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Post by tkrueger3 on Sept 28, 2009 22:13:50 GMT -5
A few of these have already been "finished" once or twice before, but this time is the LAST time, whether they like it or not! Most of these are finished on both sides - a couple still need work on the "other" side, and will get that soon - a few are one-sided - flat on the back side, but still polished on the back. I wish I could remember all the names of these - some I do, some I don't, some I never knew. Anybody who can give me a good guess, please do! ;D I got this from an RTH'er, but for the life of me, cannot remember who! I believe I was told it is white turquoise. That sounds to me like an oxymoron, but hey - what do I know? LOL! No idea what this is, but I've worked it 3 times, and I quit! Oooooh - I know this one! Montana agate! Again, twice through the wheels. I thought these were agates, but I don't know now - they are full of cracks, but never did break, so hey - I'm done! My old friend unakite - 3 times through the wheels, and I quit. A couple of experimental pieces of flourite. WAY soft! My jaded jade/jadeite/nephrite/whatever - the big one is a veteran of 3 times through the expandos, so it's done. Kambaba from Madagascar, supposedly A stray chip of lace I found in the bottom of a box Heartbreaker - moonstone I got from naturenut - I was so careful with it, and then I managed to break it by dropping another one on top of it accidentally. I could just spit! Some kind of onyx, I think - I hate it! 3 times through the expandos. Not sure, but I think these are both pet. palm This was supposed to be picasso - if not, I don't know what it is. I intended it to be an insert for a big belt buckle, but it absolutely will NOT shine, so I might just break it up and toss it in the tumblers. 3 picture jaspers of various flavors No clue what this is - but I sure hope somebody can name it. The shiniest parts are silver colored - very strange looking stone, but kinda mesmerizing. The green on the top left is soft, and did a lot of undercutting. A rhodonite piece that broke off of a big slab - couldn't see throwing it away! OK, that's all for tonight - I'm worn out now! Again, please, if you have a name for any of these, please tell me - especially if I've guessed wrong on any of them! Thanks Tom
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Post by superioragates on Sept 28, 2009 23:00:38 GMT -5
Well, even with all the trials, and spitting, I still like them all! You did good....for a quitter! LOLOL Marie
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Sept 28, 2009 23:12:33 GMT -5
Tom, Your determination and no quitting attitude produced some very nice cabs! You should not be disappointed in any of them. I've broke a few myslef and I know how bad it hurts. I think the 4th pic might be Pet Wood. I really like the green one with the metallic silver stuff in it. Great variety of flavors. Good Job, Steve
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Post by Toad on Sept 29, 2009 6:53:11 GMT -5
Really like the jade and palm. Nice work.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Sept 29, 2009 12:27:40 GMT -5
Tom, I think you are too hard on yourself. These all look great. The shapes are very nice with straight lines and even curvature. Some materials won't polish to a mirror shine. I've never worked it, but that picasso may be one of those that won't. Besides, IMHO a more matte finish may be better in a belt buckle anyway. You could see the pattern in the stone regardless of the light source.
Nice work.
Nate
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Post by tkrueger3 on Sept 29, 2009 12:57:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the kind words, folks!
I'm not disappointed in any of these, except for having broken one tip off of the moonstone. They aren't quite as glossy as most others I see here, but I think they're pretty good considering I have only through 1200 grit for the expando, and then just a vertical flat lap with different kinds of Ultralap discs for the final polish - I have no diamond belts nor diamond wheels, and won't have any in the near future because I can't afford them.
It's been a struggle to learn how to get the most out of the equipment I do have, but it sure is fun, even with the frustrations! I just luv it!
Thanks,
Tom
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Post by Tonyterner on Sept 29, 2009 13:09:36 GMT -5
You seem a bit down but I don't know why. These all look very nice. Yes we all screw up or things don't go the way we plan, that's life. Just keep plugging along and your skills will increase with time. When you say they go 3 times through the expandos do you mean you finish it, find scratches and go back through? If so you just need to be more patient. Its hard to wait each wheel out but once you get the patience for that you will loose the frustration of doing it over. I use magnifying glasses and dry an check each cab between wheels. Even with that there are some that end up getting reground.
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Mudshark
fully equipped rock polisher
Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock. Will Rogers
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,083
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Post by Mudshark on Sept 29, 2009 15:44:10 GMT -5
Great job on those!Most of the cabs I've done so far went thru the wheels twice so I know how you feel.I put a big magnifier lens near my machine and I dry and check the cab before moving on,it's helped a lot.
Mike
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Sept 29, 2009 15:53:11 GMT -5
Tom, working with stone can be at times difficult( especially with softer or mixed hardness stones) and often frustrating. I think you did pretty darn well and your perseverance paid off well. That first white turquoise stone is what they call white buffalo and is magnesite ( or sometimes howlite is called by that name). The red stones in your picture jasper batch look to be wonderstone type rhyoite. My favorites are the weird green rimmed stuff which is very unusual and the palm root which is always a favorite of mine.....Mel
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Post by tkrueger3 on Sept 29, 2009 16:23:25 GMT -5
Mel - thanks so much - now I do remember the wonderstone - in fact, I had written it on the big piece with a Sharpie, and had a devil of a time trying to sand the writing off! That thing is really really hard!
Thanks for the names of the white turquoise/howlite/white buffalo. It was a slab that I got from I think Nancyid, and of all the slabs she packed into that batch, it was the only one that broke. I decided to just use what the slab gave me, and this is the first piece. I like the material - pretty easy to work with.
Yep, I love that weird green/silver/orangy/maroonish thing - wish I had a name for it! I started with it in the vibe, but noticed right away the upper left corner of green stuff was cutting away, so I took it out and used the expando for it. Turned out pretty nice, I think.
I have a big 3X magnifier glass with a little LED light in it, and I do look at each one before moving on. But, apparently, what I think is satisfactory for that particular grit, really isn't. I need to be more critical of the finish at each step, I guess.
I do like the Ultralap discs I've been using from Kingsley North - they are cheap, and do a pretty good job. I just stick them onto the 8" disc on the Lortone, and away we go. I have them with cerium ox., aluminum ox., chrome ox., tin ox., and something called "Spectra". I try to use the charts showing what polish to use for what stone, but obviously I don't know what each stone is, so I do a lot of experimenting. Usually ends up pretty good, though.
Tom
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Post by rockchalk on Sept 29, 2009 17:18:27 GMT -5
Good work, I really like the pet palm too, and the jaspers. The Kambaba looks more like actual Ocean Jasper to me (closely related types anyway). You are working a wide range of materials, a very challenging thing of itself. Thanks for posting!
Scott
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mc2
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2009
Posts: 1,147
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Post by mc2 on Sept 29, 2009 21:13:34 GMT -5
Yea, looks like you are coming along very well! I like what I see. I know all about your frustrations. I go through that also. But, I am learning as I go, nice little lessons like patience,lol!
Mike
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Post by Bejewelme on Oct 1, 2009 11:57:31 GMT -5
Tom: Being new and cabbing is a difficult process, it is a love/hate, you have great success with one stone and you think you finally got it, and then the next stone is a royal PIA!!!! I think your cabs look super, you will find stones that work for you better than others and there will be some you don't love that become magnets for the fridge, and some you just haul off and thrown out in the yard!!! I like the palms the best!!!!! That rhodo is pretty too, lots of black pattern!!! You are doing super!!!!!
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Post by stoner on Oct 1, 2009 23:26:38 GMT -5
Nice work, it only gets better with time, and you're well on your way.
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Post by sitnwrap on Oct 2, 2009 16:26:02 GMT -5
The cabs are great and I love the short lines you offer about the different cabs and the trials. It just adds more personality to the cab.
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Post by montanamuskrat on Oct 2, 2009 21:12:28 GMT -5
Every thing I have seen to night has been very good and your's are with the best. Tom
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