pebblesky
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Post by pebblesky on Sept 4, 2023 16:31:00 GMT -5
I have a fascination with fossil corals. I recently purchased some slabs: They are not large (the one on the top-right corner of the first photo is slightly over one inch wide on its narrowest waist), and they are thicker than the regular slabs, so I was originally considering tumbling them. But I don't know how bad the undercut will go on tumbling, and don't want to mess up. Also, some of the most interesting pieces have holes in the mini agate nodules. Wondering if it is possible to put wax/hot glue to fill the holes on tumbling, then remove the wax/glue afterwards, so that the natural holes won't be ruined on tumbling. Or would these slabs be better represented by face polishing them, or making cabs from them? Some pieces are quite small, and can make only one regular-shaped cab.
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 4, 2023 21:24:24 GMT -5
I love coral as well!! I find Syringopora Coral out here and I've made cabs out of them...and love the way they turn out!
Nice pickup on those slabs! I'd be tempted to cab a couple of those...and face polish a couple as well.
There's been talk about what people use to plug the vugs when tumbling...but right now I can't remember what people use. There's several of your slabs with quite a few voids...which is why I'd probably face polish...it'd be quicker and cleaner.
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,419
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Post by pebblesky on Sept 4, 2023 22:32:45 GMT -5
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 4, 2023 23:15:35 GMT -5
Those were back when I was cabbing on the slant cabber! LOL One of these days I'll try a couple more on the cabbing machine...maybe they'll be a little shinier. I think it's definitely worth putting a few of them aside for future "projects"!
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michiganpebbler
spending too much on rocks
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Post by michiganpebbler on Sept 5, 2023 8:48:02 GMT -5
Those are really cool. I’m not sure how tumbling would work with all of the vugs, but I know somebody here can help you with that. I’m interested to see what the consensus is. I like fossils as well. Here’s one I found last year in the Upper Peninsula. I don’t know exactly what it is, but it looked unusual & I like it. lol
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,419
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Post by pebblesky on Sept 5, 2023 12:08:41 GMT -5
Those are really cool. I’m not sure how tumbling would work with all of the vugs, but I know somebody here can help you with that. I’m interested to see what the consensus is. I like fossils as well. Here’s one I found last year in the Upper Peninsula. I don’t know exactly what it is, but it looked unusual & I like it. lol Your finding looks cool! Looks like this one that polished very nicely: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/103271/michigan-chain-coral
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chris1956
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Post by chris1956 on Sept 5, 2023 13:02:47 GMT -5
Those are really cool. I’m not sure how tumbling would work with all of the vugs, but I know somebody here can help you with that. I’m interested to see what the consensus is. I like fossils as well. Here’s one I found last year in the Upper Peninsula. I don’t know exactly what it is, but it looked unusual & I like it. lol It sure looks like chain coral. When I polished the one pebblesky linked to in this thread, I did it on a cabber. The matrix between the coral chains was very soft. If the matrix on your stone is soft like that, I think you will get a lot of undercutting if you try to tumble it. Plus, as you noted, the vugs in the chains themselves won't help. But that is just my 2 cents worth. I could be wrong. You might check to see what the hardness of the matrix is.
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michiganpebbler
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2023
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Post by michiganpebbler on Sept 5, 2023 14:21:30 GMT -5
Those are really cool. I’m not sure how tumbling would work with all of the vugs, but I know somebody here can help you with that. I’m interested to see what the consensus is. I like fossils as well. Here’s one I found last year in the Upper Peninsula. I don’t know exactly what it is, but it looked unusual & I like it. lol It sure looks like chain coral. When I polished the one pebblesky linked to in this thread, I did it on a cabber. The matrix between the coral chains was very soft. If the matrix on your stone is soft like that, I think you will get a lot of undercutting if you try to tumble it. Plus, as you noted, the vugs in the chains themselves won't help. But that is just my 2 cents worth. I could be wrong. You might check to see what the hardness of the matrix is. Good idea, I’ll do that. It looks soft to me. I kinda surmised it wouldn’t tumble well just based on how it looked, so thanks for confirming. That’s ok, it looks nice on my kitchen window sill. Your polished Chain Coral is really cool!
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,419
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Post by pebblesky on Nov 27, 2023 18:35:59 GMT -5
I am quite fascinated by that slab with colorful tiny agate nodules, so I take some more pictures. It also seems it is a bit too small for making cabs. Since it has natural holes, maybe I should hang it somewhere after polishing it.
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chris1956
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Post by chris1956 on Nov 27, 2023 19:55:13 GMT -5
The tiny agates are cool.
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realrockhound
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Post by realrockhound on Nov 27, 2023 20:19:23 GMT -5
Id cab it
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quartzilla
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Post by quartzilla on Nov 27, 2023 21:12:10 GMT -5
Wow that is really nice! I’d flash that thing around like a platinum card!
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Post by Pat on Nov 27, 2023 23:56:55 GMT -5
I’ve liked fossil coral for years. Those would make wonderful cabs. Enjoy!
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victor1941
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Post by victor1941 on Nov 28, 2023 9:22:27 GMT -5
You can make a doublet with a quartz cap quite easily. Fill all the open pores with epoxy to remove any air pockets in the coral, smooth and cap. I think you might be able to buy premade polished caps.
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,419
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Post by pebblesky on Nov 28, 2023 11:50:00 GMT -5
You can make a doublet with a quartz cap quite easily. Fill all the open pores with epoxy to remove any air pockets in the coral, smooth and cap. I think you might be able to buy premade polished caps. I am not going to cab any time soon but I have a question: can the epoxy be removed later after polishing? I really think these air pockets are a nice feature, like this: This piece seems to be tumble polished since there is a small filler rock stuck in one of the pockets.
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victor1941
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by victor1941 on Nov 28, 2023 15:25:45 GMT -5
Acetone will remove the epoxy.
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victor1941
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Post by victor1941 on Nov 28, 2023 15:44:17 GMT -5
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pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,419
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Post by pebblesky on Nov 28, 2023 16:53:15 GMT -5
These look great! I love and collect quite some pieces like the last cab with many small nodules.
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Post by jasoninsd on Nov 28, 2023 21:32:41 GMT -5
pebblesky - I've said it numerous times...I'm not a "specimen" kinda guy. I usually look at a slab and look for cabs to be had out of the slab! However...I think I'd have a hard time cabbing that last piece you showed! I'd most likely leave that as a whole slab. Those fortification areas within those little agate areas are insanely gorgeous!! Fantastic specimen piece as far as I'm concerned!
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