gumbo
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2006
Posts: 4
|
Post by gumbo on Aug 13, 2006 11:06:36 GMT -5
hi everyone. i guess you figured by my name i am from louisiana and what do i know about rocks. i know about gravel but not rocks. i have some quartz i got while in Tenn and was thinking about trying to inlay them into a knife handle. that is as far as i have gotten. don't know how to make a rock flat or oval or any shape to be able to use. can i make my own grinders or sanders or is it better to buy something? if anyone has the time to tell me what i need i would appreciate it. i think most of the quartz i have has lots of fractures in them. what kind of stone or quartz would look good in a knife handle? this would be a hobby so i don't have a lot to spend on tools. i am pretty handy and have lots of wood working tools. i have motors, grinding wheel and some canvas wheels for polishing metal. i have a rock tumbler and i am going to start some of the quartz tumbling to see what it will look like. i love to hunt for rocks, arrowheads, civilwar stuff and use my hands to make something nice to look at. i appreciate any help or advice i can get. feel free to email or answer here.
|
|
|
Post by krazydiamond on Aug 13, 2006 11:10:40 GMT -5
welcome, gumbo, you've come to the right place for info and for crafting stone. you'd probably be best off taking some time and reading through some of the posts here. we've got knife makers, cane makers, cabbers, tumblers, jewelry makers, wire wrappers, all sorts of folks that make stuff out of rocks....
KD
|
|
|
Post by Cher on Aug 13, 2006 11:28:51 GMT -5
Welcome Gumbo! Do you have a tile saw? That would be your first step I think in getting some flat stuff you could inlay into the handles. Home Depot has one called a Workforce that sells for about $88, comes with a diamond blade and is used by many of the members here. As long as you have a tumbler (what kind do you have) you can polish the little slabs you make with the saw. Have to say though, it does become an addicting hobby. ;D
|
|
gumbo
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2006
Posts: 4
|
Post by gumbo on Aug 13, 2006 11:39:18 GMT -5
thanks for the help so far. so i can get basic shapes with the tile saw and tumble to make smooth. are most speeds used with rock or quartz slow?
|
|
gumbo
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2006
Posts: 4
|
Post by gumbo on Aug 13, 2006 11:44:06 GMT -5
i have a good rubber barrel tumbler i used to clean old coins.
|
|
|
Post by krazydiamond on Aug 13, 2006 18:41:09 GMT -5
so then you need to get some silicon grit, gumbo and some plastic pellets and you will find yourself on the slippery slope....
KD
|
|
gumbo
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2006
Posts: 4
|
Post by gumbo on Aug 15, 2006 10:53:19 GMT -5
I looked at a tile saw and the blade looks thick. all i have right now is small quartz. how would you shape a small quartz say the size of a dime? i have read a little about tumbling and will start that part today to see how what i have turns out.
|
|
|
Post by sandsman1 on Aug 16, 2006 9:10:39 GMT -5
welcome gumbo
|
|