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Post by liveoak on Feb 23, 2024 10:45:31 GMT -5
I finally got around to cabbing some "Jimite" - reconstituted glass from jamesp (thanks again Jim). He had asked if anyone wanted to try cabbing these & I spoke up.
I figured, it's glass, how hard could it be .  Now he says that most of what he sells goes to people that knap points - arrow & spearheads & knives.
The glass works beautifully for that, because those artists are not troubled, by the fact of life, of artisan re-melted glass---- bubbles !
The usual go to for final polish with glass is of course cerium oxide-which also of course leaves white residue guess where ---- in the bubbles.
And it's not just big bubbles you can clean out, it's the micro bubbles that are the trouble, as you can't just get in there with a tooth brush to clean the stuff out.
I'm thinking it probably could be done easily with an ultrasonic cleaner- but I don't have one.
SO, after much experimentation, I found that a water-pik, set on HIGH, would get it mostly out of the tiny bubbles.
Of course, this also made a bit of water mess in the bathroom- but I think I got them pretty clean. Anyway, here are the results & it really is some cool looking stuff.
But mind the bubbles  Thanks for looking,
Patty
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Feb 23, 2024 10:58:20 GMT -5
Very nice! My wife loves her piece of Jimite which is teardrop shaped tumbled flat, and I drilled a hole in it. Glad we can finally give it a name other than 'pretty glass'  |
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 722
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Post by iamchris on Feb 23, 2024 12:38:46 GMT -5
Those look really cool! Nice work, liveoak. |
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Post by Pat on Feb 23, 2024 12:51:46 GMT -5
Jimite is the perfect name!
Nice work. I’ve been working on it as an intarsia piece.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 23, 2024 13:15:54 GMT -5
liveoak Patty beautiful job on the cabs of Jimite.  I have one question, though. How in the world, with all the equipment you have, do you not own an ultrasonic? 
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Post by liveoak on Feb 23, 2024 13:21:23 GMT -5
Jimite is the perfect name! Nice work. I’ve been working on it as an intarsia piece. Thank you, Pat.
I look forward to seeing your intarsia !
I kept thinking the green glitter Jimite would be nice for that, but then all/any of it would be.
It has such great colors.
I hope you'll post a photo. 
Patty
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Post by liveoak on Feb 23, 2024 13:26:04 GMT -5
liveoak Patty beautiful job on the cabs of Jimite. I have one question, though. How in the world, with all the equipment you have, do you not own an ultrasonic?
Thanks, Robin.
I had quite a chuckle- I'm not sure, I guess an ultrasonic must have seemed too normal ?
I might have to re-think that.
Jimite it is.
Patty
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Feb 23, 2024 13:57:16 GMT -5
Those are gorgeous! Very interesting! I love my water pik - it does a great job at blasting out those divots - my bathroom looked quite the same i'm sure haha |
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Post by liveoak on Feb 23, 2024 14:08:29 GMT -5
Those are gorgeous! Very interesting! I love my water pik - it does a great job at blasting out those divots - my bathroom looked quite the same i'm sure haha Thanks, Peta Great minds think alike on the water-pik 
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 23, 2024 14:55:57 GMT -5
Those came out great! If you hadn't made such a fuss about the pits, I would never have noticed. I LOVE the pink ones!
Jim sent me some awhile back. I need to shorten my queue and get them in line.
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Post by liveoak on Feb 23, 2024 16:56:22 GMT -5
Thanks Tela I do like them as well & have enough for one or two more
That's the exact brand that I was looking at this morning- Vevor. They have a bunch of models that look pretty similar.
One has a 100watt heater, one has a 200 watt heater. So I guess I need to research which one & why, as the price difference was less than $5.
That, and save my pennies for one .
Patty
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
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Post by khara on Feb 23, 2024 17:51:31 GMT -5
Yep, first thing I thought of was an ultrasonic, but you were already there. I bought this one: www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08TRL3BZ1?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_titleWorks well. The reason I chose it was for the mechanical knobs rather than soft push buttons. I’ve had those wear out on other items and so avoid them. But other than that I don’t know any particulars. This is my first one. It seems to work great. It’s loud so I keep it in the spare bathroom which is nearest the garage and handy anyway. The basket is not super big but big enough for cabs and most slabs. I also saw a trick where you can place a taller container in the basket and essentially increase the size capacity. Not needed for cabs but good to remember for versatility. |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Feb 24, 2024 4:13:36 GMT -5
Sweet cabs liveoak Patty. You sure have the polish figured out. Never knew but should have figured you had the cab skills mastered. I should consider copyrights on the name ! I have a deactivated ETSY site named 'Gem Glass' but selling jewelry on ETSY can be a challenge and failed to have any luck. Those darn bubbles come with the brick casting process not to mention the stock China glass has bubbles in it to begin with. The arrowhead guys complain about the bubbles too. American made fusing glass is so much more user friendly and bubbles rarely get caught in it. Maybe the sparkle glass had less bubbles, it was fused as plates instead of bricks. Easier to lose the bubbles if casting cab size morsels but they don't have the character of the brick process. |
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Jimite
Feb 24, 2024 7:21:13 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by orrum on Feb 24, 2024 7:21:13 GMT -5
Great job. Limited, I like it!!!
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Post by liveoak on Feb 24, 2024 7:24:14 GMT -5
Yep, first thing I thought of was an ultrasonic, but you were already there. I bought this one: Thanks Khara.
I tend to like the knobs as well, so thanks for the comparison.
I need to research more !
Patty
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Post by liveoak on Feb 24, 2024 7:35:23 GMT -5
Sorry, I wasn't trying to give the Atlanta lawyers work or anything - but it is a catchy name to sell by.
You are right the sparkle glass does have less bubbles, still has some, but not as rampant. But I think even dealing with the bubbles, in any of it, the colors are unmatchable.
I guess I'm surprised the arrowhead guys are bothered by the bubbles, I would think if they encountered a large one, they would just knap past it. It was more the little micro bubbles that had me stumped for a while.
From what I remember from the glass price comparison - bubbles make your glass much more affordable.
Anyway, thanks again, it was fun.
I'm looking forward to wrapping them. Patty
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Jimite
Feb 24, 2024 7:36:13 GMT -5
Post by liveoak on Feb 24, 2024 7:36:13 GMT -5
Great job. Limited, I like it!!! Thanks Orrum - more marketing
Patty
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jamesp
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Jimite
Feb 24, 2024 9:44:20 GMT -5
Post by jamesp on Feb 24, 2024 9:44:20 GMT -5
Patty if you can cab glass you can do obsidian cabs. They are one in the same. I would think they require different processing than harder stones.
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Jimite
Feb 24, 2024 10:10:06 GMT -5
Post by liveoak on Feb 24, 2024 10:10:06 GMT -5
Thanks for that thought, Jim, jamesp. I think I've only done 1 Mahagonny obsidian cab, a while back. I'll have to look through my slab stash & see what I got. Patty |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Feb 24, 2024 16:41:52 GMT -5
Thanks for that thought, Jim, jamesp. I think I've only done 1 Mahagonny obsidian cab, a while back. I'll have to look through my slab stash & see what I got. Patty Anyone that can carry 2 5 gallon buckets for a mile and have a routine conversation at the same time can do most anything. |
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