Hi-Tech Diamond 6" Slant Cabber - Cabbing Machine Lapidary Equipmentt - Grinder Tool & Rock Polisher, Variable Speed Motor, Includes Rock Polishing Kit for Stones, Minerals, and Gem Shaping

Another great product from Hi-Tech. I like the ease of set-up and the functionality. Yes, it is an entry level machine, in my opinion, but for me, it does everything I need it to do. I am a hobbyist jeweler so starting to make my own cabochons was something I really wanted to do. This gave me the opportunity to make them at a reasonable cost. I don't have any complaint about the noise level when running, but I think it is perfectly fine for what it is. Maybe more professional machines are quieter, but I'm not spending that much money for a slight reduction in noise. Wear ear plugs if it bothers you, but I think that is nit picking. So far, I am very happy with this purchase.

Let me start by saying- I have a friend who gave me the funds to purchase this amazing machine. I am a diehard Rockhound and have been polishing them by hand for months, which is nice from time to time. But WOW does this speed up the process. It was delivered to me in 2 days. When I unboxed it.. I was in absolute heaven. I read the instruction manual first since I couldn't find many videos on this machine but it's pretty simple. Only thing I struggled with was peeling off the protective plastic from the discs. I have been waiting for months to be able to make cabachons so I could make my wire wrapped rock jewelry quicker. I used it for about a month and something seemed a little off with the balance of it so I called the company and they answered right away. We talked over the phone and I explained what I was concerned about and didn't use it in fear of seizing up the motor. They sent me replacement parts free of charge and shipped them to me rush delivery and I received them in two days. Gosh those 2 days were long.. I put the new parts on and I am back in business! I absolutely love this machine and the customer service even more. I will continue to buy from this company. This thing is very well built. Make sure to clean it after each use and spin dry the discs before storing away. Oil the inside of the arbor every 2 months Make sure the set screw is on the flat part of the arbor and do not over tighten! Make sure the disc is laying flush on the arbor before running it. Always use machine at HIGHEST SPEED. If you are left handed, you are going to get splashed in the face quite a bit .. I'd recommend safety glasses and a mask for sure. I highly recommend purchasing the extended warranty. If you're going to spend a lot on a machine, protect it as well. Enjoy!!

This is a wonderful product! I have been using the polisher for two weeks since purchase, and in that time I have logged about 35 hours on it. I am no lapidary genus so simplicity is important, and this works well for someone of my skill level and above. I had one brief scare - the water system required(s) greater than a 45 degree angle of the drip hose to operate properly and it took a couple of days to figure that out - but once done, it just works great. One suggestion based on some Youtube videos I watched. if you want to but one, consider purchasing a couple more 8in disks with greater and lesser grit ratings. I bought discs with 80 and 240 grit, along with some additional polishing paste (gt 14,000). These additional purchases helped achieve really nice finished agates. Anyway, this is a great product!

I just rec'd this yesterday and immediately set it up and started grinding rocks! It was definitely a learning experience...and I expect to get better at it. I must have spent 4-5 hours on the first disc, #180. This is the one used to reshape your rock before you begin the polishing process. I think I'll be more selective in choosing rocks to polish from herein. :) I have a lot of huge raw Petoskeys that I will be polishing. The cabber was easy to set up and the instructions were clear and direct. I set it up in my laundry room, on my dryer. (Placed a rug over the dryer to protect it.) The drain tube I routed into the laundry sink...but I noticed the water had sediment in it (the rock particles) so I was worried about it going into the drain and ultimately our septic tank/field. So I placed an empty gallon milk jug into the laundry tub and routed the drain tube into that. When needed, I would dump the waster water outside, and kept a gallon of fresh water to add to the reservois. The cabber was at the perfect height, for standing. I tried to sit on a stool but found it was easier to just stand up. This was a big investment, for a hobby, but I'm glad I bought it. If you want to polish rocks, this is a good way to do it!

The cabber is very compact, easy to set up and works great. The only thing I dislike is how it drains. I have mine set up on a small cart in my back patio and cover with a tarp when done. I bought a small rack for drying and storage of the wheels. For those with limited workspace, this cabber is a great option.

We love our slant cabber!! It makes pretty things like this!

I have mixed emotions about this one. I've had a slant lap before in a different brand. You can cab on this, but I think it's poorly made. The black plastic edging around the disc area is jagged, cut crooked. See pictures. It needs to have straight edges instead of a lip around the disc area. It makes it a little difficult to change the wheels. Sometimes I have to take off the black cover to change the disc out. The arbor pulls out sometimes when changing the disc. I don't think that's supposed to happen. It slings water everywhere despite me adjusting the feet on the black cover, which at first I did not know that's what the screws were for. No instructions. But I figured it out. Just take a screwdriver and adjust those screws to raise the black cover or lower it. It slings water so bad I have to cab outside which I did not have to do with my old slant lap. It has really good speed. I wish the water drained out better. It leaves water sitting in the bottom even when the hose is not clogged. I hate the water spout. It's temperamental and sits too far down over the disc area. If I adjust it upwards, water will not flow, so I can only keep the water running at the bottom of the disc which is not ideal for cabbing. I honestly wish I had gone with my old brand. It will take 6 inch disc from Rio so that's good. It just needs some improvements, but if you're on a budget, then it's workable. Kudos to company for providing a purple plastic apron which was really nice and the extra discs of course.

I'm loving this lapidary machine! I'm new to the art, so I feel this was a great investment for my skillset. I was tempted to purchase the one that takes the 8" disks, but the 6" disks are perfect! The largest cabs I've made so far have been 40x30mm and the 6" disks allow me plenty of room to play. The whole setup is really simple and the way the discs are propped up at an angle make it easy to sit down while you work. The splash guard also works really well and I'm never soaked afterwards. Directions are included and really easy to follow. I would highly recommend this for anyone who is new to Lapidary work and doesn't want to spend over a grand on machinery. All you need is a bucket to collect the used water!