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Post by Roller on Oct 20, 2010 23:33:29 GMT -5
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,777
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Post by adrian65 on Oct 21, 2010 0:01:57 GMT -5
Congrats for your first cab! Looking good, and if it took so long to get rid of the flat spots, it is maybe because of the difficult (rather soft, maybe mixed hardness) material. Also, when grinding the dome, don't hold the cab against the wheel in fixed positions, keep it moving continuously.
Adrian
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Post by Roller on Oct 21, 2010 0:35:10 GMT -5
Had the same problem with time and flats on my second piece (green tree agate ) but I rushed through that one ... well rushed ..an hour ... need to go back next time i get a chance to cab ... guess i have alot to learn still ...or could it be my brand new wheels?which were broken in w hard agate ...
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Post by stoner on Oct 21, 2010 2:13:43 GMT -5
That's pretty good for your first cab on a cabbing machine. Here's a link to get you going on cab cutting, it covers the basic idea well. www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/oplc_cab.shtmlRead thru the article, and continue on the the second part when you get to the bottom of page 1. Part of your flat problem is probably mixed hardness, like Adrian said. Start with agates or hard jaspers, they will usually polish up easily. Do yourself a BIG favor, and this goes for anyone cabbing, use only good quality material. The same amount of diamond on your wheel will disappear with good material as well as material with fractures or other defects. When you're done with the cab, you want to know that the lost diamond was worth the awesome cab you just did, not something that has a defect. If you're cabbing a piece and halfway thru you notice a fracture starting, stop and either cut out the defect or throw it away! And save your first couple of cabs, put them in a drawer and once a month, save a cab. Then look at them in a year and have a good laugh!!! It's a way of seeing your progress. And there's one way to becoming a good cabber, practice, practice, practice! You've got a good start, keep working at it and read the article.
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Post by johnjsgems on Oct 21, 2010 6:52:59 GMT -5
Nice job Greg. I would agree on the agates/jaspers being a better learning material.
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rockncajun
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2009
Posts: 344
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Post by rockncajun on Oct 21, 2010 6:59:15 GMT -5
Greg, nice job. It took me a long time on my first also. I find if I try to get ral accurate on my cab, I also get flat spots. So, just move fast and don't worry about perfection.
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Post by Bejewelme on Oct 21, 2010 7:18:58 GMT -5
Greg: Well you did a great job at my house, and I saw you were pretty attentive to details, LOL. This one looks good, mixed hardness it tough, and you can over analyze the crap out of a cab! Make sure you dry it well and look with mags before moving to the next wheel, or youa re jsut wasting time if you don't get the previous wheel's scratches out. And yes keep it moving, I would hold it n one place and then wonder why I had so many deep scratches, and a light touch is all that is needed. I saw your first cabs you will be awesome, just get busy and the more you do the easier it will come!
So glad you are all set up now!
Amber
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Post by frane on Oct 21, 2010 7:29:28 GMT -5
Awesome! I am so glad you are up and running now! I think it is that you are just paying attention to detail right now and taking plenty of time doing it. You will pick up the pace as you get more comfortable. I noticed that I start pressing too hard if I get tired and impatient and that is when I do not get good results. Too many scratches and uneven look. I step away, rinse the water trays out and refill and then lighten up my touch a bit. Seems to work at speeding me up. Fran
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Post by NatureNut on Oct 21, 2010 7:36:24 GMT -5
Nice job Greg! You got a great shape and shine on it! Gotta feel good to be working a material that you found yourself. These guys all have good advice. You'll be whipping them off in no time! Congrats! Jo
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Post by llana2go on Oct 21, 2010 7:53:01 GMT -5
You did a great job on that! My first domed cab I did with Lee right there to help me, I seriously doubt I will do as nice a job as you when I have to do it on my very own. When it comes to being slow, don't forger that the folks that whip up a cab in 5 minutes have been at it for much longer!
The puddingstone is really pretty. Great shine on it.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Oct 21, 2010 17:48:01 GMT -5
Awesome job Greg, one thing that I need to mention is the thickness of the girdle (edge of the cab). For a setting or wire wrapping this might be a little thick. I like the shape, and I don't see any flat spots on the dome. Very cool!!
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isellwood
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2006
Posts: 119
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Post by isellwood on Oct 21, 2010 19:44:27 GMT -5
Really good job on your first cab. The flat spots will go away with practice. You have a good eye, do be afraid to mess up on a few cabs. I bet we probably all have screwed up a cab or two at one time. Keep em coming.
Pat
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Post by tanyafrench on Oct 21, 2010 20:14:26 GMT -5
I don't cab but if I did I would be thrilled with that cab. It looks beautiful!
Tanya
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Post by fishenman on Oct 22, 2010 11:03:19 GMT -5
Great job Greg! You chose a challenging piece to work with. You are on your way now. The first cab I cut was dinosaur bone.
Geoff
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Oct 22, 2010 19:23:26 GMT -5
Fantastic cab Greg. love the material too!
Nate
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Post by rockrookie on Oct 22, 2010 20:34:25 GMT -5
nice job Greg !! nice looking material . --paul
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Rockygibraltar
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,404
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Post by Rockygibraltar on Oct 22, 2010 21:42:18 GMT -5
Way to go Roller. It just gets better and more fun from here.
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Post by Roller on Oct 22, 2010 22:19:19 GMT -5
Thanks everyone ! When I get the time hopefully I I will get more up ... btw I sell the purple puddingstone cheap just contact me for info and I mean cheap .. Randy its funny that you mentioned how big the girdle was for wrapping ! My mistake! I was thinking of paying you to w rap it for someone as a present ... Guess I will have to make some others then with smaller girdles .. My second one was a super thin piece of green tree agate ...Well I didnt like the finshed shape so I took a sharpie to it and drew in some new lines to grind out .which i rubbed into it . well the ink went into the tiny pits that green tree agate has and now it has brown spots ...lol oh well that might be one for the garbage can ... till next time ...
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spokanetim
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2009
Posts: 656
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Post by spokanetim on Oct 22, 2010 22:29:21 GMT -5
Fantastic Cab! It was almost exactly a year ago that I did my first cab.
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Oct 23, 2010 12:11:24 GMT -5
I think it looks great Roller! Lots of good advice here. Reading through all the posts brings a question up in my mind....How hard or soft do you push against the wheels?? I was told push hard on some wheels softer on others. Maybe if I go soft on all the wheels and take more time per wheel...it might take out some of the minor scratches that show up in camera pictures. I just night have to test that out. Keep it up Greg...soon you will be a cabbing pro! Steve
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