herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 23, 2012 16:22:43 GMT -5
I am into my 4th cabochon. I am learning a lot. One of the main things I have learned is that the whole process is a lot of fun and I find it very cathartic. I've worked things out so I have everything I need in one place which makes the process one of - select rock
- cut rock
- shape rock
- clean up
- walk away
I am not "good at cabbing" yet, but I am finding that with every session I learn a few new things an am increasingly happy with the finished product. I DO need to improve my polishing arrangement. I put on leather pads when I polish and it is difficult to reach in under the hood an not lose the stone as I end up holding it with only my fingertips. One really nice thing that I like is that I have a cheap wet/dry shop vac sitting plugged in by the machine and I just vacuum everything off and have only minimal wiping to remove all the stone grit and water from the machine. Anyhow, I took about 15 minutes today and cut some feldspar/quartz with a band of epidote in it and once again thoroughly enjoyed myself. If I keep doing this, I will just toss a whole mess of these into the vibe at once and let it handle the polish for me. Here are the pics of my quick session: Uncut stone, picked from a bucket from this weekend's rockhounding expedition: First cut: Cut slab: Newly shaped Cab (the rock broke in 2 on the wheel so I ground the edge and reshaped it) After a little work on the 220 grit wheel: I find that doing this, having no pressure on myself to create a masterpiece, using rock I found so I don't need to worry about "wasting" rock I paid for is very fulfilling and a great tutor. I will try to get a pic of one I handed to my wife last night that was 100% epidote - it still needs polished but she needed a little pick-me-up so I just wiped it off and handed it to her and it gave her a smile.
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dbrealityrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2010
Posts: 1,084
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Post by dbrealityrocks on Jan 23, 2012 16:54:40 GMT -5
Cool looking rock, looks like a great start... I got tired of having the preforms break on me so now I drop almost all slabs flat on the concrete from about 18" so they break at any fractures.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jan 23, 2012 17:12:33 GMT -5
Looks like you've worked out a system that works for you. And you're wise to start with found rocks instead of more expensive slabs that you bought. Now it's just practice, practice, practice. Your cabs will look better with each try, and you'll find they get quicker to grind and polish with each try too.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jan 23, 2012 17:59:06 GMT -5
I drop almost all slabs flat on the concrete from about 18" so they break at any fractures. Yep, same here. nothing worse than putting time into a cab only to have it break, especially on the last wheel!!
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 23, 2012 19:23:51 GMT -5
Thanks all, I like that drop test idea, I've had 2 times things break so it makes a lot of sense.
Even though I am still very green I am finding that every time I go through the process it gets more instinctive and I learn. I'm going to try to do a "cab a day" for a while and see how that goes.
I really need to find a good polishing mechanism though. I have an old bench grinder, I may see about putting 2 pads on that because it doesn't need to be wet, just need to check speed to see if there are any issues there.
Fun fun fun
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Jan 23, 2012 19:43:36 GMT -5
John, You have mentioned a lot of things about your set up however you mentioned nothing about you lighting. Take it from me without proper lighting you will be in for a lot of surprises in your work. I can't begin to tell you how many times a cab that I thought was scratch free wasn't once it was viewed in a well lit room. I can really relate to what you say in your title 'Therapeutic cabbing" I have found that some of my most enjoyable cabbing sessions occurred when I didn't over think the cab. What I mean to say is I didn't have a pre set plan that was carved in stone (I couldn't resist the pun). I just sort of started shaping and grinding and sort of allowed the stone to speak to me. After a while you almost feel as if you are one with the stone and you find yourself instinctively grinding in just the right spot with just the right amount of pressure. It is almost as if you are on a different level of consciousness. Yes it is very therapeutic. Stu
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keystonecops
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2010
Posts: 957
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Post by keystonecops on Jan 23, 2012 22:14:36 GMT -5
John, thats how I got goin. Just tryn the rock I found, and now I aint as scared to work on the good stuff. I started out with calibrated cabs, and now findn I like free form an lettn the rock talk to me. Well get ya some good stuff when I get to Cheyenne this June. Later Clyde
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Post by susand24224 on Jan 23, 2012 22:34:38 GMT -5
Great attitude! And smart as well. I started with a more expensive (although it was a gift) slab and now look back and wish I hadn't. I also purchased a few super cabs and they are sitting near my work bench. When things aren't going quite right in the cab world, I look at them again, and they seem to offer their own pointers, or maybe just reminders.
It's really nice to hear how much you are enjoying this.
Susan
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 24, 2012 0:49:05 GMT -5
Thanks all, lots of fun to be sure. Stu you couldn't be more right about light, I failed to mention that this is an area where I need improvement. The garage lighting is fine for parking a car, but lacking for seeing what I am doing up close. I have a 20x magnifying glass but I do need more light. My whole get up is on a cart so I can move it. I am keeping my eyes open for some decent work lighting that can attach to the cart. I have no doubt that this will help. I do have some free standing lights, but I need more garage to fit them in.
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 24, 2012 1:05:14 GMT -5
So I think I am going to stick with my "cab a day" idea for a while - of course that may depend a bit on the weather. I just went to the garage and it is near freezing in there. That said I put the cab together above over lunch today. No done, but fun. Here is a bad snapshot (sorry, I took it inside on an orange-peel textured ledge we have. I will use something smooth next time) of the cab I made last night and gave Nancy to cheer her up. I rushed it so I could give it to her, she told me I can have it back to polish though. This was from a piece of epidote we found rock hounding Saturday. Again, not done, but fun.
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cabjunky
has rocks in the head
Regency Rose Plume
Member since November 2008
Posts: 683
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Post by cabjunky on Jan 24, 2012 10:45:15 GMT -5
Keep cabbing it does get easier the more that you do, and once you get comfortable with your set up.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2012 11:45:59 GMT -5
Another thing that you need to pay a lot of attention to is the wife. If she looses her luster you are in big trouble. You should try using dop sticks also and see which way you prefer. I started by hand, went to sticks then back to hand. I now use sticks on all but the largest stones. It is easier for me to hold them square since I do a lot of stones with a high side for a groove and it keeps me from ripping off my fingernails which should not be a problem for you being a nail biter. lol Jim
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 24, 2012 14:43:03 GMT -5
WHOA! Jim I think you need to make a new paragraph there buddy!
I had to re-read that 3 times to stop laughing and figure out that you were talking about 2 different things!
Thanks for the laugh!
But more, thanks for the advice.
re:nail biting - yeah bad habit, stress...
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2012 12:54:23 GMT -5
It is called babble John and it keeps your mind healthy by making you think. lol That and being to lazy to hit the enter button twice.
Jim
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