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Post by pebblesky on Oct 18, 2022 0:36:55 GMT -5
And hopefully make some slabs and cuts for the big roughs I got (Mexican Crazy Lace Agates, Fancy Jasper, some Nevada and Utah purchases). The shop has a slab machine and some saws as well as other lapidary tools.
I am really excited. I would love to make good use of the three-hour allocated time. Is there anything I should be aware of prior to the visit? Thanks for the tips in advance!
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 18, 2022 1:16:24 GMT -5
Do you need to bring your own safety equipment (glasses/gloves)? Congrats on getting a block of time! I bet you're going to have a ton of fun! I hope you'll share some pictures of your slabs afterward!  |
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JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 807
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Post by JR8675309 on Oct 18, 2022 6:13:51 GMT -5
pebblesky, that's awesome. Only tips I can think of: take shop apron, gloves, a few containers and have an idea of how you want to start your cuts. You probably thought of those already.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2022 7:49:08 GMT -5
pebbleskyThat’s exciting! We are all excited to see what you come back with! I’m sure you already thought of it but bring a hair tie or already have your hair up.
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Oct 18, 2022 8:51:13 GMT -5
Remembering how much fun it was when I started learning to cut stones. Hope it's the same for you.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 18, 2022 10:28:08 GMT -5
Looks like everyone has everything covered for you.  Have fun! |
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 18, 2022 11:19:31 GMT -5
Thanks all! Yeah I will wear close-toes, bring my headband and apron. All the other protective gears will be provided by the shop. I should also remember to bring some containers and padding material.
I have a plan to cut to tumble, so the slabs will be quite thick and might be slightly wedged to make the tumbled shapes more interesting.
I also have a 3 pounder thunder-egg to open. Learned from Youtube videos at which direction I should open thunder-eggs but I might still do it wrong. There will be trial and error for my first attempts, and I would love to share with you the results nevertheless.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2022 11:23:34 GMT -5
pebbleskyLooking forward to seeing the results!
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Post by liveoak on Oct 19, 2022 6:45:52 GMT -5
Sounds like for tumbling it probably wouldn't be necessary, but it you cut any slabs I find it nice to have a plastic square & a ruler.
I use the square sometimes when rigging up a rock in the vice, and the ruler or some kind of gauge for the thickness you're cutting.
Patty
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 19, 2022 10:45:39 GMT -5
Sounds like for tumbling it probably wouldn't be necessary, but it you cut any slabs I find it nice to have a plastic square & a ruler.
I use the square sometimes when rigging up a rock in the vice, and the ruler or some kind of gauge for the thickness you're cutting.
Patty
Sounds a good idea! Will do. Thanks! |
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 22, 2022 18:55:40 GMT -5
I am back and would like to give an update. I apparently had zero idea how slow slab machines and trim saws work, and brought more than 20 lbs rocks to cut for my 3-hour happy time. I ended up cutting maybe 5 pounds of them - I meant doing some small cuts on most of them. The slab machine did 3 slab cuts for me. Two slabs from the one of the big Mexican Crazy Lace roughs I got from hummingbirdstones2 .   Through some clear windows on the right side I could already see the botryoidal areas. That's adorable if I could keep it that way without accidentally breaking the window on tumbling/polishing. One slab of the Gary Green jasper from CalderaRocks. I probably had it too thin so it broke into two pieces on cutting.  The rough after being cut.   The slab that was broken into two pieces. I think it will take me at least another two visits to finish off the slabs from the two big roughs. |
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 22, 2022 19:06:35 GMT -5
Meanwhile I also hand-cut some smaller pieces using the trim saw. One Indian Blackskin agate:   It's hard to get focus on the bands, due to the fact that the bands are dim. One smaller rough from the same Mexican Crazy Lace box. I cut it into multiple pieces, but only the smallest is ready for tumble:     This is the piece that I am going to throw into the tumbler tomorrow. |
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 22, 2022 19:11:45 GMT -5
I also used the trim saw and the cabber to prepare some of the agates and jaspers that I got from nursetumbler  This cut is more of the jasper look.  This is a small agate piece that I grind with 80-grit cabber. Some areas look like sakura (cherry blossom) agate but colorless. I think for my purpose (prepare to tumble) a flat lap will be more efficient, but the shop doesn't have that type of machine. |
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 22, 2022 19:14:49 GMT -5
I will learn to plan wisely and be more efficient next time.
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 22, 2022 20:14:26 GMT -5
Well...it looks to me like you were able to get some really great slabs cut today! The Crazy Lace and the Gary Green are gorgeous! I hope you were able to get the big saw going with a cut and then get on a smaller saw to work something else at the same time!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2022 20:37:54 GMT -5
Those look great! Looking forward to seeing them worked! Those agates are a beauty. |
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 22, 2022 21:00:50 GMT -5
Well...it looks to me like you were able to get some really great slabs cut today! The Crazy Lace and the Gary Green are gorgeous! I hope you were able to get the big saw going with a cut and then get on a smaller saw to work something else at the same time! Yeah I did work on the smaller saw when the slab machine was working on its own. The three hours felt like one hour... |
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Oct 22, 2022 21:23:26 GMT -5
Glad to see you had fun on your first trip to the workshop.
Slabbing rocks to see what is inside us one of my favorite things to do.
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on Oct 22, 2022 22:00:39 GMT -5
pebblesky Wow. Some gorgeous material. I especially like the Gary Green. I've been hunting around for some of that but it can be pretty pricey and can vary so much in coloration that I'm waiting for just the right piece to splurge on! I also really like the 2nd hand cut Mexican Crazy Lace piece. Always been a favorite of mine but that one sure has a beautiful bubble gum pink to it. Very nice! I had a feeling I should've grabbed one of those hummingbirdstones2 boxes! Looks like you had a fun day. It'll be fun to see your polished pieces!
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Post by parfive on Oct 22, 2022 22:37:16 GMT -5
Second crazy lace pic, the pastel one w/ the orange slice . . . me likey.
Glad you had fun. Now you can start dropping hints for that Santa guy. : )
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Have fun!
