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Post by Michael John on Dec 23, 2008 18:00:55 GMT -5
During my last hounding adventure, I got some seam agate. I have no previous experience with this stuff whatsoever. Some of it's very thin, like 1/2". Most of it has a thin layer of crusty matrix around it. Many pieces have pockets which have what appears to be rounded crystals, or maybe it's fat boytroidal stuff? I dunno, but it's weird stuff.
Anyway, before taking it out to the saw and hacking away at it, I thought I'd ask the best way to go about cutting this stuff properly. I guess anyone with experience with seam agate understands why I'm asking and hopefully can give me some clues. From what I know, this is supposed to be some GOOD stuff, so I don't want to mess it up and waste it.
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88pathoffroad
spending too much on rocks
Oregon ROCKS!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 305
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Post by 88pathoffroad on Dec 23, 2008 19:35:46 GMT -5
Got any pics?
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Post by catmandewe on Dec 23, 2008 19:53:48 GMT -5
I have cut some with the seam and some across the seam, guess it just depends on the stability of it and how much material you hope to get back out of it. I have gotten seam agate as wide as 5 inches, and as narrow as 1/2 an inch. Some seam agate will break up if you cut it across the seam, and some of it tends to separate along the seam lines. If I am not sure I take a cut both directions and see which one is more stable or has better pattern. Good luck with it, be sure to show us what you found!!
Merry Christmas...............Tony
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Post by Michael John on Dec 24, 2008 5:03:51 GMT -5
Thanks, Tony. That's more or less what I figured. It's mostly just brown and crusty on the outside, no telling what's inside til you cut into it. I'm damn near surgical with my WF saw, so I'll gently trim out some preforms and see how it goes. Here's pics of the material: I'll take some good pics once I get a few trimmed down and hopefully made into preforms.
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Post by Tonyterner on Dec 24, 2008 8:53:34 GMT -5
Make sure you post pics of your cuts.
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Post by Michael John on Dec 24, 2008 15:51:54 GMT -5
Absolutely. This particular material is very rare and unusual, so I'll definately share pics. I'll also be putting a little of this into each of the flat-raters that I currently have for sale, as freebies, along with other cool stuff I found during my recent trip. I couldn't possibly NOT share this stuff with folks here.
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