Lapidary lessons, cutting a cabochon

[@bindibindi6031]

Enjoyed watching your clip. Love that you did text instead of talking! Thanks

[@woodfamily5229]

Thank you. This is what I want to do in retirement so I’m studying. Still years till then, but never too early to learn!

[@a0cdhd]

Y'can put the dop stick with the stone attached into the freezer for 15 minutes or so then by applying a bit of lateral pressure the stone will just pop off the dop stick leaving the wax on the stick, not the stone. Saves having to scrape the sticky stuff from the back of the rock

[@lisan1575]

I was wondering about whether a freezer would work better! Good to know, thank you.

[@ericclift1773]

I just checked out a book on lapidary from my local library. The book itself has not felt fingers turn the pages sense 1991. My wife makes silver jewelry and I want to be part of her journey and learn something new for myself. I can’t wait to get in to it. Very well done, I’ll be back to watch more videos.

[@tennpikr74]

Thanks very much, i hope you take it up. Most cities have a rock and gem club you can join to learn how.

[@tylerbrandon7610]

Hope you made some wonderful things and had some great memories.

[@lisawright4752]

Thank you so much, this video is by far the best & very easy to follow information on the internet! Beautiful work! I'm saving for my first machine so I can also do beautiful work such as yours!!

[@tennpikr74]

Thanks very much.

[@kbean5338]

I’m new too. I appreciate the time you give to the whole video.

[@tennpikr74]

Thanks , i hope it helps .

[@edtherockhound9944]

I’m learning this beautiful craft and I’m doing the half butt way I’m poor haha so I nicked n dimes me lil set up. I have a tile saw, flex shaft and I bought those polishing / sanding pads that I run on a grinder . It works just takes some time and do a lil bit everyday and love it. Great video sorry I rambled I’m really nice job and nice equipment. I told my boss to forget the cash bonus next year and get me a gabbing machine or I’ll save what I can all year and get after tree season . Ps the wife takes it all and I’m lucky to get what I can when I can . Ty

[@tennpikr74]

Thanks for watching, nothing wrong with doing it your way, im sure youve created some pretty stuff. You can do a lot with a flex shaft , dremel or othersise.

[@arielmonje6701]

Hola ,buen trabajo te recomiendo dar la forma total con la de 100 ya las otras solo las ocupas para pulir y dar brillo

[@Ciceroinvencoeseartes]

Lindo trabalho amigo Excelente Ficou parecendo uma opala Meus parabéns 👍

[@stacyjv_4982]

This is an awesome video! I’ve learned so much just from watching this! Thank you!!!!!!

[@tennpikr74]

Thanks a lot, im glad they help .

[@lostboysvideovault]

I'm new to lapidary arts, and this video was very helpful. Thanks!

[@tennpikr74]

Thanks, im glad to hear this and that you now are interested in lapidary. I will be putting up more cabochon videos soon.

[@kerriannepeacan1037]

This is how we learnt cabbing at our local gem club, starting to setup a cabbing & faceting stations at home. You've done a brilliant tutorial. I took me ages to learn doping properly, I think I takes a special nack & practice 👍 thank you for sharing.

[@tennpikr74]

Thanks very much, im glad these videos help. I still have days where i didnt get the stone heated enough and have a stone come off the stick.

[@timd4414]

Would rearview mirror adhesive work better than the wax? Stuff bonds pretty well.

[@tennpikr74]

@@timd4414 It probably wood, epoxy works well too, the wax works quickly and can be broken free when your finished easily by putting the whole thing in the freezer for a few minutes, that is the wax advantage i guess.

[@dakotasrocks]

You should really wash your stones when you move from wheel to wheel. It prevents scratched and it prevents different grits from getting on other wheels. If you also want your stones set in silver, I recommend making a flat girdle instead of noting that pet over. Beautiful stone! Keep it up!

[@tennpikr74]

That does make sense, i do wipe the stone off when i change grits while faceting but ive never seen anyone doing it while cabbing so i didnt.

[@funnythingslakesuperioraga3331]

The different grits don't get into the wheels, that's a wives tale.

[@pinakibhome3075]

hes a wise old man. dont be smart

[@lisan1575]

Great video - I've been so curious about this whole process. Thanks so much for sharing!

[@tennpikr74]

Thanks for watching.

[@shantilove3768]

Thankyou. I just joined my local lapidary club and will be attempting my first cab tomorrow.

[@tennpikr74]

Im glad to hear that, good luck to you.

[@ronaldobattistela2817]

Thanks for sharing. This is a dream that I could never accomplish. Hugs from Brazil.

[@cherylarnold385]

Nice work. Great technique. Thank you.

[@trippingonrocks1165]

I thought gee how hard is this then you changed the blade 😅 it came out beautiful, such such subtle Yet vibrant colours. Thank you for sharing, I subbed 👍🏼🇳🇿

[@tennpikr74]

Thanks very much, sodalite is one of my favorites.

[@apo1915]

well done brother !!

[@mrriichy8777]

Such a good detailed video, thank you for creating and sharing!

[@tennpikr74]

Thank you, im doing another video on cutting cabochons now.

[@lapidarydave]

cool video I started off with that very same six-inch six wheel machine, thanks for the lapidary fun

[@tennpikr74]

thanks for your comment, im happy with mine with one exception, the rusting started within 6 months of purchasing it. Otherwise it seems to be a good machine.

[@lapidarydave]

Brent Knowlton if you don't mind me asking did you buy your machine from Johnson Brothers or Kingsley North

[@jasonsummit1885]

They have a stainless steel version for $100 more than what your machine is, just looked it up in their catalog. $995 with free shipping

[@laurareutter6928]

If you shorten your dop stick it will be so much easier to use on the grinding and polishing wheels.

[@tennpikr74]

thank you i will do it.

[@AshHeaven]

Maybe you could polish those tiny leftover pieces into a round shape and then drill holes to make beads.

[@tennpikr74]

yes, i toss them into a container and when i get enough i tumble polish them and can make necklaces, bracelets out of them.

[@AshHeaven]

That is so cool! I wish I could get into lapidary stuff.

[@charadremur333]

@@AshHeaven you can, join a club.

[@xonickosmos9025]

Very intersting video , bravo , can i know which kind of glue you use and where i can buy it ? Many thanks

[@andrewgibb8846]

After trying for hours to get the dop right, I just gave up and polished by hand. Much easier to maneuver the stone and less stress 😁

[@tennpikr74]

Yes, you can do it by hand , some use both by hand and dopstick together.

[@andrewgibb8846]

Gems by mbk How together? Like dop for steps 5 & 6?

[@tennpikr74]

@@andrewgibb8846 Yes, also take a look at black opal directs videos, he shapes by hand then dops to finish and polish the stone.

[@lyrning2831]

Yes, that's exactly what I ended up doing. I struggled and struggled in class with dopping and then finally gave up. My teacher at first told me that I had to use it, but I showed him several pieces I was able to finally zoom through by hand (couldn't barely get through one using the dop) and he said, Okay, go for it. I actually like working without the dops, feels much more hands on, especially when I was going through the shaping process. Could just pull off the wheel, examine it with fingertips and right back on the wheel without barely stopping.

[@instagem2693]

Very informative :)

[@Shukarr]

How do you stop the blade from rusting if you’re using water?

[@brigittemala2436]

Merci, c'est très intéressant ! je suis créatrice de bijoux et j'aimerais travailler également les pierres, entièrement ou juste les polir ! Quelle cire utilisez-vous ? S.V.P.

[@iacovcoc4031]

What do you do with the stones after finish ? A lot of work

[@sharonlewis7638]

Thanks, i👍 and subscribed.

[@HappyElephantArt]

This was fun to watch, though I must admit that first rough cut made me wonder how many times you’ve cut your hands on that saw. There’s so little room to work and your fingers are so close to the blade! 🤯

[@tennpikr74]

Hi and thanks for watching. Actually its not as bad as it looks. The blade can touch your hands briefly and not cut since it has no teeth in it as a wood saw blade does. ive never cut myself using a lapidary saw. You can get cut if you stay in contact with the blade.

[@medkaro1174]

Какая кропотливая работа! Вы должно быть имеете очень чуткие пальцы и интуицию, как и сколько, где больше сточить, а где меньше и главное сохранить красоту камня! И ещё мне понравилась Ваша лаборатория- чисто, рационально, все на своих местах!!! О камне: что за камень? А знаете ли Вы чароит? За ответ благодарю! Успехов!

[@tennpikr74]

Spasibo za vashi khoroshiye kommentarii, eto mozhet byt 'kropotlivym. Eto trebuyet mnogo praktiki, as nekotorymi materialami trudneye rabotat '. Ya delayu drugoy sposob ogranki dragotsennykh kamney, ogranka graney trebuyet gorazdo boleye obosoblennogo podkhoda i koordinatsii ruk v glaza. YA znayu o vashey strane charoit i deystvitel'no lyublyu yego vneshniy vid, no ya ne smog kupit'i odnogo iz nikh iz-za vysokoy tseny.

[@medkaro1174]

@@tennpikr74 Доброго утра! Спасибо за ответ, скоро на работу, вечером я ещё Вам напишу! Хорошего Вам дня и успехов! Мэд.

[@kevinyazzie17]

Awesome!

[@buzzsquad4991]

Thanks...great video.

[@buzzsquad4991]

Where did you get that small burner?

[@tennpikr74]

@@buzzsquad4991 i think i was from ebay.

[@theresabetaway7775]

Great video tho i wish i could have watched you use the diamond flat lap for the back as I'm learning in my hobbie, Enjoyed thankyou.

[@tennpikr74]

i dont think i had to use the flat lap on this one, if i get pieces that are already cut to thickness (slabs) then i dont usually have to smooth it .

[@wayne1959]

a thing of beauty..thanks for sharing

[@tennpikr74]

thank you

[@ildikoedit9110]

this is so beautiful

[@tennpikr74]

Thanks very much, sodalite works nicely too and polishes very well.

[@motherearth8717]

Thank you for sharing!!!!!🙂

[@tennpikr74]

I bought the machine from kingsley , then the wheels from Johnson bros.

[@LivingFireShadow]

Isn't it dangerous to get your Fingers so close to the Saw Blades? Or are those Blades more for Grinding through rather than Cutting through?

[@charadremur333]

@@LivingFireShadow the blades are diamond powder mixed into a resin binder I think.

[@LivingFireShadow]

@@charadremur333 Still doesn't say whether I'm going to Cut my Fingers or not '=x Though considering your KZbin Channel name you're probably hoping for something bad to happen xDDD

[@ElizabethMBoyd]

@@LivingFireShadow it is like a tile saw not like a table saw, it is not sharp you dont want to touch it but it is not going to cut your finger off

[@magnachisel6438]

may I ask - what kind of pencil or marker is used to mark the cabochon outline on the stone?

[@tennpikr74]

This is an aluminum scribe.

[@smokeydog67]

Must have a very full or dirty blade!

[@feliciafuehrer741]

How do you know HOW to 'dome' the stone? How do you know what angle to hold the stick/stone to ensure the angles are equal all around? Does this just come with practice? Can you reccomend any classes that teaches this?

[@tennpikr74]

Hello, yes this comes only by practice. If your city has a local gem and mineral club, they will have classes and access to the machines.

[@feliciafuehrer741]

Bless your heart. Thanks for responding! You are so talented!

[@tanyaandrovich2158]

Might be dumb question, but where is the dripping water coming from? I understand keeping the stone cool during grinding prevents it from heating up and getting damaged, but do you apply water to the grinding wheels or to the stone? I’m learning about goldsmithing, and being able to cut my own stones would be a great skill to have. Thanks for the excellent video!

[@tennpikr74]

Hello, the water comes in thru the top of the machine and drips down onto each wheel and is controlled by small valves . There is a water tank sitting above the machine and thru small nylon piping lines is fed to the valves. Gavity pressure is all thats needed. thanks for watching.

[@tomedginton272]

Looks beautiful, what is a good stone for a beginner?

[@tennpikr74]

I think a good one would be tiger eye.

[@tomedginton272]

@@tennpikr74 , Thank you. I've got some rough Lapis lazuli , rough Wello opal and polished Tigers eye but will get some rough.

[@rizwanfaryal]

Hello Sir Hope you are well and safe !! I was cutting Jasper and sodalite And everything was going fine until wheel 1200. When i moved to wheel 3000 i got alot of scratches on my stone. I was wondering what i did wrong

[@tennpikr74]

You probably needed to spend more time on the 600 wheel.

[@rizwanfaryal]

Thank You Sir!!! I will work on this

[@thecrystalarena5245]

I started making the same content as you ❤️

[@martyhinnenkamp1]

Hi, I'm Marty and have just started a channel on here called Marty's Rocks and I have no idea what I'm doing how do I get in the lapidary section? Thank you for your time, Marty

[@tennpikr74]

Hi marty, as far as i know there is no praticular section, you just post anything anywhere.

[@martyhinnenkamp1]

@@tennpikr74 Yes was just looking and there isn't a lapidary section anymore just blogging and other things. Thank you for the reply

[@katzenfun]

Wo bekommt man solche Schablonen?

[@tennpikr74]

www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313&_nkw=gem+templates&_sacat=0

[@moretimethanmoney8611]

I'm currently making a wet saw to cut chalcedony (I'm really more interested in making the saw. By making I mean making, casting parts, using a lathe to make spindles, etc). I'm also thinking about making a wet drum sander. What size arbor does the cabbing machine have? Are the wheels secured individually, or do they stack with one securing nut on the end? My youngest child starts school soon, and I need to earn some money outside of getting a job. How has the stone, jewelry business treated you?

[@tennpikr74]

My cabbing machine has a shaft that is 1" in diameter that runs the length through the machine and the wheels mount on it and are spaced with plastic spacers. i have a video where i repainted the machine, it might show more of this. So they do stack and the end nut holds it all together. Actually im not doing too well selling my pieces, but to be fair i dont put as much time as i should into it. I sell on etsy and i sell one stone or piece about every month. I admire your abilities to be able to cast and machine parts. I would like to acquire a metal cutting lathe some day.

[@moretimethanmoney8611]

They're abilities I've only recently discovered, thanks to You Tube.

[@JamesPecora2106]

Nice job on your videos. You end this one by saying there are multiple ways to polish. What way did you do it?

[@tennpikr74]

I meant there are different polishes and wheels or pads to use to polish . I used a felt wheel with cerium oxide for this stone. I t also can be polished with diamond compound using a canvas pad, Other oxide polishes could [probably used such as be used tin oxide , chrome oxide and so on but io think the cerium ox. does a great job.

[@monymonya2441]

greet video love it its prety

[@Aleckael]

What kind of saw blade table is this and what type of saw blade is used?

[@tennpikr74]

This is a lapidary saw called a rock rascal and uses a diamond inpregnated blade. The diamonds are on the edge and must be lubricated with water or oil . The blade runs in a resevoir with the water in it. If taken care of , not abused, the blades can last for years.

[@cypressstones3046]

Hi there where did you purchase you're wax burner?

[@tennpikr74]

I think it was ebay , look for alcohol lamp. but if you dont see one there try this: www.kingsleynorth.com

[@timd4414]

How much does it cost to get started if you don't mind me asking?

[@tennpikr74]

The machines sell for around $400 and up used on ebay, a new one like i use is around $900, then about $50 for supplies.

[@timd4414]

@@tennpikr74 Gotta sell a lot of cabuchons to pay that off! Oh well, if one enjoys it enough the cost shouldn't matter.

[@tennpikr74]

@@timd4414That is true and the market is flooded with cheap overseas cut cabs so there is little to be made.

[@timd4414]

@@tennpikr74 I see your frustration. They are probably all made in some type of automated process.

[@iranfernandespedrasprecios8297]

Like my friend.Very beautiful

[@tennpikr74]

thank you, this is a favorite material of mine to cut and polish.

[@huseyincivelek2815]

What is the name of tool you draw the stone????

[@tennpikr74]

I use an aluminum scribe to draw the outline of the shape on the rough stone.

[@diovanniepontino4736]

Verry beautiful

[@xXthorskeeperXx]

New to all of this what are you using to cut it in the beginning? Is just a table saw?

[@tennpikr74]

It is a table saw but a lapidary saw. it is made just for cutting rock. there is a reservoir with oil or water where the blade runs in it to cool the diamond blade. Ceramic tile cutting saws will also work.

[@xXthorskeeperXx]

@@tennpikr74 ah okay. Thank you for the reply

[@BrickStackers]

Thanks for the video. How do you get the remaining wax off the back? Do you do anything to the back or leave it unfinished? Thank you!

[@tennpikr74]

Brickstacker, I usually scrape it off with a pocket knife , then any remaining can be removed by soaking it in denatured alcohol . I mostly leave the backs rough. Thanks for watching and your comment.

[@krism2746]

If you put it in the freezer for 5 minutes they usually pop right off with minimal scraping.

[@tennpikr74]

Ive heard about the freezer method for both cabochons and faceting but just never tried it but I think I will . thanks

[@krism2746]

@@tennpikr74 works great for me.

[@jasonsummit1885]

Yep, I do the same method, leave it in the freezer for ten or twenty minutes then it pops right off without much dop wax left.👍

[@mux1978]

How much would that cab be worth retail? How long did it take you in real time? Learning lots! Subbed.

[@tennpikr74]

Thanks very much. This one took around 30 min. or so. If im lucky it could sell for $15 but more likely $10 and if its mounted in jewelry it can be worth more .

[@TheColt1945]

How long does it take to polish a stone

[@tennpikr74]

One like this takes around 30 min. total. thanks for watching.

[@alainbesson3944]

how to remove cerium or alumine oxyde waste from micro holes, it makes white spots on my stones?

[@tennpikr74]

sometimes just a good soap and water scrubbing with a toothbrush can work.

[@douglindquist4275]

thanks

[@bogdanmihai308]

Very interesting and useful video. I noticed that you use 6 diamond wheels: 100, 260, 600 1200, 3000 but I don't know what grit has the wheel between 100 and 260 grit weels.

[@tennpikr74]

There is a 100 hard wheel ,260 hard wheel, then 260 soft wheel then 600 and so on.

[@leiatorresgonzalez]

How much time does it take the whole process? Approximately

[@tennpikr74]

around 30 minutes. thanks for watching

[@maxgilbert18]

@@tennpikr74 So this averages about $5 an hour when you include material and consumable tool costs? How do people make a living doing this. I'm very curious.

[@tennpikr74]

@@maxgilbert18 You cant, on average materials such as this sodalite. a lot of sellers get finished cabochons from overseas for just a couple dollars each then they put them into jewelry and sell. Some money can be made on higher end rough such as petersite and others .

[@maxgilbert18]

@@tennpikr74 That's what I figured. Thanks for the reply. Keep up the good work.

[@bobbypatton4903]

I just hold the cab with my fingers 🤌 those wheels only bite if you let 'em. (Don't bother telling me I am stupid, I already know)

[@tennpikr74]

Yes, im learning to use the fingers much more nowdays, thanks for watching.

[@sybille2998]

Makes me VERY nervous to see your fingers so close to the saw blade- gorgeous result. Do u sell your cabochons somewhere?!

[@tennpikr74]

Hi, no need to be concerned, the blade unlike a wood cutting blade has no real teeth to it. I actually can touch the turning blade momentarily and not be injured at all. the edge is very fine diamond coated , that is what cuts the rock. I sell on etsy but not doing too well as the competition from the foreign cutting factories is fierce. Where as i pay $4 or 5.00 for a rough piece of sodalite, agate, etc. the foreign stones sell for as low as one dollar ea. on ebay, etsy and are finished stones. Lately i have been cutting faceted stones the most. Thanks for commenting.

[@keleighlevine6927]

Brent Knowlton what's your etsy? I'm looking to buy some cabochons!

[@tennpikr74]

My etsy store is gemsbymbk. I don't have any loose cabs for sale presently . They are mounted in jewelry, but I will be listing single cabs in a few weeks.

[@keleighlevine6927]

Thank you!

[@funnythingslakesuperioraga3331]

The diamond can't cut soft things such as skin. However they will do a number on finger nails in a hurry.

[@bayannijuan2747]

What's the name of the machine you used sir?

[@tennpikr74]

this machine i s called a lapidary grinding machine also known as a cabochon machine. This one is made by the kingsley north company. www.kingsleynorth.com

[@Muhammadshahid-oj3cp]

ماشاءالله سلام

[@tennpikr74]

shukraan lak ya sadiq

[@jasonsummit1885]

Looks like you really could use a Dop Buddy dop pot.😂 they cost $34.95 through Kingsley North.

[@tennpikr74]

Thanks, ive seen them and would like one.

[@funnythingslakesuperioraga3331]

A nail with super glue holds much better. Plus it's much cheaper.

[@sharonlewis7638]

But do you have the control with a metal nail that you with with a wooden stick? Just a thought, especially on the larger cabs being spun.

[@venkatareddynagaruru9293]

There are no visible inclusions in that stone I saw many in is it worth less

[@manabouttown63701]

I can sharpen my blades by cutting a red brick. Old tile setting trick.

[@tennpikr74]

Thanks, ill try that. I have some around here.

[@funnythingslakesuperioraga3331]

That just cleans the blade. I use a round aluminum oxide grinding wheel on sintered stuff. It exposes diamond when it's exposing too much brass.

[@overunder2376]

nice video so cool

[@tennpikr74]

Thanks over under

[@leiatorresgonzalez]

Price????

[@tennpikr74]

These only bring between 5 and 10 dollars

[@funnythingslakesuperioraga3331]

Cerium oxide is garbage. It has to get hot to polish, and it's expensive. I use a syringe of 14,000 mesh diamond paste. It costs about $8 for 5 grams and it one small tube can polish a lot. Why use diamond then use something that isn't diamond to do a poor polish?

[@tennpikr74]

thanks, ill try that out.

[@funnythingslakesuperioraga3331]

@@tennpikr74 Minnesotalapidarysupply has it. Get the pinkish color because it contains silicone. Then you need a backing pad and a synthetic felt pad which sticks to it. All you need is a few small drops and a few seconds the stone is done. It works great and it won't stain your fingers. Just use soapy water to clean the cab. It's great stuff. Cerium is $25-$30/#. The wheels are expensive too and a waste of money in my opinion. If you do a lot of cabs you can put them in a vibratory tumbler after they're done on 220 grit and save wear and tear on wheels too. I got a 4# lot o vibratory tumbler for about $200, but it will save you money in the long run.

[@tennpikr74]

@@funnythingslakesuperioraga3331 thanks very much for all the tips, i dont do many cabs lately but would like to improve my work.

[@funnythingslakesuperioraga3331]

@@tennpikr74 you're welcome. I started out using cerium, the diamond paste really is much better. I use some silicone spray on the synthetic felt pad too. Especially for larger agates. Soapy water will clean it up good.

[@jacknissen6040]

“Lesson” ?

[@audenejay]

I am a lapidary. So many mistakes in this video. I would not recommend this for anyone learning lapidary.

[@tennpikr74]

Sorry, its just my way of doing it, not saying im an expert or i know best.

[@billcoley8520]

There isn’t much technique to this, you just wiggle it around from one stone then the next