herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on May 7, 2012 18:16:57 GMT -5
Hi all,
I have some clear/translucent stuff I was thinking would be nice for setting in jewelry but I am no faceter.
I've seen some examples of TEENY cabs (like <1Cm) on some jeweler sites, but these folks are also faceting gems so I am guessing they are using the same tools as they do for faceting without using all the indexing.
Do people around here cut any tiny ones like that and if so do you have any advice? I am thinking about giving it a try and then getting some settings from rio or tripps and making some earrings or pendants.
I am wondering if I can cut these on a wheel (I have a combination unit), or if I need a disc or flat lap or something.
Any pointers/photos/tutorials/advice would be really appreciated.
Thanks!
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Post by catmandewe on May 7, 2012 19:58:11 GMT -5
If you can dop it you can cut and polish it.
Tony
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Post by Tony W on May 7, 2012 20:39:21 GMT -5
I use very strong epoxy on tiny, tiny nail heads, then acetone to get them off. I'm pretty much restricted only by the size of the nail head, and the strength of the glue. I hate cutting metal on my nice diamond wheels, but you have to have some surface for the dop to hold to T
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on May 7, 2012 20:50:40 GMT -5
You could try dopping on thin dowels, but I doubt if they would be rigid enough. You should be able to do it on your combo unit.
Chuck
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on May 7, 2012 20:56:11 GMT -5
Cool, anyone got any pics of what they do (in process, finished, or set?)
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Post by jakesrocks on May 7, 2012 21:42:38 GMT -5
Been a lot of years since I had a reason to cut tiny cabs. I used to use the round toothpics and dop wax. I'd rough them in on the 220 wheel, and then to 600 grit to finish the shape and dome. I was using SC wheels and belts at that time. I'd go from the 600 grit to a completely wor out 600 belt, and then to cerium.
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Post by Tonyterner on May 8, 2012 8:23:49 GMT -5
I don't normally dop but will for tiny cabs. Since I have big hands I prefer golf tees, they have a tapered tip but give me more to hold. Hardest part for me is the shape, I have to use magnifying glasses and a magnifying visor to be able to see what I'm doing.
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on May 8, 2012 8:31:52 GMT -5
Yes, same as everybody else. Can dop on nailhead or golf tee, I've done both. Otherwise, pretty easy to work on the regular cabbing wheels. They work fast, less material to remove. :-) Small cabs can be a little irritating to work with just because of the fussy size but they can be good for rings or for the "eyes" in a carving so it's good to have a few around. I don't like them for pendants, small deentzy stones aren't much good there in my humble opinion, but your earring idea is also great since earrings need to be fairly light.
No photos but I'm not seeing how the photos would be that different from photos of any other cabbing wheel, except the size of the work would make it a pain to photograph.
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Post by bobby1 on May 8, 2012 11:13:03 GMT -5
I just dop them and cab them as usual on my 8" wheel cabber, or in this case the shape was made with my mini sphere machine and then I went to the 600 belt and regular polishing wheel. Photo of a small 5mm cab of Idocrase. Bob
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Post by jakesrocks on May 8, 2012 11:54:53 GMT -5
Just gave me an idea Bob. I'll bet that pushrods out of an engine would make great cups for forming small round cabs. They'd be easy to get at any engine rebuild shop. And heck, they'd probably give them to you for free.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on May 8, 2012 15:56:16 GMT -5
I made these cabs a few years ago for earrings for my daughters. I just superglued them on a dowel and cut them like normal on my flat lap. Only difference is you start at a higher grit - I think I started at 400. It's surprising how easily a tiny stone shapes up on the finer grits. The labradorite is about 1/4" wide, and the tiger eye is about half that. They are resting on a regular round toothpick. Go for it! Nate
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on May 11, 2012 15:19:42 GMT -5
Bob, Nate, those are GREAT! Thanks for sharing.
I have an expando versus a variable-speed or a flat lap, but I'd love to give it a try.
Bob, the mini sphere machine - is it essentially a drill chuck with a steel rod that is slightly cupped at the end? Do you just add some slurried grit into the cup and sort of spin and turn the stone on it?
The little dot/dome stone you did is really what I was hoping for in my thinking on this, so I'd love to try to do something like you did.
I have some chrysoprase I'd love to do this to.
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