rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Aug 10, 2008 15:20:49 GMT -5
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Post by Condor on Aug 10, 2008 16:39:18 GMT -5
They're beautiful. There's a guy at the Deming (NM) rock show that sells them. Not exactly cheap, but still worth it considering where he brings them from. I've bought a few pounds of them and am very happy with 'em.
As always your tumbled stones are the best. You do an incredible job on them.
Condor
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holdemplyer
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 418
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Post by holdemplyer on Aug 10, 2008 17:00:40 GMT -5
those are beautiful stones, that shine is freaking outstanding!
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Post by Bikerrandy on Aug 10, 2008 17:17:48 GMT -5
Wow, those really are beautiful. Awesome job bud!!  |
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tombodc
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since August 2008
Posts: 88
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Post by tombodc on Aug 10, 2008 17:48:56 GMT -5
Amazing shine on such beautiful specimens!!!
Newb question... What do you mean by "cracking them up"? I am guessing that you had to cut them... Is that right?
Do you have to grind all Agates before you tumble them?
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karenfh
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,495
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Post by karenfh on Aug 10, 2008 20:52:36 GMT -5
Wonderful job! How the heck do you do that, no little fractures or anything?
I love the "lemon" slice in the upper left.
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Post by sitnwrap on Aug 10, 2008 21:36:52 GMT -5
What is so amazing is the contrast between rough and finished. The shine is incredable!
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Roan
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2008
Posts: 600
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Post by Roan on Aug 10, 2008 23:00:29 GMT -5
Gorgeous!
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adrian65
Cave Dweller 
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,790
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Post by adrian65 on Aug 10, 2008 23:10:37 GMT -5
You made them just perfect , flawless! And they are really beautiful rocks. Thank you for posting the pic of rough, this way the finished product looks even more outstanding.
Adrian
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Aug 11, 2008 2:37:28 GMT -5
Thanks for the compliments!
Tombodc -- by cracking, I mean using a cold steel chisel (hit with a crack-hammer) to break them up. These are fortification agates, meaning that they have banded patterns inside many of them. So I needed to bust them in half in order for the banding to show. Plus you can see in the rough photo that some of them need protusions broken off or to be broken to get rid of pitted areas, etc.
For example, if you look at the rough pic, just to the left of the 25 cent piece, you will see an ugly tan-coloured piece with black dots and a weird orifice. I used a chisel to break that piece up into several smaller pieces. After tumbling, those pieces came out with a yellowish rind and pale blue fortification banding inside, as seen in two pieces near the top of the second photo, or probably best seen in the top-centre of the very last photo.
Not all agates need busting up. It really depends on what is showing in the rough. Sometimes, particularly with something like Lake Superior agates or many Botswana agates, the fortifications are already showing in the rough.
Don
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DeanW
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2007
Posts: 721
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Post by DeanW on Aug 11, 2008 3:56:13 GMT -5
 WOW The contrast between rough & finished! Isn't mother nature just amazing!
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Post by texaswoodie on Aug 11, 2008 6:57:53 GMT -5
Awesome as always Don!
Curt
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Post by frane on Aug 11, 2008 19:36:03 GMT -5
Absolutely beautiful! The colors and shine are fantastic!
Fran
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darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
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Post by darrad on Aug 11, 2008 19:43:13 GMT -5
Once again you have givin us an example of what to achieve!
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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 11, 2008 20:08:02 GMT -5
 WOW, WOW & WOW!! You should have posted a drool warning. These are beautiful. The shine is blinding. Thanks so much for sharing them with us. Mitzi |
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Aug 12, 2008 11:42:51 GMT -5
You are a master! great rocks great shine
csroc
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zmd2008
starting to shine!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 29
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Post by zmd2008 on Sept 12, 2008 21:38:44 GMT -5
These are beautiful! I saw these at a show in March and should have gotten some. I'm sure they'll be there next year. Thank you for sharing and giving me a good goal to strive for!
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Post by Bikerrandy on Sept 12, 2008 22:37:13 GMT -5
I'm enjoying looking at them again, I think they're even better the second time!
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Sept 13, 2008 11:50:50 GMT -5
Very nicely done.
An excellent shine.
Are these similar to Lake Superior Agates?
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Post by cpdad on Sept 13, 2008 14:55:35 GMT -5
you da man ;D......i looked at them more than once also ;D...kev.
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WOW The contrast between rough & finished! Isn't mother nature just amazing!
