sticksinstones
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 117
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Post by sticksinstones on Feb 19, 2012 3:12:38 GMT -5
It was suggested that I put a few pics up of my work to help introduce my interests and focus. I don't know this site well so please forgive any lapse in protocol, but I'm always thrilled for a chance to show off my latest work. I've been working with a lot of African material lately. Here's a taste: Last slab (heel - that's why it's incomplete) of the most colorful woodworthia I've ever seen. It's from Zimbabwe. I'd kill for more... A more typical woodworthia, also from Zimbabwe (but still a nice one). Rhexoxylon also from Zimbabwe. I've done a few of these in the past year but this slab started to show the secondary series of cavities that sometimes ring the inner band (but are often lost to time). This is the first slab from the opposite end of a log I first began cutting last year. Some greens are starting to show amongst the reds. It's from Madagascar but obviously a nice part of the vast forest found there. This one is an enigma. My tastes generally match that of my customers' pretty well, but this log has been an exception and I don't know why. It's big so some of the definition in the rays is lost in the photos, but the color and wood grain are mind boggling. I finished this one last week because I wanted to see those greens in the wood grain pop. Try sanding and polishing over that punky center with a disc sander :-)
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Post by Toad on Feb 19, 2012 8:55:11 GMT -5
Great looking specimens. Thanks for sharing.
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Feb 19, 2012 10:33:44 GMT -5
Wonderful specimens! I'm glad you decided to post them, and I hope you keep 'em coming!
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Post by drocknut on Feb 19, 2012 10:41:38 GMT -5
Those are really fascinating and beautiful. I know practically nothing about African rocks so it's good to see some outstanding specimens on here. Thanks for posting.
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Post by helens on Feb 19, 2012 14:17:14 GMT -5
Very neat specimens:)!
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Feb 19, 2012 18:55:36 GMT -5
Steve those are really nice. Don't often get to see this variety of stones out of Africa Stu
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 19, 2012 19:34:07 GMT -5
So you get logs and slab the whole rounds? 24" saw or 30"? how thick do you go? about 1"?
how long it the typical log you get?
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Post by rockrookie on Feb 19, 2012 19:38:47 GMT -5
BEAUTIFUL !!!!! thanks for sharing !
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darstcreek77
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2011
Posts: 673
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Post by darstcreek77 on Feb 19, 2012 20:42:34 GMT -5
Do you have the dry sander or wet do you use paper or those hard sanding disk ? thanks I really enjoy looking at pet wood !
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sticksinstones
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 117
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Post by sticksinstones on Feb 19, 2012 20:52:54 GMT -5
So you get logs and slab the whole rounds? 24" saw or 30"? how thick do you go? about 1"? how long it the typical log you get? Yes, slabbing logs into rounds is probably about half of what my effort in the shop goes to. Maybe even more. I have three 24" saws, one 36" and one 48" circular. I also have two drag saws for big stuff though only one is in production. Log length varies. I sometimes even buy import finished slabs and re-lap, sand and polish them to produce higher quality specimens if the raw material is good. The longer a log, the better (generally) because you'll get more yield for the weight you paid for in terms of slabs. But most logs aren't very square on the ends so that part can produce a lot of waste (or some lower value per lb. stand-ups or something). The downside to a really long log is that you end up with a LOT of the same slab. I have some pretty amazing petrified cherry from McDermitt that I ended up with like 50 slabs of (below) and it can take a long time for the market to absorb those. At the end of the day, there are a finite number of petrified wood collectors and they don't all want the same thing.
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sticksinstones
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 117
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Post by sticksinstones on Feb 19, 2012 20:54:59 GMT -5
Do you have the dry sander or wet do you use paper or those hard sanding disk ? thanks I really enjoy looking at pet wood ! I posted a note yesterday in another forum (where someone was asking about laps or sanders) where I described my process. I use drum sanders with cloth backed silicon carbide wet/dry belts and a respirator with hearing protection. I used expando drums for a long time but do most work on my bull wheel now (small pieces are still the exception, the bull wheel gets instantly hot and spalls small pieces easily).
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