free4rms
freely admits to licking rocks
My little pet walrus
Member since January 2007
Posts: 839
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Post by free4rms on Aug 4, 2007 19:14:23 GMT -5
As Randy pointed out earlier today, the average number of photos posted each day has been a bit low. So, to spice things up a bit, I have decided to open my secret stash vault and let everyone take a peek at a few pendants I just had to hang onto. You know how it is....or maybe it's just me....but once in awhile you finish a pendant and just can't let it go. You have to wait until just the right person comes along, or the right set of circumstances, before you can finally part with it. These three haven't found homes yet, though. All three are made from the same material and are heavily botyroidal, as you can see by the photos. I have electroformed an 18kt gold accent on the last two. Now, who can tell me the name of the material they are made from? If you have seen it before, it should be easy to guess. Mel, are you out there? Now it is someone else's turn to post some photos of their "stash". One this first pendant, I ground and polished the top off of a rounded botryoidal "knob" and revealed a nice amber colored interior similar to the polished edges.  These two have a totally botryoidal (bubbly) surface.   |
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WyckedWyre
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2007
Posts: 1,391
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Post by WyckedWyre on Aug 4, 2007 19:39:19 GMT -5
Looks just like the "fire agate" from Round Mountain to me...which is actually a boytroidal chalcedony.
::)S
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Post by ladyt on Aug 4, 2007 20:15:52 GMT -5
I don't know what they are except gorgeous!! Thank you for the pictures. I love them! Tonja  |
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Post by sbreed on Aug 4, 2007 20:42:32 GMT -5
Wow! They are stunning! The first one needs to go to a pregnant woman as it looks like the beginning of life in the womb!
I want to learn the electroplating so bad! It is remarkable how it encases the stones!!
I agree with Susan, my first thought was fire agate.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,496
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 4, 2007 20:55:25 GMT -5
Dang! You've got me stumped. I'd of said fire agate but the middle one has me confused as it looks more like an exterior cut of Luna Agate out of Mexico. All of them are darn pretty though. Easy to see why you don't want to let them go yet *S*....Mel
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Post by Bikerrandy on Aug 4, 2007 21:08:39 GMT -5
You hand-form the gold on those? That's awesome!! Does it require expensive equipment or can it be done with stuff from the hardware store? That looks like something I'd like to learn. Beautiful work bud!!
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raqy
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2007
Posts: 799
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Post by raqy on Aug 4, 2007 21:16:36 GMT -5
Ok How is that done?!! I love the bottom one gotta have one just gotta. Show me how! By the way they are just beautiful, great job.
Now can you show me how?
Raquel
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Aug 4, 2007 21:57:01 GMT -5
Those bottom two are so sweet...no wonder you haven't let them go. That electro-plating looks really neat on those. Maybe you can give us all a tutorial. Thanks for sharing some of your secret stash.
Steve
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Post by Lady B on Aug 4, 2007 22:34:12 GMT -5
Well I don't know the name of the stone but I do know your hidden stash is STUNNING. I have goosebumps just from gazing at these glorious pendants. Absolutely beautiful artistry!
Thank you for sharing their beauty.
Lady B
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Post by joe on Aug 4, 2007 22:35:25 GMT -5
Oh wow! Those are awesome. I really like the goldwork.
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luv2hound
freely admits to licking rocks
I try & I try, but dang it! Those rocks just keep ending up in my pockets
Member since June 2007
Posts: 890
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Post by luv2hound on Aug 4, 2007 22:46:59 GMT -5
I dont know what these are either but they are just stupendous. Great job. Thanks for showing your secret stash.
~~Mitzi~~
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Post by rockyraccoon on Aug 5, 2007 0:23:27 GMT -5
i like them! did you do the cabs?
kim
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Post by rocklicker on Aug 5, 2007 2:22:40 GMT -5
THose stones are out of this world. They look awesome. Did you do the cutting yourself on the surface to them? Looks like a lot of work. The electroplating compliments them well. I can see why these are part of your stash.
Steve
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Post by Tonyterner on Aug 5, 2007 9:53:48 GMT -5
Never heard of this electroplating before but it looks great! I was also thinking fire agate. They are truly works of art. Thanks for sharing.
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free4rms
freely admits to licking rocks
My little pet walrus
Member since January 2007
Posts: 839
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Post by free4rms on Aug 5, 2007 10:19:10 GMT -5
Well, it looks like the identification part is harder than I thought it might be, so I will give everyone a big clue: the material they are made from is fossil in origin. It may still be a bit tough to figure out, but just think fossil+botryoidal. Another minor clue: when cutting this fossil material, the backside will never be as beautiful as the front. You usually just have to smooth and polish out the backside of it so that it will not snag on clothing and be smooth to the touch. I did use my lapidary equipment to cut and shape the pendants somewhat, and some of the botyroidal surfaces are natural (and have a shiny luster) and some I polished to create a mirror polish.
As for the electroforming, I learned how to do this on my own for the most part. It is a tank plating process whereby you suspend the pendant in liquid plating solutions after you have applied a special paint on the pendants where you want the metal to form. You run an electric current through the solutions containing the plating metals and the metal forms on the painted areas of the pendant. You can go to dalmarplating.com and purchase the equipment and instruction booklet. The owner is very knowledgeable and helpful and will answer questions when you call, but nonetheless, there is a *lot* to learn about the process that is not in any book and it requires some thinking outside the box. I'm not trying to discourage anyone, but just be aware that it is a bit tough to learn all you need to know. Start with Dalmarplating if you are interested, though.
Ok, if no one guesses the host material, I will post the answer by Monday morning.
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Aug 5, 2007 10:58:38 GMT -5
I still don't have a guess, because they still look like fire agate to me...at least the 3rd one. That is interesting little tidbit of info. It sounds almost like when you solder. You use a flux or acid, and the only places where the solder will stick is in the places you put the solution down. I thinks the process above is far more complicated....but do appreciate the explanation. Something I may have to check out in the future; along with 500 other things.
Steve
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Post by parfive on Aug 6, 2007 11:31:47 GMT -5
Ok . . . I'll go with Tampa Bay coral.
Beautiful work, Vance.
Got any details on the pin in the first one - supplier and part no?
Rich
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free4rms
freely admits to licking rocks
My little pet walrus
Member since January 2007
Posts: 839
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Post by free4rms on Aug 6, 2007 15:51:26 GMT -5
Hooray, ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!! Congratulations, parfive... you are right on target. It is indeed Tampa Bay fossil coral. I cut them out of some old stock I bought probably 6 or 7 years ago. I really love the Tampa coral. There are so many colors, lots of botryoidal surfaces, crystal pockets, and it takes a killer polish.
The post in the first one is called a screw eye post. The one I use now is very similar to the one on the pendant but the cup at the base of the post is not quite as wide. They work very well for any agate or jasper pendant. I buy them through Rio Grande, part number: 633050 They are gold-filled. Rio's number is: 1-800-545-6566
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desertdweller
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2006
Posts: 1,803
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Post by desertdweller on Aug 6, 2007 17:11:35 GMT -5
Those are very cool Shain, figures something that looks like that would have to be complicated. I want to learn too. Tried my hand at wrapping, NOWAY am I taking up that little sport.
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Post by parfive on Aug 8, 2007 23:24:22 GMT -5
Just remembered asking about the pins and hey, whadya know! Thanks for the details, Vance. I'll have to find some other stuff on Rio's site to make up a decent order. Here's one of my favorite pieces:   |
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