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Post by cabby on Sept 15, 2024 12:41:07 GMT -5
Finally got motivated to start slabbing some rocks to sell! Starting off with flame agates. My first “stock” slab!!!! My digital calipers went wonky but it is about 3/8” thick. Does this look about right for what I want flame agate slabs to be? Edit: correction! Apparently I don’t know how to use a ruler, these are actually 3/16”   and now the advice part… found this REALLY nifty flame rough! I’m guessing that side A is considered an awesome slab? Side A  Looks like 90 degrees from that would still give pretty nice slabs but not as good. Side B  the end tapers and while it is still an interesting pattern, it is small and nothing to write home about. side C  am I correct in thinking that I should aim for as many slabs as I can get off side A, then switch to side B? Haven’t had much luck figuring out value of old stock flames (think it’s Mexican). Is side A impressive enough to focus on, or am I best off slabbing side B where I can get the largest quantity of not bad slabs? thanks in advance for any suggestions and advice! |
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Post by pebblesky on Sept 15, 2024 14:23:06 GMT -5
These are beautiful slabs. I hope whichever selling platform you upload your pictures to will support hosting crispy and high-res photos. For the buyers it is all about details (of the flames).
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Post by cabby on Sept 15, 2024 14:32:29 GMT -5
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Post by tribeunited on Sept 15, 2024 15:15:00 GMT -5
Damn son! Those flames are smoking! Mommy likey! Man - I'm super jelly right now!! I'm also super proud of you for cutting those! You did it!!! Nicely done  As for thickness - I don't know. All of the ones i have are cut between 6-8mm - I don't know what that equates to in inches or if it's standard size for flames. Someone else can tell you better!!! Great job cabby, they are beautiful |
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Post by cabby on Sept 15, 2024 15:38:16 GMT -5
Decided to stop at about half of the rock and decide later if I want more large slabs or turn it 90 degrees for smaller bits. Got 4 pretty nice slabs, a couple lesser ones (smaller with inclusions), and the end cut. It was nicer than I expected so got scared to cut it all 😆  this slab is my favorite of the bunch!  tossed the weird red and white plume into the saw for now. Suddenly got scared of butchering the flame agates 😅 |
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Post by tribeunited on Sept 15, 2024 15:55:09 GMT -5
These are all super pretty cabby! I think you should post your thickness question in the cutting slabs section. Ask about thickness for flame agates to show flame. I did the conversion and 6mm is about 1/4" - so the flames I have are thinner. I don't know if yours are too thick, or if mine were cut thinner to show flame or to get more material out of the rock. I think the slab cutting people will answer this for you in that category. Hope I'm not being annoying, I just want you to get the answer before you cut more |
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Post by cabby on Sept 15, 2024 16:25:17 GMT -5
tribeunited Ty for pointing how how bad I am at using a ruler! I am used to using the calipers with mm… it’s 3/16, not 3/8 lol. Was wondering how the heck my 5 turns ended up bigger than the 6 turns (which is 1/4”). Yeah, just not used to reading ticks on an imperial ruler…😆
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Post by tribeunited on Sept 15, 2024 16:46:21 GMT -5
Phew! That's a relief! I'm glad that you only messed up when you read the ruler, not on the cut. I would have cried with you though, if you had. You don't have to face it alone I'm still super proud of you! You'll be selling these in no time!! |
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 15, 2024 19:02:55 GMT -5
Cabby - to answer your question about which side to cut (for future reference apparently! LOL):
I would MUCH rather have a few less slabs which are awesome...than quite a few more slabs that are just "ok"...
Also...a lot of people say 1/4" for thickness...but I really like a lot of slabs in the 3/16" range...
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Post by cabby on Sept 15, 2024 19:29:56 GMT -5
Cabby - to answer your question about which side to cut (for future reference apparently! LOL): I would MUCH rather have a few less slabs which are awesome...than quite a few more slabs that are just "ok"... Also...a lot of people say 1/4" for thickness...but I really like a lot of slabs in the 3/16" range... Thank you! I haven’t cut the rock that I was asking about, yet. Was planning to glue it to wood today but couldn’t decide which way to cut it so was waiting for people to chime in! I remember reading that 3/16” tends to be preferred for flames so have been going with that size for now. Discovered that deciding how to cut the rocks is only the first (or second after ID hell) hurdle… next I get to figure out pricing. Would have started with other rocks if I had realized sooner that there isn’t much for me to compare to… been looking up various rocks I have to figure out if there’s ANYTHING I feel confident pricing 😆 |
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Post by pebblesky on Sept 15, 2024 19:32:40 GMT -5
I have heard that it is preferred to cut the plume/moss/flame slabs thinner.
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 15, 2024 19:42:03 GMT -5
Cabby - to answer your question about which side to cut (for future reference apparently! LOL): I would MUCH rather have a few less slabs which are awesome...than quite a few more slabs that are just "ok"... Also...a lot of people say 1/4" for thickness...but I really like a lot of slabs in the 3/16" range... Thank you! I haven’t cut the rock that I was asking about, yet. Was planning to glue it to wood today but couldn’t decide which way to cut it so was waiting for people to chime in! I remember reading that 3/16” tends to be preferred for flames so have been going with that size for now. Discovered that deciding how to cut the rocks is only the first (or second after ID hell) hurdle… next I get to figure out pricing. Would have started with other rocks if I had realized sooner that there isn’t much for me to compare to… been looking up various rocks I have to figure out if there’s ANYTHING I feel confident pricing 😆 I personally prefer the thinner slabs for flame, plume, and moss materials. The "thicker" the cab, the flame, plume, or moss can come across as "muddled"...which is how a lot of mine looked at the beginning of my cabbing journey! LOL |
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Post by tribeunited on Sept 16, 2024 11:31:20 GMT -5
LMAO at myself - thanks for not pointing out that you did ask your cutting question in the cutting section!!!! I'm such a dumbA$$ sometimes its frightening. Now, where are my keys?  |
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Post by cabby on Sept 16, 2024 11:41:53 GMT -5
LMAO at myself - thanks for not pointing out that you did ask your cutting question in the cutting section!!!! I'm such a dumbA$$ sometimes its frightening. Now, where are my keys? I meant to put it in the cutting section but after your comment I meant to double check if I clicked on something else (but forgot to). Whew, got it right! |
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Post by tribeunited on Sept 16, 2024 11:59:28 GMT -5
LMAO at myself - thanks for not pointing out that you did ask your cutting question in the cutting section!!!! I'm such a dumbA$$ sometimes its frightening. Now, where are my keys? I meant to put it in the cutting section but after your comment I meant to double check if I clicked on something else (but forgot to). Whew, got it right! Oh No!! I infected you with my stupid!! Use protective eye wear when reading my posts! Don't drink the Brawndo! (It's got electrolytes)  |
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Post by cabby on Sept 16, 2024 13:35:25 GMT -5
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Post by cabby on Sept 16, 2024 13:42:56 GMT -5
realrockhound does it look like I got those flames right, or did I waste half the rock at the wrong angle? 😅 man, would be so much easier if I had a better idea of what these materials can/should look like. Learning to read rocks is hard…
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller 
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,536
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Post by realrockhound on Sept 16, 2024 13:46:12 GMT -5
Those were cut correctly. See how the flames form off the host? That’s how you want to cut materials like this.
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Post by cabby on Sept 16, 2024 13:51:24 GMT -5
Those were cut correctly. See how the flames form off the host? That’s how you want to cut materials like this. Yay! Ty! That description is exactly what I needed to avoid too many oopsies. Now where did I put that Carey… j/k j/k! |
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,536
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Post by realrockhound on Sept 16, 2024 13:53:43 GMT -5
Maybe someday I’ll make a thread on how to cut rocks. Cut a few different types. Thundereggs etc. I’ll be sure to be extremely crass and condescending and critical in my explanations 😂
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As for thickness - I don't know. All of the ones i have are cut between 6-8mm - I don't know what that equates to in inches or if it's standard size for flames. Someone else can tell you better!!!
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