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[wheatguy]

Where do you guys that cut cabochons get your inspiration for shapes?  Do you cut them free form or use templates, and if templates, where do you get them?   I have a couple templates that I got from Graves, but they are pretty simple circles and ovals.  I'm blown away by some of the more complicated shapes I see here.  Thanks!

[jerrysg]

Diamond Pacific now has a set of much more elaborate templates.  I think there are 20 in the series.

Jerry

[wheatguy]

Thanks Jerry.  I'll look at those!
John

[55fossil]

    Feel the stone, really.   I just love everyone that uses templates to cut freeform cabochons.  MY opinion...   Many stones do well on standard templates. But for truly unique stones you need to look at the slab and cut where it tells you the best cabochon is and the shape it wants to be. Yes, you may think you waste a lot of good material this way but this is how you get those truly one of a kind cabs. You cannot force inspiration or find it by asking, it has to come to you.
    You may have to sit a slab on the desk or hide it away for years before inspiration hits you. Maybe try some music you love while you sit in a quiet room with some nice slabs.   Yep, I am one of those free thinkers. Might be from the 8 years of dark spaces in the Air Force doing crypto.......  now that's inspiration   Neal

[hummingbirdstones]

I agree, feel the stone.  Sometimes I just sit and look at it and really notice the pattern(s) in the slab.  Sliding templates around on a slab can help isolate the area where the best drama is by blocking out the other stuff.  I have slabs that have been sitting around for years that I pick up, look at for a while and then put back, just because the right cab hasn't popped out at me yet.  I also have a whole flat file full of slabs that are just so beautiful I can't bring myself to cut them (yet).  I believe this is how we end up being rock hoarders.   

[wheatguy]

Thanks Neal and Robin.  I appreciate your insights.  I'm a scientist and never thought I had an ounce of artistic'ness' or creativeness to me.  But this past year, I have begun to cut and shape cabs and it is a very nice fit for me.  I found an awesome piece of labradorite in Wyoming and made a necklace for my girlfriend.  But, I used a template even though the stone was screaming to me that it had a shape of its own.  Perhaps I should have listened!  I also felt somewhat limited as to a setting for the stone...perhaps I need to wrap my brain around silversmithing too?!
John

[olgguy]

Ditto 55fossil & Hummingbirdstones, but when I design one I like I make an aluminum template for my file. I include the size and file them according to size. Once you have the template you can modify
the shape larger or smaller or even combine curves from different ones to create a new design.

[hummingbirdstones]

That's a great idea!  How do you cut the templates out so nicely?

[bobby1]

Try Cabtopia
Bob

[olgguy]

I use  jewelry piercing technique. Draw a line around the stone and drill a small hole to the inside of the line, insert the saw blade and cut up to the line. Leave the line showing so you can file  and smooth any imperfections. You can get the Aluminum at a "Home Depot" type store. It comes in 12x12x.019. I cut my blanks 2 5/16x 3 1/8 and store them in old "Band Aid " cans.

[hummingbirdstones]

Thanks for the responses! 

I had never heard of Cabtopia before.  There's some very cool templates in there, including a HUMMINGBIRD!  Lord knows, I have to have that one.   

For shapes that we come up with just by cutting, olgguy's technique will be perfect and will force me to perfect my sawing skills, which are not near what his seem to be or Steve's (the master of sawing) are.

[wheatguy]

Thank you for the Cabtopia suggestion Bob...some really nice things there!

And, olgguy, thank you too for the tips.  I really like how you cut and store your templates.  Too cool!