gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,807
|
Post by gemfeller on Dec 6, 2013 21:19:19 GMT -5
I had some old Mexican flame agate slabs I'd put off cutting because to get a decent composition I needed to highlight inclusions of what I think is selenite. I finally cut a couple as a test and I liked the overall appearance. I decided to tumble-polish them as an experiment, knowing the selenite would undercut. It did, as planned, and I think the resulting texture and shape conrasts are interesting. I started cabbing back in the uptight days when the only "acceptable" shapes were ovals, squares, rounds, pears etc. Cabs had to be "perfect" with no inclusions or unusual qualities. All the freeform and sculptural shapes I was naturally inclined to cut were scoffed at and rejected. I think times have changed enough for more creative cabs like this to be accepted. What do you folks think? (The second cab is better than it looks here but it was photographed under bad lighting conditions.) Rick
|
|
Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,683
|
Post by Tommy on Dec 6, 2013 23:07:56 GMT -5
I think those are both beautiful Rick! Thank God I didn't start "back in the day" because I would have never lasted. I tend to pick an area of a slab and just start grinding and let the rock and the design come out by itself.
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
|
Post by Sabre52 on Dec 6, 2013 23:34:44 GMT -5
Those are nice looking cabs. I find it is easier to get a more perfect finish on the wheels, but being lazy, I often tumble polish my cabs and so often get undercutting. Especially seems to be a problem with some moss agates, jasper agates and pet woods. Still, I think a good percentage of the stones come out looking pretty nice so I've learned to take the good with the bad and just accept some imperfections. Might think differently of I had to sell my cabs but I do them just for myself anyway so what the heck, it's super nice to finish a couple of dozen cabs at once in the tumbler.....Mel
|
|
|
Post by pghram on Dec 7, 2013 12:48:07 GMT -5
I think the texture of these adds to their beauty.
Rich
|
|
gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,807
|
Post by gemfeller on Dec 7, 2013 23:24:11 GMT -5
I think the texture of these adds to their beauty. Rich I think the texture of these adds to their beauty. Rich Thank you Rich. That was the point of my post. I think using controlled and planned undercutting can be another creative option in cab-cutting. I appreciate that you understood what I was getting at.
|
|
SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
|
Post by SirRoxalot on Dec 8, 2013 9:06:00 GMT -5
Times have definitely changed, those are beauties. Only question in my mind is, if the white, likely calcite, goes all the way through, aren't they liable to crack?
|
|
gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,807
|
Post by gemfeller on Dec 8, 2013 14:33:06 GMT -5
SirRox, that's a possibility. The calcite doesn't go all the way through the triangular cab and I've temporarily misplaced the cushion. I'll check when it turns up. If it goes all the way possible fragility would be a consideration in deciding how to set such a stone i.e., pendant instead of ring stone, etc. But the cushion seemed pretty sturdy during cutting and it held up fine in my vibe.
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Dec 8, 2013 20:38:01 GMT -5
I think in the case of these stones, the undercutting is an asset. The calcite looks frosted, at least in the pictures, and provides really interesting contrast. I, personally, have had some stones with undercutting in which it was definitely NOT an asset. :/
|
|
The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
|
Post by The Dad_Ohs on Dec 8, 2013 20:41:10 GMT -5
I think they both came out exceptional!!
|
|
gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,807
|
Post by gemfeller on Dec 9, 2013 1:22:47 GMT -5
I, personally, have had some stones with undercutting in which it was definitely NOT an asset. :/ LOL! Haven't we all! I'm assuming the cutter has a general idea of how the undercut effect might enhance a given pattern or composition. I hope no one thinks I'm endorsing undercutting in general. But the old idea that an undercut stone, no matter how attractive or interesting, should be rejected was the basis of my post. In some *planned* instances I think it can be a creative option.
|
|