rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
|
Post by rocknewb101 on Jul 13, 2023 10:57:42 GMT -5
 I got a nice slab of Mary Ellen jasper from Kinesava and this is the first cab I've tried with it. Not as shiny as I thought it would be, but if you look on the bottom of the cab you can see a straight line across - I took this back to the 345 smoothing disc, it completely disappeared until I got back to 3000 disc and then it showed again. I think it's a crack through the rock, but I'm not sure. Is there anything i can do for this? Or should I move on and try another? I have a good amount left and can probably get 3-4 more cabs out of the slab. Thanks!!! |
|
|
|
Post by Pat on Jul 13, 2023 11:24:33 GMT -5
Hmmm. Maybe the 3000 has a coarse piece of grit? in it.
It’s a beautiful cab. Satin finish is lovely!
|
|
|
|
Post by Starguy on Jul 13, 2023 11:31:04 GMT -5
I got a nice slab of Mary Ellen jasper from Kinesava and this is the first cab I've tried with it. Not as shiny as I thought it would be, but if you look on the bottom of the cab you can see a straight line across - I took this back to the 345 smoothing disc, it completely disappeared until I got back to 3000 disc and then it showed again. I think it's a crack through the rock, but I'm not sure. Is there anything i can do for this? Or should I move on and try another? I have a good amount left and can probably get 3-4 more cabs out of the slab. Thanks!!! When I zoom on the photo, I see the line. It looks like a scratch but it’s hard to tell for sure. If you already went back in grit it could be a crack or just a natural feature of the rock. Either way it’s cool. I would finish it for sure. I have lots of less than perfect cabs and very few perfect ones. They say practice makes perfect but in lapidary, the rock has a big say in it too. |
|
rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
|
Post by rocknewb101 on Jul 13, 2023 11:38:13 GMT -5
Hmmm. Maybe the 3000 has a coarse piece of grit? in it. It’s a beautiful cab. Satin finish is lovely! Hmm. Good thought - maybe I'll try one more time and skip the 3000 to see if that's it. It's an add-on disc anyways. It's just weird that it's in the same location...Thanks, Pat!! It looks shinier in my hand than the pic, but I really love the deep reds. |
|
rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
|
Post by rocknewb101 on Jul 13, 2023 11:42:20 GMT -5
I got a nice slab of Mary Ellen jasper from Kinesava and this is the first cab I've tried with it. Not as shiny as I thought it would be, but if you look on the bottom of the cab you can see a straight line across - I took this back to the 345 smoothing disc, it completely disappeared until I got back to 3000 disc and then it showed again. I think it's a crack through the rock, but I'm not sure. Is there anything i can do for this? Or should I move on and try another? I have a good amount left and can probably get 3-4 more cabs out of the slab. Thanks!!! When I zoom on the photo, I see the line. It looks like a scratch but it’s hard to tell for sure. If you already went back in grit it could be a crack or just a natural feature of the rock. Either way it’s cool. I would finish it for sure. I have lots of less than perfect cabs and very few perfect ones. They say practice makes perfect but in lapidary, the rock has a big say in it too. i can feel it with my nail - one thing I didn't check is the girdle to see if the line goes there too - if so I'm thinking it's more of a crack. I took this to 40,000 diamond so i'm not sure if it will get much shinier - I'll try one more time and see, then I think I'll just leave it - I have more so I can try again. Thanks!! |
|
|
|
Post by stardiamond on Jul 13, 2023 15:51:38 GMT -5
It looks like it is the rock not the equipment. Rocks aren't perfect so why do cabs need to be. Defects in material are acceptable depending on what it is. Morgan Hill and Koroit are two examples.
|
|
|
|
Post by Starguy on Jul 13, 2023 18:04:41 GMT -5
The ole nail test is pretty effective. Seeing cracks in slabs before you start working on them is an art. You’re doing good.
|
|
realrockhound
Cave Dweller 
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,495
Member is Online
|
Post by realrockhound on Jul 13, 2023 19:27:30 GMT -5
Id argue it’s a crack. Good way to check for cracks before cabbing is to soak the rock. Wipe it off with a towel and take it out to air dry in the sun. If you have cracks, you’ll see they show up from water still down in them ass opposed to the dry surface.
|
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Jul 13, 2023 20:31:49 GMT -5
I don't believe your nail is going to catch on a scratch...my bet is it's a crack...
|
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Jul 13, 2023 21:28:14 GMT -5
Looks like a semi-healed fracture to me. Nice stone. I like it just the way it is.  Some rocks just don't want to polish. Nothing wrong with that. |
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Jul 14, 2023 5:24:40 GMT -5
That's called a hairline. Hate them. Mary Ellen doesn't usually polish all that well, but it's too beautiful to care. 
Nice round, BTW!
|
|
|
|
Post by liveoak on Jul 14, 2023 7:14:42 GMT -5
Looks like you're getting that slant lap to work for you ! Looks good
Patty
|
|
rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
|
Post by rocknewb101 on Jul 14, 2023 8:01:53 GMT -5
It looks like it is the rock not the equipment. Rocks aren't perfect so why do cabs need to be. Defects in material are acceptable depending on what it is. Morgan Hill and Koroit are two examples. Thank you! That makes me feel better! I love the rock and the deep color. I will leave it as it is!! The ole nail test is pretty effective. Seeing cracks in slabs before you start working on them is an art. You’re doing good. Thanks, Starguy . I did not notice it at all, but will look harder at the remainder of the slab before working with it. It doesn't seem to compromise the integrity of the rock. Id argue it’s a crack. Good way to check for cracks before cabbing is to soak the rock. Wipe it off with a towel and take it out to air dry in the sun. If you have cracks, you’ll see they show up from water still down in them ass opposed to the dry surface. Oh! Thanks, realrockhound - I will do that. Thanks for the tip! I don't believe your nail is going to catch on a scratch...my bet is it's a crack... Thanks, Jason! I feel better knowing it's the rock and not me ha! Looks like a semi-healed fracture to me. Nice stone. I like it just the way it is. Some rocks just don't want to polish. Nothing wrong with that. The color is so amazing, I'm not super fussed with the more satiny finish. I was more concerned I hadn't done something correctly  That's called a hairline. Hate them. Mary Ellen doesn't usually polish all that well, but it's too beautiful to care.
Nice round, BTW!
Thanks rockjunquie! Its not the roundest lol...but we're getting there. I just ordered more templates so I can start practicing different shapes. Good to know I shouldn't expect a mirror finish with ME. Looks like you're getting that slant lap to work for you ! Looks good
Patty
Hurrah! Patience pays off lol....Thank you, Patty!! |
|
dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2020
Posts: 1,160
|
Post by dshanpnw on Jul 14, 2023 9:23:44 GMT -5
I guessed Mary Ellen jasper even before reading your description, nice, I like the swirls in it. Agate Dad on YouTube has a video cabbing MEJ: .
|
|
rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
|
Post by rocknewb101 on Jul 15, 2023 7:58:39 GMT -5
I guessed Mary Ellen jasper even before reading your description, nice, I like the swirls in it. Agate Dad on YouTube has a video cabbing MEJ: . Thanks so much for sharing this! Off to watch it now Thank you! |
|
|
|
Post by stardiamond on Jul 15, 2023 17:19:48 GMT -5
There is a lot of variance in quality of a particular material and you can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear. The polish is very much dependent on the characteristics of the preform. This is one of the first ME cabs I made. High polish and metallic stripes.  I've made many more and never approached the polish. |
|
