rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Jun 4, 2018 6:06:15 GMT -5
I haven't been cutting allot lately, life has been too busy. Been looking for more equipment (particularly after a slab saw and a vibe lap) for a while, but hard to come by with costing an arm or a leg, or driving half way across Australia to pick it up. So I bit the bullet and put an add on the net. Results for the weekend, now going to pull the add from the net, I have enough gear for a while. 3 tumblers 2 8" slab trim saws 6" grinder 8" grinder with diamond wheels 12" vibe lap inland dop station rocks 7 lbs of boulder opal Rhodonite Agate creek agate Topaz and lots more The equipment needs a little TLC, but the price was very good.
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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 Apr 11, 2018 4:25:28 GMT -5
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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 Apr 1, 2018 4:18:11 GMT -5
Went out look for jasper yesterday Plenty of reds, some quite dark but some nice bright reds. Here's a big one that I brought home for the garden, I don't have a saw that big enough. 29 kg (almost 64 pounds) of red. I dig fill up my bags with smaller material, to tumble and to slab. This one was so ugly that when I got it home I almost threw it out, glad I didn't more of the same piece and some small one cab bits
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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 Mar 30, 2018 3:19:15 GMT -5
I'll start it off for the month. Still needs more sanding (missed a couple of scratches) and re polishing, but ran out of time, off jasper hunting tomorrow Ribbon stone, Australia
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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 Feb 25, 2018 23:50:18 GMT -5
I had an interesting day out yesterday at a local rock swap/sale event. It isn't very often I have the chance to get some US/Mexico material from a vendor sell an old collection at reasonable prices. (I though were reasonable prices) Cost about what the postage to Australia would be not including the material prices. Not sure if they are good examples from the locations but I picked what I liked. Great to get my hands on some more material that I normally only can read about. Pryor Mountains- Powell Wyoming Sagenite - California Flower garden agate -Woodward ranch Cathedral agate -Mexico Black Plume -Texas Cathedral agate -Mexico Royal Purple Agate Mexico Graveyard Point Plume Maury Mountain Oregon Hells Canyon Agate Colo (where's thihs??) Not sure - something lace - second line may be sow belly - I would like to know where from. Broken through the writing - Help please No labeling - help please Also a piece of royal purple agate (more like a jasper) from Burro creek I didn't get a photo of
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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 21, 2018 4:44:28 GMT -5
I was thinking I wasn't going to get an enrty in this month, due to having a major re arrange, fires and the heat lately. The last few days have been between 99° and 110°, way to hot to be cabbing in the shed. But now have moved most of my gear into a caravan (trailer) with an air conditioner. No our place, but about 10 miles down the road, taken from the back of the fire truck. Hope some one can shed a bit of light on the material I picked up in the local rock shop, all I know is one the label in the background. I'm thinking maybe wonderstone?
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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, 2017 15:26:00 GMT -5
Those are cool! That hole looks a little snakey. How in the world did you ever think to sieve there. I am sorry for your loss. I hope your insurance is fair and prompt. I imagine your dogs will forget the trauma with some attention, a treat, and time. The rocks are great, much envy to your spot. It is below zero today. Being a far northern resident, I look at a hole like that and think 'TROUT', keep the snakes. I don't do cold that well. Today its ment to be 35°c /95°f with thunderstorms in the afternoon. There are a few trout there, I see a few 3 inch long ones checking out what I've stirred up in the creek, but every couple of years the creek drys out, so better fishing elsewhere.
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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, 2017 15:11:16 GMT -5
Those are cool! That hole looks a little snakey. How in the world did you ever think to sieve there? Snakes are a concern, in the area there is tiger snakes, brown snakes, red belly black and copper heads. A bite from any of those would be a lot of trouble/lethal. It's not only those but there are also wild pigs, wild dogs and deer and shooters. I've had some shoots close to me, with in 50 feet, the deer shooter had no idea I was even there. The area was a gold mining area in the 1850's worked for a short time but not very profitable, it been published in a couple of gemstone books, known to lapidary clubs and to locals.
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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, 2017 0:28:17 GMT -5
With Christmas over, had to get out in the hill digging in dirt. Paying for it today, but had to get some frustration out. A week ago today we lost part of our roof and our dog runs in a storm (no one was hurt, though one of our dogs must have come close) So I went to one of my favorite spots. Only about 50 miles from home, but it could have been a million miles, didn't hear or see anyone for the whole day. The result frrom a sieve load From the sieve I scrape the heavier gems from the pile and into a bucket, to sort at home. I try not to keep any of the zircons that are under the size of a match head. Some of the better sapphires and zircons for the day. Might try to cab the 2 bigger sapphires/corundum in the middle.
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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 13, 2017 4:26:23 GMT -5
Hope all our forum friends (and their family and friends)are still safe. I haven't heard much in the news the last couple of days here in Australia. fernwood your brother in law is so right about conditions changing. Most of my experience has been from the back of a fire truck, including the Black Saturday fires back in 2009 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Saturday_bushfiresThis still stirs up an uneasy feelings sometimes when I think back to that day. Thoughts and well wishes to you all.
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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 13, 2017 3:38:09 GMT -5
Not a big fan of soft materials, always had problems with undercutting and finishing. Maybe because I really only use cerium on leather, mostly because I have mainly hard materials. Here's a small selection of what I had the choice of.Finally settled on some of the Stichtite in serpentine AKA Atlantisite From what I found on the net Mohs hardness Serpentine: 3 - 4; Stichtite: 1,5 - 2 Preform Final
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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 Nov 12, 2017 3:33:17 GMT -5
Very nice! Is it from the Agate Creek in Australia? Yes, never been there myself, maybe one day, 1800 miles one way for me.
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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 Nov 11, 2017 3:37:22 GMT -5
I'll get in first again, I don't mind, someone has to start. Came from a box labeled Agate Creek, so I believe it is, but the box also contained a few bot's and other agates. I was going to polish the two halves, but couldn't resist taking a slice from the middle. photo inside taken with the phone, doesn't do it justice but shows the colors. Outside in natural light, it seems to come alive but some bad reflections. Does have an amethyst band in the crystalline section size 30x 22mm
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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 26, 2017 1:56:39 GMT -5
Great to see another Aussie on here. I'm only about 1000 km (a bit over 600 miles) south of Queensland depending where exactly you are. It is a big state. I see you're from Benalla, you're only 1350 k's away from me in Toowoomba. We're practically neighbours I think I can almost see your place over the back fence.
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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 25, 2017 3:05:33 GMT -5
Beautiful work Welcome from Benalla - Australia
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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 25, 2017 3:00:06 GMT -5
Great to see another Aussie on here. I'm only about 1000 km (a bit over 600 miles) south of Queensland depending where exactly you are. It is a big state.
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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 3, 2017 2:47:23 GMT -5
Something a little different I thought I'd try, doesn't quite fit the theme being a metallic stone, but it is metallic. I thought I'd get in early this month, it is something that I had set aside to try. Last month after 5 cabs I wasn't happy with, one tiger eye almost finished and a small opal that I couldn't get a decent photo of, I ended up without an entry. Computer CPU
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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 Sept 4, 2017 4:52:46 GMT -5
At the moment I using a flower pot method for burn out, but keeping an eye out for a small kiln. I passed up a few casters before I settled on the Kerr, concerned about replacement parts
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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 Sept 2, 2017 2:52:29 GMT -5
I haven't been round here alot lately,haven't even cut a stone in the last 4 weeks. The Neycraft would be a great setup but out of my budget. The vacuum table is for investing and is basically the the same, refrigerator vacuum pump and a heavy glass jar.
I have been on a little bit of a spending spree (with my wife permission)and have picked up a ring expander / reducer, some more molds for wax injection, kerr centrifico caster, and a host of other bits and pieces. Still waiting for delivery for some of the items from the US.
I was referring to molds, as I have a wax injector. I'm not sure of my wax carving skills, haven't gone down that path yet but I'm sure I will at some stage.
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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 1, 2017 6:35:41 GMT -5
This probably should be in the market place area, although it seems that I can't create a tread in there until I have 100 posts
Been playing with casting lately. It all started with a mold, shortly followed by a wax injector, a few more molds and now building a vacuum table. The problem that I have is that most casting equipment here in Australia is few and far between, not a lot of used equipment comes up. There are some vacuum casting setups for sale but I don't want to sell a kidney to afford them. Option 1 Buy a cheaper asian centrifuge. Don't know if I would be getting value for money there?
Option 2 Buy secondhand centrifuge from overseas, most likely from the US. There seems to a few pop up on ebay that would fit in my budget even with shipping included.
What's everyones thoughts?
Does anyone have one for sale? Also looking for molds, prefer for setting cabs into. pm details if you have some stuff for sale and hopefully be able to make a deal.
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