QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,621
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 16, 2024 20:11:20 GMT -5
Correct that traditional diamond paste (bort) is not water soluble. Some of the modern Gearloose brand diamond sticks now available are. But those were not around back when I was using diamond paste so I usually used the Crystalite brand paste on canvas resin pads/belts. And I too used the spray silicon for lubricant. The cigarette lighter fluid is basically the same thing as NAPTHA which is a mild petroleum based solvent. It also works well for dissolving some adhesives like the types used on price stickers.
I will use leather with aluminum oxide polishes for some of the softer stones like Howlite, Tiger Iron, Malachite, Chrysocolla, Turquoise, etc.. But leather with cerium doesn't polish as well in my opinion.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,621
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 15, 2024 12:52:19 GMT -5
Hard felt and cerium oxide is hard to beat for polishing high silica content stones like agates, jasper, quartz, etc.. Minimum 1/4" thick hard felt pad (3/8" thick even better). Not the 1/8" thick ones that some of the lapidary suppliers sell. And when using cerium oxide on hard felt you only need to sand up to 1200 or 3000 depending on the hardness of the stone. If using diamond paste it is very important to thoroughly clean the cab between stages to prevent cross contamination. Back when I was using diamond paste I used Ronsonol cigarette lighter - lighter fluid (which is basically NAPTHA) on a paper napkin to clean the stone between stages. And always avoid cross contamination of polishing agents on your polishing pads/belts. Have a dedicated polishing pad/belt for each polishing compound. Covington Engineering has a good polishing chart of recommendations for various stones linked here: covington-engineering.com/content/_pdf_files/buff%20%26%20polish%20chart.pdf
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,621
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 13, 2024 13:12:05 GMT -5
Very sorry to read this Tela! We had to have our 14 year old Chow Chow/mix put down early last month. It just seems cruel at times that dog's lifespans are so short.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,621
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 13, 2024 13:01:10 GMT -5
Congrats agatewhisperer! Beautiful cab. That's the exact reason I didn't participate lol - I would have had the wonkiest symmetrical triangle ever lol... Hey that sounds like a great contest theme - the "wonkiest cab" contest! Tommy?
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,621
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 10, 2024 22:57:40 GMT -5
Try the Gem Shop and Gem Center USA. I have seen both of them have some Rainforest rough at shows in the past. Even if they don't have it on their websites it might still be worth giving them a call.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,621
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 8, 2024 19:57:52 GMT -5
LOVES me some Picture Jasper! Nice cabs!
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,621
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 8, 2024 19:54:35 GMT -5
These rock quarries, like the Graves Mountain site, in the southeast are not easy for the feeble or those not physically fit...especially in the summertime. North Carolina is about the mineral capital in the southeast. Franklin, NC being a big gathering spot of vendors, close to a lot of sources of minerals and mineral museums, mineral clubs and such... might be a spot to consider. Not sure what you may have in mind... For what it's worth, Thomas Yes, the Franklin shows are pretty good as far as eastern U.S. shows go. I've been there many times for both the May and the July shows and know the area well. Three shows simultaneously in early May, and four shows in late July. Weather is usually nice in May but on the hot side in July. The motels in Franklin often fill-up during the show dates but there are usually plenty of rooms available about 20 minutes south, just across the border in and around Clayton, Georgia. Franklin is still on the GWL wholesale show circuit in both May and July. And the USFG's Franklin Faceters Frolic is held there in July. There are cabin rentals and decent camping in the area including one very nice Georgia State run Camp Ground named Black Rock Mountain State Park in Mountain City, Georgia. xpopress.com/showcase/shows/3/franklin-gem-mineral-showcaseFFF site hasn't been updated for 2024 yet: usfacetersguild.org/events/franklin-faceting-symposium/
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,621
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 8, 2024 19:28:02 GMT -5
I neglected to mention that the Grassy Creek Show in Spruce Pine does allow show vendors to camp on site and they do have a fairly well kept bath house. The Grassy Creek Show was, and as far as I know still is, ran by the Grassy Creek Volunteer Fire Department.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 7, 2024 13:39:33 GMT -5
I focused on the Graves Mountain site that Quailriver mentioned, as it's one place he mentioned that is still an active place AND it's further south than north so maybe more attainable to not only people on the southeast but maybe also in the mid west & northeast. Graves mountain itself sounds like quite a destination & we'd have to find out more info, but they do offer, as Quailriver said, a free open to the public weekend in Oct & April. OTOH, I just read that maybe 1500 people attend those free weekends . But, they will let you in, for groups of more than 1, anytime if you make a reservation. I think it's also free.
Only problem is it's walk in, about 3/4 mile, no vehicles allowed. Bring a hand truck or wagon.
An added bonus of Graves Mtn is there are a couple of campgrounds in the area, some on the lake, and perhaps a small group of RTH could meet at one of those & then travel to the mine if interested or just hang out by the lake. I'll be curious to see if this develops.
Good idea Tela, maybe Patty
Graves Mountain would be great in the spring or fall. But definitely not during the hot summer months. Georgia heat and humidity can be ruthless and dangerous! www.onlyinyourstate.com/georgia/awesome-rock-ranch-ga/And just in case I gave the wrong impression about Spruce Pine, NC, they still have a couple of gem shows simultaneously there around the week of the first weekend of August. They just are much smaller and not nearly as well attended as they were back in the glory days (pre-1995). The GLW wholesale show, and the former Lemon Tree Inn show are no longer held there. But the town is more developed now and there are a couple of more motels, and there are still cabin rental companies. The old Safari Campground that was the epicenter of congregating rockhounds back in the day is long gone now. As far as I can tell now there appears to be only one active campground in Spruce Pine. Springmaid Mountain. This campground when built was corporate owned and didn't advertise but was open to the public for tax write-off reasons. My wife and I stayed there several times back in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The cabins were great but the campground bathhouses were being neglected. But that was 30 years ago so things may be different now. www.springmaidmountain.com/Shows still currently held in Spruce Pine: grassycreekgemshow.org/ncgemfest.com/
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,621
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 7, 2024 13:02:00 GMT -5
If anyone is interested but can't commit, yet. Please state that you may be interested in coming. I'm just gauging interest right now. I'm interested but can't commit yet. My wife is having health issues again so will have to wait and see.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 6, 2024 16:55:25 GMT -5
The big east coast rockhound meet up used to be held at/during the Spruce Pines, NC rock and gem shows usually held the first weekend of August. There used to be three or four shows held at the same time in that town. Back in the 70s, 80s and early 90s it was by far the largest rock & gem show gathering east of the Mississippi. There weren't a lot of nice motels in the area back then but there were a couple of large nice camp grounds and several cabin rental companies. The mountain altitude made the weather a little cooler and less humid than the piedmont and coastal plains of the mid-Atlantic states for that time of year. In addition to the many venders from across the country, in the evenings rockhounds who attended would spread out whatever they had to sell or trade on the picnic tables at their campsites and folks would walk around the sites to buy, trade and socialize. Those were great times!
But in the mid-90s when furniture and textile manufacturing (which were huge industries in the western and piedmont regions of the mid-Atlantic states) moved offshore (which also heavily impacted supporting industries), too many folks in that region of the country lost their decent paying manufacturing related jobs and no longer had the extra funds for such endeavors. So Spruce Pines along with most of the other large shows in those areas either shrank to a shadow of their former selves or ceased altogether.
Around 2010 the MAGMA (Mountain Area Gem and Mineral Association from the Asheville, NC area) began holding a Rockhound Round-Up in conjunction with the timing of the late July early august mountain shows where they had camping, rock swapping, and fieldtrips to local mines. But I think those ended when Covid started making it's rounds, or at least I haven't heard or read of that event being held for about five years now. And there used to be, and maybe still is, a sizable rockhound meet-up held at Graves Mountain, Georgia a couple of times a year. Graves Mountain is a fantastic collecting local, plus they would have a rock swap too. I always wanted to go to that one but never made it.
Might could possibly work something out partnering with/ or at least piggy-backing on one of those mentioned events.
There does seem to be more interest in rocks and gems in the region than there has been for a while. With traveling expenses being what they are these days an area with good camping would be a plus and with our unpredictable weather during hurricane season in the that would have to be a consideration for scheduling. But yes I would like to see another good rockhound meet-up develop.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,621
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 4, 2024 13:26:35 GMT -5
I saw it shortly after you posted it, but now I can't see it on my PC, too. Truly strange...
I just replaced the image with cloudinary instead of link. Hope that helps. Yes I can see it now. What a FANTASTIC slab! Love it!
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,621
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Post by QuailRiver on Mar 31, 2024 22:33:52 GMT -5
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
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Post by QuailRiver on Mar 30, 2024 19:04:47 GMT -5
For some reason the photo isn't visible on my PC. ?
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
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Post by QuailRiver on Mar 29, 2024 15:04:35 GMT -5
Here is the photo referenced in the post above. For some reason it would not post on the old thread.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,621
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Post by QuailRiver on Mar 29, 2024 14:53:34 GMT -5
From a previous thread on dressing sintered grinding wheels: ... A sintered wheel that has been dressed properly will have lots of visible diamond particles with a ridge of bronze matrix, or tail, behind the diamond particles (see photo at the following post). The bronze matrix ridge behind the diamond particle helps support the diamond particle and helps keep the particle bonded to the wheel surface. So in reversing the direction of the wheel then all of that bronze matrix would be on the lead cutting side of the diamond particles and shield most of the diamond from making contact with whatever you are attempting to grind . So while it may be beneficial to reverse a plated wheel it is not beneficial to reverse a metal sintered wheel. If doing so you would have to remove so much material that you now have all newly exposed diamond particles with visible matrix tails running in the opposite direction from originally. Which is no more beneficial than having left it with the same rotational direction and dressed the wheel to the same state. Except when reversing the wheel you would just have to remove more material to get the surface to that same freshly dressed state. The type of abrasive, and the grit of dressing stick being used matters just the same as it does when using an abrasive stick to dress a diamond blade. And dressing sticks come in various hardness's. Too hard of a binder in the dressing stick can cause some of the diamond particles to be ripped out of the surface of the blade or wheel which can drastically reduce performance. Also like the bronze matrix used on diamond blades, there are different metal alloy compositions used by differing manufactures of sintered wheels. I have both HANS and Neosint Sintered wheels, and JBL sintered laps and am still working on figuring out which dressing sticks work best for each. And dressing sticks come in various hardness's too. See the "Spec Check" section near the bottom of page 2 at the following link: web.archive.org/web/20050831160221/georgiagrindingwheel.com/Catalog/Norton/T199-T200%20-%20Dressing%20&%20Finishing%20Sticks.pdf Originally I was using slices of 100gt and 220gt SC lapidary wheels left over from dressing my slab saw blades to sharpen my sintered grinding wheels. But wasn't happy with the final result, especially on the 220gt sintered. So I'm now trying various aluminum oxide sticks. The 100gt and 220gt SC slices of old lapidary wheels works okay for dressing my sintered 30gt Neosint wheel. And they work okay for a preliminary dressing on my HANS 80gt sintered followed by final dressing with an AO 150gt dressing stick. And am currently using 220gt AO to dress my 220gt HANS sintered with decent results. The AO dressing sticks I'm currently using are Norton's type 54 HVBE sticks which work well on my JBL sintered laps but they are soft and my sintered grinding wheels eat them up quickly. So the next time I order I am going to try the Norton NV and KV hardness AO sticks as suggested in the Spec Check section linked above. The best deal I've been able to find on dressing sticks is at AA Abrasives. www.aaabrasives.comSo due to varying alloys used in different brands of sintered wheels ,saw blades, etc., the dressing stick that works best on one brand may not be the best for another brand.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,621
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Post by QuailRiver on Mar 23, 2024 16:08:49 GMT -5
Yes somehow I missed it too. Nice selection! And it is only appropriate that Victor1941 appears to have 2 or 3 examples of Victor Lace Agate shown in the set. A now scarce variety of lace agate named after Victor Salgado who was an early agate prospector/collector/dealer. Slabbed examples shown in water: Shown dry:
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,621
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Post by QuailRiver on Mar 16, 2024 11:41:26 GMT -5
I believe that Minnesota Lapidary supply still has a few Lortone tumblers and tumbler parts in stock.
Also would mention that I've ordered other items from them a few times and they have always been super friendly and were very prompt in shipping.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,621
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Post by QuailRiver on Mar 6, 2024 17:24:02 GMT -5
Hi I would like the 14” please. Hello dacqart. Welcome to the forum. As Parfive pointed out, that post is an old post (from 2013) and those blades are no longer available. You may want to check with Johnson Brothers Lapidary. Last year I purchased one of their 18" "301 Compatible" blades from them and it did appear to be manufactured by the same S. Korean plant as the MK-301 was but I haven't used it yet so am not sure if it will perform the same. Prior to typing this post I checked JBL's web store and either their page is malfunctioning of they do not have those blades available right now. It wouldn't hurt to call them and check. www.johnsonbrotherslapidary.com/301_Compatible.htmlGood Luck!
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,621
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Post by QuailRiver on Feb 29, 2024 20:15:41 GMT -5
I've used Raytech 10" saws off and on since the late 1970s. The only time I ever had one bind up like you describe was in the early 80s while cutting a really hard piece of black Nephrite that was about maxed out for size on that saw. The blade was an old Raytech Blue Blazer blade that was rounded on the cutting edge so probably needed redressing too.
The MK-225 Hot Dog blades while are designed to use with water are also designed to turn at a much higher rpm than the Raytech saws turn stock from the factory. I've only used the MK-225 blades on that model saw for trimming slabs with oil (which has worked fine for me) and haven't used them with water. But I have read where others have stated that when using water with the MK-225 blades that they do not work as well at normal slab saw speeds as the do at the faster tile saw speeds they were designed for. Now that said, the last two 10" MK-225 blades I purchased were both "cupped" already right out of the factory packaging. I haven't used either of those two new ones yet but being cupped they probably won't work for slabbing without binding and will only be usable for trimming shorter cuts on slabs.
In general the most likely things that can cause a slab saw to bind when running at factory set speeds are:
a) Dull or glazed blade b) "Cupped or other wise damaged blade" c) Insufficient lubricant (water is not a lubricant - it is merely a coolant) d) Too large of a stone (especially with really hard materials- just because it fits in the vise doesn't mean the saw can slab it).
Edit: Also for got to add as a potential cause of binding is if the feed carriage isn't tracking perfectly parallel to the blade.
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