meviva
Cave Dweller
Member since July 2013
Posts: 1,474
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Post by meviva on Feb 24, 2015 20:46:12 GMT -5
I am curious if there is a right way or a wrong way to cut Montana agate. This one was potato shaped and I cut through the short way. Would it have been better to cut the long way? Or does it just depend on the rock? Thanks, Andrea
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 24, 2015 21:11:20 GMT -5
I dont see anything in that one that would have dictated which direction to cut. I have heard some people back light them to try to see the inside before cutting to help determine orientation in the saw. This is called "candling"
Chuck
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 24, 2015 21:17:55 GMT -5
with a real good one, the most dedicated cutters cut and orient and then cut and then orient. Harmon's has a booklet on cutting Montana's and they used to sell an orientating clamp/gadget.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 24, 2015 21:18:43 GMT -5
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meviva
Cave Dweller
Member since July 2013
Posts: 1,474
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Post by meviva on Feb 24, 2015 22:09:44 GMT -5
Ok thanks. This is the first one I have cut that had something in it. Most of the time they just had a little bit of black near the edges. I will read the book tonight. Maybe there will be something in it that tells what to look for to get a good one.
Andrea
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 24, 2015 23:04:49 GMT -5
I usually sand and semi polish 3 or 4 small windows before back lighting. Lets you see inside a little bit better. The sanding doesn't have to be perfect. Just enough to break thru that milky outer rind.
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meviva
Cave Dweller
Member since July 2013
Posts: 1,474
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Post by meviva on Feb 25, 2015 2:12:07 GMT -5
That's a good idea jakesrocks….I will try that next time. Thanks, Andrea
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,688
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 25, 2015 10:30:27 GMT -5
Yuppers,I have cut many Montanas,I candle everyone of them...Sometimes you have to shave two different sides(less waste) to see what angle you want on the saw!! I have also learned that the ugliest agate will come out to be the best one!! (go figure)... It won't take long after you get a few under your belt (with cutting).....I have cut a few that showed different patterns with every cut too.. There is no rhyme nor reason with some Montanas....That's why I love cutting them...
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meviva
Cave Dweller
Member since July 2013
Posts: 1,474
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Post by meviva on Feb 25, 2015 11:05:45 GMT -5
I will look for the ugly ones the next time I go to the rock shop….they are fun to cut.
Andrea
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 4, 2015 12:15:21 GMT -5
You can tumble the outer rind off too. Patterns are very random and inclusions very thin. Most people cut them very thin and cab them flat or nearly flat. You have to cab around fractures too. Pretty stuff though.
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Post by broseph82 on Mar 4, 2015 21:09:28 GMT -5
Cut off all the ends to see where to go next. This message was brought to you by Bill Friday
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meviva
Cave Dweller
Member since July 2013
Posts: 1,474
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Post by meviva on Mar 5, 2015 17:04:53 GMT -5
You can tumble the outer rind off too. Patterns are very random and inclusions very thin. Most people cut them very thin and cab them flat or nearly flat. You have to cab around fractures too. Pretty stuff though. I will have to try that….would be cool to see them without the rind and cut from there. Andrea
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hope
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2008
Posts: 477
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Post by hope on Mar 6, 2015 21:41:07 GMT -5
Lots of great information on this site along with references to other places to go. Thanks everyone.
Hope
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Post by stardiamond on Mar 10, 2015 19:56:40 GMT -5
I cut and rotate and cut again. A bigger question is how to pick a nodule. I bought about a dozen nodules from the same seller on ebay over time and got mixed results. He says he doesn't put his best stuff on ebay because he can't get what it's worth. He did give me some tips and recommendations on what he was putting on ebay.
The difficulty is that to get the best scene you need to know where to cut virtually blind. For me it was hit or miss. Some of the nodules were outright duds. Also, even if you find the right scene it can be ruined by fractures.
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