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Post by MsAli on Feb 15, 2023 16:24:05 GMT -5
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Post by pauls on Feb 15, 2023 17:36:18 GMT -5
For the people thinking about doing a heart and thinking it's too hard, have a look at the first two photos of the rough and the rough shape and you can see how to get a nice even heart.
Centre your pattern, that's the silver line in the first photo, cut or grind straight across the top at right angles to that line. then shape the sides so they are nice and even, start shaping the cab as in the second photo, at this stage you are just making a shield shape. Get a nice even shield shaped cabochon, sand the shield with the first sanding grit to even out any lumpy bits. Now you have a good shield cabochon that with a little bit of extra sanding could be finished. Then you grind the cleavage and the lobes, you need to keep the imaginary centre line of the shield in line with the edge of your wheel when grinding the cleave across the face. Then go back and rough sand the lobes and cleavage.
This is the trick, do not consider making it into a heart until your shield is a nice and even cabochon.
Good luck people, give it a go, by breaking the operation down into these steps you can do it.
Apologies for the last photo being posted twice, no idea how that happened, dust from the tissue as well. Sigh.
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Post by pauls on Feb 15, 2023 17:58:15 GMT -5
Duplicate post removed. Paul.
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Post by realrockhound on Feb 15, 2023 18:19:32 GMT -5
Dip yer toes in. Tha waters fine…
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 1,772
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Post by rockbrain on Feb 15, 2023 18:59:32 GMT -5
For the people thinking about doing a heart and thinking it's too hard, have a look at the first two photos of the rough and the rough shape and you can see how to get a nice even heart. Centre your pattern, that's the silver line in the first photo, cut or grind straight across the top at right angles to that line. then shape the sides so they are nice and even, start shaping the cab as in the second photo, at this stage you are just making a shield shape. Get a nice even shield shaped cabochon, sand the shield with the first sanding grit to even out any lumpy bits. Now you have a good shield cabochon that with a little bit of extra sanding could be finished. Then you grind the cleavage and the lobes, you need to keep the imaginary centre line of the shield in line with the edge of your wheel when grinding the cleave across the face. Then go back and rough sand the lobes and cleavage. This is the trick, do not consider making it into a heart until your shield is a nice and even cabochon. Good luck people, give it a go, by breaking the operation down into these steps you can do it. Apologies for the last photo being posted twice, no idea how that happened, dust from the tissue as well. Sigh. I started doing my hearts this way. After looking at several that others had done I started going the easier route. I do it this same way right up to grinding the cleavage. The dome shape is completely done before the cleavage is started. I just grind straight in without trying to redome into the cleavage area. I think the way you're doing it looks better. It gives that more bulbous look to the cheeks. But I think it's not a huge difference and I also think it's a lot easier to screw it up and it takes a lot more time. A lot of it is personal choice YMMV. BTW, your cab is beautiful. Nice entry, good luck! |
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Post by realrockhound on Feb 19, 2023 1:11:59 GMT -5
Well.... Should get around to cutting something tomorrow if all goes well. I'm gonna try something different. Watch me mess it up haha
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,113
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Post by khara on Feb 19, 2023 2:09:04 GMT -5
I have one done actually. But it’s the item I’ve been trying to clean iron staining out of, if you’ve caught that in some other posts of mine. I’m giving it through the weekend and then will call it good. Should have my entry posted next week. Hopefully a bunch of others come in as well. Don’t forget it’s a short month!🤞❤️
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Post by realrockhound on Feb 19, 2023 2:23:04 GMT -5
Mine will be done by this week or next. I only have the weekends to work, and even those are generally busy.
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 1,772
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Post by rockbrain on Feb 19, 2023 10:14:57 GMT -5
I think my entry is helping me discover that there is such a thing as cross contamination on a cab machine. I need to do a full cleanup of my water trays and delivery system.
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 19, 2023 10:58:00 GMT -5
I think my entry is helping me discover that there is such a thing as cross contamination on a cab machine. I need to do a full cleanup of my water trays and delivery system. I know people who have the "recirculating" water system swear it doesn't lead to cross-contamination...but I just can't wrap my head around how (at times) it couldn't. |
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Post by realrockhound on Feb 19, 2023 20:58:58 GMT -5
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,113
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Post by khara on Feb 19, 2023 22:09:29 GMT -5
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Post by realrockhound on Feb 19, 2023 22:19:05 GMT -5
Appreciate it. For me, it didn’t come out quite how I envisioned. Figured I’d take a chance on something different. Is what it is. |
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Post by Rockoonz on Feb 20, 2023 2:29:38 GMT -5
That's nice, red backing?
I have 5 preforms so far, probably will make one or two more tomorrow. One is pretty much done, and will become the entry if I decide it's best or time gets away from me, also getting the shop building ready for a new roof.
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Post by realrockhound on Feb 20, 2023 12:45:07 GMT -5
That's nice, red backing? I have 5 preforms so far, probably will make one or two more tomorrow. One is pretty much done, and will become the entry if I decide it's best or time gets away from me, also getting the shop building ready for a new roof. Nah, just used my super fancy coloring kit and a piece of Montana moss agate. |
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Post by Rockoonz on Feb 20, 2023 12:56:52 GMT -5
realrockhound whatever it is it's cool. I got some backed spencer opal pieces ready for caps from a sale several years ago. A couple were backed with red colored glass, the effect was pretty awesome.
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Post by realrockhound on Feb 20, 2023 13:05:14 GMT -5
realrockhound whatever it is it's cool. I got some backed spencer opal pieces ready for caps from a sale several years ago. A couple were backed with red colored glass, the effect was pretty awesome. Well… I appreciate the compliment. For you and others, what I was trying to accomplish, is you know the big chocolate heart boxes with the badge/sash or whatever you want to call it across the front? Heart chocolate box ya know 😂. Anyways that’s what I was hoping to essentially make my heart look like. Kinda looks like a seagull took a massive crap on a red heart shaped cab. But ya know… ya learn as you go. |
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Post by Rockoonz on Feb 21, 2023 4:16:09 GMT -5
I see more like a surreal alien sci-fi heart, no crap.
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,113
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Post by khara on Feb 21, 2023 14:16:27 GMT -5
Ok, here is my heart entry. This material was labeled both Calico Onyx and Purple Pom Pom Plume. The nearest name match I can find is Silver Lace Onyx from Calico California but that does not look like this material. I’m not seeing any silver lace with this purple/red coloring and the lace looks different as well. I can find Pom Pom pIume but again, none with this coloring and other materials. So I don’t really know what to call this. If anyone knows, please comment. The lighter colored areas are very soft compared to the dark and the material as a whole is pretty fracture-y so it was difficult to maintain a nice shape and clean edge. I spent quite a bit of time trying to clean the iron staining out of the crystal pocket. I just used CLR and Iron-Out. At the end I used an ultrasonic cleaner and that really helped to clean the polishing compound out of the cracks and pits. I can say for sure I would never have cut a heart-shaped cab if not for this contest! But, I’m glad I did. The crystal area actually made shaping and polishing the cleavage easier, the material was a challenge to cut/polish nicely, and I had to spend time trouble-shooting the iron staining. All good practice. Hope to see more entries!     |
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Post by fernwood on Feb 21, 2023 14:31:53 GMT -5
khara this is very nice. I like how you utilized the druzy pocket. Beautiful material, whatever it is.
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X - Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's rocks
- O Henry
