stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Dec 13, 2023 18:22:56 GMT -5
So I purchased some rock (won't mention the site as I don't want to create an argument) from a non rock site. Man made Opal on top, some very nice goldstone middle, and some sunstone bottom. I'm not usually a man made fan, but I have wanted to try some of this man made Opal (opallite it was called) for some time. I have never worked goldstone either, and honestly never see it around anymore. The sunstone is just for giggles as I don't expect too much out of it as it seems a bit grainy. I have Labradorite running in 60/90 right now and should pull enough this weekend to move a batch onto 120/220 so I was wondering what else to run that was softer. This stuff should fit the bill well enough. If I find it a little too brutal on the labradorite I do have some obsidian that can go with this. Something a little different for sure, and I am pretty pleased with what I received as far as sizes go. Not the cheapest stuff (about $17 sitting here)
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Post by Starguy on Dec 13, 2023 19:52:26 GMT -5
The man made opal looks cool.
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dshanpnw
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since December 2020
Posts: 896
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Post by dshanpnw on Dec 15, 2023 7:20:28 GMT -5
Very different indeed. I look forward to seeing the sunstones when all done.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Dec 29, 2023 10:54:37 GMT -5
Just a 2 week update: The gold stone went back in for another 2 weeks, but everything else moved on. The sunstone lost a lot of mass (not too surprising). Labradorite plays real nice with this stuff.
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 434
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Post by hypodactylus on Dec 29, 2023 12:51:01 GMT -5
Interesting. I am curious to see how they turn out after final polish. Thanks for sharing!
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 29, 2023 12:53:01 GMT -5
Is that the sea opal glass? Elizabeth works with it quite a bit in her jewelry. Do people really argue about where material comes from? Sure, I like to support the better US companies and individuals for my tools and materials, but I don't turn down a good deal anywhere.
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Post by Starguy on Dec 29, 2023 13:10:24 GMT -5
Nice progress stefan. Those opals are cool looking. They have a lot of “depth”.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Dec 29, 2023 14:28:50 GMT -5
Is that the sea opal glass? Elizabeth works with it quite a bit in her jewelry. Do people really argue about where material comes from? Sure, I like to support the better US companies and individuals for my tools and materials, but I don't turn down a good deal anywhere. Not so much where it came from, more of the "don't use this site as it is stealing your info" type thing. As far as a good deal on this, NO WAY. about $1 a chunk, but it is really decent material and this is more of a lets try this type thing lol.
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 30, 2023 3:07:24 GMT -5
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Dec 30, 2023 12:50:32 GMT -5
Yup.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Jan 20, 2024 9:56:34 GMT -5
Just an update: Out of 500 AO and headed to 1000 AO: So far they are behaving as they should. Goldstone got held back as it was not ready.
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,329
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jan 20, 2024 16:16:03 GMT -5
Very nice! Your labradorite looks amazing. I struggled with that one. The goldstone is really pretty - it's man made? what from? Is it more slag-like?
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 21, 2024 10:21:17 GMT -5
Very nice! Your labradorite looks amazing. I struggled with that one. The goldstone is really pretty - it's man made? what from? Is it more slag-like? It's a pretty fascinating process...to me at least! LOL en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldstone_(glass)
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,329
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jan 21, 2024 17:30:40 GMT -5
Very nice! Your labradorite looks amazing. I struggled with that one. The goldstone is really pretty - it's man made? what from? Is it more slag-like? It's a pretty fascinating process...to me at least! LOL en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldstone_(glass)THank you for sharing that! What a gorgeous creation. Saw some blue variety on a live auction (i think they called it goldstone?) looked the same, but blue.
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 21, 2024 18:24:49 GMT -5
THank you for sharing that! What a gorgeous creation. Saw some blue variety on a live auction (i think they called it goldstone?) looked the same, but blue. I have some blue, black, gold, and green...
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Post by velodromed on Jan 22, 2024 7:22:26 GMT -5
Just a 2 week update: The gold stone went back in for another 2 weeks, but everything else moved on. The sunstone lost a lot of mass (not too surprising). Labradorite plays real nice with this stuff. That is nice to know, I have labradorite, and Sunstone I’ve been thinking on how to polish. Good to know that they work well together.
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,329
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jan 22, 2024 8:34:23 GMT -5
THank you for sharing that! What a gorgeous creation. Saw some blue variety on a live auction (i think they called it goldstone?) looked the same, but blue. I have some blue, black, gold, and green... Oh nice! lot's of variety!! Gotta get through some material I have already - I just cut preforms out of a slice of green ocean jasper you sent and some kind of green/white stone canyon? I'll post pics in another post - dont' see cloudinary link here.
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 22, 2024 8:40:00 GMT -5
I think it says stonewall canyon jasper? Is that right? then a piece of green ocean jasper. The OJ is quite thin so I'll do my best with it. They are next in line after a MCL cab that's in process. The Stonewall Canyon came from vegasjames. I love that material!! I know the OJ isn't the best...but it'll give you a chance to work some. It polishes extremely well! Fingers crossed no pits show up!
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,329
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jan 22, 2024 8:44:01 GMT -5
I think it says stonewall canyon jasper? Is that right? then a piece of green ocean jasper. The OJ is quite thin so I'll do my best with it. They are next in line after a MCL cab that's in process. The Stonewall Canyon came from vegasjames . I love that material!! I know the OJ isn't the best...but it'll give you a chance to work some. It polishes extremely well! Fingers crossed no pits show up! Oh! cool. Seemed to cut quite well on my trim saw - got a nice preform cut close to the line. Excited about the OJ too - it looks quite gemmy on the ends so hopefully it does follow through - if not, there's another slab that I can get one, maybe two preforms out of. All equates to practice
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