fossilbrain
spending too much on rocks
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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!!! ![](http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p265/jeffburris/firstCabs.jpg)
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AgateHeaven
starting to spend too much on rocks
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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: 14,095
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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
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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
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Member since October 2006
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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... ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) Great job on shaping those BTW, especially for a "first anything"! ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) (I assume the caps are just prefitted and you haven't glued them on yet right?) ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) 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
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Member since March 2007
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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
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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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