rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Sept 20, 2016 7:28:11 GMT -5
Ahhh the smaller one is better to me! Interesting, I might fix up the shape, small adjustment to the sides to make more even and change my entry.
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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 20, 2016 4:27:00 GMT -5
This has been a great way for me to improve my skills, pitting my efforts against everyone else. This time I picked a rough, cracked piece of petrified fern deeply pitted in parts. A couple didn't make it, one just popped apart, unseen crack, and the other was thrown across the room, not by me but during sanding on the lap. Still not happy with the shape of the smaller one . My entry for the month
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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 6, 2016 3:26:43 GMT -5
Yes wet and dry mounted on high density foam from kids play area interlocking squares (its what I had in the shed. My wet suit still fits. I use shears glue, we have a small farm and I shear the alpacas hate shearing sheep though, I don't seem to bend right. Gamma polish I got with a grinder, thunder eggs, chrysoprase and other bits about 20 years ago and it was from a deceased estate then. The jar is almost empty now, not that there was much in there before. I've cleaned up, some new sanding discs, and speed up the speed of the lap for sanding. I got a great polish on a piece of obsidian with the same felt so the felt may not be contaminated. I'm doing another Corop Jasper from the same piece as in the second picture so I'll see the results. I've found that the the black areas in some of the Corop Jasper is a fair bit softer. I think I have some 240 wet and dry, so I'll make up another sanding disc. The 2 agates are from the tumbling mix you sent, lovely colors. Thanks Brad
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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 31, 2016 4:34:09 GMT -5
I've got big shoulders I can take it, Constructive criticism that is. I want the best finish as I can get, so I welcome any hints, tips and guidance that people have to offer. As I do a bit of wood turning I find myself always turning other peoples work over and looking at the hard to finish areas to see how much effort they have put in the the quality of finish. The bloodstone I disliked it from the minute I started it but I kept going, it does have orange peel areas. The 2 jaspers have little pits in the stone. But I have noticed that my finish has been as good in the last couple of weeks as what it was. Since doing the petrified wood below. So I spent a bit of time in the shed today, trying to figure if I'm doing any thing different. I find cabbing a bit like sharpening the chainsaw, that is I can't do either very well without my reading glasses and good light. I'm using a flat lap with cheap electroplated laps to shape and dome, then to Sic on rubber foam (400 grit to well worn out 1200) then polish (I have an old jar of Gamma polish that I have been using) on felt. I also have some cerium that I haven't tried yet. What I did find when I was in the shed was that when I stuck my hand on the shelf under the lap where I keep the felt / polish lap that it felt gritty. I have been just grabbing the lap and using. So I gave it a good clean and a test by turning the felt over and giving one of the greenstone another touch. It did improve slightly, so I guess the felt is going in the bin. I need some more Sic discs so while I'm at it, I'll change them over as well. I think I'll find some small storage tubs to keep them in, from now. I don't have any more felt so I might give leather (have plenty) mounted on rubber foam a try.
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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, 2016 4:42:50 GMT -5
I have been having fun doing some cabs. Although I prefer allowing the stone to determine the final shape. The next step I guess is to learn to work with silver, or should I go back a step and work with standard shapes / sizes? 1) Rhodonite unkown location 2) Jasper Corop Australia 3) Agate Agate Creek Australia 4) Bloodstone India 5) Opalite Norseman Australia 6) Temora Greenstone Temora Australia 7) Agate Agate Creek Australia 8) Temora Greenstone Temora Australia 9) ?? Came from an old collection 10) Pet wood Chinchillia Australia 11) Pet wood Came from an old collection 12) Jasper Glenrowan 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 Aug 26, 2016 4:24:30 GMT -5
The beach is a long way from home, it been awhile since I was there. We have, no we had a lake about a mile away but the first photo sums that up I though I would have trouble find a stone that reminded me of the beach but here it goes Kind of reminds me of the surf meeting the sand with pieces of seaweed thrown in
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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 12, 2016 3:35:20 GMT -5
I haven't started batch 2 yet, but a got a package in the mail today. I'll do a bit of grinding before I put them in this time.
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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 29, 2016 2:14:51 GMT -5
Two first's for me 1) Never had I tried a natural edged cab. 2) First stone I've put in a comp. Here is a rather plain agate, from glacial deposits near Glenrowan, Victoria Australia. There are not alot from this area that are colourfull but it is local to me and self collected.
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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 20, 2016 6:37:17 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 Jul 20, 2016 6:36:13 GMT -5
I pick up an old collection a few day ago There is snow flake obsidian tiger eye about a 5 kg ( sorry I don't work in pounds 2.2 pounds equals a kg) of quartz crystals smokey & clear a couple of topaz ( I think) a couple of kgs of dendritic opalite chrysoprase a few small slabs but nice translucent apple green. a fair bit of ribbonstone petrified wood few kgs of jasper all colours including some mookaite small slab of bloodstone about 20 kgs of local agates Turquoise very thin veins on the host stone looks to be some rhodonite a old coffee jar half full of potch, a couple of better bits in there. a couple of pieces of andamooka matrix. opal as you can see a lot is very rust stained, but I'm having fun cleaning them as I go.
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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 10, 2016 3:02:16 GMT -5
Not as shiney as they could be, I should have left them in the polish for a couple of more days. Could have done more in the coarse tumble but I wanted some of the original exterior to the agates maybe next batch. Mostly local (victoria Australia) agates, chert and some other bits and pieces.
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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 20, 2016 5:28:59 GMT -5
Had one of those days. Made 2 from local jasper. Corop Victoria Australia The black / red with a bit flash of pyrite on the surface in the center of it. The black was softer, and it didn't polish al that well bit of under cutting. The one on the left, a little plainer and duller colors but it came out a lot better. Seconds later, Slipped from the hand, and fell to the floor. Didn't like as much anyway?? not happy
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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 19, 2016 2:43:44 GMT -5
Wish I had more, The last of the gold I had got traded for a faceting machine. Will have to consider it next time I'm out detecting.
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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 17, 2016 6:30:32 GMT -5
Thanks that's the link I've been looking for.
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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 17, 2016 5:37:29 GMT -5
Looking to get a small selection of slices of US material for some cabs. Love the look of some of the moss and poppy jaspers. But have no idea on US postage charges to Australia. Could someone please enlighten me on box sizes and postage rates before I tell my wife what I'm thinking.
Thanks Brad
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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 17, 2016 4:34:06 GMT -5
Thanks Ken I didn't think that there would be any issues with 2 small drums for finishing but I thought it would be a good idea to run by the forum I don't think I'll be getting another tumbler in the near future (wife says I've got too many toys)
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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 15, 2016 6:54:31 GMT -5
I have my first load of agates and other bits in tumbling, just started cherry picking what I'm happy with
I have a tumbler that I got from a friends father, originally it was made to run 2 one gallon containers. I had a few one gallon containers that I have tried ( they had been used to store ceramic slip casting clay) I've found that the agates are far to hard on the containers, had one the lasted a 5 days and one last 3 hours. Live and learn from that. I have made a 6" pvc one holds about 10 pounds that seems to be lasting much better. The question is would there be any advantages in running 3 drums ( 1 x gallon & 2 x 1/2 gallon) Anyone tried this? My situation is that I can see myself cherry picking the best from the rough grind (gallon drum) topping up and recharging and proceeding in the smaller drums for finishing.
Any thoughts?
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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 14, 2016 3:26:11 GMT -5
Welcome from Missouri! Lots of helpful folks on here and we love seeing creations from all skill levels The wife and I have always been fascinated with Oz and in our younger years, we often wished we could move there. Back when we lived in California, we raised reptiles and had several species from Australia. We get a few reptiles around our small farm mainly red bellied black & eastern brown snakes. There are a few tiger snakes around where I get sapphires. You don't want to get bitten by any of these. Pretty safe a the moment, it's winter so down to freezing at night, but we rarely get snow (once about 30 years ago and that melted as soon as it touch anything) here. I don't envy any one that lives in the cold I like it better when it's hot.
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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 14, 2016 3:06:19 GMT -5
I have a tile saw bought at a swap meet for A$10 (about US$7) A old double ended arbor with SiC wheels I bought about 15 years ago for about A$15 came with about 40 pounds of thunder eggs a couple of laps and some other bits, I've been using it for my wood turning tools An old MDR (looks very simlar but unbranded) faceting machine, recent trade small quantity of gold nuggets (personally found) and a bottle of scotch. In the last couple of weeks I have a tumbler from a friends father (he hadn't used it in about 40 years) and he threw it a single ended grinding arbor. I have just tonight cherry picked over the first barrel (rough grind) to get the first I'm happy with. The other barrel has some glass grinding away. I need a slab saw to tackle some of the agates I've been finding, may have to build one, I see some great projects others have done. I do have a shaft from a table saw in the shed. Its about 7" x 5" x 3" and almost 5 pounds I think it will be mostly white and the color is from staining in the ground. It will probably just sit on the shelf.
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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 13, 2016 4:11:18 GMT -5
Gday all A few stones from my local area, Benalla Victoria Australia These are some of the first stones I've cut, I've done 2 before but those have gone into hiding (if only I can remember where I put them) I don't have a lapidary club near me, so learning from the net, books, and by feel. I've always enjoyed finding crystals, metal detecting etc but the now I think that there might be a new addiction. Great site and love everyone''s work
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