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Post by karenkellybella on Aug 5, 2016 5:19:38 GMT -5
Hi! I'm really new to this so forgive me if I'm posting in the wrong section! I've always collected rocks and crystals. I enjoy finding them in the wild as well as purchasing tumbled specimens from rock shops. A few months ago I found an almost fist sized piece of purple slag glass but I didn't know what it was. A local rock shop inspected it, and since there were no inclusions or air bubbles, they told me it was amethyst. Since then, I've collected about 70-80 pieces and most of them do have inclusions, seemingly iron, as well as air bubbles. I live next to what was once The Stoveworks in Atlanta AND the belt line, an old rail line which lies between my home and the Stoveworks is where I find these pretties. I've read that the glass can be a product of iron smelting, coal box clean out on rail engines or, melted window glass. In 1917, a huge fire decimated this part of town. I read one place that the purple color might be from manganese which was added to window glass to remove the green tint and that it's the manganese darkens to purple after being buried for many years. Honestly, I have no idea where the slag originated. Whatever its origin, these glass chunks are tied to Old 4th Ward's history. I'm an artist. I paint, sculpt, weld, etc. but the only glass work I've done is stained glass and some shallow slump mold stuff years ago. I'd like to cut these pieces of slag to make jewelry. What is the best way to do this? I broke a few chunks with a hammer just to see how thin they need to be to show good color. The pieces range in color from black to grey to purple to several shades of green. Here are some pics imgur.com/gallery/TBUwh[/img]
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Post by karenkellybella on Aug 5, 2016 5:21:08 GMT -5
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Post by karenkellybella on Aug 5, 2016 5:22:07 GMT -5
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Post by orrum on Aug 5, 2016 6:36:38 GMT -5
Dremel with a diamond saw blade in water. Way I started. Since it's glass it should be relatively easy but it won't shine like when it's broken. For that You need at least a tumbler. It's s fun.hobby called lapidary! Warning....it can be addictive and life consuming....Plus your living room.could disappear! LOL
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,703
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Post by Fossilman on Aug 5, 2016 8:37:12 GMT -5
I cut it with my rock saw,never had any problems with it... Good luck
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 5, 2016 11:01:21 GMT -5
If you need chip free cuts there are resin bond diamond blades for glass. The cheap thin Chinese plated blades work amazingly well too.
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Post by karenkellybella on Aug 5, 2016 12:54:15 GMT -5
Y'all are wonderful!! Thank you so much!
Are those available on Amazon?
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Post by orrum on Aug 5, 2016 14:16:24 GMT -5
Do u have a rock saw?
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Post by karenkellybella on Aug 5, 2016 16:29:00 GMT -5
I do not have a rock saw. Right now I have a drill and a diamond cut off blade and a dremel. I wasn't sure the diamond wheels and drills would work on glass. I'll likely be investing in a rock saw and a bench grinder soon. I did a little more research and found out that my condo in the same spot where a rail turntable and workshop were once located. Old maps reveal not only the Stoveworks next door but a couple of bottling plants were in the vicinity in 1919. I took some macro shots of a few pieces. Does anyone have enough knowledge of glass slag to help me determine how these pieces most likely originated? Macro close ups: imgur.com/gallery/DRSZdMap detail photos: imgur.com/gallery/zkmcN
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Post by broseph82 on Aug 5, 2016 16:41:31 GMT -5
I do not have a rock saw. Right now I have a drill and a diamond cut off blade and a dremel. I wasn't sure the diamond wheels and drills would work on glass. I'll likely be investing in a rock saw and a bench grinder soon. I did a little more research and found out that my condo in the same spot where a rail turntable and workshop were once located. Old maps reveal not only the Stoveworks next door but a couple of bottling plants were in the vicinity in 1919. I took some macro shots of a few pieces. Does anyone have enough knowledge of glass slag to help me determine how these pieces most likely originated? Macro close ups: imgur.com/gallery/DRSZdMap detail photos: imgur.com/gallery/zkmcNGoogle civil war blast furnaces. They were and still are all over the South. The slag comes in blue from TN and KY and Bama, GA, TN, etc etc all have purple and green. Cut however you want to. If you have enough practice on smaller pieces to get the feel for it. I have lots of this stuff and have tumbled it as well. Takes a mirror polish.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Aug 5, 2016 23:15:29 GMT -5
There are a couple of Gem and Mineral Clubs in the north Atlanta area. The Cobb County Club offers gem cutting classes and more info can be found here: www.cobbcountymineral.org/And the Georgia Mineral Society in Norcross has their own workshop too. www.gamineral.org/Larry C.
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Post by karenkellybella on Aug 7, 2016 0:12:06 GMT -5
Thanks, Larry! I live in Old 4th Ward, which is basically Midtown. I rarely leave the city unless it's to go to Decatur (which pretty much runs into Atlanta) but I might heck out the Cobb County thing. Norcross is way too far!
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Post by karenkellybella on Aug 7, 2016 0:16:48 GMT -5
Oh YES!!! I'm definitely joining to Cobb County group!!
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