icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Nov 1, 2015 7:32:20 GMT -5
I think it looks beautiful. I like when stuff isn't "perfect." The tiny mistakes make it an original and it doesn't look like every other thing out there. I've been working on making unique pieces lately, a little different, a little odd. They get more comments than the traditionally made items. My only suggestion would be to add a bit of oxidation to the entire ring. One, because the stone is so light it needs contrast, two because the imperfections will be more highlighted and it will pop even more. I doubt I'm in the majority here, though.
I also use the "screw it up and put it aside for a week or two" method. Usually works great!
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Nov 1, 2015 7:24:33 GMT -5
Found at an old limestone quarry near Lake Texoma in the 90s. There were a lot of people and a lot more fossils. This was just laying on the ground. A friend cleaned it up. It's around 8" long and 4" high. Not sure what it's called. I want to say Nautilus shell but that doesn't sound right.
You are correct that it's a cephalopod. But it's a section of an ammonite--an extinct cephalopod, probably from the lower Cretaceous Duck Creek Formation.
Here's a web page pertaining to the Lake Texoma fossils: Lake Texoma.
Thanks for the info. My Lord there are a lot of fossils there. Unfortunately, the person I was with only wanted to spend a few minutes so I wasn't able to really explore and find more things. I found my piece within the first few minutes. But the parking was pretty close to the hunting area when I was there. Another mention should go to the abandoned train station in Paris, Texas. Everywhere you walk around the tracks there are tons of small marine fossils. Shells, mainly, but in perfect condition. And, at dusk in Paris, we watched the bats come home to roost. The person I was with is a train person (me, too). so we spent much more time there. It was a beautiful, quiet place. We were the only ones there.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 31, 2015 6:50:29 GMT -5
Found at an old limestone quarry near Lake Texoma in the 90s. There were a lot of people and a lot more fossils. This was just laying on the ground. A friend cleaned it up. It's around 8" long and 4" high. Not sure what it's called. I want to say Nautilus shell but that doesn't sound right.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 30, 2015 6:17:40 GMT -5
Yes, I was thinking about trying what you mentioned and I know that you have to be very careful. Before my supplier got copper solder, that's what I used, with mixed results. If I use just enough silver solder, it will only leave a small ring around the bezel and I can oxidize that area and all will be good. Thanks for reminding me to try.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 29, 2015 8:25:42 GMT -5
Forgot to mention that rutilated quartz is one of my faves. I got a few at the gem show that are so amazing they went right into the specimen boxes and will not become jewelry. Someone told me the gold fibers are manganese, but I'm not sure.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 29, 2015 8:21:48 GMT -5
Just finished a couple more sterling rings, one with Lab and one with 3 small pieces of Kingman Turquoise. I think it needs oxidizing, but can't decide. Once I make a final decision I'll post them. Also did a Lab pendant, it's meant to look rough so don't yell at me anyone! And there are 4 more rings in the queue (got some great 8x6 stones from Bestgems.com) and another Lab pendant ready to go. I've been working on an elaborate (to me) copper cuff, trying to set a great piece of Tiger's Eye in the center, and that stupid copper solder just will not melt no matter what I do. I've tried 3 times, so I've put it to the side for the time being. Fortunately I can always clean the copper; it's so forgiving I can keep trying forever. If it had been sterling it would be mush by now.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 29, 2015 8:13:01 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for your consistent input. Now I know what to do. As for those green whirly things, man do those make a huge difference. And they're fun and quick! But with the Dremel I have to use at least 3-5 together. If you only use one small one, it will disintegrate in no time.
As for tumbling, I assume you can only throw in really hard stones like agate, quartz, jasper, etc., right? Is there a list somewhere of what you DON'T put in the tumbler? Obviously turquoise, kyanite, malachite, faceted gemstones, jade are not good choices. And I assume you tumble them for a couple hours?
Thanks guys and gals!
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 28, 2015 19:02:47 GMT -5
With no one else to ask, here it comes: after you've completely fabricated a piece and are ready to set the stones, in whatever setting, do you do the main polishing of the piece before or after setting the stone(s)?
I usually do a light polishing by hand initially, set the stone(s), another hand polish, then the dremel to get as many scratches as I can and make it pop bright, using the red then white sticks, then the little green wheelie things. LOL I know so many proper terms.
I know a lot of people tumble. but shot is so expensive and I'm afraid of ruining my pieces by doing it wrong.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 28, 2015 18:57:56 GMT -5
Icatz, You have some nicely designed pieces, other than a bit too much solder in some places your construction seems to be sound. The silver pieces would really pop if you took some spare time and go over them with a burnisher. This will remove most of the nicks and tool marks. Don't be in a hurry take one piece a night and do it while watching TV. I quit making rings with copper/brass shanks due fingers turning black. Keep up the good work, remember practice make perfect. Bennett I know the malachite piece has too much solder. Well, I was soldering it down and that round beaded wire melts like crazy and I didn't have enough nerve to keep flaming it. In later attempts I've been able to make it look like it's supposed to, no extra solder. Thanks for your suggestions. I do use a burnisher on the stone settings, not sure where else you mean. I know some of them aren't perfect. I spend hours getting one piece looking nice, but because of my arthritis it's hard to keep going sometimes. All the pulling and holding sharp edges really starts to hurt. If i charged by how much time I really spent on a piece they'd be $1,000. But I do the best I can. After everything starts getting really work-hardened it's just too late as the stone is already in and it can't be annealed. I've ruined a stone or two by continuing after that point.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 20, 2015 7:15:57 GMT -5
Fabulous stone, fabulous work. How did you texture the silver?
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 20, 2015 7:14:52 GMT -5
Love the brushed finish.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 19, 2015 13:31:54 GMT -5
What a stunning stone! Gorgeous.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 18, 2015 6:53:29 GMT -5
Another stunner. Could you post a photo of the back? And what gauge wire are you using? Is that half round and square? Thanks.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 13, 2015 7:01:10 GMT -5
Stumbled across this old Kyanite and sterling necklace. Unusual, 6-sided, very sturdy stones. Obviously done by hand as no 2 are exactly the same. I've since taken it apart and made a lovely necklace with quite a few left over for another project. I've checked the web and can't find anything exactly similar. Stones about 1" long, more or less. The silver was so tarnished I ended up having to polish them by hand. (Posted this in wrong category, reposting here. Sorry.)
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 13, 2015 6:19:41 GMT -5
Awesome specimens! Thanks for posting! Let us know how you managed to travel back 200 years and come back in one piece... You guys are cute. Just feeling old. "Oh, I went to the mine in the mid-1990s to collect wulfenite." Half the people I know weren't even born yet or were not yet 10. If y'all are interested I can go through my crates and photograph some more of this stuff. These aren't even the best specimens, just the ones I had pictures of.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 13, 2015 6:15:13 GMT -5
Looks more like Happy Camp "Jade" (Idocrase) Bob Thanks,I can live with that!
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 11, 2015 18:34:32 GMT -5
The mine is now closed to collecting according to some dude in AZ who I don't know the name of. Certain rockhounding groups can be given access. I think they charged $15/person to go thru the tailings. You have to know someone. I believe 2 guys have owned it for some time. Far too dangerous to go down into.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 11, 2015 9:50:51 GMT -5
Tried a little something different with different tubing sizes and thick solid 6 gauge round. Thanks for looking Completely wonderful! Amazing stone and silver work. How long have you been smithing?
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 11, 2015 9:44:59 GMT -5
Well, I made this some time ago and have forgotten what it's called, if I ever knew. I suspect it's Serpentine but I hope people on this board can give me a real answer. I always like to identify the stones I sell. It also helps to gauge their value. It's an olivy-green. Was hard to capture. Thanks in advance.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 11, 2015 9:38:17 GMT -5
Hi Staci that's my theory too so far --just lots of river rock haven't found too much that's really polishable the Phoenix area is really frustrating in that regards but I keep getting this feeling that something good is hidden anyway my name Ed but most people just call me mostly mostly Did you know there's an old kyanite mine on the backside of Squaw Peak? Or whatever they call it these days. I got a map to go there but the weather turned hot.
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