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Post by beefjello on Feb 25, 2007 18:55:28 GMT -5
After reading a bit and figuring a couple things out I went at it again today with much better results. I cut out a Montana slab that I had and sliced a little slab from a Botswana I got from Snowdog. If there's a harder stone to cut and grind than Botswana agate I don't wanna know about it LOL. Things I did different today were making a line with a sharpie about 2/3rds the way down along the sides of my stones as reference points for when I did the grind, grinding from the center to the sides and working the fine grind and belts better. Here they are:  There are still a few minute scratches on the faces I wasn't able to get out, and I am still working on technique, but I'm getting there! The Montana (excuse the shredded fingers.. I lost a lot of skin today LOL)  The Bots. I really think I put a good shine on these!  Thanks a bunch for looking ;D |
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Post by hermatite on Feb 25, 2007 18:59:31 GMT -5
whoa nice! and good tips too!
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Post by stoner on Feb 25, 2007 19:39:28 GMT -5
Very nice man. I'm glad you were able to get some good info from that tutorial and it shows in your work. It's hard to tell from your pics, but if you leave any flat area on the face of the cab, it is very difficult to get all the scratches out. The dome has to go all the way to the center. But these are a big improvement over the first. Congrats.
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Feb 25, 2007 19:41:37 GMT -5
Wow Beefjello. Those are fantastic and I love the stones you chose. The Bot is fantastic, and I almost wanna say that Jamies Wood is the hardest stuff I've cut. And I've been waiting for a piece of wood we collected here in Utah forever and it still hasn't cut through. Maybe it's just time for a new blade...but nuff' of me. Those are both great looking cabs, should be proud of yourself.
Steve
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Post by Tweetiepy on Feb 25, 2007 20:45:56 GMT -5
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoo I like those, #2 gets my vote for favorite, although #1 looks like a little rooster head! - Banjo had a piece that had what looked like a koi fish in it - those montana agates are beautiful
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Post by cpdad on Feb 25, 2007 20:49:15 GMT -5
very nice...so i take it that you are doing this by hand..and not a dope stick?...that second pic is nice...kev.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Feb 25, 2007 23:13:53 GMT -5
i don't know which i like better. both are really nice looking!
kim
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Post by rocklicker on Feb 26, 2007 2:47:47 GMT -5
Beautiful cabs Beef. I like em both just as much. Each is interesting and cool in it's own way. I use the sharpie trick too, but be careful that some rocks absorb the ink and it will be hard to get out. Hard stuff is fine most of the time. I take it you are holding the stones by hand. You should think about dopping. It saves lots of skin and rocks flying off into the back of the grinder. Yet it adds an extra step. It's a tradeoff. Great job on the cabs. I can't wait to see more.
Steve
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Feb 26, 2007 9:32:31 GMT -5
Sweet! Nice looking cabs Beef. Keep it up!
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Post by rockds on Feb 26, 2007 10:42:47 GMT -5
nice job on both. Now bots are an all time fav of mine but the montana agate is the winner IMHO
robert
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Feb 26, 2007 13:18:21 GMT -5
See It just gets more and more fun- Kudos to you on picking some real nice Stones- When I started out I was grinding the Dismal parts of the rocks (won't want to wast the good parts!) On of the tricks I have learned to use in dealing w/ scratches is to color them in with a sharpie (careful on pourous stones) then grind off the sharpie marks- then dry the stone and look at it under Magnification- if you got all the scratches NO marks from the sharpie will be evident- If you didn't get them all You will see faint marks from the sharpie (I usually make 3 or 4 lines or else a cross). Have fun!
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Post by Jurrasic Jonje on Feb 26, 2007 16:35:17 GMT -5
That bot is sweet.
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Post by beefjello on Feb 26, 2007 21:19:59 GMT -5
Thanks a lot everyone! Thanks for the extra tips too.. my mind is like a sponge right now taking it all in and absorbing as much info as I can lol. I didn't even notice how bad the fingernails on my two index fingers were until today! both half worn through and one of 'em pretty sore but oh what a shine LOL! I'm gonna try those rubber finger protector things until I get a dop set up. My uncle works turquoise and glues nails to his cabs.. I'm probably going to try that. The more I look at them the more all the little imperfections keep glaring at me! That's good though because it's giving me incentive to do better!  Thanks again! |
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Post by parfive on Feb 27, 2007 0:12:06 GMT -5
Way to go, Beef . . . . . 0 to 60 in six seconds (or three cabs).
The look of that Bot in the first pic is awesome. Close-ups are nice too.
Rich
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Post by joe on Feb 27, 2007 8:07:51 GMT -5
Lookin' good BJ!
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Feb 27, 2007 11:38:47 GMT -5
That is what is so fun about cabbing- Looking at them close up and seeing things that could be better- I only view my cabs under a lope- When I show them to other people they can't see the imperfections- I point out a scratch here- or a chip there and they look at me like I'm either nuts (which I am) or that I have some kind of super vision
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one80mike
freely admits to licking rocks
@(-_-)@ Princess Leia!
Member since February 2007
Posts: 908
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Post by one80mike on Feb 27, 2007 21:41:52 GMT -5
Nice work mate. Stuff like this makes me want to expand from just tumbling...which I 've only just started...to trying some cabbing as well. For what it's worth from someone who really has no experience...Good job!
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Post by beefjello on Feb 27, 2007 21:53:30 GMT -5
Thanks again everyone! Stefan that's a good idea about using a loop.. I think I'll pick one up and keep it handy! Mike I haven't even got my first tumble batch out of polish yet lol. I'm still a week or 2 away. I was lucky enough to get a killer deal on my cabber. Keep your eyes open for the adds down there.. someone's always upgrading and selling their old machines, or moving on.. or passing on.. lol
Thanks!!
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