Stephen! After reading what you and others said about water feeding, it seems there are two ways of adding waters to the wheels: dripping water from the top of the wheel; spray water from under the wheel upwards onto the cabbing wheels. And there are several ways to supply water to the pipes: a water pump that sits in a bucket of clean water that pumps water up from the ground; utilize home water pressure; a simple water drip system that utilizes gravity and sends water down from up high. Seems to be quite some combinations for me to figure out what would work best... I will send you a PM about the Diamond wheels. Thanks for the great offer!
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 325
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Post by gunsil on Aug 10, 2023 13:13:59 GMT -5
If you change the wheels you will have to disassemble machine and shaft. I'd recommend replacing the shaft bearings at the same time, they are definitely old and likely dried out. I am also a fan of pressure water feed rather than air pump and geysers and since your machine is already plumbed for it I'd keep it. Plenty of ways to keep wheels wet, just figure out what is easy and works well for you.
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,401
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Post by pebblesky on Aug 10, 2023 14:33:17 GMT -5
If you change the wheels you will have to disassemble machine and shaft. I'd recommend replacing the shaft bearings at the same time, they are definitely old and likely dried out. I am also a fan of pressure water feed rather than air pump and geysers and since your machine is already plumbed for it I'd keep it. Plenty of ways to keep wheels wet, just figure out what is easy and works well for you. Thanks for the reminder! I didn't even notice how worn out the shaft bearing is. Still learning where I should look at...
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Post by Peruano on Aug 10, 2023 17:39:08 GMT -5
Congrats on the new tool PS!! *If I were you, I'd take stardiamond up on his offer on those wheels!! Nice offer Stephen! Thanks Jason! Used the club cabber before and really loved it for preforming so I am excited. Maybe I missed info. But please clarify whether you have 6 or 8 inch wheels. Stardiamond probably is thinking about 8s. Diamond wheels don't get wsrer logged like silicone carbide, but it's best to not leave them under constant drip when not in use. The Diamond can delaminate. Let us know your size needs.
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 10, 2023 18:23:29 GMT -5
The model is a gp6 with 6 inch wheels. I have them.
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,401
|
Post by pebblesky on Aug 10, 2023 18:36:04 GMT -5
Thanks Jason! Used the club cabber before and really loved it for preforming so I am excited. Maybe I missed info. But please clarify whether you have 6 or 8 inch wheels. Stardiamond probably is thinking about 8s. Diamond wheels don't get wsrer logged like silicone carbide, but it's best to not leave them under constant drip when not in use. The Diamond can delaminate. Let us know your size needs. I will double-check once I measure them at home, but I am pretty sure these are 6-inch wheels from what I estimate, also from the name of the machine (GP6 - isn't it implying 6-inch?). Oh nevermind, I saw stardiamond replied.
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 10, 2023 20:10:57 GMT -5
I have an eight inch stardiamond console machine (attached to a cabinet) there is also a pulley that can be attached to slab saw. That is where my id comes from. The saw mounts on the right so the polishing pad is on the left. It came with two well worn diamond wheels that had cups on both sides which is what probably used for the silicon carbide wheels that it originally came with. Between the 220 grit and the polishing pad was a drum, so the configuration is very similar to the gp6 except a lot larger.
I started with this machine but it is tough to make cabs with only two wheels. As part of the equipment I got there was a lapidary belt sander with worn 400 grit wet sandpaper. Polishing was done with tin oxide on the leather polishing pad. It worked well on some material and undercut on others. I did enough cabbing to upgrade to a Genie. I thought an 8 inch machine would cut faster so I reconfigured the shaft to have 80 and 220 hard and 280,600 and 1200 soft. Pre-polishing and polishing was done on the Genie. Changing wheels on the stardiamond was a pain. Getting all the wheels to line up. I would take everything off the shaft in sequence, swap out old wheels for new and reassemble. At the end, I was only using the 600 and 1200 grit on the stardiamond. One day the shaft started to bind and it wasn't worth figuring out how to fix it.
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Post by Starguy on Aug 10, 2023 20:28:43 GMT -5
pebbleskyNice machine. The SiC wheels will probably work fine for a while but you will want to convert to diamond at some point. The green stuff on the pad might be chrome oxide polish. It’s a great find and we’ll worth fixing up.
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