I teach cabochon cutting classes. I just came back from one. You did well. A few things.......(uh-oh! lol) 80, 220 Galaxy or metal bond wheels are the grinding wheels. 80 is for the initial rough shaping and doming. 220 smooths the dome and girdle and removes the scratches put in by the 80. 280 and 600 are sanding wheels. They smooth the dome and girdle and remove the scratches Using a light touch is important on the grinding and sanding wheels. All the flat spots, ridges, and scratches should be removed before moving to the pre-polish wheels 1200, 3000 Nova resin are pre-polishing wheels. 1200 use a light touch. Spend no more than 60 seconds on this wheel 3000 light touch. No more than 60 seconds on this wheel. Can you remove flat spots and scratches with the pre-polishing wheels? Sure, but you run the risk of ruining the wheels. Removing flat spots and scratches need to be done on grinding wheels. Mark the girdle using a sharpie marker or aluminum pencil. The girdle needs to be even all around the cab. Mark the center point too, because you are grinding up to the center point. It will help avoid that flat spot in the middle of the cab. There is a bevel at the base. But it's not as exaggerated as the drawing. It's more to smooth a sharp edge. There are many explanations for this anywhere from preventing the sharp edges from cutting wire wrapping wires to minimizing chipping. The International Gem Society has an article on cutting cabochons where they discuss the 45 degree bevel and the 60 degree bevel cuts. I hope these tips will help you. Lapidary is a great. Editing to add... I realize there will be commenters who might say "I hang out on my 1200 for 20 minutes and it's still like it's brand new." Or something else like that. To that I say: read the owner's manual.
I feel you there with being timid about doing a cabochon. At least your equipped with the proper tools. Once I can get a cabking i will be doing the same. Will try on my rotary the best that I can with that but would eventually like to get one myself. I think you did a great job for it being your first time and can't wait for you to do more. I love the longer video format as well.
Absolutely beautiful! You did an incredible job!! I'm so happy you faced your fears! I forsee many cabochons in your future! Thank you for sharing your journey! Your videos keep me inspired!
that stone is stunning! You've been saying you were saving rocks for cabs, so I thought you had tons of them. :) Are you ever going to set up a store to sell some?
The new crew mining it is calling it Freedom Jasper and won't refer to it as Gary Green. If you need some more oregon materials and our great picture jasper, reach out!
I love Gary Green. It's from the McDermitt Caldera in Oregon and contrary to long held belief it recently underwent full molecular analysis and was discovered not to be petrified bog wood. It is also called Larsonite. You'll find those holes all through it, as well as some of the associated materials from the claim like Caldera Painted jasper. Beautiful cab man.
I didn't know that they debunked the bog wood theory! Thanks for the info. That actually surprises me because of how it does look like rotten wood quite a bit.
Beautiful piece of Jasper ! There aren't many videos showing the step by step process so keep sharing ! I struggled to find instructional videos. I do find marking the girdle with a sharpie and cutting your first 45° angle around the cab before starting the bevel is very helpful . Drying the piece completely is a huge help in seeing scratches.
I’m also aspiring to do this kind of work on my vast hoard of cool rocks/ material. I’ve ruined tons of stuff so far, but I’m determined to trial and error my way into being able to make something half as cool as you just did. Excellent job! 👏
Beautiful cab. You choose a great material and I really like your free-form design. You mentioned your hands being tired and it brought to mind the lack of a Dop-stick. I have always had trouble controlling the cab without an aid. I find it easier to control the face of the cab across the wheel. I use a rolling motion, and keep it moving, to get an even contour or Dome on the stone. I'm sure others prefer different methods but it helps me and my old hands. You did a great job and like all of us, you start with trepidation and learn as you go. You will devise a style all your own and it will be the best because it's yours. I enjoy your videos.
Thank you so much for your video showing your first cabochon. The choice of your slab was absolutely fantastic. The colors are gorgeous. I just started making cabochons on my new Kingsley North Cabber 6''. I am still learning but I went through the same process as you did. Yes, it's very time consuming but seeing the end result is worth it. The beauty of the rocks at the final stage is amazing. I just love it.
Just getting into rockhounding. (like I need another hobby) I'm enjoying the channel. All the natural occurrences make the piece more unique or IMO perfect. I try to highlight them in my art furniture designs. "WABI-SABI- is the view or thought of finding beauty in every aspect of imperfection in nature. It is about the aesthetic of things in existence, that are “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete”.
Great job!!!!!!! My biggest tip is use a dop stick after the first two wheels. It's easier to handle by using it to rock the stone to get the cab. For most stones I use a drop of ca to put the stick to the stone. If you want me but in some more let me know. I do not want to be pushy and everyone has there own style. Again GREAT JOB!!! I put my first into a belt buckle and I still wear it.
The Gary Green is beautiful, and since it comes from oregon, im a little partial because its my home state. But the material is gorgeous and your cab is beautiful. Free forms are my favorites but it was the best use of that beautiful material. Gorgeous cab. Fantastic first piece. Take a deep breath and a sigh of relief, because its over and you did excellent!
I notice u have paper towels on both sides of the cabking motor mount to catch water drips - I had same situation - if you position a 1.5-2” strip of alien tape on the underside of both arms so water drips fall onto the side shields it will no longer drip to the mounting base. My husband gets credit for this suggestion.
I’m fascinated with rocks and forever wondering what’s inside. When I found your site, I was just delighted! Watching you work on the cabochon and turn a pretty slab into a work of art is so satisfying. Thank you for sharing! ❤️🥰♥️
You did a great job. The girdle is the flat edge that is generally 90 degrees to the top or table of a gemstone. On the reverse what you did is called beveling the edge which helps with setting the cab so it doesn't chip. I tend to do just a very small bevel on the reverse. GD
The only things I would have done differently would have been to remove that cavity along the girdle edge and less of a bevel on the back. both of which would make bezel setting easier.
I'm really looking forward to getting into lapidary. Right now I have some stuff tumbling... anyway... keep an eye on your PO box I'm going to send you a package Monday 👍
Always been fascinated by rocks and geology, so I was delighted to find your channel a few days ago. It's very addictive watching you open stones and nodules to see the amazing colours and patterns no-one has ever seen before. The Gary Green jasper is stunning! Beautiful shades of green and a lovely polish. Looking forward to binge watching much more!
Nice job. You definitely have the machine for it, jasper is fun to work with a lot more forgiving than Agates as far as fractures and undercutting. Happy hounding.
Loved this video! Watched it all the way through and now I need to do this too lol. I’m in the lower peninsula but spend as much time as possible in the UP, mostly hunting agates. Keep up the great work and videos. Love them!
Great video! Appreciate you sharing your nervousness, as I think a lot of us can relate to that feeling when we try something unfamiliar. It turned out beautifully!! I'm sure you made the gift giver proud!
I've got some "rhyolite" that looks kind of like that. The material at the location I got mine from is a debated topic. Not everyone agrees that it is rhyolite. Some believe it to be some sort of metamorphic rock. There is a marble formation near by so it may be. Love the stone you worked. The freeform cabochon you made looks great. There are no "wrong"ways to do it but there are some ways that may make the process more efficient. Looks like you have a good reference book so you should be set. Practice make perfect and you will soon become comfortable making them and the nerves will pass.
Very nice. I wish I could cut stones and make them into works of art but at this time in my life, I just enjoy watching other so. RU-vid. My question is are you now going to encase it in silver or gold or some other metal or have a jeweler do that? Are you thinking necklace or bracelet? Would love to see the finished piece. Thank you.
That cab looks fantastic! If you hadn't have told us I would never have thought it was the first one you made either. That Gary Green jasper is such a beautiful material, love the colors in it! It is actually petrified swamp bog wood. It also goes by the name Larsonite. It's kind of rare since it is only found around McDermitt, Oregon. You really picked an incredible piece to make into your first cab Taylor. That is a gorgeous cab and you did an amazing job. I love it, the colors, the shape and that awesome polish! Nicely done. Thanks for sharing!✌️🤠
1/4 inch is "standard", but slab thickness depends on how you will use the finished cab. For cabs 12 mm or less, I prefer to use 3/8 inch thick slabs because I don't wear out my wheels removing a lot of excess material. If I'm making a 30 x 40 mm or larger cab, I like to start with a 1/3 inch thick cab because it gives me more material to get that dome. If there are fissures/cracks, in a slab, I avoid incorporating them into my cab because 1. the fissure might expand as you work the cab and crack the stone 2. unless you use a diamond polisher, polishing compounds like cerium oxide will get stuck in the fissure/crack/divot and you'll have a hard to getting that out. I hope this helps you.
Just a suggestion, but you can get a padded rubber mat for under your feet that will be good for you and won't break a cab. :) It's gorgeous! You did a great job!
Thank you for sharing your first experience making a cabachon. I too am learning how to make cabachons, next will be silversmithing. Good luck to you. I love the color of your stone.
