What Is a Cabbing Machine? How It Works and What to Buy
A cabbing machine shapes and polishes cabochons on a stack of diamond wheels and polishing pads. Here is how it works and what to look for.
What it is
A cabbing machine, also called a cabochon machine or grinder polisher, is a motorized shaft that holds a set of grinding and polishing wheels. It is used to shape stone into domed cabochons and to polish them.
How it works
The wheels are arranged from coarse to fine. You start on a coarse diamond wheel to shape the outline and dome, move to finer wheels to remove scratches, and finish on a polishing pad with a polish such as cerium oxide. Most machines run wet: a water feed keeps the stone and wheels cool and washes away slurry.
What to look for
- Wheel diameter. 6 and 8 inch are common. Larger wheels give a bigger working surface.
- Wheel set. Check how many diamond wheels and polishing pads are included and what grits they cover.
- Motor. A stronger motor keeps the wheels turning at speed under load.
- Water system. A pump, drip feed and splash guard make wet grinding cleaner.
- Extras. Some models accept accessories, such as a trim saw attachment.
Machines to compare
See our full range of cabbing machines and grinder polishers, including the CabKing 6 Inch and CabKing 8 Inch models, and the Covington 8 Inch. Keep spares of the grinding wheels and polishing compounds you use most.
Learn the process
New to cabbing? Follow How to Cut a Cabochon, then How to Polish Cabochons. To understand how a cabbing machine differs from a flat lap, read Flat Lap vs Cabbing Machine.