Lapidary 101: Dopping Your Preform. Using Wax to Effectively Dop a Stone and Prepare it for Cabbing!

Thanks for tuning in to Lapidary 101! In this video I'll show you how to effectively dop your preform onto a dowel rod in preparation for cabbing, and I'm using a cool piece of petrified dinosaur bone as the example. In my previous lapidary tutorials I showed you how to shape a cab with your hands, and as I explain in this video, that method became too taxing on my hands and joints, so I tried out dopping and discovered I really like it! It is also much easier on my body physically and allows for a more consistent shaping and polishing if done correctly.
I'll show you some tricks I use to ensure a solid join of your dop stick to your preform so it won't fall off during the cabbing process (at least not normally.. there will always be some that break off now and then and need to be re-dopped).
Dopping allows you to use a round stick to maneuver your cabochon while shaping and polishing it, and being able to roll it in your hands to keep it constantly moving is a big benefit and helps produce a great polish. In this video I'm only showing you how to dop your stone, and in a follow up video I will demonstrate my current technique I use to actually cab a preform on my Diamond Pacific Genie machine, so stay tuned for that!
I hope this helps and encourages you to give dopping a try! The dop pot I have is a $35 dollar item you can buy online, and the wax I use is premium green lapidary wax that you can find on www.RioGrande.com and other online stores, or maybe at your local rock or jewelry shop. I get my dowel rods from the hardware store (Lowe's to be exact) and they are super inexpensive. I cut them with wire cutters and flatten the ends with my rawhide hammer to maximize surface contact.
Thanks for tuning in, please subscribe to my channel if this video has been helpful! And make sure to check out the rest of my Lapidary 101 series for tips on how to use a slab saw, trim saw, and how to cab by hand if that's still your preferred method.
Follow along with my artistic pursuits on Instagram, my two pages are @Eckel.Lapidary and @SeanEckel.Jewelry, and also check out my band that I play bass and guitar with, Moodlite! @MoodliteMusic
See my available jewelry on Etsy at www.etsy.com/shop/SeanEckelArt .
All music in this video created by me.
Cheers, and happy creating!
Sean

[@lenastiward8657]

I was just given my friend’s lapidary equipment and lots of raw stones. Hoping watching your videos I will get the courage to give this a try. Thanks for sharing with us!❤

[@lapidarydave]

It’s cool to see you making videos again my man your first to a couple years ago absolutely crushed it and inspired me and I’ve been doing the same ever since

[@SeanEckelArt]

Hey man! That’s awesome, thanks for diggin the videos! Yea I’ve been distracted with plenty of other things the past couple years, but making a point to get back to doing them this year. Where are you based?

[@lapidarydave]

I am in Taos New Mexico if you’re ever in the area holler at your boy if you cool to collaborate on a video also if you haven’t been already you got to go to Tucson gem and mineral show it’s the largest in the entire world I go there every year to vend and I also make lotta videos there you should go and film as well

[@SeanEckelArt]

Right on, I have been to Tucson for the show only once in 2016.. I’d love to go again, it was so amazing. I’ll definitely hit you up if I’m in the area!

[@nancyhalloran3044]

Glad to see you have another video out.

[@SeanEckelArt]

Thank you! Yea I was absent from posting for awhile but I’m working to put out lots of videos this year! :) :)

[@PeacockInTheRoom]

I'm just getting into cabbing and jewelry making. I've learned a lot from your vids. Hope you'll post more often :)

[@SeanEckelArt]

Thank you!! I’m working on posting more.. I have a ring tutorial in progress that I’ll post soon 👍🏼

[@liaperentoni8778]

Thanks again for this valuable video, and for the extra tips that you describe in excellent detail. Flattening the ends of the sticks and smoothing out the dop so there’s no air pockets. Just ordered my dop kit and very much appreciate your help. (:

[@SeanEckelArt]

Excellent! So happy to give some tips I’ve discovered through trial and error.. hopefully it makes dopping fun and easy for you!

[@victoryoneable]

Yes, our hands get knocked around enough. It's worth spending a little time to dop the stone. It also reduces the risk of the stone flying out of your hands and getting chipped.

[@SeanEckelArt]

Very true! And I feel I’m quicker with the polishing when using dop sticks so the preparation of them doesn’t even really add time overall..

[@russellh9894]

If the tape was giving you problems, I've been using Acco Swingline Rubber Fingers to protect my fingers. I still drop the stones from time to time, so there is still a potential problem. I had the same problem of stones popping off the dop stick, so I'll try that twist technique. Thank you for your videos, I look forward to your next one.

[@gcegubbels4734]

jaaaa that is the strong way to create a beautiful stone voir a ring or jetting. magnificent

[@suzannehofer3867]

Hey Sean! I’m enjoying your videos! Would you ever consider a trip to Quartzsite AZ to buy rocks for future lapidary projects? There are so many rock hounds and vendors here now and it’s a lot of fun to shop around! Rocks are everywhere!!!

[@SeanEckelArt]

Yea I would love to get to Quartzsite!! I’ve been to the Tucson show but haven’t made Q yet.. maybe next year!

[@MrHabitat009]

Use fillachip uv activated resin. Cures in seconds and holds on great

[@ToddAndelin]

Awesome!

[@douglasbernick5908]

Hey Sean I love your videos I noticed some other videos use cab King cabochon machine, I was just wondering what brand of a cabochon machine you are using? Thanks again as always can’t wait to see another video

[@SeanEckelArt]

Thanks Douglas! I’m using a Diamond Pacific Genie. A little bit more expensive but runs quieter and the overall quality of the machine is great, ive had minimal issues with it. I’ve never used a CabKing but have heard of some bad experiences with its parts etc.. overall seems like a great machine still, but I’m very happy I have the Genie

[@joanrieser2580]

My wax doesn't look smooth like yours does. It seems too dry. Any suggestions? Thanks, Joan

[@susanjefferson2926]

Hi Sean. Thanks for the tip on twisting the dop stick. I’m going to give it a try! Any recommendations on where to purchase slabs like the ones you have in your video?

[@SeanEckelArt]

There are lots of great rocks available through a variety of folks on Instagram and Facebook.. kallen_slabs on IG is good, silverhilllapidary is another. The cabs and slabs group on FB.. but also on eBay you can find a lot as well as local rock and gem shows. Hope that helps as a starting point!

[@StoneAge03]

goodluck

[@grand_master_glass]

how do you take the dop stick off?

[@SeanEckelArt]

Toss it in the freezer for awhile and then you can pop it off 👍

[@cypressstones3046]

Hi have you had any issues balancing your genie wheels? I'm having trouble with my polished wheels

[@SeanEckelArt]

What’s the issue? I do balance checks on the left side with the Galaxy wheels before tightening the bolt to hold them in place. The right side with the nova resin wheels shouldn’t need to be balanced since they’re soft

[@cypressstones3046]

@@SeanEckelArt my 1200 nova wheel vibrates! I've been turning it as I was instructed by diamond Pacific but no luck!

[@DubstepHeroDH]

Can u use candle wax?

[@SeanEckelArt]

Never tried, but I wouldn’t recommend it. There’s a special lapidary wax for a reason, and it’s really affordable!