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Cabmate add ons

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Fegbri
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« on: December 14, 2015, 05:41:24 am »

I think I finally decided on a graves Cabmate for my first machine. Don't have a lot of money or space, so I think this is great solution. My question is what would you reccomend in addition to the all diamond package to get started? Here's what it comes with:
Includes the assembled unit with a package of diamond accessories which includes a 6 x .012 Diamond blade, 180 Grit diamond wheel (6 x 1 1/2), 600 Grit Thin Disc (6 inch), a set of three pads, Diamond Compounds 325, 1200 and 50,000 Grit as well as dop sticks and dop wax.

Will this be enough to do my first cabs? Should I get a nova or some other flex wheel? Any help appreciated!
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slabbercabber
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« Reply #1 on: December 14, 2015, 08:36:03 am »

If you are very patient you can make cabs with this.  It will go a lot faster with two hard wheels of say 100 and 240 and then go to soft wheels, belts or compound in tighter steps.  My belts are 100, 325, 600, 1500, 5000, 20,000, 50,000.  The higher grits are not always used but really help with difficult materials. 
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Fegbri
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« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2015, 11:52:12 am »

If you are very patient you can make cabs with this.  It will go a lot faster with two hard wheels of say 100 and 240 and then go to soft wheels, belts or compound in tighter steps.  My belts are 100, 325, 600, 1500, 5000, 20,000, 50,000.  The higher grits are not always used but really help with difficult materials. 
Isn't the 180 diamond wheel it come with hard? If so, could I just get an 80, then go to 180, then maybe buy a 220 soft?
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slabbercabber
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« Reply #3 on: December 15, 2015, 07:32:52 am »

Yes, that one is hard and it will get you there.  A larger grit will just get you there faster.  Same with the 100 grit soft.  The 100 grit will smooth out the surface from the 180 grit hard wheel much faster than 220.  Since the coarser grits do the most work and therefor wear out fastest, I feel the 100 grit belts pay for themselves many times over.
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