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[amrap1]

Learning to use my Hi-Tech 6" slant cabber. I don't know what grit # wheels are on other cabbers but the roughest one that came with mine is 180 grit. That seemed high...more like polishing. The next 3 wheels seem to be identical. I bought a 80 grit wheel and it makes go a lot faster. Should I buy a 100 grit disc and replace it with one of the 3 similar wheels?

Is there a better place to buy the discs?

Ed

[irockhound]

I am just going to toss out my opinion but others may have other views.  The cabber comes with 180, 325, 600 and 1200.  I feel that if you jump too many grits things never work out well.  If you keep the 180 as a stage that would be fine adding the 100 grit or even 80 grit.  Starting with a 80 or 100 grit and jumping to a 325 would be problematic in getting out deep scratches.  Std wheel machines tend to go 80 or 100 hard / 220 hard / 280 soft / 600 soft / 1200 soft /and then either 3k or 14k soft.

Steve

[Felicia]

I have their flat lap, which comes with the same standard wheels. You could add an 80 or 100 if you find the 180 too slow. ( I'm assuming your 180 is the bonded metal type like mine. ) I bough a bonded metal 360 to remove the 180 scratches, (it's quite agressive) saving wear on the soft 325 - l was running through them quickly. Then I go to the soft 325. I do not recommend skipping grits. 1- you'll put a lot more wear on the finer one. 2- you may need to think about your probable lifespan when working the harder stones. LOL. For polishing you can use the pad and diamond that came with the machine, or add things like leather mounted on available hard discs, or even have rubber backings on that to make it softer and use things such as cerium oxide, etc; these last are best used wet, I think. The dry diamond can build up heat, so watch you opal and some others. Hope this helps. Enjoy.

[Felicia]

The hard backing plates I usually get from Rio Grande (made for Dura Bull), made by Hi-Tech but with a blue case). Some other similar machines use the same diameter but thinner, they won't work. Can also get them from Hi-Tech. 6" polishing pads are available in many types. Kingsley North has some nice leather ones. I'm sure there are other suppliers.

[amrap1]

The more I've used the cabber, the more I read and watch videos on cabbing the better I understand it. I believe that most people have saws, cut slabs, draw the shape and trim most the excess off before cabbing. Therefore the 180 grit 1st disc would be sufficient. Since I'm starting with a odd shaped stone I needed a rougher grade 1st step. I bought an 80 grit disc to start with and things go a lot faster. I'm fine with the other standard discs that came with the cabber.

Now I'm questioning the last polishing disc. Since you don't use water does it wear out faster? What do you use after you've run out of the diamond paste they give you? Has anyone used the final polishing pads from Hi-Tech? They say you don't need polishing paste....just use water.

Oh, and my fingers should be happy when my DopStation comes. I'll probably miss the "Find the gemstone" game when they fly out of my hand!!!

Ed

[Felicia]

The polishing pad that comes with the cabber is meant to be used with the diamond paste. The pad might wear out before you run out of diamond paste. When you do run out, there are numerous sources for more. The polishing pad is just fabric bonded to a backing, and would only polish very soft things like maybe amber or jet. You do need the paste; very little is used at a time and it lasts and lasts, only a little on occasion is needed to recharge the pad. By the way, the polishing pad outlasts the soft shaping pads by several times, if you take care of it. Oh, and having the dopping station won't entirely eliminate you from the "find the gemstone" game, you'll still get to play on occasion, all is not lost.  👀