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Post by mohs on Dec 6, 2015 19:05:18 GMT -5
Howdy Everyone You just drew the 3 of hearts This ruby zoezite is a bit unseemly.  Unfortunately its the first thing noticeable. Messed up the joint line. But it was a real thin slab and the stone is marvelous I look forward to making another. This is some jasper (or is it granite ?) from Duncan, Az,  I like to think it strawberry I'm sure the shine could be improved. But it pretty good as is. And lazuli to end your draw.  Thanks for playing Ed |
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adrian65
Cave Dweller 
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,790
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Post by adrian65 on Dec 6, 2015 22:38:19 GMT -5
The Lapis is fantastic! Looks like it's from one piece.
Adrian
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Dec 7, 2015 8:27:40 GMT -5
I too love the lapis, but it only wins out because blue is my favorite color.
you get major props from me for these hearts, Ed. As small as they are I don't know how you can keep a solid grip on them. If it was me they'd be strewn across the desert lol.
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,487
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Post by Roger on Dec 7, 2015 8:53:53 GMT -5
Tough to call a favorite. The lapis is beautiful, but the jasper has character  |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718 
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Post by Fossilman on Dec 7, 2015 10:32:37 GMT -5
Three thumbs up ED!!!!
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micellular
has rocks in the head
Rock fever is curable with more rocks.
Member since September 2015
Posts: 640
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Post by micellular on Dec 7, 2015 14:31:35 GMT -5
The jasper is lovely, but the lapis is breath-taking. Rock on!
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Post by mohs on Dec 7, 2015 18:17:12 GMT -5
Thank Adrian! Certain types of rocks have tendency to really meld together real well I just found out lapis is one of them . Serpentine is another. Zoezite should be another. Not sure where I went wrong? Maybe after epoxying it moved? With out getting into lengthy reply agate and jaspers are more difficult. That's the Nature of the hard rock. But it can be over come with creative cuts and precise lapping becomes hyper critical. Ya just can't get the joint line flat & straight enough. When I know I'm accomplishing a good job, the 2 stones with a little water adhere to one another Like magnetic! I like that ! Plus I do lots of holding them up to sun to see if any light come through. It all free hand so its guess work at best. I'd like to get a surface grinder or come up with some sort of fixtures. to grind edge-- true flat straight But a rock bottom rock grinder as to utilize the resources he as. Which is nose to the grind stone technology for my resources. Ha ha Yo Nate ! NDK I got you on the blue hearts list! Great name for a rock band! Hearts across the desert Its a goal Thanks Roger ! The grinders a character so the hearts are bound to pick up some of that  Alright Mike fossilman were slab'n & cab'n! micellular Your passing through Phoenix so your mission will be find the heart --find the treasure Ed |
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Post by Pat on Dec 7, 2015 18:48:26 GMT -5
Hi, Ed, The Jasper/granite gets my vote for tops. Blue ok, but .... |
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Post by mohs on Dec 7, 2015 18:52:11 GMT -5
Thanks Pat!!
I'm pretty sure if i had gotten that joint line right on the zoesite
it would be my favorite. I've got get more of that stuff !
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Post by Pat on Dec 7, 2015 19:07:35 GMT -5
If the ruby zeolite didn't have the seam, it would have tied for first place with the Jasper.
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Post by krazydiamond on Dec 7, 2015 21:54:29 GMT -5
I like them all, but I think my fav is the ruby is zoisite, diff stone to work and get it right. and hearts are hard.
KD
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Post by mohs on Dec 7, 2015 23:13:31 GMT -5
Thanks KD! its a heart that breaking  but still beating strong in its way  I went to Az. Art Supply to find some paint thought maybe I could tidy up the seam a little? but nothing seems to work I like it so much I thought I could break it and re-do it --but its just better to let it be it'll just have to go into the lost heart misfit pile maybe Santa can find a sock for it? |
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,790
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Post by adrian65 on Dec 8, 2015 0:02:39 GMT -5
Ed, have you been trying to rub the halves one against the other with some fine SiC? It would help you to get a good fit, I think.
Adrian
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Post by mohs on Dec 8, 2015 9:18:49 GMT -5
As a final step I do hand lap the edge on a honing stone & diamond plate that is made for sharpening knives. Just to trying to smooth out any errant atoms. I think one of the cool things is the groove I zip
for the eye pin. I usually do this after I get the stone pretty flat. Zipping the groove removes a lot of the material from the middle of the stone. This makes the lapping process easier as there is less stone to flatten. Then I do little finesse hand lapping and your finished.
I think that the zipped groove helps the epoxy make for a stronger bond between the 2 stones.
Making a rocking heart involves just about every lapidary technique that can be done to a stone.
That may be why I enjoy it so much. Making these littler (inch wide) hearts the process is smooth and completed in reasonable amount of time. About 2 hours. That's slab, pre-form, flat lap edge, zip groove, epoxy, drill hole, final grind, set bale .
Needless to say there are lots of tricks in the rocking heart business. I'm not sure I've tried them all yet! But I'm working on it.
Mostly
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mossyrockhound
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2011
Posts: 1,315
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Post by mossyrockhound on Dec 8, 2015 11:20:53 GMT -5
Nice hearts. My favorite is the "seamless lapis".
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Post by mohs on Dec 8, 2015 16:30:41 GMT -5
it seems that seamless is the goal! I just got a 5 day weekend  to implement that very ideal |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,590
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Post by jamesp on Dec 8, 2015 16:49:58 GMT -5
next project ??
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Post by mohs on Dec 8, 2015 16:54:09 GMT -5
I'm crankning it up & the grinds
right now james!
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Post by mohs on Dec 9, 2015 17:33:29 GMT -5
I did some finessing on the rubyzo  Its much better I can sleep easier |
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 10, 2015 12:25:53 GMT -5
Lapis, fer shore! It really does make a fine heart... with some serious skill, mostly. |
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