holdemplyer
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 418
|
Post by holdemplyer on Jan 25, 2008 22:03:57 GMT -5
I've been lurking on this board for a while now because my wife and i have been thinking of tumbling some stones after we started hunting some fossils around here at a local state park. I came across this board and found the wire wrapping section, not long after that i was in the rock shop and practicing with copper, and here are some of my first with sterling silver wire, all comments and critique are welcome, thanks for looking. Alex
|
|
|
Post by akansan on Jan 25, 2008 23:49:29 GMT -5
I really like the second one - especially the top of it. I also really like your twisted bail on the first one.
|
|
adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,774
|
Post by adrian65 on Jan 26, 2008 0:16:43 GMT -5
First of all, welcome aboard! You do very nice wraps, the second one is my favorite too. I specially like the spirals in the top. If the wire is soft, maybe you could be able to do those spirals by hand and this way there won't be tool marks on them.
Adrian
|
|
|
Post by stonesthatrock on Jan 26, 2008 1:07:47 GMT -5
love the first one, wish i could do that
welcome to the board
|
|
granpaw
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rocks...The oldest living things on earth.
Member since October 2007
Posts: 111
|
Post by granpaw on Jan 26, 2008 9:29:13 GMT -5
Oh those are NICE!.. Welcome to the best board on earth. I agree with Akansan and Adrian as to the second one being my favorite, but both are exceptional for first time attempts. Keep up the good work Alex.
granpaw
|
|
|
Post by creativeminded on Jan 26, 2008 10:26:11 GMT -5
That is a great start. Welcome to the addiction of stone and wire. Tami
|
|
nancyf
has rocks in the head
Wired Cowgirl
Member since April 2007
Posts: 629
|
Post by nancyf on Jan 27, 2008 7:13:41 GMT -5
Wowza! Way to go!
There is a type of cloth tape that you can put on your pliers to keep marks from happening too. Generally I start the curl and then use my fingers...then back to pliers to set the curl. ;D
|
|
holdemplyer
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 418
|
Post by holdemplyer on Jan 27, 2008 10:56:03 GMT -5
thanks for all the kind words, this is an addiction for sure, i went to a rock swap yesterday, and got some nice cabs to wrap, now just need to go get more wire. Hopefully the wife and i will be getting a tumbler and i'm pricing some tile saws to make some of my own cabs.....
thanks again for the kind words and welcome, this is a great board!
the tool marks come from my round nose pliers, i figured out that they dont show up when i use flat nose, woohoo
Alex
|
|
raqy
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2007
Posts: 799
|
Post by raqy on Jan 27, 2008 11:44:43 GMT -5
Hi Alex, Those look really good I like the first one best. As for the tool marks you can file down your pliers a little which helps or a lil masking tape. Welcome to the board! Raquel
|
|
|
Post by Michael John on Jan 27, 2008 11:52:22 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum! Great work! Alex, Home Depot sells a GOOD tile saw called The WorkForce for under $100. Over 100 people on this forum bought and use it. There's a thread about it in the "General" section. Here's the link for real good prices on Thumler's tumblers: www.lockstock.com/products.asp?dept=534With just those two pieces of gear, you'll be able to cut slabs, trim them into shapes, and then tumble them into ready-to-wrap stones.
|
|
|
Post by Jurrasic Jonje on Jan 27, 2008 13:07:37 GMT -5
You are off to a great start. With time your wraps will get tighter and cleaner. Welcome to the addiction.
|
|
|
Post by Cher on Jan 27, 2008 22:05:07 GMT -5
WTG, very good for just beginning. Pretty easy to get addicted to isn't it. ;D
|
|
kjohn0102
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since April 2006
Posts: 774
|
Post by kjohn0102 on Jan 28, 2008 7:29:12 GMT -5
Welcome Alex and get ready to become consumed. I tumble, wrap and Cab in my sleep these days (since I have so little time to do it for real!) These are both very nice! I use painters tape on my tools to avoid marks. Looks like you are using round wire-you might try square for your next wraps-it lays neater against the stone, and with a nifty twisting tool you can twist your left over ends for added design. And, a Work Force saw will be the best investment you have ever made! When looking for tumblers, PLEASE skip the CE tumblers you will find cheap on EBAY-you will have nothing but heartache and broken belts, as everyone here will attest! Go with the Loretone 33B-Connie Fox still has the cheapest price new. www.jatayu.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=J&Category_Code=TPOKeep an eye on EBAY though, sometimes you can get a deal on used. Have fun! Karen
|
|