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Post by sparkles on Oct 22, 2008 7:23:12 GMT -5
I've been busy again, and this time it's something new to me. The source materials for this little test were provided by my very dear Friend who has a fascination, no - an obsession with wonderous Wonderstone. I hope I have brought a smile to her face and that my efforts reflect the joy I experienced working with this beautiful stone. Having received several chunks of this fabulous stuff, I decided I really ought to have a go at cutting and polishing some! So here are my results - 2 cabs, both 30x22mm, one high domed and one conventional low dome. These are both cut from the very compact banded Rhyolite version of Wonderstone, although the two rough chunks were very different. The first cab shows the subtle bands and large areas of colour that typify this variety of Wonderstone, it has a really natural and earthy quality too it, something I was keen to maintain in the finished design. The second chunk is the much brighter more heavilly banded variety of Rhyolite, showing a slightly softer range of tones, but much higher in contrast and pattern than the first. The stones were cut with conventional approach, ground and sanded on Diamond laps and then polished with Cerium Oxide. I hope you enjoy the results! Thanks, Sparkles. p.s - Apologies for the dust! My camera does a better job than I did - clearly!
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Post by Titania on Oct 22, 2008 7:40:13 GMT -5
Great job, Sparkles! I love the subtle patterning in the first stone, but you can really see how great of a shine you got on both.
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Post by akansan on Oct 22, 2008 8:32:57 GMT -5
Great job! Glad to see you have a grinder of sorts now - looking forward to more great cabs from you.
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,775
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Post by adrian65 on Oct 22, 2008 9:45:08 GMT -5
No WONDER that your dear friend has an obsession for those STONES! They are gorgeous, and you outlined the best in each of them. I wonder if I can pick a favorite amongst them... I think the second one is my fav, although both of them are wonderful! I had no idea you are also cabbing! Congratulations! Adrian
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Post by Tonyterner on Oct 22, 2008 10:20:52 GMT -5
Very nice. I've never been able to get a shine on wonderstone but I haven't tried cerium yet.
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Post by texaswoodie on Oct 22, 2008 17:58:50 GMT -5
Way to go Sparky! Curt
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Post by frane on Oct 23, 2008 17:36:13 GMT -5
They are fantastic! Both with wonderful patterns. I had heard that it was very hard to do this with a rhyolite and get a fantastic shine. What did you think about it compared to other cabs you have done? Fran
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Post by stoner on Oct 23, 2008 20:03:14 GMT -5
Excellent shine, that stuff is hit and miss, but you definitely hit it!
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Post by Bejewelme on Oct 23, 2008 20:13:46 GMT -5
They are both very pretty, I like the first one best.
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Oct 23, 2008 21:56:57 GMT -5
Very nice Job. I really like the first one, and the second is a more typical 'wonderstone' pattern. Nice job getting a nice shine. I like the display for photographing. What are you using? It looks like pins are being used to support the cabs, but how? Thanks!
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Post by Tony W on Oct 23, 2008 23:01:03 GMT -5
I really like them both, but the first one stands out with that pattern. Tony
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Post by sitnwrap on Oct 23, 2008 23:41:39 GMT -5
Beautiful works of art with both. I'm in the mood for subtle right now so I pick 2 as my favorite. Tomorrow it will probably be 1. I'm also curious about the stand. It looks like prongs that a wire wrapper would make.
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49er
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 753
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Post by 49er on Oct 24, 2008 0:40:51 GMT -5
Fantastic job on both cabs. My favorite is the second one, looks like a Michigan agate. Keep up the great work.
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Post by stonesthatrock on Oct 24, 2008 1:06:20 GMT -5
i agree they are both beautiful I vote for the second one. i can't wait to hear what the stand is.
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Post by sparkles on Oct 24, 2008 11:55:02 GMT -5
He he he he! I share pretty rocks - and your more interested by the stand... I'm pleased you enjoyed seeing the Wonderstones, they were certainly very special stones to me, and I was very pleased with the final results. The shine was fairly good on both of them, although slightly different between the two. On a scale of 1-10 I'd rate them at 6-7, Agates and such tend to be much glassier, rather than the slightly softened appearance of the shine on the Rhyolite. The first stone took a slightly glassier shine, but they were both relatively easy to work with, I had no major difficulty in getting the result. I did ensure a thorough pre-polishing with the 3 micron diamonds before getting to the polish stage, I will soon add another step in my process in the hope of getting a finer finish still. Anyhow - I'd agree that Wonderstone can be hit and miss, but these chunks were good solid Rhyolite, and not the sandy textured more porous variety, so they should have taken a shine of some form. After-all - Rhyolite is a form of molten Granite, and that can take a nice shine, so why not give it a go?! I have only recently begun to cut cabs and learn how to use the grinder. In the UK the choice and availability is quite poor, so it's taken me a long time to get all my stuff together and get a system that works. Regarding the little stand, yes indeed it is a small wire gadget - I just wanted to sit-up the stones as the light behaves more nicely. As you can see below, the stand is very simple and basic!! But by getting some light on the back of the stone, it allows the pattern to shine through if there is any form of translucence (example stones are Indian Green Moss Agate). Glad you liked the visual presentation! Cheers, Sparkles.
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Post by BuiltonRock on Oct 24, 2008 12:37:22 GMT -5
Mr S. Nice to have you on the RTH cabbing crew. I love OJ, Do You? john
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Post by sparkles on Oct 24, 2008 14:37:36 GMT -5
I sure do Sir! ;D OJ is one of my most favorite rocks of all! Thanks for the welcome! Here's a favoured chunk - in the rough so to speak, it's even got it's own stand!!! Cheers, Sparkles.
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Post by sitnwrap on Oct 24, 2008 22:09:37 GMT -5
Thanks for posting the stand. It's not a matter of more interested, I think many have just trained their eye to take in every little detail otherwise you could miss something great like an awesome rock or a simple little stand.
That is a really pretty Moss you added also.
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