barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Aug 24, 2013 17:53:04 GMT -5
Cool rocks Jean! You always do such good work.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Aug 18, 2013 19:30:55 GMT -5
Tela, Yea I would not want to let that one go. I just came back from a trip and purchased my first pieces of ocean jasper rough. This piece gives me some ideas for wrapping it, thanks
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Aug 3, 2013 19:46:09 GMT -5
Those are some killer cabs! I will have to keep my eyes out for Shattuckite.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Aug 3, 2013 19:43:13 GMT -5
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Jul 19, 2013 19:18:29 GMT -5
I would caution against using automotive road tar/bug remover. The active ingredient is methylene chloride which is very toxic, very flammable, burns your skin and eyes as well as eats through most thin rubber gloves in a heartbeat. If you want to use it I would definitely recommend doing it outside. Acetone has a very high vapor pressure (it likes to go from liquid to gas quickly) so the pilot light in your hot water heater in the garage may be a problem if you do it there (yes my day job is safety). I think the WD-40/Liquid Wrench is a much better way to go. Methylene chloride and acetone will not do anything to the rust that is probably lurking under the caked on grease, but WD-40 and similar products will help break that up.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Jul 19, 2013 19:07:48 GMT -5
If you are dry sanding heavy metal ores like nickel remember respiratory protection. You never know what you are breathing or what is in the dust you take in your home.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Jul 19, 2013 19:03:30 GMT -5
I first learned cabbing on obsidian. It is cheap, soft enough to work in a single class at your local rock club and you can work a piece large enough to get the hang of shaping the dome and girdle. Somewhere on this board I remember seeing an excellent series of video clips that walk you through cabbing. They are a great place to start if you don't have a local teacher to show you the ropes.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Jul 18, 2013 23:14:16 GMT -5
Check out the crapper eh. Not where I would store anything I would want people to see. Maybe he is just short on space If I go I will have to ask my wife and daughter if there is a display in the ladies room as well. I feel kind of funny asking them what they saw in there though ;P
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Jul 18, 2013 23:08:58 GMT -5
What a beaut!! Wonderfully cut stone and great wrap.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Jul 16, 2013 14:00:24 GMT -5
One thing I would add to the wonderful advise Tela and everyone else gave on this thread is to think about your audience and their wants. Wire wrappers are looking to turn a profit of their own using your cabs. They are looking lower cost stones, but they are also looking for a longer term relationship that will give them good material at a reasonable price. If you keep them coming back you get more consistent sales and profits. If you set the cab then you are going for the customer who wants to wear the piece and you will have a harder time establishing a long term relationship with them. These folks will always want the product cheaper, but the price you charge should reflect the worth of the stone, the time you spent shaping and setting it as well as what the market will bear. You will have a hard time selling $100 cabs at a farmer's market (unless you are in Beverly Hills) no matter how rare the stone is. Tela's method was the most in depth answer I saw in calculating cost. I go with three times the cost of materials and round to the next $5 amount. People like round numbers. If you give a percentage off a round number people like that also. Temper my advise as being from someone who is a long time hobbyist who is starting to sell more stuff. I will not be quitting my day job any time soon I would starve trying to live off the jewelry I am selling at the moment:) Maybe some day.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Jul 16, 2013 12:53:03 GMT -5
Yardrocks. I prefer to work inside and have had no problems. If your cabbing equipment is outside you need to protect it from dust, animals, condensation, rain, etc. As long as you are using adequate water it should not be a problem. I have my saws outside, but that is because they are large, one is messy, and loud. I bought a Genie a couple of years ago after using swap tops for over 10 years and I have never regretted the switch. I think the speed and durability of the Genie justify the extra cost over the Cab King and rivals. I think it is an example of "You get what you pay for". When I go to shows and look at what the vendors are using to make their own pieces, they are almost always using Genies or Pixies and the marketplace is a tough teacher.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Jul 12, 2013 15:08:59 GMT -5
Thanks Barclay. I also was thinking of driving to the Princess Pat Mine. Have you ever been there? I had not heard about the Princess Pat Mine. I did a quick google search and brought up their web page. I am not in to fluorescent minerals. The glow in the dark stuff is cool though.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Jul 12, 2013 13:57:20 GMT -5
Interesting stuff! I thought the pink would be darker inside the stone.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Jul 8, 2013 19:10:01 GMT -5
There is the Rock Bin . 33040 Dowman St, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 (951) 678-3106. I went there about half a year ago and got some good rocks at reasonable prices. It is on the far (west) side of Lake Elsinore and is run by a little old lady so be sure to call ahead to see if it is open. It is a bit off the beaten path but worth going to. You can try your luck finding pegmatites by Warner Springs. There are a number of claims and abandoned sites there like the Blue Lady Mine. I don't know the status of the Blue Lady Mine. If you would like some pay to dig sites there is the Himalaya Mine www.highdesertgemsandminerals.com/html/himalaya_mine_dig.html and Oceanview mine digforgems.com to check out. At Oceanview you used to get a tour of the mine, but I don't see that on the page anymore. I have heard that both mines "salt" their piles with a few crystals to make sure someone finds something. I did both and found stuff at both. It has been a few years though. Oceanview started with a larger pile to go through.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Jul 7, 2013 18:31:22 GMT -5
Gotta love that Fordite. If I start saving my pennies maybe I can afford some next show
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Jul 5, 2013 21:43:35 GMT -5
Hmmm, only 121 miles from me. If I wasn't going on vacation soon that is do-able.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Slab ?
Jul 3, 2013 8:18:51 GMT -5
Post by barclay on Jul 3, 2013 8:18:51 GMT -5
I stand up my slabs in a pail of kitty litter and bury them. Unless you are doing slabbing as a business that should last you a looong time. The only problem with soap and water is you have to get rid of the oily water. If you slab something porous or leave the slab in oil for a long time you may need to use soap and water.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Slab ?
Jul 3, 2013 8:18:36 GMT -5
Post by barclay on Jul 3, 2013 8:18:36 GMT -5
I stand up my slabs in a pail of kitty litter and bury them. Unless you are doing slabbing as a business that should last you a looong time. The only problem with soap and water is you have to get rid of the oily water. If you slab something porous or leave the slab in oil for a long time you may need to use soap and water.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Jul 2, 2013 23:31:27 GMT -5
North sound like better stuff.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Jul 2, 2013 23:25:59 GMT -5
My life is not planned that far out, but I would love to go! I got a 4WD so I can help pull out stuck folks.
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