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[adovbs]

I don't see a general questions about lapidary section, so since I'm mostly making cabs right now, I hope this is an okay place to put this noob question. 

I am working on a new cab right now, and I'm finding that I'm able to control and shape it just fine with my bare hands - no dopping stick.  Is there a reason why this is bad practice, or do others here work with their larger cabs un-dopped?  Just curious.  I was going to dop it, but I am finding this so much more natural for me that I haven't yet.  I'm almost to the polishing stage, and so far so good! 

So, what's the dope on dopping? 

[adovbs]

Well, I finished it without dopping.  I may give it another round or two of polish in the morning, but for now, it's looking pretty good!  I'm also going to enter it in the Cab Contest when I get a better final picture. 

[hummingbirdstones]

Well, as you've discovered there is no law on dop sticks.  Some people swear by them, some people hate 'em.  Do it however is more comfortable for you and what you like best.  I personally sometimes use them and sometimes I don't.  Depends on the stone.  If it's little, I'll dop it up because my fingers get stiff and I have a hard time holding on to the little buggers!

Nice looking stone, can't wait to see a bigger picture.   

[iceopals]

Just for me, of course, I have found that my pressure is more even if I use a dop stick.  Therefore, I will shape a larger stone in hand, and once that is done I will still dop it up. 

[adovbs]

Yeah, I can't see me trying to cut a smaller cab without having a dop stick.  I think the reason I asked is I just assumed that everyone used them all of the time.  But when I kept working the cab without one today, and found it to be a much better experience for the most part, I started to wonder if everyone really *did* use dop sticks all the time, and if so, was there a safety thing that made doing that a "best practice?"

Thanks for weighing in! 

[PhilNM]

If you don't use dop sticks, you'll find that eventually, you have no fingerprints left.Which is OK. but the loss of finger-tip grip is a real pain in the tukas! And of course, you'll find yourself with lots of nicks and missing skin spots all the time. I used to do it by hand, now it's dop sticks all the say. Plus, if I want to grab the cab up close and personal to work it, I still can!

[lithicbeads]

As I no longer do calibrated cabs I stopped using dop sticks but would use them again for calibrated sizes  and the shapes in which they are customarily produced. I agree you can get much more control especially for small stones with a geometry that changes quickly.

[ScarlettOSara]

I love it:) Be bop a do Dop:) That's my baby:)