pizzij
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2009
Posts: 102
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Post by pizzij on May 7, 2010 13:31:37 GMT -5
Reviews? Recommendations? Complaints? Hello everyone...I was hoping to pick the communal mind to get the collective wisdom...kinda like polling the audience on Who Want's to be A Gem Polishing Millionaire. Our lapidary club (Tuscarora Lapidary in PA has a lab with a Diamond Pacific Titan, three Genies, and several older arbor units. Our Genie's are beginning to age...some of them probably 10 years old...bearings beginning to fail, plastic trays going the way of all things flesh, etc...and we are looking to get some replacements. As much as we love our DP machines they are kinda expensive, and the Nova wheels do not seem to be as well made as they used to be or lasting as long as they used to. So we were thinking of trying the CabKing (http://www.covington-engineering.us/specials.htm ) being resold by Covington Engineering and Kingsley North. More metal construction...might last longer than the plastic under the hands of so many students who can be a little rough on equipment. How forgiving is the CabKing? Any safer or more dangerous to new users? How long do the soft wheels last? Thanks! joe and some recent stones for eye candy.
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Post by Tonyterner on May 7, 2010 14:49:55 GMT -5
Hi Joe, good to see you here, I haven't seen any of your cabs for a couple of years but I know how good you are. What in the world is that middle stone.
I've never been able to try the Cab King but I'll sure be interested in reading any reviews that members can post here.
Hope to see you at the Reading club's show next week. We will have a table outside.
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pizzij
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2009
Posts: 102
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Post by pizzij on May 7, 2010 15:20:10 GMT -5
It's "tiffany stone". I picked it up at the show in Exton at church farm. highly agatized piece...tho the polish ended up a little textured. different hardnesses. The rough was a little expensive but I liked the orange dots.
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aunuts
fully equipped rock polisher
Some days are gold, some are rocks. Either is cool.
Member since March 2006
Posts: 1,110
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Post by aunuts on May 7, 2010 15:21:32 GMT -5
I know nothing about the Cab King, but those cabs are gorgeous! &, I agree with Tony, what is that middle one? jo
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Post by NatureNut on May 7, 2010 15:28:14 GMT -5
Joe, you must be nearby, at least the Church Farm show in Exton is. These are beautiful!~ Jo
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pizzij
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2009
Posts: 102
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Post by pizzij on May 7, 2010 15:53:04 GMT -5
Thank you Jo...yes I am in the SE PA area, near Media PA. I certainly hope you always drop by our November show in Exton! It's not a huge show but it's fun. I usually spend a few hours demoing the cabbing for the kids...well for the adults too, but the kids have better questions. They always ask about the dop wax before the stones. ;D Please come by and say hi next time...or stop by the TLS club meeting every second wednesday in Springfield 19064. In fact we have another silent acution this coming Wed. There is usually a fair bit of cabbing rough...there was a lot at our last auction in March, but this one will be heavier on mineral specimens. And at least one polishing unit...almost new, list price $240, I think I am pricing it to start at 40$. So there should be some slabs and other goodies. Tony - I plan to be at the Leesport show...I will stop out and see you! Tho I don;t expect to get many slabs. Fred will be there as a dealer and will make a clean sweep before they open the doors.
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on May 7, 2010 16:18:46 GMT -5
All three of those are beautiful, but I really like that Tiffany stone! Donnie
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Post by NatureNut on May 7, 2010 16:29:44 GMT -5
Sounds great Joe. Can you tell us the make and model of the polishing unit? Someone here might be interested. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend, but thank you very much for the invite. Jo
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pizzij
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2009
Posts: 102
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Post by pizzij on May 7, 2010 16:36:36 GMT -5
It's a Graves polishing spool. Phenolic. For softer materials mostly. link here: www.gravescompany.com/spool.htmbarely used IMHO. We could get more for it on ebay but the purpose of the club auction is to a) have fun and b) let club members (and others) get stuff they could not normally afford, and then and only then c) make some money for the club. I know for a fact there are at least 2 small slabs of morrisonite in the auction...priced at 5 or 8 to start...if I recall correctly.
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Post by NatureNut on May 7, 2010 17:12:37 GMT -5
That's great Joe! Thanks so much for sharing this.
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Post by Bejewelme on May 7, 2010 20:17:07 GMT -5
Joe: Tony's better half, LOL! Good to see you post,the cabs are gorgeous! I just picked up a used Genie almost brand new, so if the club gets rid of the genies I would be interested in buying for parts. I am not going to let Fred get all of Travis's good slabs like last year! We will be there early and I got a in with Travis, LOL. Will see you then! Amber
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Post by Tonyterner on May 8, 2010 5:26:32 GMT -5
Never seen any Tiffany Stone like that before. I don't really plan on selling any slabs at the show but I'll bring a couple that you might find interesting. Looking forward to seeing you and Robin.
Where are the reviews of the cab king? I know at least two members that have one. If they don't respond I'll send them an email to try and coax them.
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pizzij
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2009
Posts: 102
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Post by pizzij on May 10, 2010 8:42:25 GMT -5
Thanks Tony...please let me know what they say. One guy in CA is mad that I would even consider a chinese built machine that is a rip-off of the Genie.
That Tiffany stone came from the TLS show...I think the Rare Earth Trading company? Small slabettes for 15$ or so enough for 2 cabs each but nice color. Tiffany seems to really vary in quality. I met one of the biggest dealers in it in Zion UT when I was out visiting. He used to work at the mine. He has a LOT but sells it a little high...200-200 a pound. I took up a lot of his time so I felt obligated to buy a couple of good slabs, but usually you can find it cheaper elsewhere. But it really varies. I should take a pic of one amazing piece I got on ebay 6 years ago, only because the person selling it had horrible pics did it go so cheap. Lovely pink and peach and purple and some druzy sections.
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tomcloss
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2008
Posts: 158
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Post by tomcloss on May 11, 2010 22:24:05 GMT -5
Joe, Great cabs. I just bought a cab king and got it set up this last weekend but I haven't been able to cut any cabs on it yet. I plan on doing a lot of cutting this weekend. I'll let you know what I think of this machine after a cut some on it. Our club uses titans and I opted to get the CAB king based on several reviews I read. (Also the shipping was free from Kingsley while if I ordered a titan it would have shipped freight from CA to MI.
Tom
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Larry
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2008
Posts: 267
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Post by Larry on May 11, 2010 23:40:45 GMT -5
I have been using my Cab King for a few months now. I'm only hesitant to give a review because I have no knowledge of the other machines of this type and have only been cutting cabs for almost 2 years. My previous experience, for all but the last few months, has been flat lapping. I guess I don't have an EXPERT opinion but, since I do own one, I should say something I personally love the setup. I love that the water is fed overhead and each wheel has it's own water source that can be turned on and off independent of the others. I love that the water drains out the back and new water is what is being pumped onto the wheels. I have had no troubles in the few months I've used it and the wheels are still in fine shape. I'm a small-time user though, only completing maybe 10 cabs a week, sometimes more. Oh, and I even liked the packaging, coming with a bunch of little extras like an apron (which you will use ), safety goggles (which you won't) and literature, which I found decent reading. There's nothing that I look at that unit and think, "I wish it had / did this instead," which is a good sign. Some people don't like the overhead water feed as it does cause a bit of splashing. I have the splash guards over the wheels down as far as they go without scraping and all I get is a mist, which is why the apron is handy. As for the ease of use... I was a flat-lapper only during all of my cab-cutting experience (1 1/2 years before the Cab King) and I picked it up quick. I was worse than new, I was used to a whole other method. To me, that's harder to work through than just being new entirely. My cabs quickly got way better than my flat lap cabs. I don't think new people would have any trouble. As far as the mechanical and wheel specifics and manufacturing are concerned, I would defer to somebody like John (JS Gems Lapidary), as he usually knows the ins and outs of what's going into these things and the overall quality of parts and wheels and such. Sorry to put you on the hook John Well, sorry for the long-winded answer. Once again, keep in mind that I've only been at this for close to two years and I am a dummy when it comes to tools. My review is coming from the fact that I use one and love it, even though I may know nothing about the mechanical side or the wheel quality. If you asked a year from now, I'd know more but this is all I have right now. Good luck with choosing the right thing for your club!
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pizzij
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2009
Posts: 102
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Post by pizzij on May 12, 2010 11:23:48 GMT -5
Hey Tom...thanks for the info. Looking forward to your review. I will go look on line for other reviews. Were they in a magazine or on line?
Thanks Larry! Good info...will pass it on to our board. Not long winded at all!
-joe
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on May 12, 2010 13:00:20 GMT -5
There was a review in last months lapidary Journal Jewelry Artists magazine. I can't find the review on the magazines website though.
What I remember about it was that kingsly is constantly making improvements to the design and components. It now has a quieter motor than originally and other improvements were noted as well..
I'll try to find the article... probably can't re-post it here due to copyright but I can send it in a PM...
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Post by Tonyterner on May 12, 2010 14:15:40 GMT -5
Joe, if you don't have that magazine, although I suspect you do, I'll look for the article and bring a copy with me to the show on Saturday.
Dan, good to see you back.
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pizzij
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2009
Posts: 102
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Post by pizzij on May 13, 2010 16:44:46 GMT -5
Hey Tony...please don;t go to any trouble. I found a few reviews on line and passed them on. I think we are def gonna buy one as an experiment...and then see what we like. Thanks!
Man the auction last night...people were lame...the really nice deschutes jasper went for maybe 6$ a slab, no one bid on a polishing unit at 40, no one bid on a 12" trim saw at $25! and the morrisonite slab at 8$ had no bidders. Sigh. So the slabs are going off to the class stock. Silly people.
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Post by Tonyterner on May 13, 2010 19:30:20 GMT -5
Sheesh I really wish I could have made that sale. Oh and found a lot of money before hand to boot. Sounds like some incredible deals. I've bought from the class bin before and know there is some really nice stuff there.
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