jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,158
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Post by jamesp on Feb 11, 2016 18:09:14 GMT -5
radio getting ready to do his stuff on a botryoidal tumble from the coral zone. With a setting like that a tumor would look great. Looking forward to it's completion Arlen.
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Post by radio on Feb 11, 2016 18:54:41 GMT -5
radio getting ready to do his stuff on a botryoidal tumble from the coral zone. With a setting like that a tumor would look great. Looking forward to it's completion Arlen. You,sir, are much too kind! I just made a post in the "Creations" section showing the other design and three cabs and asked for votes on which design to go with. Ultimately though, the decision is yours as this piece will be headed your way once completed Mods, please feel free to merge the two threads if you see fit
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,158
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Post by jamesp on Feb 11, 2016 19:16:57 GMT -5
No way. I don't think our trade was fair. I am getting way too much Arlen. You got too much work in this piece. I just sent rocks...
Wife would kill for it, maybe you two could strike up a deal and she would have a piece of fine jewelry and me out of her hair LOL.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 11, 2016 20:43:51 GMT -5
Looking forward to this one. Can't go wrong with that awesome material and Arlen's talent.
Chuck
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Post by rockpickerforever on Feb 12, 2016 0:20:29 GMT -5
Wow, that is going to be beautiful. Great material and your craftsmanship is always splendid. Can't wait to see it finished, Arlen.
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Post by radio on Feb 12, 2016 7:49:32 GMT -5
Thanks all.
A huge thanks to Jamesp for sending me the Bots and some other killer coral tumbles. It's tough to make a cab for bezel setting out of a tumble, but it can be done with patience and planning. I especially love the contrast between the Rootbeer base color and the irregular pattern of white material. James had these Bots polished to perfection!!!!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,158
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Post by jamesp on Feb 12, 2016 19:36:40 GMT -5
If only you could form the metal over the irregular backside in the softest state and stick it the refrigerator to harden it. I got headaches trying to figure a way to set those bots. That's why I sent them to you Arlen. I feel free now.
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Post by radio on Feb 12, 2016 20:16:31 GMT -5
If only you could form the metal over the irregular backside in the softest state and stick it the refrigerator to harden it. I got headaches trying to figure a way to set those bots. That's why I sent them to you Arlen. I feel free now. LOL! Bezel setting stones does take a bit of patience and a lot of practice. I took those three in the pic to the 8 inch Cab King and ground away a lot of the uneven material on the back side, then held them against the 200 grit flat lap on the end of the shaft to level them even further. I also worked over the edges to make a somewhat uniform bevel around them so the bezel would lay neatly and evenly. On some of the really uneven ones, I will grind the back a bit, use plastic steel to level them and then bevel the edges. Those Bots are H A R D!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,158
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Post by jamesp on Feb 12, 2016 20:35:19 GMT -5
I was asked about tumbling them with out breaking them. Bet there were 4-5 ounce rocks in the tumbler with them, mind you the slurry was thickened. They are durable, rarely broke in the rotary.
Those bots formed from the same silica that silicified the hard coral that occurs here. But the bots are totally pure and not part of the replacement. Just an over coating. The bots take a shine before the coral in polish mode in the tumbler. I know they are hard. Would like to do a knoop hardness test on them.
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Post by radio on Feb 13, 2016 18:28:52 GMT -5
Finished it this afternoon. Pics in your e mail Sir I'll see if I can get photo bucket to cooperate and post a pic or two
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Post by radio on Feb 13, 2016 18:48:48 GMT -5
Once again, sorry for the crappy cell phone pics., I really need to take a decent camera to the shop and make a light box It came out pretty good, although the unevenness of the Bot made setting a real challenge. If I had it to do over, I would back the Bot with plastic steel to level it, then cab the bevel around it so it would be a uniform height and make bezel setting a lot easier.
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Post by toiv0 on Feb 13, 2016 21:34:12 GMT -5
Superb, Meticulous!!! I love your work
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 13, 2016 22:15:48 GMT -5
Great looking piece. I think the bezel looks really good and those graduated beads are a nice touch for the bot.
Chuck
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