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Post by stardiamond on Aug 14, 2008 16:46:06 GMT -5
I picked up these two lots of tumbled owyhee mini slabs to use for cabbing. I am a repeat offender. Tumbled slabs give you a very good idea of what cabs you can create. Cost about $1.50 per mini slab.
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Post by frane on Aug 14, 2008 18:53:32 GMT -5
I think that is a good idea and should cut your cabbing time down. They have some wonderful patterns in them! Fran
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Post by beefjello on Aug 15, 2008 22:04:17 GMT -5
Beautiful!!! I just love that stuff and can't wait to see how you 'customize' each and every lil slab ;D
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Post by sitnwrap on Aug 17, 2008 1:19:20 GMT -5
Beautiful patterns! Question for you. Does this mean that any tumbled stone can be turned into a cab as long as it has enough width?
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Post by Condor on Aug 17, 2008 9:08:07 GMT -5
Oooo, I like them. I'm one of the tumblers and I just might copy your idea.
Condor
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 17, 2008 11:25:09 GMT -5
Beautiful patterns! Question for you. Does this mean that any tumbled stone can be turned into a cab as long as it has enough width? Tumbling takes a lot of thickness of some of the pieces. Here's what I do to make a tumbled piece a cab: 1. Flatten the back. The flatness of the tumbled piece can vary quite a bit. 2. Modify the shape as little as possible. 3. Create a uniform girdle (as uniform as my skills allow). 4. Depending on the thickness of the material, either add a dome or make a buff top out of it. Some of these pieces are pretty thin and chew up my fingers. Here's a minor transformation:
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Post by texaswoodie on Aug 18, 2008 7:11:21 GMT -5
Wow, some great cabs in that batch!
Curt
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Post by stonesthatrock on Aug 18, 2008 8:39:49 GMT -5
that is a good idea. a friend of mine does all his trimming, grinding takes it down to the 400 wheel, and then puts them in the vibe tumbler to polish them. He teaches lapidary in the collage up by prescott and his work is amazing. His some Alex his been written up in lapidary journel for his jewelery. They make a great team.
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