At our lapidary club we use a small butane torch to heat the shank of the nail (or screw) for a few minutes. The flame will conduct the heat down the shank to the head of the hardware and soften the glue. It usually only takes 5 minutes max and the stone drops off the screw. Then we soak the stone for less than 10 minutes in acetone to soften any remaining Superglue. A razor will remove the softened glue. Then you’re good to go to polish the back of the cab if you want.
Your water drip system from the easily purchased water jug kinda blew my mind a little with its simplicity and accessibility. One of those, “Oh..😮😊HUH!!” moments, thank you!
Just gotta say... THANK YOU! You’re helping so many new aspiring artists like myself to access the craft, without needing $2000 to start up. Thank you so dearly for sharing your work and knowledge 🙌🏼 and helping educate so many through it
I have used the water bottle, too. Now I'm using a bucket with a spigot with an added bead type flexible feeder tube. I set the bucket on one of those little foldable steps for gravity feed.
You are extremely good at presenting information! Also, I might have to try that sidewalk suggestion 😀 - in NYC nobody would even bat an eye at some crazy lady doing sidewalk lapidary!
Nicely done! A Foredom Tool is a phenomenally useful bit of kit, for drilling, light cutting, heavy grinding, carving, polishing, fossil preparation, - it does it all!!
I'm new to Dremels, but this thing has been great. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxfPgcZ5_Cl0HDUKkMJAKde11YKQZVgMoR The variable speed is awesome and the cordless aspect makes it so easy to work with. I am constantly finding uses for it that make tasks easier. Recently I put in a new deadbolt on one of our doors. I knew I had to enlarge the hold where the deadbolt goes into the door frame. At first I thought I would have to get a big router and figure out how to use it for that, but then I rermembered we have the dremel. I was able to enlarge the hole almost as easy as if I was drawing with a pen. It's also great for grinding our dog's nails done and so many other household tasks.
Nice presentation. i'm just starting into shaping pebbles. so your efforts do help. a few weeks ago i got some dopping wax from amazon, cut up a dried branch... done some cabbing with it and also used hot glue. was grinding with anything i can spin or hold in my lap. you can finish the cab backs on the non motorized gear you showed here. i usually try for ovals and hearts...so fatter mounts work well. nice to see round work. you may have saved a tile saw from my abuse...
I use diamond core bits in a drill press to drill out cores and then cut off slices. It works well, it’s quick, the buttons are uniform and lends itself well to mass production.
Well dave, I've been using a flex shaft to make cabs for almost 3yrs now..its the only tool besides a tile saw and tumbler that i have...thinking im up over 500 cabs now...
Thank you! I repair antique purses and need to make a few cabochons for the frames. I knew there had to be an easier way without investing in a ton of equipment. This will save me a ton of time and money!
Great video Dave! I’m relatively new to the hobby. I’ve tumbled quite a few agates but have yet to try shaping them. Your video has given me an awesome starting point to begin shaping with my dremel (before I take the plunge and buy a cabbing machine). I also got a great new phrase from the video: “full monkey!”
Just goes to show, you can always find a way to make something by by using the tools in the shed without laying out loads of cash on something new. I have some stones ready to polish and now I know how. Thanks for sharing.
awesome Brother make sure to just is it in to whatever you’re draining the stone against depending on the material it’s super easy to just fracture a huge chunk out of it if it’s spinning too fast and you dig into deep Also your package got shipped out today I’ll be getting tracking for using
@@lapidarydave Thanks for shipping I'm so beyond excited 😂 I usually use the lower setting on my Dremel I'm fine taking extra time and less risk compared to higher speeds I'm looking at all different videos for drop setups too just to see what works best for me
Dave, you have the most pleasant sounding voice! I was searching for woodworking videos and this video came up with the others and I'm so glad it did. I know as a professional you would have liked the cabochon to be shinier, but I thought it was perfect. I like earthy, more natural-looking jewelry and this was perfect. The inclusion I love and I would have been drawn to this. I may have missed it, but is the stone a green turquoise? As a child, I loved searching for unusual stones and everywhere we went I brought home a handful. So, as a result, I had boxes full of them. My dad was a cigar smoker and used to get wooden cigar boxes from the owner of the tobacco shop for me to keep the stones in. I only have one box full left but they are the prettiest and most unusual of all I had. I don't wander in the woods, or rivers anymore. It has gotten pretty scary to be alone in the woods these days. Well, count me in as a subscriber and I'm going to check out your other videos. Have a great fall!
Looking for the news this morning,I came upon your video,I love you! You solved my problem and saved me a lot of money, thankyou thank you.I was up all night last night and looking for equiptment,again thank you so much.
I really appreciate this vid because I'm dying to cab a few of my favorite jasper and agate finds, but I lack the equipment. Well, I don't lack it all apparently cuz I've got the dremel and flex shaft and tons of tips. Just need the grinding and sanding paper and I'm good to go. I've used my dremel to carve some of my stuff but never got as far as polishing it. Oh wait, I DID make a very smol common opal cabochon and I did get it to a reasonably nice polish, but it was very tedious doing it freehand with the dremel. At least with what you've shown here I can practice cabbing and maybe if I get good enough people will buy what I'm selling and I'll be able to afford the gear. I very much want a flat lap because it seems like it could handle my large specimens in addition to wee ones. Dunno wtf I didn't think of doing this before, it's such a DUH type thing.
Hiya Dav, hey that's a awesome cabbage Jon 😂😂😂 I really loved the video, and how you show these easy peasy techniques, that anyone can do. Shoot I have done these same techniques myself, before I had easy access to the internet. I love all your videos, and as always stay safe, and healthy and have a great blessed day. Cya! O..... My friends call me Catfish.
Thank you so much for letting me know you enjoy the video and that my videos are a help it’s totally my passion to help folks with everything I know I really appreciate your kindness my friend
This is one of those things where I instantly think to myself, "how the hell didn't I already think of this idea myself?" Lol Great idea, great video. Thanks for all the info, and thanks for making, and posting this awesome video. As to the sandpaper needing a soft backing, you can buy a cheap yoga mat. Then you have a roll of good firm foam rubber, and can cut pieces to fit your task perfectly. A little glue, and a piece of 1/2 inch pine lumber. It's pretty cheap, and you can use em over and over. Also, with the nail glue, have you tried warming it up first, then rolling the blade around the perimeter? Just curious if that might work easier, and not risk chipping, or breaking the stone. What's the smallest stone you've done this way? I'm probably going to try myself, but curious how small you've successfully shaped and polished a stone. Like maybe it's harder to make consistent motion on the abrasive when it's smaller, due to higher rpm.
Hello there my friend thank you so much for watching it means a lot to me :-) I’ve done it with pieces about 2.5mm small I don’t do this technique a lot anymore but I do use it for duplicating and calibrating small precious pieces
Great instructional Dave, definitely going to do this. Slowly setting my DIY lapidary shop. Thanks to you and other channels you all have made it possible to do this on a budget. Peace brother
Wow...hey Dave, you are a true lapidary genius. Thanks so much for this video, helps a lot. Will try it this weekend. More power to you and take care, be safe 🙏🏼💕
I definitely wouldn’t say lapidary genius I learned almost everything from others and this particular set of tricks I leaned from other artist :) Definitely have to give it a try when you get a chance it’s a lot of fun
Cool, Dave! I watched the old-timer and gentleman who has a TH-cam about this that you recommended. I will probably use my Foredom to do this too as soon as I can figure out what to use for a dopping stick. I’ve got some old school aluminum roofing nails that have been most helpful in the past. 🙂
This is brilliant! Thank you for this video, I had no idea where to start with making cabochons when I have next to no equipment. I’m so excited to try this!
OK I’m so happy that you found this video helpful it’s totally a pleasure and an honor to share anything that I know I want to make a lot more of these videos about watch and be done with Walmart tools Home Depot tools etc. thanks for watching again my friend
I knew I had the capability to do some grinding and buffing -metal & stone-I have an old belt sander and 2 mounted bench grinders-on wooden boards-and there is no reason why a hobbyist needs to do things the traditional methods which serve to create profits for long established overpriced companies. I have plenty of materials now to work with to keep me busy awhile Lapidary Dave-lapis, jade, semiprecious beads and stones, sterling silver, copper, some CZs to practice with-there are -it is said-more than one way to skin a cat and I am not here to make RioGrande or any other company rich. Thanks for the videos-Good Times-let them roll!
Great information! Thank you for sharing! On another video, I saw someone suggest putting your gem stone on the dopstick in the freezer, and it will pop off the glue easily.
Thanks for watching my friend :) sometimes it pops off sometimes it’s doesn’t but either way it’s all ok since there’s so many different ways to get it off As of late I e been using a torch 🔥
Thanks so much, now with Covid downtime I could not get to my lapidary club to use their wheels and tools and I have a Dremel with all attachments so it is my chance to try it with your great videos.
i love the superglue trick. one extra idea is something i do. i use a hole saw to etch a circle so when i cut out my stone on my crappy tile saw i get a nice round. so much faster than drilling a big core out.
Totally my pleasure it’s a neat trick that doesn’t work with free form cabs but definitely something everyone can do with with simple Walmart tools :) thanks for watching
Great Video Dave besides the acitone, I'm not sure but I do think it can be harmful to quiet a few stones. Really neat trick on how to make a cabachon without the right tools! Your so appreciated!!🙏♥️
Thank you so much for watching I really appreciated the acetone is super gross I hate getting it on my fingers and I hate the way it smells a different commentor mentioned that you could heat up the nail which would loosen the glue to remove the stone I tried it today and it works really well I almost burned myself but it worked LOL thanks again for watching my friend I always love seeing your comments
I did this before with my Dremel and a piece of aquamarine. I used gorilla glue and wet and dry sandpaper and a sponge. I applied the compound to a piece of micro fiber cloth for my glasses and it worked wonders.
Fantastic my friend I’m so happy to hear that you were also using the technique it is super cool even for folks that have lapidary grinders it’s a nice way to make perfectly round cabs are used to wonder how did folks make those super tiny round cabs that are used to see in old Native American jewelry I imagine a similar technique is being used
@@lapidarydave That's true they are beautiful. In Mexico one of my uncle found some jade artifacts which was a necklace that had all different shapes that had holes that were straight from end to end. The holes measure around 3mm wide and it goes through the entire stone. I used to polish my stones with my Dremel before I got my machine but I still use it.
Until I can afford a Hi Tech Flat Lap, I’ve been using dremels for the past three years and I NEVER thought of attaching the stone to the dremel bits !!!
Great information. One thing that I would do different. When you spin it inside a piece of cloth, do it in three steps. #1. Dampened 1000 grid aluminum oxide. #2. Dampened 2-micron aluminum oxide #3. Dampened cerium oxide. If it is a stone that will polish good, then you should get a real shine. You won't need much powder at all in the cloth. The grit that you use doesn't have to be the exact same that I suggested, but I think that you get the idea.
Thank you. I don’t have money for a flat lap and I’ve been using a tile saw. I bought some angle grinder diamond pads. I could just use them! Thank you
Wow that was super cool to watch and very informative!!! That stone you made is ABSOLUTELY stunning!!! Would you be interested in maybe selling it? I am in LOVE with that Chrysocolla!!
Thank you so much for watching my friend I really appreciate it it was a lot of fun making this video and sharing these cool set of tricks I would definitely sell you the stone at a very good price email me at davijjgarcia89@gmail.com
Thanks for the in-depth video. I'd like to give this a go, but like a lot of people, I don't have hundreds of quid to invest in a machine for a hobby I might not even enjoy. Would love to see a video from you doing this with a smaller piece, and with a hand drill, but I appreciate that's a big ask! Anyway, cheers for providing this info!
@@lapidarydave you're a true gent. I've just been to the shop to pick up some wet and dry paper and a sanding block, and I'm going to give it a go tonight! I picked up some quartz during a recent walk. Do you think that's a good thing to start with?
Hey Dave been following you for a long time I love your videos just wanted to share a bit of information, when you put the stone on the nail all you have to do is take a small torch, heat the nail and the stone will pop right off
Yes my friend you could turn a rectangular stone into a oval cab but not with this technique :) unfortunately only round circle cabs can be made with the techniques used in this video
I recently discovered your videos, and absolutely love them. I am new to the world of lapidary as I am about to get my first trim saw to start slicing some small rocks to make cabs and weld sculptures to incorporate stones. Just wondering if you have any advice for someone that will be using strictly a flex shaft for shaping and polishing. Might also buy some grinding discs for the drill for the polishing stage. Curious if you have any tips or tricks for someone new? also I’m looking online at sintered diamond bits, and I’ve noticed that if their classified as dental sintered bits much cheaper. Curious if you’ve ever tried any of those and if they’re the same as the lapidary specific sintered? Thank you for your time and thank you for your videos !! Love them!!👌🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
I have you some of the dental centers they’re not very aggressive so get her that are slightly more aggressive than you think would work for instance 46 instead of 80 or at least 60 for the grind you can buy like three inch diamond discs and your flex shaft and advice but if you have a little bit of extra money can be used as a Lapidary wheel machine or flat lap
@@lapidarydave thank you for the help man, and just curious as some of the wording might have gotten auto corrected near the end but if I have extra money, I could create my own cabin machine out of said wheel? Is that possibly what you’re saying? Otherwise I am contemplating doing what you did with the video here and getting the what looks like 1 inch thick diamond wheel to make said cabs 🤘🏻. Thank you again for the advice man.
I’m not exactly sure if it was just the lighting in my camera that day but if it did get darker than it definitely got lighter after the soak ended up getting this piece away well over a year ago thank you so much for watching I really appreciate it
Cool.but can you share the part that you fast forwarded , I mean thats where I always mess up, the angle at which one grinds to get that dome of a cabochan .. also can we do their shapes using this trick ,..
M brown I saw that shortly before making my Harbor freight video I plan on buying one and making some time I think it’s awesome that they make a truck that fits into a Dremel sense of the Collett that comes with the Dremel does not fit as many things as the truck does thank you so much for watching I really appreciate it
Definitely my friend give this technique a shot it is a lot of fun and extremely easy feel free to ask me any questions you might have if you need any additional help
For your nail. Bend the sides down slightly on the head. Kinda like a flat top umbrella shape so when using a blade you can get right under it and it'll pop off easier
@@lapidarydave I hand polish aussie opals and getting them off without breaking is not so easy. You could also drive the nail through a piece of wooden dowel, of course sand the dowel even to spin and glue your stone to the dowel then soak in water or alcohol. The wood will soak up the water/alcohol and free the bond, if needed pop it in the freezer. I'm in the process of converting a treadmill I picked up on side the road into a flat lap. Wish me luck!
@@brandonmccain5983 Thanks for the tips my friend I really appreciate it also when you Start on your treadmill conversion please document it with photos or video I would absolutely love to see it being made and I’m sure it will help thousands of people who want to get in the library who can afford it and don’t have a imagination like you to turn a treadmill into a lapidary machine
You mentioned two people who share cabbing techniques. Could you please supply their names. I love your video and loving your water solution and I’m a newbie trying to gather as much info on cabbing. Thank you
th-cam.com/video/dFRWmy3SgpI/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/DRu-R7l3FKY/w-d-xo.html Here are the two links to the two different TH-cam channels make sure to subscribe if you have an already they are great people I really love using the 2 1/2 gallon drinking water container I even use it with a hose in the valve coming out of it to water my lavatory grinders nowadays they do not last forever I have found out over the years but I still love using them thank you for enjoying my videos it means a lot to me feel free to ask me anything anytime it’s always my pleasure to help
I Dave love your vids no bull just good information .I’m a old time jeweller trying to learn lapidary.I’m based in uk can you help with buying rough stone from .thanks doc
Thank you so much for watching my friend I really appreciate it this can definitely be done with sapphire and I love your idea about the mini embroidery frame :) Thank you for the tips
What a fabulous video!!!!! Thank you! I am a jeweler with cabochons I would like to reshape and now I can do it without buying lapidary equipment! Thank you so much! BUT!!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!! do not EVER immerse your skin in acetone! Wear gloves! It is a known carcinogen and you not only want to love your own body but give proper example to others of how to handle it. Again! Great video!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for the info my friend I definitely try not to expose myself to acetone and in fact I stopped using the technique for removing Dops With been using a torch against the nail Which makes it pop right offThank you so much for watching my friend I really appreciate it I’m happy you found it useful
It sure is a ez cab It is my main squeeze I have other machines like diamond Pacific cabking highland park lortone ect but the cab king is my favorite I actually got the idea for this video from watching someone do something similar against a traditional lapidary diamond wheel on a machine but I made this video this way to show people who cannot afford the machine how to make cabochons :)
Would one of the $120 combo trimsaw , buffer /rotory tool( flex shaft ) stations be worth while for a start to learn on? Also would one of the $200 faceting machines work well and long enough to learn with and maybe use to cut enough to buy better machines? Maybe a year or so at most? I saw a video that has an old timer who makes cabbing flat laps. It has grooves in the lap( maybe it is a topper) shaped for perfect round cabbing. Using one should help remove that tip as it is a rounded surface . I bet you could make it easy enough with the right tools. In his case he turned a hard wood plank into the cab-lap on a lathe.
In my opinion the trim saw/buffer/Flex shaft, the machines that folks see a lot on aliexpress wish.com and as of late eBay I’m not very good I have had two friends now who bought them he says they’re extremely under powered and when trying to work even softer material such as Turquoise the machine bugs down to a stop So I will definitely pass on that machine I would rather have a tile saw and a cheap Walmart brand and hyper tough rotary tool then one of those when it comes to the calving labs I do know that there are a few companies out there that make flat labs that are concave for calving are used to see a lot of rubber ones back in the day for a cabin in vintage lapidary Journal as of right now I do not know anybody who is selling them that you might be able to find one online and I love the idea of making on yourself out of wood you’re gonna need to use diamond Payson probably make a few different kinds but then again if you’re using a Dop Stick it is very very easy to get a nice rounded cabs even on a flat lab Thanks for reaching out my friend I really appreciate it please consider subscribing if you haven’t done so already it really helps the channel
@@lapidarydave thankyou on the machine advice. I want to do faceting more than cabbing, but both are need to know information to me. I want to make rosecut stones ,sugarloaves and checkerboard cuts plus ,general stone cutting whenever / however i can make it happen...i have been eyeing up my womans mop bucket because it has a foot pedal to spin a mop drying area...i am thinking "preformer" lol .
@@coreymerrill3257 that sounds super interesting I wouldn’t be surprised if that my package could take quite a bit of a load while spinning when it comes to those $200 fastening machines if it has a decent mast and not one of those cheaper Handpieces that just have the octagon shape grooves on the part that holds the dab stick I think they could work just fine definitely a lot you can do with a cheap machine to make up the money very fast to buy a better machine depending on how hard you feel like working When I bought my easy cab machine which was about $1775 Hi probably worked easily well over $3000 worth of Turquoise 🔥❤️ in about 12 hours so we can definitely be done very fast the hard part is selling the pieces I tell people all the time who messaged me saying they’re having a hard time selling but you just have to understand that just because we are in the west it doesn’t mean that we are worth $50-$100 an hour you’re not going to make great money trying to sell tiger by cabs for 50 bucks apiece where they are being made easier in a much higher quality overseas for one dollar Whatever you do with whatever machine you end up using make sure to work the best material you can it will make it a lot easier to sell the pieces in the end which is the main goal for a lot of us lapidaries
Just use a lighter to heat the glue and the stone will come right off the nail. That way you don't have to apply any harsh chemicals to your stone. Thanks for the video, Keep it up Lap D! Haha Cabbage John...
Yes, just hold the nail over a flame keeping the stone about a quarter inch away from the flame, the glue will soften in just a few seconds and the stone is released from the nail. Love your videos, & I have learned a lot from you. Thank you.
Ed Claytor Absolutely that would’ve worked really well but in this video I was just trying to use the least amount of tools to work the most amount of stone
Hey Dave are you truly happy with the High Tec 8 inch diamond cab machine? I been thinking about getting one but 2,400 is a heck of a lot of money for mostly plastic.
Hello there my friend The hi-tech brand machines are only flat laps and saws but they are owned by Cabking which is a 6 wheel lapidary machine from the price you mentioned (2400$) I assume you mean the 8” six wheel cabling lapidary grinder Which I think is a great machine and is one of my favorites but I would have to suggest the EZ CAB lapidary machine which is very similar to the cabking but is 1800$ and comes with higher quality wheels which is one of the most important part of a lapidary machine The cabking is great but check out the EZCAB which is being sold on Facebook you can find it easy on Facebook and it’s being sold through a dude named Vince Allred I have a video on the EZCAB and if you do buy one please tell Vince I sent you he supports the channel by kicking me down wheels when I help sell them :)
@@lapidarydave There is also a company that I have looked at called Jewel tools and they also make an 8 inch machine and the only thing I do not like about it that the tray are not removable, But it does have a one horse motor and pretty much set up the same as the cab king for 1,800 dollars looks like pretty good bargin. Not sure I'm impressed with the ez cabbing unit. I had an 8 inch titan before but it kept burning out the dam motors until finally the warnity expired and I was screwed.
Hello lapidary Dave, I am going to be purchasing one of the harbor freight flexible shaft grinder, and I see that you are using one. Does the water affect it any? I will be using mine for crystal carving where water will come into contact with the tool. Will the water damage it?
So I’ve been using my harbor freight flex shaft for almost a year now and I only ever use it with water I haven’t noticed any rest at all I haven’t noticed any loss of power, or any binding, rust etc. The handpiece is made out of some kind of zinc magnesium or may be a very cheap aluminum but I doubt aluminum so probably some kind of cheap zinc stuff either way it does not rust the pieces inside of the handpiece including the truck are steel and they are definitely not stainless steel either way I have not noticed any rust after nearly A year of steady use with lots of water I think it is a very safe bet to go with the harbor freight flex shaft however I think it’s better to buy it in person with using the 20% off coupon since the shipping kind of defeats the savings one would get from ordering the harbor freight over other no name brand flex shafts on eBay and Amazon the only thing that ever concerns me about the harbor freight flex shaft is that the motor housing is made out of plastic Which obviously doesn’t affect the power or anything but if it falls hard enough from a high enough place I’m worried that it might not be as resilient as a metal housing such as the ones being used by Fordom :) You’re going to love your harbor freight flag shaft my friend
@@lapidarydave thank you for such a quick reply, I love your videos, you inspired me to start my own vids of gem shows. Thank you! It truly makes me happy and excites me every time, I’m glad I found something that makes me this happy. Now that I know the flex shaft is a solid buy hopefully I can soon start a career in lapidary or gem carving/artwork; with due practice. I watch your videos like everyday all the nice gems are all so amazing it sucks Tucson show was canceled this year but it’s gonna be better than ever next year!
@@bigred4340 Thank you so much for enjoying the videos it means a lot to me and my friend if you ever need help you can always leave me a comment here in the comment section you can find me on Instagram via #LapidaryDave Facebook via facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010423326634 Or email davijjgarcia89@gmail.com It’s always my pleasure to help my subscribers
@@bigred4340 You can find the coupons online just type in February harbor freight coupons sometimes you can even find them on their website most of the time the harbor freight people will not just help you out by scanning coupons they have at the store but sometimes they will they should be very easy to find online are usually don’t even look form until I get in line at the store The coupon is for 20% off one thing in your cart that is the most expensive
Great idea until I can afford to make my own cab machine.. gona use a washing machine motor. Its perfect rpm 1725, belt driven with a keyed spot to put a shift on so I can mount wheels on what and then brasher the belt drive a trim saw when needed. Buying the wheels is the expensive part now..
At our lapidary club we use a small butane torch to heat the shank of the nail (or screw) for a few minutes. The flame will conduct the heat down the shank to the head of the hardware and soften the glue. It usually only takes 5 minutes max and the stone drops off the screw. Then we soak the stone for less than 10 minutes in acetone to soften any remaining Superglue. A razor will remove the softened glue. Then you’re good to go to polish the back of the cab if you want.
Your water drip system from the easily purchased water jug kinda blew my mind a little with its simplicity and accessibility. One of those, “Oh..😮😊HUH!!” moments, thank you!
thank you so much for watching I tell people the most important tool in my shop is the 2 1/2 gallon drinking water container
Just gotta say... THANK YOU! You’re helping so many new aspiring artists like myself to access the craft, without needing $2000 to start up. Thank you so dearly for sharing your work and knowledge 🙌🏼 and helping educate so many through it
I have used the water bottle, too. Now I'm using a bucket with a spigot with an added bead type flexible feeder tube. I set the bucket on one of those little foldable steps for gravity feed.
I've found denim is one of the best materials to use for polishing. Holds the polishing media well and holds up very well.
What about leather, like they use for knife stropping compound
Awesome technique, I’m starting from scratch before I invest in expensive wheels. So this was a good video to learn from. Thanks.
You are extremely good at presenting information!
Also, I might have to try that sidewalk suggestion 😀 - in NYC nobody would even bat an eye at some crazy lady doing sidewalk lapidary!
Absolutely my friend give it a shot :) thanks for watching i really appreciate it
Lol that's great. Please create a NYC sidewalk Lapidary channel on TH-cam asap
@@redeyestones3738 ooh, my first potential fan 😃
Nice and cheap way again 👍👍
Nicely done! A Foredom Tool is a phenomenally useful bit of kit, for drilling, light cutting, heavy grinding, carving, polishing, fossil preparation, - it does it all!!
Definitely gotta love them :)
Thanks for the rotary tips and a tip from me a pise of flat wood and glue lettther ruff side up and apply the buffing componde on to it 🙂
wow thank you so much, did not know i could actually attach my stones to a Dremel tool wow
I'm new to Dremels, but this thing has been great. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxfPgcZ5_Cl0HDUKkMJAKde11YKQZVgMoR The variable speed is awesome and the cordless aspect makes it so easy to work with. I am constantly finding uses for it that make tasks easier. Recently I put in a new deadbolt on one of our doors. I knew I had to enlarge the hold where the deadbolt goes into the door frame. At first I thought I would have to get a big router and figure out how to use it for that, but then I rermembered we have the dremel. I was able to enlarge the hole almost as easy as if I was drawing with a pen. It's also great for grinding our dog's nails done and so many other household tasks.
Nice presentation. i'm just starting into shaping pebbles. so your efforts do help. a few weeks ago i got some dopping wax from amazon, cut up a dried branch... done some cabbing with it and also used hot glue. was grinding with anything i can spin or hold in my lap. you can finish the cab backs on the non motorized gear you showed here. i usually try for ovals and hearts...so fatter mounts work well. nice to see round work.
you may have saved a tile saw from my abuse...
🙏❤️
Nice video... nice new technique!!! That chrysoprase cab looks like a little planet earth button.
I use diamond core bits in a drill press to drill out cores and then cut off slices. It works well, it’s quick, the buttons are uniform and lends itself well to mass production.
Well dave, I've been using a flex shaft to make cabs for almost 3yrs now..its the only tool besides a tile saw and tumbler that i have...thinking im up over 500 cabs now...
Thank you! I repair antique purses and need to make a few cabochons for the frames. I knew there had to be an easier way without investing in a ton of equipment. This will save me a ton of time and money!
Great video Dave!
I’m relatively new to the hobby. I’ve tumbled quite a few agates but have yet to try shaping them. Your video has given me an awesome starting point to begin shaping with my dremel (before I take the plunge and buy a cabbing machine).
I also got a great new phrase from the video: “full monkey!”
Just goes to show, you can always find a way to make something by by using the tools in the shed without laying out loads of cash on something new. I have some stones ready to polish and now I know how. Thanks for sharing.
I finally got the time to sit down and watch this as got a flex shaft today...... I'm 100% going to be trying this method 😂
awesome Brother make sure to just is it in to whatever you’re draining the stone against depending on the material it’s super easy to just fracture a huge chunk out of it if it’s spinning too fast and you dig into deep
Also your package got shipped out today I’ll be getting tracking for using
@@lapidarydave Thanks for shipping I'm so beyond excited 😂 I usually use the lower setting on my Dremel I'm fine taking extra time and less risk compared to higher speeds I'm looking at all different videos for drop setups too just to see what works best for me
Very good, informative video Dave! You gave me some great ideas! Also after checking out the other comments, you've helped out so many!
Dave, you have the most pleasant sounding voice! I was searching for woodworking videos and this video came up with the others and I'm so glad it did. I know as a professional you would have liked the cabochon to be shinier, but I thought it was perfect. I like earthy, more natural-looking jewelry and this was perfect. The inclusion I love and I would have been drawn to this. I may have missed it, but is the stone a green turquoise? As a child, I loved searching for unusual stones and everywhere we went I brought home a handful. So, as a result, I had boxes full of them. My dad was a cigar smoker and used to get wooden cigar boxes from the owner of the tobacco shop for me to keep the stones in. I only have one box full left but they are the prettiest and most unusual of all I had. I don't wander in the woods, or rivers anymore. It has gotten pretty scary to be alone in the woods these days. Well, count me in as a subscriber and I'm going to check out your other videos. Have a great fall!
You are awesome thank you so much for your kindness I really appreciate it :) the stone was chrysoprase from Zimbabwe
Looking for the news this morning,I came upon your video,I love you! You solved my problem and saved me a lot of money, thankyou thank you.I was up all night last night and looking for equiptment,again thank you so much.
Absolutely my pleasure that’s what I’m here for thank you so much for watching
Very helpfull awesome thanks for this
Thank you Dave. Good info!
Totally my pleasure my friend thank you so much for watching I really appreciate it
I really appreciate this vid because I'm dying to cab a few of my favorite jasper and agate finds, but I lack the equipment. Well, I don't lack it all apparently cuz I've got the dremel and flex shaft and tons of tips. Just need the grinding and sanding paper and I'm good to go. I've used my dremel to carve some of my stuff but never got as far as polishing it. Oh wait, I DID make a very smol common opal cabochon and I did get it to a reasonably nice polish, but it was very tedious doing it freehand with the dremel.
At least with what you've shown here I can practice cabbing and maybe if I get good enough people will buy what I'm selling and I'll be able to afford the gear. I very much want a flat lap because it seems like it could handle my large specimens in addition to wee ones. Dunno wtf I didn't think of doing this before, it's such a DUH type thing.
Oh man I feel the same way I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner 😭 thanks for watching my friend
Hiya Dav, hey that's a awesome cabbage Jon 😂😂😂
I really loved the video, and how you show these easy peasy techniques, that anyone can do. Shoot I have done these same techniques myself, before I had easy access to the internet. I love all your videos, and as always stay safe, and healthy and have a great blessed day. Cya!
O..... My friends call me Catfish.
Thank you so much for watching and enjoying catfish I really appreciate it :) I love making videos that help folks
Man I was making it so much more difficult I was using the dremel heads to make a cab and not a flat lap
thanks man learned a lot
Hell yeah more Dave! nice video bro
m dan thank you so much my friend:)
Fabulous stuff Dave! You inspire me so much dude you have no idea. Love it bro!
Thank you so much for letting me know you enjoy the video and that my videos are a help it’s totally my passion to help folks with everything I know I really appreciate your kindness my friend
This is one of those things where I instantly think to myself, "how the hell didn't I already think of this idea myself?"
Lol
Great idea, great video. Thanks for all the info, and thanks for making, and posting this awesome video.
As to the sandpaper needing a soft backing, you can buy a cheap yoga mat. Then you have a roll of good firm foam rubber, and can cut pieces to fit your task perfectly. A little glue, and a piece of 1/2 inch pine lumber. It's pretty cheap, and you can use em over and over.
Also, with the nail glue, have you tried warming it up first, then rolling the blade around the perimeter? Just curious if that might work easier, and not risk chipping, or breaking the stone.
What's the smallest stone you've done this way? I'm probably going to try myself, but curious how small you've successfully shaped and polished a stone. Like maybe it's harder to make consistent motion on the abrasive when it's smaller, due to higher rpm.
Hello there my friend thank you so much for watching it means a lot to me :-) I’ve done it with pieces about 2.5mm small I don’t do this technique a lot anymore but I do use it for duplicating and calibrating small precious pieces
@@lapidarydave nah bud, thank you. Glad I subscribed
Totally! I was like facepalm, no more stressing over getting perfect circles, great video
Great instructional Dave, definitely going to do this. Slowly setting my DIY lapidary shop. Thanks to you and other channels you all have made it possible to do this on a budget. Peace brother
Dave thanks for the tips and trick, just getting into cabbing and ordered a Cabking
Awesome :)
Wow...hey Dave, you are a true lapidary genius. Thanks so much for this video, helps a lot. Will try it this weekend. More power to you and take care, be safe 🙏🏼💕
I definitely wouldn’t say lapidary genius I learned almost everything from others and this particular set of tricks I leaned from other artist :) Definitely have to give it a try when you get a chance it’s a lot of fun
Cool, Dave! I watched the old-timer and gentleman who has a TH-cam about this that you recommended. I will probably use my Foredom to do this too as soon as I can figure out what to use for a dopping stick. I’ve got some old school aluminum roofing nails that have been most helpful in the past. 🙂
awesome daniel is so good i love him
Thanks for this video! Super informative and understandable
Christy Johnson Totally my pleasure my friend I’m always here to help
I make weapons with steel bars from printers by putting the bar in a drill, and spin it against a grinder. You get a perfect point. Same principle.
absolutely i always think of a drill as a awkward little lathe
This is brilliant! Thank you for this video, I had no idea where to start with making cabochons when I have next to no equipment. I’m so excited to try this!
OK I’m so happy that you found this video helpful it’s totally a pleasure and an honor to share anything that I know I want to make a lot more of these videos about watch and be done with Walmart tools Home Depot tools etc. thanks for watching again my friend
I knew I had the capability to do some grinding and buffing -metal & stone-I have an old belt sander and 2 mounted bench grinders-on wooden boards-and there is no reason why a hobbyist needs to do things the traditional methods which serve to create profits for long established overpriced companies. I have plenty of materials now to work with to keep me busy awhile Lapidary Dave-lapis, jade, semiprecious beads and stones, sterling silver, copper, some CZs to practice with-there are -it is said-more than one way to skin a cat and I am not here to make RioGrande or any other company rich. Thanks for the videos-Good Times-let them roll!
Great information! Thank you for sharing!
On another video, I saw someone suggest putting your gem stone on the dopstick in the freezer, and it will pop off the glue easily.
Thanks for watching my friend :) sometimes it pops off sometimes it’s doesn’t but either way it’s all ok since there’s so many different ways to get it off
As of late I e been using a torch 🔥
You where able to make my job easier and saved me some time. Thanks so much. Your a life saver. I had fun doing it too.
Thanks for your kindness
Thanks so much, now with Covid downtime I could not get to my lapidary club to use their wheels and tools and I have a Dremel with all attachments so it is my chance to try it with your great videos.
My pleasure thank you for watching my friend
i love the superglue trick. one extra idea is something i do. i use a hole saw to etch a circle so when i cut out my stone on my crappy tile saw i get a nice round. so much faster than drilling a big core out.
thanl you for the knowledge you offer to us ,the amateurs,!! Thank you again from Greece
Thank you my friend :)
Man, I can use that info. Thanks so much for the good vid. So much to learn so little time. Havagudun Dave.
Totally my pleasure
it’s a neat trick that doesn’t work with free form cabs but definitely something everyone can do with with simple Walmart tools :) thanks for watching
Great Video Dave besides the acitone, I'm not sure but I do think it can be harmful to quiet a few stones. Really neat trick on how to make a cabachon without the right tools! Your so appreciated!!🙏♥️
Thank you so much for watching I really appreciated the acetone is super gross I hate getting it on my fingers and I hate the way it smells a different commentor mentioned that you could heat up the nail which would loosen the glue to remove the stone I tried it today and it works really well I almost burned myself but it worked LOL thanks again for watching my friend I always love seeing your comments
i find diamond paste and felt pads work well for that final polishing on gemstones - though i work with mainly agate, jade/nephrite and picture jasper
Awesome info thank you :)
I did this before with my Dremel and a piece of aquamarine. I used gorilla glue and wet and dry sandpaper and a sponge. I applied the compound to a piece of micro fiber cloth for my glasses and it worked wonders.
Fantastic my friend I’m so happy to hear that you were also using the technique it is super cool even for folks that have lapidary grinders it’s a nice way to make perfectly round cabs are used to wonder how did folks make those super tiny round cabs that are used to see in old Native American jewelry I imagine a similar technique is being used
@@lapidarydave That's true they are beautiful. In Mexico one of my uncle found some jade artifacts which was a necklace that had all different shapes that had holes that were straight from end to end. The holes measure around 3mm wide and it goes through the entire stone. I used to polish my stones with my Dremel before I got my machine but I still use it.
I’m so happy I subscribed to your channel!
I’m so happy that you did too :) thanks a billion
Until I can afford a Hi Tech Flat Lap, I’ve been using dremels for the past three years and I NEVER thought of attaching the stone to the dremel bits !!!
Great information. One thing that I would do different. When you spin it inside a piece of cloth, do it in three steps. #1. Dampened 1000 grid aluminum oxide. #2. Dampened 2-micron aluminum oxide #3. Dampened cerium oxide. If it is a stone that will polish good, then you should get a real shine. You won't need much powder at all in the cloth. The grit that you use doesn't have to be the exact same that I suggested, but I think that you get the idea.
Such a great vid! I wonder if wrapping felt around a sanding block then loading it with Zam would work
I think that would work for sure as long as the sanding block was silicone carbide which cuts hard material that other types of sand papers do not
Thank you. I don’t have money for a flat lap and I’ve been using a tile saw. I bought some angle grinder diamond pads. I could just use them! Thank you
thanks for the informative video! your voice is really soothing by the way, you should speak some audiobooks.
thank you so much 😊
Great Job ! Thanks !
My pleasure I hope the video helps :)
Wow that was super cool to watch and very informative!!! That stone you made is ABSOLUTELY stunning!!! Would you be interested in maybe selling it? I am in LOVE with that Chrysocolla!!
Thank you so much for watching my friend I really appreciate it it was a lot of fun making this video and sharing these cool set of tricks I would definitely sell you the stone at a very good price email me at davijjgarcia89@gmail.com
I know someone who uses old jeans to polish rocks with Zam. Works really well.
I believe someone in this video suggested blue jeans :) I have totally got to give it a try 💎⭐️❤️
Chamois leather for rouge. Works great.
Thanks for the in-depth video. I'd like to give this a go, but like a lot of people, I don't have hundreds of quid to invest in a machine for a hobby I might not even enjoy. Would love to see a video from you doing this with a smaller piece, and with a hand drill, but I appreciate that's a big ask!
Anyway, cheers for providing this info!
Hello there my friend I’ll definitely make a video using a handrail to make a smaller cab thanks for watching and thanks for the suggestion
@@lapidarydave you're a true gent. I've just been to the shop to pick up some wet and dry paper and a sanding block, and I'm going to give it a go tonight! I picked up some quartz during a recent walk. Do you think that's a good thing to start with?
“ Is one of the best materials to start with it’s super forgiving but it’s super stable
Hey Dave been following you for a long time I love your videos just wanted to share a bit of information, when you put the stone on the nail all you have to do is take a small torch, heat the nail and the stone will pop right off
thanks my friend i really appreciate the info :) thank you so much for watching:)
Hi Dave just heat up your nail near the top. Just for a few seconds. And tap your stone right off. No color change. Love your vedios. 💝
Thanks the way I’ve been doing it since 😅
Love this video ! Thanks for being so hobbiest oriented
Great video for broke folks such as myself
I’m broke as a joke too 😭😭😭 thanks for watching my friend
Great video!!!!!!
Dan Lopaki is the man- he has the BEST Chinese turquoise
Good idea. Very cool just found a bunch of agates. Going to try your method thanks
Heat the nail with a torch. the superglue will burn off without heating the gem then use the acetone to remove the rest of the glue
I gotta try this
Please do and let me know how it goes :)
Thank you!
Thank you so much for watching my friend I really appreciate it
This is a great idea
Thank you for the video, it really helps us newbies understand the concept. Would we take a rectangular cut to make a oval for a necklace?
Yes my friend you could turn a rectangular stone into a oval cab but not with this technique :) unfortunately only round circle cabs can be made with the techniques used in this video
I recently discovered your videos, and absolutely love them. I am new to the world of lapidary as I am about to get my first trim saw to start slicing some small rocks to make cabs and weld sculptures to incorporate stones. Just wondering if you have any advice for someone that will be using strictly a flex shaft for shaping and polishing. Might also buy some grinding discs for the drill for the polishing stage. Curious if you have any tips or tricks for someone new? also I’m looking online at sintered diamond bits, and I’ve noticed that if their classified as dental sintered bits much cheaper. Curious if you’ve ever tried any of those and if they’re the same as the lapidary specific sintered? Thank you for your time and thank you for your videos !! Love them!!👌🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
I have you some of the dental centers they’re not very aggressive so get her that are slightly more aggressive than you think would work for instance 46 instead of 80 or at least 60 for the grind you can buy like three inch diamond discs and your flex shaft and advice but if you have a little bit of extra money can be used as a Lapidary wheel machine or flat lap
@@lapidarydave thank you for the help man, and just curious as some of the wording might have gotten auto corrected near the end but if I have extra money, I could create my own cabin machine out of said wheel? Is that possibly what you’re saying? Otherwise I am contemplating doing what you did with the video here and getting the what looks like 1 inch thick diamond wheel to make said cabs 🤘🏻. Thank you again for the advice man.
@@Silasposton out of a drill press my AutoCorrect is haunted
Tanks l love this way very smart
Experiment on the technique you can do better then I did in this video
Heat the nail. Apply the pressure and the stone will come off. No need the acetone.
candle flat wicks work great for ragging with buffing/polish compound.
enjoyed these great tips...Was really liking the color but then the stone got darker with the acetone soak. Does it lighten back up or stay dark?
I’m not exactly sure if it was just the lighting in my camera that day but if it did get darker than it definitely got lighter after the soak ended up getting this piece away well over a year ago thank you so much for watching I really appreciate it
I my name is doc like your videos thanks.if you put a little heat on the nail it will release .
Thank you so much dark I really appreciate you as of late that is the way I’ve been removing dop :)
Cool.but can you share the part that you fast forwarded , I mean thats where I always mess up, the angle at which one grinds to get that dome of a cabochan .. also can we do their shapes using this trick ,..
Dremel has a chuck attachment now that works great
M brown I saw that shortly before making my Harbor freight video I plan on buying one and making some time I think it’s awesome that they make a truck that fits into a Dremel sense of the Collett that comes with the Dremel does not fit as many things as the truck does thank you so much for watching I really appreciate it
Thank you so much, makes this so much less intimidating.
Definitely my friend give this technique a shot it is a lot of fun and extremely easy feel free to ask me any questions you might have if you need any additional help
@@lapidarydave For sure, I'm sure it won't be as terrible as im imagining.
Did you see the bird that flew under your hands at 3:49?
Oh my goodness I didn’t I slowed it down to 0.25 speed and it’s definitely something!
Looks like a flapping motion and resembles a 🐦
For your nail. Bend the sides down slightly on the head. Kinda like a flat top umbrella shape so when using a blade you can get right under it and it'll pop off easier
Nice tip thanks so much my friend :)
@@lapidarydave I hand polish aussie opals and getting them off without breaking is not so easy. You could also drive the nail through a piece of wooden dowel, of course sand the dowel even to spin and glue your stone to the dowel then soak in water or alcohol. The wood will soak up the water/alcohol and free the bond, if needed pop it in the freezer.
I'm in the process of converting a treadmill I picked up on side the road into a flat lap. Wish me luck!
@@brandonmccain5983 Thanks for the tips my friend I really appreciate it also when you Start on your treadmill conversion please document it with photos or video I would absolutely love to see it being made and I’m sure it will help thousands of people who want to get in the library who can afford it and don’t have a imagination like you to turn a treadmill into a lapidary machine
You mentioned two people who share cabbing techniques. Could you please supply their names. I love your video and loving your water solution and I’m a newbie trying to gather as much info on cabbing. Thank you
th-cam.com/video/dFRWmy3SgpI/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/DRu-R7l3FKY/w-d-xo.html
Here are the two links to the two different TH-cam channels make sure to subscribe if you have an already they are great people I really love using the 2 1/2 gallon drinking water container I even use it with a hose in the valve coming out of it to water my lavatory grinders nowadays they do not last forever I have found out over the years but I still love using them thank you for enjoying my videos it means a lot to me feel free to ask me anything anytime it’s always my pleasure to help
I Dave love your vids no bull just good information .I’m a old time jeweller trying to learn lapidary.I’m based in uk can you help with buying rough stone from .thanks doc
Thank you so much for your kindness I really appreciate it :)
Nice, thanks
Could I do this with rough Sapphire? You could also use a mini embroidery frame to put your polishing cloth in so it’s easier to hold.
Thank you so much for watching my friend I really appreciate it
this can definitely be done with sapphire and I love your idea about the mini embroidery frame :) Thank you for the tips
This is very cool. I'm starting to wonder if I can just glue a stone to a sacrificial piece of wood or metal on my lathe and grind it down that way
agreeed
It looks like a rock Island without plant life yet, out in the ocean.
What a fabulous video!!!!! Thank you! I am a jeweler with cabochons I would like to reshape and now I can do it without buying lapidary equipment! Thank you so much! BUT!!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!! do not EVER immerse your skin in acetone! Wear gloves! It is a known carcinogen and you not only want to love your own body but give proper example to others of how to handle it. Again! Great video!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for the info my friend I definitely try not to expose myself to acetone and in fact I stopped using the technique for removing Dops With been using a torch against the nail Which makes it pop right offThank you so much for watching my friend I really appreciate it I’m happy you found it useful
Can you use a similar method to get rectangular ish ringheads/cabichons etc...
not really no
Is that an EZ Cab in the back? I've been mixing the same tech but against the wheels on my EZ.
It sure is a ez cab It is my main squeeze I have other machines like diamond Pacific cabking highland park lortone ect but the cab king is my favorite
I actually got the idea for this video from watching someone do something similar against a traditional lapidary diamond wheel on a machine but I made this video this way to show people who cannot afford the machine how to make cabochons :)
Would one of the $120 combo trimsaw , buffer /rotory tool( flex shaft ) stations be worth while for a start to learn on?
Also would one of the $200 faceting machines work well and long enough to learn with and maybe use to cut enough to buy better machines?
Maybe a year or so at most?
I saw a video that has an old timer who makes cabbing flat laps. It has grooves in the lap( maybe it is a topper) shaped for perfect round cabbing. Using one should help remove that tip as it is a rounded surface . I bet you could make it easy enough with the right tools. In his case he turned a hard wood plank into the cab-lap on a lathe.
In my opinion the trim saw/buffer/Flex shaft, the machines that folks see a lot on aliexpress wish.com and as of late eBay I’m not very good I have had two friends now who bought them he says they’re extremely under powered and when trying to work even softer material such as Turquoise the machine bugs down to a stop So I will definitely pass on that machine I would rather have a tile saw and a cheap Walmart brand and hyper tough rotary tool then one of those when it comes to the calving labs I do know that there are a few companies out there that make flat labs that are concave for calving are used to see a lot of rubber ones back in the day for a cabin in vintage lapidary Journal as of right now I do not know anybody who is selling them that you might be able to find one online and I love the idea of making on yourself out of wood you’re gonna need to use diamond Payson probably make a few different kinds but then again if you’re using a Dop Stick it is very very easy to get a nice rounded cabs even on a flat lab Thanks for reaching out my friend I really appreciate it please consider subscribing if you haven’t done so already it really helps the channel
@@lapidarydave thankyou on the machine advice. I want to do faceting more than cabbing, but both are need to know information to me. I want to make rosecut stones ,sugarloaves and checkerboard cuts plus ,general stone cutting whenever / however i can make it happen...i have been eyeing up my womans mop bucket because it has a foot pedal to spin a mop drying area...i am thinking "preformer" lol .
@@coreymerrill3257 that sounds super interesting I wouldn’t be surprised if that my package could take quite a bit of a load while spinning when it comes to those $200 fastening machines if it has a decent mast and not one of those cheaper Handpieces that just have the octagon shape grooves on the part that holds the dab stick I think they could work just fine definitely a lot you can do with a cheap machine to make up the money very fast to buy a better machine depending on how hard you feel like working
When I bought my easy cab machine which was about $1775 Hi probably worked easily well over $3000 worth of Turquoise 🔥❤️ in about 12 hours so we can definitely be done very fast the hard part is selling the pieces I tell people all the time who messaged me saying they’re having a hard time selling but you just have to understand that just because we are in the west it doesn’t mean that we are worth $50-$100 an hour you’re not going to make great money trying to sell tiger by cabs for 50 bucks apiece where they are being made easier in a much higher quality overseas for one dollar
Whatever you do with whatever machine you end up using make sure to work the best material you can it will make it a lot easier to sell the pieces in the end which is the main goal for a lot of us lapidaries
Get the nail hot with a propane torch. Not scorching hot but 5-8 sec. It pops right off the super glue...
Just use a lighter to heat the glue and the stone will come right off the nail. That way you don't have to apply any harsh chemicals to your stone. Thanks for the video, Keep it up Lap D!
Haha Cabbage John...
E. J. H. Thank you so much for the tip my friend I really appreciate it I have thought about that in the past but I never done it before:)
That works great. Just try not to breathe the fumes, because burning cyanoacrylate is pretty toxic.
Yes, just hold the nail over a flame keeping the stone about a quarter inch away from the flame, the glue will soften in just a few seconds and the stone is released from the nail.
Love your videos, & I have learned a lot from you. Thank you.
Could you have used a drill press and diamond hole saws to make the different size round cabs?
Ed Claytor Absolutely that would’ve worked really well but in this video I was just trying to use the least amount of tools to work the most amount of stone
Love to get a few different pieces of rock from you ...just small ones to do what you did on this video..
NRSS Family feel free to message me on Facebook or Instagram via #lapidarydave or email me at davijjgarcia89@gmail.com
Hey Dave are you truly happy with the High Tec 8 inch diamond cab machine? I been thinking about getting one but 2,400 is a heck of a lot of money for mostly plastic.
Hello there my friend
The hi-tech brand machines are only flat laps and saws but they are owned by Cabking which is a 6 wheel lapidary machine from the price you mentioned (2400$) I assume you mean the 8” six wheel cabling lapidary grinder Which I think is a great machine and is one of my favorites but I would have to suggest the EZ CAB lapidary machine which is very similar to the cabking but is 1800$ and comes with higher quality wheels which is one of the most important part of a lapidary machine
The cabking is great but check out the EZCAB which is being sold on Facebook you can find it easy on Facebook and it’s being sold through a dude named Vince Allred
I have a video on the EZCAB and if you do buy one please tell Vince I sent you he supports the channel by kicking me down wheels when I help sell them :)
@@lapidarydave There is also a company that I have looked at called Jewel tools and they also make an 8 inch machine and the only thing I do not like about it that the tray are not removable, But it does have a one horse motor and pretty much set up the same as the cab king for 1,800 dollars looks like pretty good bargin. Not sure I'm impressed with the ez cabbing unit. I had an 8 inch titan before but it kept burning out the dam motors until finally the warnity expired and I was screwed.
I would try denim or polishing
Hello lapidary Dave, I am going to be purchasing one of the harbor freight flexible shaft grinder, and I see that you are using one. Does the water affect it any? I will be using mine for crystal carving where water will come into contact with the tool. Will the water damage it?
So I’ve been using my harbor freight flex shaft for almost a year now and I only ever use it with water I haven’t noticed any rest at all I haven’t noticed any loss of power, or any binding, rust etc. The handpiece is made out of some kind of zinc magnesium or may be a very cheap aluminum but I doubt aluminum so probably some kind of cheap zinc stuff either way it does not rust the pieces inside of the handpiece including the truck are steel and they are definitely not stainless steel either way I have not noticed any rust after nearly A year of steady use with lots of water I think it is a very safe bet to go with the harbor freight flex shaft however I think it’s better to buy it in person with using the 20% off coupon since the shipping kind of defeats the savings one would get from ordering the harbor freight over other no name brand flex shafts on eBay and Amazon the only thing that ever concerns me about the harbor freight flex shaft is that the motor housing is made out of plastic Which obviously doesn’t affect the power or anything but if it falls hard enough from a high enough place I’m worried that it might not be as resilient as a metal housing such as the ones being used by Fordom :) You’re going to love your harbor freight flag shaft my friend
@@lapidarydave thank you for such a quick reply, I love your videos, you inspired me to start my own vids of gem shows. Thank you! It truly makes me happy and excites me every time, I’m glad I found something that makes me this happy. Now that I know the flex shaft is a solid buy hopefully I can soon start a career in lapidary or gem carving/artwork; with due practice. I watch your videos like everyday all the nice gems are all so amazing it sucks Tucson show was canceled this year but it’s gonna be better than ever next year!
@@lapidarydave also you said there’s a 20% off coupon?! Where can I find this at?!
@@bigred4340 Thank you so much for enjoying the videos it means a lot to me and my friend if you ever need help you can always leave me a comment here in the comment section you can find me on Instagram via #LapidaryDave
Facebook via facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010423326634
Or email davijjgarcia89@gmail.com
It’s always my pleasure to help my subscribers
@@bigred4340 You can find the coupons online just type in February harbor freight coupons sometimes you can even find them on their website most of the time the harbor freight people will not just help you out by scanning coupons they have at the store but sometimes they will they should be very easy to find online are usually don’t even look form until I get in line at the store
The coupon is for 20% off one thing in your cart that is the most expensive
Thank you
Great idea until I can afford to make my own cab machine.. gona use a washing machine motor. Its perfect rpm 1725, belt driven with a keyed spot to put a shift on so I can mount wheels on what and then brasher the belt drive a trim saw when needed. Buying the wheels is the expensive part now..
If you try this technique let me know how it works for you :)