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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 30, 2022 20:56:33 GMT -5
The first two pieces are Montana Dryhead Agates. The third piece is K2 Blue that came from holajonathan at the suggestion of rockjunquie . The fourth piece is an unknown material that came from susand24224. This material takes a great polish! Thanks Susan!  Five, six and seven are self-collected Teepee Canyon Agates. The last one has a slight fracture right there at the top of the inside swoop...but I think the pattern makes it worth wrapping...        |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 30, 2022 21:05:38 GMT -5
Stunning, jasoninsd! So where do you find Dryhead agates and how do you tell the difference between them and Teepee Canyon? Hard to pick a favorites out of all these bobby dazzlers, but the 2nd Teepee with the druzy is over the top phenomenal!  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2022 21:06:22 GMT -5
jasoninsdMan Jason! I’m going to call you the king of shine! Those are all awesome! That blue is so beautiful and the druzy in the middle of the second to last one is so pretty. Never heard of K2 blue before, had to look it up. Wonder if it would tumble good or undercut.
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 30, 2022 21:34:50 GMT -5
Stunning, jasoninsd ! So where do you find Dryhead agates and how do you tell the difference between them and Teepee Canyon? Hard to pick a favorites out of all these bobby dazzlers, but the 2nd Teepee with the druzy is over the top phenomenal!  Thanks Robin! Dryhead Agates are found in the Pryor Mountains in the Bighorn River rea in Montana (https://www.mindat.org/loc-161198.html). I heard that you can't mine them anymore in the "public area"...but I do believe there is private property that has access and is digging currently. I "find" them on eBay. I've seen them at auction at some of the local shows I've been to...but they've been going for such ridiculous amounts, I wasn't going to pay that price at those auctions. I'll see them on eBay and snag some every once in awhile. There's a couple differences between Dryheads and Teepees. The most noticing for me is the color of the matrix. Teepees are more of a tan matrix, while Dryheads have more of a chocolate brown colored matrix. The second is the fortification colors. Dryheads have more of an orange tone to the colors in the fortifications, while Teepees have pretty distinct Reds and yellows. Even the reds and pinks in the Dryheads have an orange "tone" to them. They're obviously close cousins...and were made under pretty similar conditions. Proximity geographically, and the amazingly similar structures to both of them lead me to believe that... jasoninsd Man Jason! I’m going to call you the king of shine! Those are all awesome! That blue is so beautiful and the druzy in the middle of the second to last one is so pretty. Never heard of K2 blue before, had to look it up. Wonder if it would tumble good or undercut. Thanks Ashley! I've been called the "King of Sh...something" before...but I'll settle for shine this time! LOL The druzy in that triangular Teepee really is awesome. A lot of times, that quartz pocket like that is so fractured, it doesn't look all that great...but this one actually sparkles in the light! The K2 Blue will undercut like crazy! There is some undercutting in that cab...but I don't think it detracts to the point of not being worth cabbing it. |
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Post by pebblesky on Oct 30, 2022 21:48:27 GMT -5
They are so beautiful! Most are perfect Halloween color 🎃 The K2 blue one... very elegant. Like blue primroses (or other blue flowers) in the snow...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2022 21:52:44 GMT -5
jasoninsdI think sometimes a bit of undercutting adds character. As long as it’s not too much and the stone will polish apart from the little bit of undercutting. I like it sometimes.
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goldfinder
Cave Dweller 
Member since December 2020
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Post by goldfinder on Oct 30, 2022 22:13:08 GMT -5
Really excellent set of cabs jasoninsd! Those Teepee canyon agates are phenomenal! The deep red lacy banding is mesmerizing. There is just something special about self collected material. |
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Post by susand24224 on Oct 30, 2022 22:29:17 GMT -5
Thanks for the head's up, Jason! I am finding it quite difficult to be impartial since this is the first time I have seen the pink stuff cabbed. (My thoughts are that it's banded rhyolite, but I am certainly no expert--perhaps someone else will know.) But--you did an incredible job on all of them--they are quite extraordinary.
For Ashley: I've tumbled K2, which is really granite. It did fairly well, but I suspect like all granite I've tumbled, each batch will be a bit different.
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,498
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Post by realrockhound on Oct 30, 2022 22:32:07 GMT -5
Nice set.
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 30, 2022 23:12:08 GMT -5
Very nice! I LOVE the next to the last one.
I think k2 must be very variable. I've cut quite a few with no undercutting. Haven't seen it in awhile, so it's really nice to see it.
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 31, 2022 0:48:04 GMT -5
They are so beautiful! Most are perfect Halloween color 🎃 The K2 blue one... very elegant. Like blue primroses (or other blue flowers) in the snow... Thanks PS! Loved the analogy for the K2! You know...I didn't even pay attention to the Halloween colors until you mentioned it...but you're right! LOL jasoninsd I think sometimes a bit of undercutting adds character. As long as it’s not too much and the stone will polish apart from the little bit of undercutting. I like it sometimes. I actually don't have a problem with the undercutting like I once did. I've watched a BUNCH of tutorials on wire-wrapping and have seen a bunch of flaws in the cabochons they've used in the tutorials...so I know not every cab that I'm going to make is going to have a "perfect" polish. As long as I can minimize the amount of flaws that are due to me, I'm okay with there being flaws due to the nature of the material.  Really excellent set of cabs jasoninsd ! Those Teepee canyon agates are phenomenal! The deep red lacy banding is mesmerizing. There is just something special about self collected material. Thanks GF! I know I've said it countless times...but I really don't think I'll ever get tired of working Teepee Canyon Agates. And yes...I do oftentimes feel "mesmerized" by those rare pieces that don't seem to have any fractures in them! Thanks for the head's up, Jason! I am finding it quite difficult to be impartial since this is the first time I have seen the pink stuff cabbed. (My thoughts are that it's banded rhyolite, but I am certainly no expert--perhaps someone else will know.) But--you did an incredible job on all of them--they are quite extraordinary. For Ashley: I've tumbled K2, which is really granite. It did fairly well, but I suspect like all granite I've tumbled, each batch will be a bit different. Thanks again Susan! I tell you...if that material is a Banded Rhyolite, it's the best Rhyolite I think I've worked. That material just begged to be shiny! Maybe I worked the K2 incorrectly. The "undercutting" really was slight (I've worked far worse undercutting material!), but it was there for me. Thanks Brother! I saw a used wallet for sale on eBay...in case you need one.  Very nice! I LOVE the next to the last one.
I think k2 must be very variable. I've cut quite a few with no undercutting. Haven't seen it in awhile, so it's really nice to see it.
Thanks Tela! Yeah...that triangular Teepee really was winner winner chicken dinner out of this bunch! Maybe I just suck at working material that has a tendency to undercut! LOL |
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Justin
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since April 2022
Posts: 76
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Post by Justin on Oct 31, 2022 7:06:28 GMT -5
Woooow those look incredible! I second Ashley, all hail “the king of shine”!
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Post by liveoak on Oct 31, 2022 7:14:16 GMT -5
How can you not agree, jasoninsd cabs are ALWAYS polished nicely. SO - maybe you should share with us your tricks. How high of diamond do you go ? On what kind of wheel ? Compound to finish ? Inquiring minds need to know  Patty |
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Post by Son Of Beach on Oct 31, 2022 19:05:01 GMT -5
That little pocket is the cherry on top 
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 31, 2022 19:14:16 GMT -5
Woooow those look incredible! I second Ashley, all hail “the king of shine”! Thanks Justin!! I'll try to take some better pictures next time. How can you not agree, jasoninsd cabs are ALWAYS polished nicely. SO - maybe you should share with us your tricks. How high of diamond do you go ? On what kind of wheel ? Compound to finish ? Inquiring minds need to know  Patty Oh...they're not "always" shiny! LOL I use Nova wheels...which are very worn in at this point...280 soft through 3000 soft. After the wheels, I use 14K diamond paste on a canvas pad which is on my slant cabber. Then I have a Cerium Oxide pad on the end of the arbor which is my final step IF I use it. And to be honest...not one of these cabs was put on the Cerium pad. The 14K diamond paste was the final step. The only thing I think I do that most people don't...is I inspect the cab after every wheel. I have on reading glasses, a 5X Optivisor, and with those on, I look through my 3X magnifying light. So, basically it's the same as looking at the cab through a loupe after every stage. I can see the "level" of scratches that remain after each stage. It's not a liquid surface...so no matter what, there ARE scratches after each stage. I make sure each wheel has worked out the scratches put in by the previous wheel before moving it on to the next wheel. I do that inspection between each wheel...and then again after the 14K stage...and the Cerium if I used it. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 31, 2022 19:16:26 GMT -5
That little pocket is the cherry on top 
Thanks Chad! Yeah...that really is the nicest little quartz pocket I've ever had in a Teepee Canyon Agate! I'm very grateful as this piece came from a slab that I had ran through the vibe and was going to keep as a specimen...then changed my mind and took a chance with this one! LOL |
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Post by Starguy on Oct 31, 2022 21:27:21 GMT -5
They’re all beauties jasoninsd. I’d have to say that second teepee is my favorite. I like how you left a little of the matrix in it. It takes a pretty good polish. Thanks for showing. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 31, 2022 21:51:35 GMT -5
They’re all beauties jasoninsd . I’d have to say that second teepee is my favorite. I like how you left a little of the matrix in it. It takes a pretty good polish. Thanks for showing. Thank you my friend! I've got a couple more days of cutting weather before the temps drop...and I have some AMAZING material that showed up today...so I've got the next batch already mulling around in my head! |
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Post by liveoak on Nov 1, 2022 7:05:07 GMT -5
I use Nova wheels...which are very worn in at this point...280 soft through 3000 soft. After the wheels, I use 14K diamond paste on a canvas pad which is on my slant cabber. Then I have a Cerium Oxide pad on the end of the arbor which is my final step IF I use it. And to be honest...not one of these cabs was put on the Cerium pad. The 14K diamond paste was the final step. The only thing I think I do that most people don't...is I inspect the cab after every wheel. I have on reading glasses, a 5X Optivisor, and with those on, I look through my 3X magnifying light. So, basically it's the same as looking at the cab through a loupe after every stage. I can see the "level" of scratches that remain after each stage. It's not a liquid surface...so no matter what, there ARE scratches after each stage. I make sure each wheel has worked out the scratches put in by the previous wheel before moving it on to the next wheel. I do that inspection between each wheel...and then again after the 14K stage...and the Cerium if I used it. Thank you Jason.
Sounds like it's all in the magnification !
Good tip & one I will try harder to implement.
Patty
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Justin
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since April 2022
Posts: 76
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Post by Justin on Nov 1, 2022 8:25:16 GMT -5
Oh...they're not "always" shiny! LOL The only thing I think I do that most people don't...is I inspect the cab after every wheel. I have on reading glasses, a 5X Optivisor, and with those on, I look through my 3X magnifying light. So, basically it's the same as looking at the cab through a loupe after every stage. I can see the "level" of scratches that remain after each stage. It's not a liquid surface...so no matter what, there ARE scratches after each stage. I make sure each wheel has worked out the scratches put in by the previous wheel before moving it on to the next wheel. I do that inspection between each wheel...and then again after the 14K stage...and the Cerium if I used it.Boy you pulled my card! 🤣 you are absolutely correct! I’ve always known that’s the proper way to cab but I have *rarely* actually done that. I did it yesterday for the first time and I was truly shocked by how much of the cab didn’t get fully worked by the 600 wheel. from now on I’m following the South Dakota sage… all hail the king of shine! |
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