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Post by stardiamond on Apr 23, 2023 15:42:06 GMT -5
All the blue dot cabs I've made have been problematic. The material requires stabilization and that is something I don't know how to do. The other pieces were a mix of hard clear and crumbly dots. I ended up making smaller than designed. The slab this piece was cut from has a druse pocket but the rest is Chrysocolla and generally consistent. I'm dopping it and may need to truncate the nose to get it solid. Currently 42mm in height.  |
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Post by stardiamond on Apr 23, 2023 16:47:19 GMT -5
The bottom crumbled. Using a worn 80 grit and a very soft touch. I moved the dop and will put some starbond on the end and do the rest of the work with a 280 soft and cross my fingers.
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hoolligan1938
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2022
Posts: 253
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Post by hoolligan1938 on Apr 23, 2023 16:57:26 GMT -5
Nice looking stone! I've just started using Starbond and the accelerator they have. Too early to give you any results but the way it has cured and sanded, it looks promising. I too, would suggest a 280 grit to start and then finer as you go.
Jim
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Post by stardiamond on Apr 23, 2023 17:00:20 GMT -5
90% of the doming is complete so slow and easy.
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller 
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,496
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Post by realrockhound on Apr 23, 2023 18:08:29 GMT -5
You can stabilize without any special equipment. A mason jar, epoxy 330, acetone, a oven and some time will do the trick. Less costly than messing up with rare material. I see cabs if that material going for $200+
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 345
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Post by gunsil on Apr 24, 2023 9:49:14 GMT -5
The only blue dot chrysocolla I ever had any luck with was fully silicified material which is almost impossible to find. Last piece I had was 40 years ago. The druzy pocket indicates your piece has some good silica penetration, hopefully you get a beautiful cab without stabilization. Just my personal preference but I won't use stabilized stones in any of my jewelry creations so I shy away from it. That is one gorgeous stone!!
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Post by stardiamond on Apr 24, 2023 13:20:11 GMT -5
The bottom is solid and the length is 40mm. The shape might not be a perfect 10. but I'm ok with it. My wife was an artist and she could say take a little off there and there. I think any attempts by me to improve it will likely make it worse.  |
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Post by stardiamond on Apr 24, 2023 13:53:10 GMT -5
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,496
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Post by realrockhound on Apr 24, 2023 14:13:07 GMT -5
Where are you finding this material to purchase? And what prices are you getting it for? I can’t find any online
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Post by stardiamond on Apr 24, 2023 14:22:44 GMT -5
A facebook seller. I thought I got a good price. I looked a the material on Etsy. I paid $400 for a little over a pound chunk. It was a risky investment because I wasn't familiar with the material. I had an Etsy customer who was interested. I consider a successful investment being cabs sold is three times cost of material. I don't think I'm getting $1200 in cabs back. I expect to get back my investment and a learning experience.
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Post by stardiamond on Apr 24, 2023 14:41:41 GMT -5
I thought that my 280 soft needed more breaking in. I had a piece of rough that the seller called Road Cut Biggs. I cut a slab and made a preform to break in the 280. It really need it.  [  |
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