fossilbrain
spending too much on rocks
Cookie Monster agate
Member since October 2007
Posts: 360
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Post by fossilbrain on Oct 30, 2007 3:34:10 GMT -5
I've never hand-worked any kind of stone before, whatsoever (just a little metal and wood). In fact, the little experiment below precedes my first tumble batch even being complete. I decided to go on the soft side for this round, and used my WorkForce saw to slab a hunk of calcite. Then I played with a bench grinder, a wet/dry silicon carbide paper sheet, and a Dremel. I know polishing soft stuff is difficult, but surely I can get a better shine when I get my disks in the mail. I had some of those gumball machine bell caps from a wee tumbler... Behold, the awe-inspiring splendor of the matte finish calcite Ear Cubes LOL!!!  |
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AgateHeaven
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2007
Posts: 197
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Post by AgateHeaven on Oct 30, 2007 10:17:55 GMT -5
They are sweet and pretty. I would wear them! Nice job!
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Oct 30, 2007 10:20:29 GMT -5
Calcite will take a good hand polish- use progressivly finer sandpaper (even emery cloth up to 5000 grit if you can find it) then use a little ZAM on a liece of leather- Great job on those!
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Post by krazydiamond on Oct 30, 2007 11:07:46 GMT -5
ear cubes....hmmm, i like it.....you may be onto something here, fossilbrain!
EP
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huffstuff
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2007
Posts: 1,222
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Post by huffstuff on Oct 30, 2007 11:07:53 GMT -5
That's a great job - they look identical in size and shape to me, and that's got to be really hard to achieve. That color is really pretty, too.
Bravo!
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erbojones
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2006
Posts: 659
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Post by erbojones on Oct 30, 2007 13:03:19 GMT -5
Your ear cubes are a mighty success - the limits are endless once you get started.
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Post by akansan on Oct 30, 2007 15:34:14 GMT -5
I love those. I really like the geometric design of those.
On a side note, I love the new avs I've seen today. ;D
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Post by LCARS on Oct 30, 2007 19:18:04 GMT -5
Yep, this is how it usually starts, then the next thing you know...  Great job on shaping those BTW, especially for a "first anything"!  (I assume the caps are just prefitted and you haven't glued them on yet right?)  I'd say if you've gone this far this fast, you're well on your way to a full-on hopeless addiction... ;D |
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Oct 30, 2007 20:41:11 GMT -5
Gosh...I'm starting to get really confused about who's who around here anymore...but then, I'm easily cornfused.
I like the cubes too! I know you're just playing with stuff ya have on hand...but they'd be even cooler with a little hole drilled down a little & one of the posts that ya glue into with a little round eye at the top. Oh hell...don't listen to me...I don't know crap anyway!
They're beautimus!
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raqy
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2007
Posts: 799
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Post by raqy on Oct 30, 2007 21:38:05 GMT -5
Great job, they are the same size and shape just need some ear hooks and they're ready to go.
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Post by Tonyterner on Oct 31, 2007 10:23:40 GMT -5
They turned out great! They appear exactly the same size, always a difficult feat.
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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 Oct 31, 2007 20:56:06 GMT -5
I think these are really cute. I agree with the others, getting the same size and shape is pretty difficult. Bravo. Job well done. Keep up the good work. Thanks for sharing.
~~Mitzi~~
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Post by beefjello on Nov 1, 2007 9:53:27 GMT -5
Wow those are really neat! Stef's advice on shining them up sounds dead on. Nice job!
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