rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Jan 29, 2019 0:56:17 GMT -5
I had an unusual request from a work mate today to set a cab.
She is having her mothers ashes made into some resin cabs and would like a pendant from one. I have no idea what shapes or sizes that they will be and don't want to do any modifications to the cab or damage it.
I'm thinking a simple bezel setting or a cast (commercial) setting if it is a standard size, but I guess ultimately I will be guided by she would like.
I'm not sure what to think. I don't think it is the material that concerns me but the fact it is so personal, that I want to do it justice, but not over done.
Any thoughts, anyone had any experience with similar.
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Jan 14, 2019 4:33:15 GMT -5
Man, I hate winter. It's 11 degrees right now in Cedar City, UT, with a high of 25 this afternoon. I need a beach week! Or a Quartzite week! What's the temp in Quartzite right now? Lynn Do you a deal. You can have our heat (forecast to be 109 tomorrow and 113 the next) and I'll have half of the cooler weather. That would make a nice 67, at least it would be nice to sleep at night. I hate winter too.
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Jan 14, 2019 0:53:24 GMT -5
One area that I regularly go is know to have wild dogs, dingoes, and x breeds. I once found dogs tracks on top of my foot steps on the hike out of the area, the bush is thick in that area (you might see 6 feet in front) I actually left early that day because I felt something wasn't right. not worried about a single dog but packs are more of a concern. Heres a local news report, all the locations mentioned back into bushland near where I go. www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-29/wild-dog-attacks-victoria-exacting-heavy-toll/9807402
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Jan 13, 2019 3:44:53 GMT -5
There are quite tight control for firearms over here, even having one for self protections isn't a justified reason. All firearms need to be stored under lock and key, with the ammunition locked separately. Using one to protect yourself, family or your property could result in all your firearms being removed from you by the law. Handguns have even tighter controls.
I'm not anti gun. being a hunter and working for a company that manufactures ammunition and explosives for Australian Defence forces. but I do believe that some people are not fit to own one and no one wants to see a young one shot because they were playing with dads gun.
This is getting tooo political.
Australia is a great place to live. never been to the US so I'll leave it to you guys.
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Jan 13, 2019 1:11:12 GMT -5
The heat can be deadly. Here is the next weeks forecast for here pauls I see your weather forecast is only slightly lower than Benalla's
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Jan 12, 2019 19:53:48 GMT -5
I can imagine it made you jump. Let me ask you- As an American, I imagine that living in Australia is very dangerous. Seems everything is poisonous. DH stumbled on a plant the other day that is crazy poisonous- gympie gympie and, of course, it is in Australia. I'm not dissing Australia, at all. Going there is on my bucket list, but you better believe I would watching my back. And spiders.... let's not even talk about those. Sooooo, am I wrong or do y'all really need to be careful. I've never really thought about it, at least not from your point of view. I grew up on a farm and still live on a small farm, so encounters with snakes is not unusual. You do have to be aware while walking around, but generally they don't go out of their way to attack you. A lot of the snakes do have the capability to kill you, or at least require medical attention but most times they are defending themselves, don't try to pick them up, stand on them or kill them and you should be right. We only have a few things snakes, spiders, sting rays, jelly fish, stone fish, sharks, cone snails, blue ring octopus, crocodiles, cassowary, feral pigs, wild dogs, plants, heat, cold, fires, storms, I'd still rather be out in the bush than live in the cities. Lets face it, it's probably the things that we do every day that is going to get us in the end. chemicals, food, life style choices or you job. I went through cancer once at the age of 29 been clear for almost 15 years, honestly that scares me more than all the above. Enjoy life, you don't know how long you've got above ground
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Jan 12, 2019 17:15:38 GMT -5
When for a explore yesterday, good day out though not much luck, only a few small crystals worth taking home. After hiking up a hill in 102° heat, taking a nice long drink break sitting in the shade. Do you think I jumped when I heard something just behind me? This little fellow was about 6 feet behind me and about 3 feet about my head, probably wondering what stupid creature is out in this weather.
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Jan 9, 2019 22:35:17 GMT -5
I prefer super glue on the head of a nail, sometimes epoxy. Superglue worked for these I did yesterday, small ones are 6mm Those are really nice! Is that Aussie dendritic opal? Yep - Aussie dendritic opal Also doing a sets in blue lace agate and cathedral agate.
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Jan 9, 2019 20:36:14 GMT -5
I prefer super glue on the head of a nail, sometimes epoxy. Superglue worked for these I did yesterday, small ones are 6mm
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Jan 8, 2019 5:43:41 GMT -5
Just small broken bits compare to those. Mix of smokey and clear quartz, tourmaline, blue and clear topaz. Found in an old watercourse, half way up the hillside. Just specing the surface material, no digging yet.
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Jan 8, 2019 1:01:35 GMT -5
I came across this old footage. This is close to the area where I have been going over the last few outings, will post a few photos later. but sadly nowhere near the size of some of these.
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Dec 27, 2018 17:41:19 GMT -5
Still waiting for some of mine to arrive, we left thing to the last minute. one package of sterling settings, and one with gem setting pliers and some faceting dops. But I did get a set of sieves quarter and eighth of an inch. Just got to wait till the temp drops a bit (105 yesterday forecast 104 today) to go after some more sapphires.
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Dec 25, 2018 4:38:54 GMT -5
Merry Christmas, Hope Santa leaves some rocks in your stockings. Christmas is almost over here in Australia only about 3 hours left in the Eastern states. Need to sleep = too much food.
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Oct 16, 2018 19:55:52 GMT -5
I'll start it out, been a couple of months since put one in the FCC Rough was labeled as flower garden agate from Woodward Ranch I picked up at a local rock show earlier this year. (made it a long way from home over here in Australia.) I started off thinking a leaf shape, but got to the teardrop and I liked it so it stayed that way. and
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Aug 30, 2018 20:17:38 GMT -5
I'm enjoying working with silver more than I thought I would. The rings still need a little work, but I been off line for a couple of weeks and I thought I'd share what I've been up to.
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Aug 2, 2018 21:20:52 GMT -5
Thanks to everyone here I finally tried my hand at some construction of my own. Not perfect, but I'm happy for my first one (maybe second or third tries had to learn how to solder first) The bail took a few attempts to get it into a position that looked right after it was flipped over. Have to wait till tomorrow to try the next one, got to go to work soon.
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Jul 3, 2018 1:52:25 GMT -5
rivarat You can post 2 additional photos to show the flash. I can see a little at the bottom of ca. Nice piece. I got to work on my photo skills that was the best of about 30 shots. I'm only using the camera on the phone since our DSLR died a couple of years ago.
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Jun 29, 2018 20:53:35 GMT -5
I just realized that this is the only cab that I've done this month, been busy with a whole heap of other things. I don't normally play with opal but there about 7lbs of it that came with some equipment I purchased earlier this month.
A piece of Yowah or Koroit opal from Queensland Australia. A little soft in spots mainly the matrix on the upper left and a few pits, but has a few nice flashes of blues and greens - hard to capture in the pics
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Jun 5, 2018 4:42:03 GMT -5
Selection of the rocks Koroit boulder opal Andamooka matrix opal (treated) tiger eye blue lace agate chrysoprase
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