metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 22, 2016 12:05:25 GMT -5
As far as quality goes, I have no idea what it would take to be facetable. Last summer I took a little medicine bottle full of my grandparents' garnet to a rock shop in Custer in hopes of getting some info. The proprietor told me they were worthless but that she'd gladly take them off my hands. I told her i'd keep them, TYVM, then she proceeded to spill the entire bottle behind her counter. She disappeared behind the counter to sweep them up, and I ended up leaving with about half a little medicine bottle full So now i'm afraid to even show them around and try to get info. Any idea how I might find out more about them? That's very poor form. Not to wish ill on anyone, but I seriously believe in karma There's a couple of things that you could do ... 1) if they're big enough, cab them - once they're polished up you should be able to see anything inside 2)(depends if they're sufficiently translucent) polish up opposite sides and look through the stone. It won't be all encompassing, but should give an indication 3) tumble a sample again to a fine polish - especially useful if they're small or the batch is variable 4) for relatively translucent stones, place in a small jar immerse in glycerin - just a covering will provide better optics At this stage, colour would be a good indicator of clarity; since black stones wouldn't really be facettable. I know that there's garnet and then there's garnet, but what you have must be pretty reasonable in order for folk who should know better to pull a stunt like you describe.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 22, 2016 11:52:17 GMT -5
As i mentioned, I have finished two pendant sized pieces. Started with 120 diamond disc for shaping, honestly 220 would have been fine as well, (this stone is very soft) smoothed and pre-polished with 320, 600 wet belts, 1200 wet disc paper, then with 5000 diamond paste dry on canvas. I'm not sure where to go from here, as it shines well enough, but to be honest I think it looks better with a soft sheen than high polish. I don't think they will stay super shiny long if it is worn. Interestingly enough, I was just at a rock show in Wisconsin this past weekend and a very friendly old timer that tumbles a lot suggested cerium oxide. He said a friend had great results with that polish on that stone. I have never used that polish before, So that's where I'm at now. I will post pictures soon, I am not as computer literate as some of you are, my receptionist said she can help with photos, so stay tuned! Great - thank you for the info. Looking forwards to the photos ... no hurry. I haven't received mine just yet. I think it may have been redirected to the post-office as I have to go out every now and again to work (every day) and wasn't in to sign for it. Again, no rush; it's not like I'm short of stuff to do.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 22, 2016 11:47:29 GMT -5
There's favourite stones and favourite wraps - then favourite wrapped stones - all in the multiple so not much if anything left! Superb work, love-em
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metalsmith
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Garnet
Sept 21, 2016 16:07:34 GMT -5
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 21, 2016 16:07:34 GMT -5
Nice find bud and go to see another 307 on here Ya need to get you some screens , it will speed you way up !! Even dry panning will throw them to the bottom Exactly ... any watercourses to concentrate at placer deposits? and tims - what is the quality of the stones - facettable?
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 21, 2016 12:27:03 GMT -5
Looks ace! How well will it keep a shine?
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 21, 2016 12:23:20 GMT -5
You hit the nail on the head on my twisting of the wire. After I cut it I thought I should have twisted it 1st, then cut. Thanks for your insight, maybe I'll try some copper since I need to order nickel or sterling anyway. Yeah, any degree of stress work-hardens the metal. Cutting it will have hardened the wire closer to the cut more than further away - then leading to the phased difference.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 20, 2016 16:48:16 GMT -5
Is it dinosaur bone perhaps?
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 20, 2016 16:35:37 GMT -5
Thank you. I was going to say this probably owes something to Arrowheadave's influence. I noted he wasn't around, but now see he has / is deleted and can't see or link to his work.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 20, 2016 16:23:44 GMT -5
Well you're off to a great start. If you'll allow me to make a couple of observations with the aim of improving ...
Rule 1: whatever anyone says might be right or wrong depending on what you wanted to do / intended or like just how it turned out
With that in mind, I'm guessing you twisted a relatively short strip of wire. How do I know this? the length of the twists varies just a little incrementally telling me you were towards one end or the other with the strip used to make this ring. Using a section a little further away from the end would have greater consistency in twist-count, but increases wastage. A tip might be to anneal it, evenly before twisting.
Rule 2: whatever can be identified from a digital photo at several times the real scale might not be observable in person
You have done really well in matching the twists of the ring at the join. Noting Rule 2, there appears to be a short length where the ridge doesn't continue, at the solder join. Depending on how noticeable this is in person (not just the photo) and how good the fit is to that you intended, this could be re-sawn and re-joined, losing just a fraction (say 0.2 or 0.3 mm with a piercing saw). If the fits perfectly and / or the join is within your comfort zone leave it.
Rule 3: be your own worst critic
If the recipient / customer is happy, its job-done!
imho copper is the same as silver; it is the silver solder that does the job. In some ways it is easier as it won't melt if you 'torch it'.
Couldn't comment on nickel silver, I've no idea I'm afraid.
Hope this helps
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 20, 2016 12:25:21 GMT -5
Interesting that it has a brown sheen to it. You have a good eye - it has a diagnostic brown streak. If the streak is black, it is lignite - or "sea coal". Jet is strictly speaking a subdivision of lignite.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 19, 2016 16:22:35 GMT -5
This particular pieces seems to have taken an inordinately long time. Not my cab, but metal work right up from scratch from rolling out the sheet.
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metalsmith
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Garnet
Sept 19, 2016 16:12:12 GMT -5
tims likes this
Post by metalsmith on Sept 19, 2016 16:12:12 GMT -5
Brilliant - good haul Tims! Heavy gravels?
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 19, 2016 15:57:38 GMT -5
Jet Black ... Whitby Jet - a form of lignite, specifically fossilised Auraucaria sp eroded out of the cliffs and found by beach-combing drifting in the North sea along the east coast. A bit of pitting is inescapable as it runs through the stone. Whitby Jet Rough Polished cabochon One on its own
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 19, 2016 14:36:37 GMT -5
'Scuse me? Does that mean the same over the pond as it does here in the UK??! Sheesh, I'm spilling my tea here! I think you guys say 'bum' Cripes ... leave that one at home if you come over the pond ... could get you into hot water here! I can't even post a link!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 19, 2016 12:30:52 GMT -5
T w a t Learned it from @shotgunner 'Scuse me? Does that mean the same over the pond as it does here in the UK??! Sheesh, I'm spilling my tea here!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 19, 2016 12:29:11 GMT -5
Neighbors must be wondering what the heck I'm doing squatted down in the street with a spoon and a bucket! Poor fella .. used to know everything there was to know about rocks ... now look at him!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 19, 2016 12:17:22 GMT -5
Most of the answers are as above... just to note a rule I keep to - only buy material where the photo shows the actual item(s). Not much help now I'm afraid, and a personal rule: you pay your money and take your chances!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 18, 2016 11:03:56 GMT -5
Lovely ... not looking washed out here at all. Pin sharp and good contrast.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 17, 2016 3:44:39 GMT -5
Simply super though the cabs look a touch darker than the rock they're on. Have they picked up some rouge by any chance? no, these cabs I cut from another piece of the polyped, the coral head they are staged on is a very rare, hard to find 30lb head that I just havent cut into yet...they came off of this head pictured below I think that's what you might call upstaged! The staging piece is lovely; it's just that now there's a visible contrast. Sterling work all the same. Pun intended.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Sept 16, 2016 12:59:29 GMT -5
Love the star ... try a dop! Interested in what the dark ear-ring stones are, if you could help?
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