Variscite cabs

agatewhisperer
freely admits to licking rocks

Member since May 2020
Posts: 836

Variscite cabs Sept 22, 2024 12:59:22 GMT -5 drocknut, RWA3006, and 16 more like this

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Post by agatewhisperer on Sept 22, 2024 12:59:22 GMT -5

Never tried cutting variscite before now. It was interesting stuff. I thought the white parts would be chalky and not polish but they turned out to be harder than the green parts! Also, my normal polishing methods didn't work. My leather disc left little scratches on the rock and the 14k diamond just make it look dull. Zam on a buffer was the trick. Never really had that work before now and I was surprised at how well it removed the scratches.

The camera took some liberty on the colors and makes the green look a little richer than in real life but I think they turned out pretty good either way.

These pieces were solid enough that I cut a groove on the side of some before cabbing so it can be groove wrapped. Worked well!

And here's a bonus cab. I had a heck of a time getting the scratches out of this one for some reason so I ended up tumble polishing it. Turned out nice!! I believe RWA3006 will turn this in to a bola tie!

gemfeller
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Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,068

Variscite cabs Sept 22, 2024 13:19:08 GMT -5 RWA3006 and jasoninsd like this

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Post by gemfeller on Sept 22, 2024 13:19:08 GMT -5

Nice job on the variscite and other. I've cut lots of variscite but haven't seen any like some of yours. Some looks like Lucin but the material with contrasting blue is new to me. Do your know the source? Just curious. It makes a really nice effect.

agatewhisperer
freely admits to licking rocks

Member since May 2020
Posts: 836

Variscite cabs Sept 22, 2024 13:20:17 GMT -5 via mobile RWA3006 likes this

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Post by agatewhisperer on Sept 22, 2024 13:20:17 GMT -5

Sept 22, 2024 13:19:08 GMT -5 gemfeller said:

Nice job on the variscite and other. I've cut lots of variscite but haven't seen any like some of yours. Some looks like Lucin but the material with contrasting blue is new to me. Do your know the source? Just curious. It makes a really nice effect.

I got it from RWA3006 so he may know!

RWA3006
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Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,672

Variscite cabs Sept 22, 2024 13:28:28 GMT -5 rockjunquie and jasoninsd like this

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Post by RWA3006 on Sept 22, 2024 13:28:28 GMT -5

Sept 22, 2024 13:19:08 GMT -5 gemfeller said:

Nice job on the variscite and other. I've cut lots of variscite but haven't seen any like some of yours. Some looks like Lucin but the material with contrasting blue is new to me. Do your know the source? Just curious. It makes a really nice effect.

It's Lucin material I got a long time ago.

If we were able to carry the love and tolerance shown here into the world as a whole and get anyone to follow the example set, who knows what could be born from that?
Stonemon
RIP

realrockhound Cave Dweller Chucking leaverite at tweekers Member since June 2020 Posts: 4,538	Variscite cabs Sept 22, 2024 13:59:08 GMT -5 via mobile agatewhisperer likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by realrockhound on Sept 22, 2024 13:59:08 GMT -5 Yup. Definitely Lucin. I really like that variety that has that speckle pattern.

gemfeller
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Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,068

Variscite cabs Sept 22, 2024 14:00:40 GMT -5 RWA3006, rockjunquie, and 1 more like this

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Post by gemfeller on Sept 22, 2024 14:00:40 GMT -5

Sept 22, 2024 13:28:28 GMT -5 RWA3006 said:

Sept 22, 2024 13:19:08 GMT -5 gemfeller said:

Nice job on the variscite and other. I've cut lots of variscite but haven't seen any like some of yours. Some looks like Lucin but the material with contrasting blue is new to me. Do your know the source? Just curious. It makes a really nice effect.

It's Lucin material I got a long time ago.

Thanks. I figured Lucin if it was American but variscite from Australia, Iran and a few other places around the globe is showing up these days. Yours is very nice material.

vegasjames no longer being taken for granite Member since June 2013 Posts: 9,616	Variscite cabs Sept 22, 2024 14:03:25 GMT -5 agatewhisperer and johnthor1963 like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by vegasjames on Sept 22, 2024 14:03:25 GMT -5 Love that second one.

jasoninsd can identify rocks - even green ones I Wish I Knew Half The Stuff I Thought I Knew 30 Years Ago! Member since July 2020 Posts: 18,436	Variscite cabs Sept 22, 2024 20:11:22 GMT -5 agatewhisperer and 1bigchicken like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by jasoninsd on Sept 22, 2024 20:11:22 GMT -5 Freakin' A Alex!! Those came out spectacularly well!! They're all jaw-dropping...but the pattern capture on the 4th one is my fave!!
	Favorite Quotes: "It always seems impossible until it is done." - Nelson Mandela "Life becomes easier when you learn to accept the apology you never got." - Robert Brault "You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy." - Nightbirde (RIP 2/19/22) My Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/MadBadgerLapidary

liveoak still telling self it's just a hobby Member since January 2022 Posts: 4,747	Variscite cabs Sept 22, 2024 20:12:01 GMT -5 agatewhisperer likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by liveoak on Sept 22, 2024 20:12:01 GMT -5 Nice ones. I really like the last variscite. Patty
	"The Lyf so Short, the Craft so Long to Lerne" - G. Chaucer www.liveoakstudios.us goimagine.com/liveoakstudios/

chris1956
driving up their electric bill

Member since July 2022
Posts: 2,441

Variscite cabs Sept 22, 2024 20:23:58 GMT -5 agatewhisperer and jasoninsd like this

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Post by chris1956 on Sept 22, 2024 20:23:58 GMT -5

Sept 22, 2024 20:11:22 GMT -5 jasoninsd said:

Freakin' A Alex!! Those came out spectacularly well!! They're all jaw-dropping...but the pattern capture on the 4th one is my fave!!

4th one the best!

rockjunquie Global Moderator Member since March 2012 Posts: 35,035	Variscite cabs Sept 22, 2024 20:41:45 GMT -5 agatewhisperer and jasoninsd like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rockjunquie on Sept 22, 2024 20:41:45 GMT -5 As a variscite lover, I have to say- I love them all. Good job!

agatewhisperer freely admits to licking rocks Member since May 2020 Posts: 836	Variscite cabs Sept 22, 2024 21:55:07 GMT -5 via mobile RWA3006 and rockjunquie like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by agatewhisperer on Sept 22, 2024 21:55:07 GMT -5 Thanks everyone! That 4th one was the main one I was trying to cut from the slab so I'm glad you like it. The rest are a bonus 👍

RWA3006
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Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,672

Variscite cabs Sept 22, 2024 22:11:19 GMT -5 rockjunquie, agatewhisperer, and 1 more like this

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Post by RWA3006 on Sept 22, 2024 22:11:19 GMT -5

Sept 22, 2024 21:55:07 GMT -5 agatewhisperer said:

Thanks everyone! That 4th one was the main one I was trying to cut from the slab so I'm glad you like it. The rest are a bonus 👍

Very lucky person who ends up with the 4th one. (thumbs-up)

Last Edit: Sept 22, 2024 22:11:45 GMT -5 by RWA3006

If we were able to carry the love and tolerance shown here into the world as a whole and get anyone to follow the example set, who knows what could be born from that?
Stonemon
RIP

agatewhisperer
freely admits to licking rocks

Member since May 2020
Posts: 836

Variscite cabs Sept 22, 2024 22:55:15 GMT -5 via mobile RWA3006 and rockjunquie like this

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Post by agatewhisperer on Sept 22, 2024 22:55:15 GMT -5

If you're interested, here's a video I clipped together of each stage cutting that 4th one 👍. Hopefully you all can get to it even though it's on Instagram www.instagram.com/reel/DAPsWJhOmyF/?igsh=MTJyNWowcHB1OXMwMA==

lapidary1234
spending too much on rocks

"If you like rocks you can't be all bad!!" ~ old timer quote

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Posts: 325

Variscite cabs Sept 23, 2024 0:05:10 GMT -5 via mobile

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Post by lapidary1234 on Sept 23, 2024 0:05:10 GMT -5

Excellent job! I personally like the 3rd one best! The white at the bottom has a nice appeal to it.
Did you find the white/grey sections to be especially soft (softer than the already soft variscite)? The last stuff I got had a lot of softer sections. It is such pretty material.

agatewhisperer
freely admits to licking rocks

Member since May 2020
Posts: 836

Variscite cabs Sept 23, 2024 7:02:17 GMT -5 via mobile

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Post by agatewhisperer on Sept 23, 2024 7:02:17 GMT -5

Sept 23, 2024 0:05:10 GMT -5 lapidary1234 said:

Excellent job! I personally like the 3rd one best! The white at the bottom has a nice appeal to it.
Did you find the white/grey sections to be especially soft (softer than the already soft variscite)? The last stuff I got had a lot of softer sections. It is such pretty material.

It thought the white and gray parts were going to be chalky and soft but they seemed harder than the blue parts. Not what I expected!

rockjunquie
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Variscite cabs Sept 23, 2024 7:52:41 GMT -5 agatewhisperer likes this

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Post by rockjunquie on Sept 23, 2024 7:52:41 GMT -5

Sept 22, 2024 22:55:15 GMT -5 agatewhisperer said:

If you're interested, here's a video I clipped together of each stage cutting that 4th one 👍. Hopefully you all can get to it even though it's on Instagram www.instagram.com/reel/DAPsWJhOmyF/?igsh=MTJyNWowcHB1OXMwMA==

rockbrain Cave Dweller Member since January 2022 Posts: 3,201	Variscite cabs Sept 23, 2024 8:57:45 GMT -5 agatewhisperer likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rockbrain on Sept 23, 2024 8:57:45 GMT -5 Beautiful cabs. 2 and 3 stand out to me.
	Bigfoot is often called Sasquatch, Yeti doesn't seem to care!

whalecottagedesigns spending too much on rocks Member since September 2024 Posts: 424	Variscite cabs Sept 23, 2024 10:37:51 GMT -5 agatewhisperer likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by whalecottagedesigns on Sept 23, 2024 10:37:51 GMT -5 Lovely material and cabochons!
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choochoorocks starting to spend too much on rocks Rock hounding Member since April 2020 Posts: 181	Variscite cabs Sept 27, 2024 0:19:31 GMT -5 agatewhisperer likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by choochoorocks on Sept 27, 2024 0:19:31 GMT -5 Outstanding! I don't know much about variscite, and I thought it was green; is the blue stuff variscite as well?