herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 26, 2012 1:23:46 GMT -5
Well tonight went much better than last night. I free-formed a bit more picture jasper, into a bit of a football, but I domed it. It took a fairly long time to get the shape and dome even. I am wearing away my SiC grinding wheel pretty fast, it looks to be ~1/2" less diameter in about a week's time. My 220, 400, 600 and 800 grit SiC belts are all wearing as well. The 800 grit belt even has a patch where you can see the canvas behind the grit. I am also wearing away my finger tips. 2 of them started to bleed without any cuts or punctures, just no more skin on the tips. I am going to have to start dopping tomorrow night for my fingers' sake - if I have time to do my cab-a-day (I have a cub scout meeting [I'm a cub master] so I may not have time). The problem I ran into tonight was that in the brown material, there were lighter spots, and these undercut really badly. I didn't realize how much softer they were until I was into the 600 grit stage and was noticing them getting worse. Since the stone won't be able to be completed, I may fill the holes (they are all in a band across the stone) with super glue, but in any case this is going in the growing pike of vibratory tumbler-destined cabs. I didn't bother to polish it because of the undercuts. As has been the case every session thus far, I have learned a little more and had a good time. Thanks for checking in. UPDATE ************************************ Better shot in daylight:
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jason12x12
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 798
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Post by jason12x12 on Jan 26, 2012 1:26:26 GMT -5
looks really good though
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meta99
has rocks in the head
Ohio Flint Ridge flint
Member since October 2010
Posts: 540
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Post by meta99 on Jan 26, 2012 6:49:12 GMT -5
If you are wearing away your SC wheel, you are pushing too hard. I speak (again!) from personal experience! I bought an old used combo machine with SC wheels. The wheels were unevenly worn with a depression in the center. I worked almost exclusively on the edges that were sticking out. Within a couple weeks, I had nice flat wheels....with a MUCH smaller diameter! So go easy and go slow....
BTW, I threw some of my undercut, undershined reject cabs into the vibe and they came out quite nice, so save everything! I love watching your progress...reminds me of a year ago! Sue
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Post by kk on Jan 26, 2012 6:51:32 GMT -5
Looks great. I particularly like the layout.
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Post by rockrookie on Jan 26, 2012 7:54:13 GMT -5
nice shape
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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 26, 2012 8:58:17 GMT -5
John here is a great idea for you. I see that you will be going through money as is the case with this addiction. LOL the fist time is usually free to get you hooked LOL You need to get your sessions video taped like a reality documentary. You than can sell it as a training video. You can promote it as a video in which you can see mistakes and problems happen and get corrected in real time by a real rock hound in training. You can show how to reverse engineer a failed cab in order to find out what went wrong. The money you will make will pay for your entire stone age education at B. U. (Bedrock University)LOL I love the posts We must compare notes as I only got started last spring Stu
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 26, 2012 10:54:44 GMT -5
Thanks all, and thanks for the advice.
It is good to know I have great things to look forward to as I see some of your work that is really impressive.
I added a better pic in the daylight.
Sue, that is my plan exactly, throw everything in the vibe if it isn't perfect.
Stu - I'd love to video what I do - I am trying to sort of document everything so that the next new person who comes along can go through it and learn what to expect and hopefully how to avoid some of my mistakes. I'm trying to be pretty honest about the issues I am having and my failures.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2012 13:25:03 GMT -5
The cab is looking good John. enter There is another option that comes along from time to time and it can be a tough decision but gets easier with experience. That option is "toss it in the trash" because it is not worth the time and effort because there is a lot of rock out there. I used to try to salvage everything but I have learned that sometimes when I get to 800 or 1000 there are just to may problems with that particular piece to try to go back and repair it. I think that this lesson was the hardest one to learn and only comes with experience. enter It looks like you are coming along quite nicely and making a lot of progress and I enjoy the way that you are documenting it. I learned by trial and error before I found this site and it took me a lot longer to get to where you are. enter Jim
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Post by jakesrocks on Jan 26, 2012 14:05:06 GMT -5
You're getting there. Been a lot of years since I ground my stones on SC, but i can remember the dished, quickly wearing wheels well. Like Sue said, go easy on the wheels. Let the wheel do the grinding, and don't push it.
When your 600 and 800 grit belts wear out, don't throw them away. These can be used as pre polish belts. They will be almost like going to 1200 grit. Don
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 26, 2012 14:41:15 GMT -5
Thanks Jim. My cab count is currently at 5 total so I am going to hang onto these for now. I do get that there will be a point of diminishing returns on a stone, and it makes sense that I would eventually call it quits. For now, "quits" just means it will go in the vibe to see what happens. Thanks for the encouragement. John
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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 26, 2012 15:44:53 GMT -5
The cab is looking good John. enter There is another option that comes along from time to time and it can be a tough decision but gets easier with experience. That option is "toss it in the trash" because it is not worth the time and effort because there is a lot of rock out there. I used to try to salvage everything but I have learned that sometimes when I get to 800 or 1000 there are just to may problems with that particular piece to try to go back and repair it. I think that this lesson was the hardest one to learn and only comes with experience. enter It looks like you are coming along quite nicely and making a lot of progress and I enjoy the way that you are documenting it. I learned by trial and error before I found this site and it took me a lot longer to get to where you are. enter Jim Hey Jim, stop Whats up with all the "enter" between paragraphs? Stop I feel like I am reading a telegraph message out of an old movie stop LOL ;D
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 26, 2012 16:03:57 GMT -5
I didn't catch that! Nice. You do have to admit that it read pretty funny though
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2012 18:50:09 GMT -5
Stu - John gave me a hard time about not adding a paragraph and just writing on and on so I was doing the enter thing. You know, not being lazy about pushing the enter button. lol enter You had a great come back though enter Jim
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Jan 26, 2012 19:31:38 GMT -5
I'm enjoying watching your progress, when I finally get a cabbing machine I will have a leg up on bypassing the pitfalls, thanks to folks who share their learning curve! Thanks for posting.
Bill
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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 26, 2012 20:53:43 GMT -5
Lookn good John. When ya finally start doppn, its purty easy to recycle the wax. Theres a lotta differnt ways to do it, I like wax. My skin has been on my figers fer 50+ years. Im kinda partial to it. Kudos on bein a scout master. Youll have to take em out rockn. Later Clyde
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