Obsidian Stuff

OOPS! I got two pictures of the same thing. Here is the other picture that I meant to post.

Bob

What gorgeous work. I have some obsidian I collected last summer. Maybe I ought to try doing something. I was afraid of it shattering.
Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Bob! ;D

I must say you are a Genius when it comes to making Art and knowing your Rocks. I don't see much work on obsidian at all actually except for tumbled.. and I happen to love the color and that material as well. I totally dig your work, and you make every piece look pro. I'm talking like some rare stone from a far off land that has been lost .oh. sorry (wild imagination)
What's cool is it's obsidian.. Thanks for the examples I've been wanting to know and see more .. I know agate is like the "in" thing and I appreciate the variety you've just brought! AND THAT BRACELET IS EYE POPPING! very classy And I'm curious do you do more like those? I can't even pick a favorite but I know now not to be hesitant to keep trying or collecting obsidian..
Gorgeous work.. Thanks again!

;D
Roxy

Is the metal work also yours? If so, you're a complete first class artist. Thank you for sharing your work with us! That bracelet is beyond imagination.

Adrian

The obsidian from Davis Creek is usually rainbow, but on occasion single colors in a piece do occur. Usually the single color is red, but in this case it is for the most part green. As you can see from the example, this piece isn't exclusively green, there are a couple of thin bands of blue.
Yes, I do the metalwork. In these pieces it is gold plated silver (vermiel).
Thank you all for the accolades!
Bob

Wow those cabs are so nice you make me want to try cabbing some obsidian again! Great rainbow obsidian too. I went by the digs but was hunting so didn't have any tools with me. Now I wish I hunted some. That looks even nice than some Mexican material I purchased!....Mel

The process that I use to make the small spheres (marbles) is this:
1. Use the trim saw to cut a cube at the size that you want the sphere to be.
2. Grind the sphere as round as you can get it by hand.
Making the tool:
I made some devices from a 1/4-20 screw and pieces of round steel shaft material. On a metal lathe drill and tap a hole in one end of the steel shaft and screw the screw into the hole. Cut the screw at 3/4" length. Using a large 1" drill bit and drill a depression into the other end of the steel shaft. I screw this device into the center hole where the mounting screw is on a flat lap., thus the depression is pointing upward. The diameter of the tool (cup)must be no more than 3/4ths of the diameter of the sphere to be made. I made multiple sizes of this cup for various sizes of spheres.
Here are pictures of the cup.



3. With the preformed sphere in your hand (always wear gloves because the grit will stain your hands black), dip it into water and into 220 grit tumbling grit. With the cup spinning , hold it in the cup and rotate it in all directions. As the grit wears down keep dipping it into the water and grit and rotating it in the spinning cup. When the sphere is perfectly round (frequently wash and dry it to inspect for any remaining flat spots) wash the sphere and cup and go to 400 grit. When the 220 grit pits are removed, go to 600 grit. If you want to go to a finer grit the polishing will go faster. Here are pictures of the sphere and the cup.


4. Thoroughly wash the sphere and your hands and dop the sphere.

5. Polish the exposed side. Redop the sphere to get all sides polished.

I hope this wasn't too lengthy or babbling too much.
Bob

y

NOOOO WAAAY!! THAT WAS GENIUS!!! Wow.. I've got to learn to ask more questions like this one!!! lol Thank you so much.. One of these days I'm going to be able to show off my stuff. And I'm so glad I got it from a Pro.. !!!
*smiles*
Roxy

I'm trying not to swear but that is some really #@&$%! nice work!

That second obelisk almost made me ruin another perfectly good keyboard. ;D