Colbaugh's Semi Cabbing Machine !

[Taogem]

Like many other threads brought over from the old forum there was a lot of posts added that are lost to the old forum.

I was sharing some discussion with Jim from the Nugget Shooters forum. If your interested in learning more about this machine, you can visit the thread within his forum. It starts in about half way through the thread titled Kingman Turquoise mine.


Finally got this puppy all cleaned up and set up.



The cab gets waxed on to one of about 50 various engine valves made   in to dops which go inside the chuck.



On the opposite end of the chuck is where the Graves type cams are placed. They ride on the fixed pulley which is driven by a separate motor. Very similar to the Graves preformer.



It came with five different diamond discs. Each has a different type of shape. Not sure if there are others that I can purchase yet. Four of them are brand new, and the fifth is worn some.





There is a box with some chambers in it. The guy was not sure about  how this whole thing worked. It looks like this box with the chambers needs to be hooked up to a shop vac, sucking the dust from behind the blade, down a hose and into this box..

Not sure which end goes towards the vac hose. The larger chamber first , or if the waste has to go through the series of smaller chambers before getting to the one largest of the chambers last.







This puppy really screams at 3450 rpm.

I think it is going to take a bit of experimenting to get a handle on what cam to use with what disc.

Going to do some checking on if there are other shaped discs available someplace.

Planning on making a nice selection of home made cams so as to have a sweet variety of different cabs that can be readily made on this thing.

I can't do anything with it until I get a shop vac hooked up to it.

Anxious to see how the few discs that came with it will shape some cabs. I am hoping to find a disc that will let me do 45 beveling too.

I was just getting ready to buy a submersible pump off eBay, then this came with a nice one. Big enough for this machine plus can run a line off it to my arbor unit that has paper abrasives on it.

I have not seen one of these before, so have much to find out about it.

If anyone has any experience, tips, or parts knowledge about this, please shout it out ! 

[Taogem]

Never know who may be lurking with a special interest in this semi-cabbing machine, so just wanted share additional info.

Jim who works at the Kingman AZ turquoise mine that has been sharing his experiences with this machine with me was very kind to send me some information in the mail of what he had about this machine.

He had noticed that some of the things were reversed on mine compared to his and to the drawings on this schematic.

The counter weight marked number 6 is on the back side on my machine and in the front on his. Same with the small electric motor that you cant see in this schematic which turns the chuck that holds the dop and stone.

Any hoo...... I reversed mine today after receiving the schematic. It just did not work out because it does not let the stone have hardly any pressure against the grinding wheel. There was so little an amount of pressure, that the cam would not even stay on the wheel.

The entire assembly mounted on the number 16 base would have to be moved back towards me to even think about using the counter weights as shown in the schematic.

Any way, just wanted to show this schematic as compared to how the machine I have is set up. Seems to work for Jim, but I can't get the same results. I am getting the pressure desired with the counter weight on the back side. Guess that is what is important.

[Taogem]

Finally, after some trials and tribulations, I finally got back a set of discs that had to be re-plated twice because I was not paying attention.

This time they came back looking great! Big difference in the grit. Probably can't really tell all that well by the pic, but they are perfect!

Tomorrow, I am heading into town to get some wax so that I can give this puppy a fresh go round....

[ralph]

hey tao, have you tried out your knew laps yet?

[Taogem]

You mean the grinding discs I think?

I was gone to Spokane all day, and just walked in the door and am warming up the shop!

Will be playing all night tonight. Will have a lot to talk about tomorrow! 

[Taogem]

I used this thread in a few emails sent out looking for a reputable plating company. Turns out these discs were in fact not plated properly. Diamond Lab refunded my money, but am looking for another re-plate.

Any way, this post is more for any plating companies viewing this thread. Just so there is no confusion.  I am still looking to have these discs plated, yet again.....

[Taogem]

Does anyone here have any experience with having grinding discs similar to the ones here re-plate?

I have sent these in twice to one company and have been searching for another as the first company did not work out.

I think the correct process is one of "diamond molding". Not entirely sure.

Reluctant to send them off again without knowing that someone else may have had success with having theirs done.

Help?

[seth]

I would try Inland Lapidary. They may be able to create a sintered wheel instead of a plated one. I use there wheels and they are great and last a long time.

[Taogem]

Thanks Seth. I will look them up right now!

[seth]

Hey Tao, did you ever have any luck with this machine and the wheels. I was just offered one for $100 ! Don't really need it but I can make some money off a resale to someone that wanted one.

[Taogem]

No luck..

I cant remember what the deal was with Inland or if I even looked them up for sure.

Does that machine come with any discs?

Are you going to buy it, if not..... pick me 

[seth]

Yes it does have wheels with it. I am waiting for the guy to get back to me. If he really only wants what he told me for it I will have to buy it. The company that makes the other machine now wants $3500 for one.

[Taogem]

I did not realize Addixton was so expensive. I thought they were only about 1200.

The only thing that the owner, I think his name was Jim, bragged about was the difference regarding the protection from water spray on the electric motor.

I don't remember seeing anything that made the other better than the Colbaugh.

It does work very well.... I have not fired mine up for some time, but it does work great.

[seth]

Yes they are expensive. I spoke with him on the phone today. He also told me he thought his was better also. I hope to pick it up tomorrow. For that price it will be worth an hour drive. Probably fix it up real nice and sell or trade it off for some rocks.

[Taogem]

Good deal..

Turns out will not have the rocks mentioned earlier. Otherwise would see if there was anything in there you would like for it.

PM me any way once you get ready to sell or trade for it. With the exception of the discs, it is going to be spare parts for me.