aimeesrockworks
spending too much on rocks
I really do look like my avatar... it kinda freaks me out.
Member since December 2010
Posts: 458
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Post by aimeesrockworks on Feb 9, 2014 12:20:54 GMT -5
I went to my very first rock show post-flat-lap purchase and finally was able to buy slabs with a purpose in mind!! Found some nice colorful Mookaite, a chunk of Tiger Eye my husband had to have, and some Owyhee Jasper. Got those figger'd out. But then there were these... and I'm just not knowledgeable enough with slabs yet for more specific names on them. The first I think is a coral. But it doesn't quite look like the pictures I've found online. Too round for the polyps and too 'expoloded'. I'm calling this my Red Plume, but it's more a Red Crenulated Mountain Range. (I've had my coffee, can you tell??) This here is my Mustard Plume. I'm more certain this is plume than the reddish one. I'm learning more names everyday but still finding that those mineralogy classes 14+ years ago don't really help when it comes to figuring out cabbing slabs. Blah.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2014 12:26:30 GMT -5
Whatever they are you did good. Nice nice. Jim
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aimeesrockworks
spending too much on rocks
I really do look like my avatar... it kinda freaks me out.
Member since December 2010
Posts: 458
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Post by aimeesrockworks on Feb 9, 2014 16:50:20 GMT -5
Oooooh, is the second one down Mexican Crazy Lace?? Found some new pictures
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Post by Starguy on Feb 9, 2014 17:11:16 GMT -5
Aimee
I can't help with identification, but you found some awesome slabs. It looks like they have minimal saw marks. Those are hard to grind out. Make sure to cut / grind off the rough spot at the end of the slab saw cut before you try to flat-lap them. They need to be as flat as possible before you start. You can actually use a glass cutter on most slabs to remove objectionable areas. Just score the slab and break with pliers, (use eye protection). It doesn't work on tigereye or other fibrous stones. They make special rock cutters that are based on a glass cutter design. I had one but found that glass cutters work just as good and they're cheaper. The glass cutter handles are smaller so you need strong hands. The cutting wheel is the same though.
I use a glass cutter instead of a trim saw most of the time.
I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product. Nice finds!
Later
Brent
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aimeesrockworks
spending too much on rocks
I really do look like my avatar... it kinda freaks me out.
Member since December 2010
Posts: 458
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Post by aimeesrockworks on Feb 10, 2014 11:47:14 GMT -5
Hmm, never thought of using a glass cutter. I've been using Ye Ole Home Depot Tile Saw with a thicker blade so I can grind off edges on the preform. Then again, my hands are pretty pitifully weak so the tile saw, while messy and loud, might be my safer option.
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Post by Pat on Feb 10, 2014 13:59:20 GMT -5
aimeesrockworks, I use a cheapo 4" tile saw to trim, too. My glass cutter looks like a tiny pizza cutter. Starguy, you must mean a different type, or your slabs are very thin.
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Post by Starguy on Feb 10, 2014 22:34:41 GMT -5
Aimee and Pat
The glass cutters work incredibly well to replace a trim saw. The slabs don't have to be extremely thin. Just make sure to score the slabs on the back side. They always break on the score line but not always perpendicular to the back of the slab. I've used them for years with outstanding results. They're much faster than trim saws, and I've found that you can actually trim closer to the cab shape you have chosen. I've even had some luck scoring gentle curves. Fibrous material like tigereye or jade don't work. I'll try to find a link to the lapidary glass/slab cutter. The handle is a lot larger and easier to grip.
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Post by Starguy on Feb 10, 2014 23:06:30 GMT -5
Aimee and Pat Check these out. They're not cheap but they work incredibly well, and fast. www.dkhardware.com/product-28046-hdg15-fletcher-heavy-duty-glass-cutter.htmlThe cheap hardware store models work just as well but they are harder to hold onto because they have tiny handles. I've never had any problems with agate or jasper slabs. Maybe I should share this with others. Where would be a good place to post it?
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Post by roy on Feb 10, 2014 23:19:16 GMT -5
the first one i have no idea the second one is a lace of some type and the third is graveyard plume
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aimeesrockworks
spending too much on rocks
I really do look like my avatar... it kinda freaks me out.
Member since December 2010
Posts: 458
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Post by aimeesrockworks on Feb 11, 2014 10:19:53 GMT -5
the first one i have no idea the second one is a lace of some type and the third is graveyard plume Excellent, thank you! The yellow tone was throwing me off for some reason. (And I might have to try those tile cutters... even though watching me use my tile saw is real cheap entertainment for the neighbors.)
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Post by Starguy on Feb 11, 2014 21:49:45 GMT -5
the first one i have no idea the second one is a lace of some type and the third is graveyard plume Excellent, thank you! The yellow tone was throwing me off for some reason. (And I might have to try those tile cutters... even though watching me use my tile saw is real cheap entertainment for the neighbors.) You should definitely try the glass cutters. For agate or jasper, there is absolutely no waste, (saw kerf). They are a lot cheaper to replace than diamond saw blades, and you can cut gentle curves. I always thought everybody new about this method for trimming cabs. Maybe I should post something in the cab forum. Once you trim your first cab this way you will be asking yourself why you bought that $600 trim saw.
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Post by roy on Feb 12, 2014 0:26:08 GMT -5
Excellent, thank you! The yellow tone was throwing me off for some reason. (And I might have to try those tile cutters... even though watching me use my tile saw is real cheap entertainment for the neighbors.) You should definitely try the glass cutters. For agate or jasper, there is absolutely no waste, (saw kerf). They are a lot cheaper to replace than diamond saw blades, and you can cut gentle curves. I always thought everybody new about this method for trimming cabs. Maybe I should post something in the cab forum. Once you trim your first cab this way you will be asking yourself why you bought that $600 trim saw. oh please do i would like to see you do this myself
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Post by Pat on Feb 12, 2014 1:01:38 GMT -5
Starguy, Are there other advantages to your glass cutter other than the cost and the absence of a kerf? My trim saw cost $7.00. Yes, there is a little kerf loss. I truly cannot imagine cutting a rock with a knife!
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Post by Starguy on Feb 12, 2014 1:17:40 GMT -5
Pat
It's not really a knife. You just make a scratch on the slab, then break it on the scratch. It doesn't work with every rock/slab. They need to be very solid material. The biggest advantage is speed. It only takes a second to score the slab, and the break is even quicker.
I also feel that you can score and break closer than you can with a trim saw. If you start your trim saw cut a little off your intended line, you are committed to that line. Your only option is to abandon the line and start a new cut or risk damaging your blade.
With the glass cutter and pliers, you can trim off some very small pieces. That saves quite a bit of time when you are preforming.
I agree that the kerf issue isn't a big deal, but the speed difference can be significant. The small trimmed pieces are usually nice shapes to throw in the tumbler too.
Aimee
I didn't mean to hijack your thread. I won't discuss this stuff anymore here. Your slabs are awesome. They look like they have the potential to make some awesome projects. How big are they? It's a little hard to tell from the photos.
I also like like the products on your website. I will show my wife. She might want to buy some of your creations.
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aimeesrockworks
spending too much on rocks
I really do look like my avatar... it kinda freaks me out.
Member since December 2010
Posts: 458
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Post by aimeesrockworks on Feb 12, 2014 11:26:51 GMT -5
Aimee I didn't mean to hijack your thread. I won't discuss this stuff anymore here. Your slabs are awesome. They look like they have the potential to make some awesome projects. How big are they? It's a little hard to tell from the photos. I also like like the products on your website. I will show my wife. She might want to buy some of your creations. I learned a lot from your posting, so no worries! Just realized that I did a bad-bad geologist thing and didn't put anything for scale in my photo's. The 'coral' and Graveyard were both about 2" tall and 3-4" wide. The red lace one was about 3x4".... I say 'was/were' because I cut pieces off yesterday. Ye ole husband was bugging me to work a piece of the Tiger Eye so I had to pop the saw out. And thank you for spreading the word to your wife about my rock goodies.
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bsky4463
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2013
Posts: 1,696
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Post by bsky4463 on Feb 12, 2014 17:33:36 GMT -5
check out some pictures of agatized algae/sponge for reference on the first one, maybe...cheers
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Post by mohs on Feb 24, 2014 22:26:21 GMT -5
Aim~ee
are you cutting from back of the saw? I assume your tile saw is 7" I cut from the back of the saw Pulling the slab/rock through the blade Not as much of a bath & even more precise I think Ed
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aimeesrockworks
spending too much on rocks
I really do look like my avatar... it kinda freaks me out.
Member since December 2010
Posts: 458
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Post by aimeesrockworks on Feb 25, 2014 10:15:00 GMT -5
Aim~ee are you cutting from back of the saw? I assume your tile saw is 7" I cut from the back of the saw Pulling the slab/rock through the blade Not as much of a bath & even more precise I think Ed Now there's something I never thought of... I'll have to check out my saw a bit more closely and see if I can take the guard off and do that. I don't really mind the mess (it makes me chuckle) but when it's cold out, getting soaked isn't much fun.
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jollyrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2013
Posts: 409
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Post by jollyrockhound on Feb 25, 2014 13:24:29 GMT -5
Hmm, never thought of using a glass cutter. I've been using Ye Ole Home Depot Tile Saw with a thicker blade so I can grind off edges on the preform. Then again, my hands are pretty pitifully weak so the tile saw, while messy and loud, might be my safer option. Yes a good glass cutter works well. Nice slabs have fun!!!
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aimeesrockworks
spending too much on rocks
I really do look like my avatar... it kinda freaks me out.
Member since December 2010
Posts: 458
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Post by aimeesrockworks on Feb 25, 2014 15:24:10 GMT -5
I have thought more about what the illustrious mr.mohs has said... must not have had my Wheaties this morning. Just turn the saw around. /smackforehead Will give it a try.
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