NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Feb 9, 2009 20:40:13 GMT -5
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Feb 9, 2009 20:47:27 GMT -5
Persitence + Patience = PERFECTION!!! Looking fantastic Steve.
Steve
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Feb 9, 2009 23:50:57 GMT -5
Those are coming out *awesome*! Keep it up! Truly outstanding. Great material expertly handled. Please keep posting the photos.
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Wolfden
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2007
Posts: 1,368
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Post by Wolfden on Feb 10, 2009 0:04:03 GMT -5
WOW !! that last one is amazing .... drool drool ...
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2009 0:11:46 GMT -5
Geeeez, look at those macro photos! Super agates.
Shannon
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Feb 10, 2009 17:43:30 GMT -5
Aigh! That one in photo #4 is looking right through me! :-)
Great photos, BTW. Care to post the details of how you photographed them?
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Post by frane on Feb 10, 2009 19:57:02 GMT -5
That is a beautiful batch! I would say stay away from pellets until you get passed the first grit and even the second if possible. Just make sure you haves some cushioning towards the end. The problem I had with lakers were that they would chip or peel around the ring areas. I believe this was because I did not have the cushioning I needed towards the end.
Some of these are nicely rounding and I am glad you pulled them. Others can take a lot longer.
I can't wait to see these as you go!
Fran
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Feb 15, 2009 12:01:55 GMT -5
ejs...
Thanks, I'm still experimenting shooting rocks, but this is what I did for this last set.
They were shot in a very dark room. The ambient lighting is none. I use an old bar stool that has no cushion, back, or arms. If I'm gonna photograph wet, I'll put a piece of old black truck-bed mat on the seat. I put two diffussed light sources slightly in front and above the subject on each side.
I use a tripod, macro lens, polarizing filter, and a remote shutter release. The camera is set to macro in shutter priority with a pretty long exposure.
I wet the whole works down with a spray bottle right before shooting. Ya gotta mess with the lighting, and angle of the rocks quite a bit when shooting wet. The reflections can totally hide the rock details.
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Wolfden
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2007
Posts: 1,368
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Post by Wolfden on Feb 15, 2009 12:05:48 GMT -5
Thanks for the info of how you shot these , I have been having trouble getting good pictures
Wolf
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Feb 15, 2009 18:59:28 GMT -5
Thanks for the photo info. It is frusrating to me to spend months on tumbling and then not be able to post good photos!
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Post by Michael John on Feb 24, 2009 2:49:41 GMT -5
Steve, how's the load progressing?
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Post by Bejewelme on Feb 24, 2009 7:14:26 GMT -5
Steve:
WOW!!!! I need to check in on these tumbles more often!!!!! What a beautiful set of lakers you have going!! They are beautiful on their own!!! The pics are amazing! Can't wait to see the end result!
And this is your first batch? WOW!!!
Amber
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Feb 24, 2009 9:15:36 GMT -5
Right now the load is cleaning in a round of borax. I went 6 rounds of rough grind and I'm chompin' at the bit to move forward. I pulled quite a few that just were not ready to move on.
Not all of the agates are perfect, but some of them are never gonna get there unless I grind them to thumbnail size. I'm now thoroughly cleaning for the next stage.
I could shoot some more pics before I start the 120/220. What do you think?
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Post by NatureNut on Feb 24, 2009 9:28:22 GMT -5
Well, you're gonna have some diamond bits in the next day or two to help you get the dings out. Jo
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Feb 24, 2009 10:43:10 GMT -5
Jo...you're a sweetheart! I probably should take some time and grind out some problem areas and do one more rough grind. That would help this batch a bunch and put more rocks in-play moving forward. It's the "patient" decision, right?!  I better go hound! LOL! ;D |
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Post by NatureNut on Feb 24, 2009 10:46:36 GMT -5
Yes, patience pays off in this process, despite the growling it invokes...
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Mar 19, 2009 12:58:11 GMT -5
After 2 more rounds of rough grind, after several days of diamond bit grinding, it's time to move on to 120/220. The original batch has been through 8 rounds of rough grind. I suppose my original load of 12 lbs, ended up consuming 24 lbs of agates or so. I probably have about 6-8 lbs not ready to carry forward and they will be the foundation of the next batch. They are not perfect by any stretch. I've gotten rid of the majority of the pits, but the original fractures are something I'm gonna have to live with, as long as there is no chips or sharp edges. Here are some updated photos. These are shot dry after 8 rounds of 60/90 and an overnight borax wash. I'm following Mel's formula as best I can, so it will be a couple of weeks before the next update. Thanks again! Steve The whole batch  Eye Agates  Water Level Agates        |
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Post by parfive on Mar 19, 2009 14:40:43 GMT -5
Great lookin' batch, Steve! The close-ups look fantastic.
Just my opinion - 120/220 is a complete waste of time and grit, and needlessly reduces the size of the rocks. I'd go straight to 500.
Rich
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Mar 19, 2009 18:52:20 GMT -5
Thanks Parfive!
No 120/220 for agate? I've never heard that before.
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Post by frane on Mar 19, 2009 21:08:15 GMT -5
They sure are coming along! Fractures are always a frustration with this type of agate but if you keep it full enough, you can avoid most of that problem.
Some look so nice already!
Fran
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I better go hound! LOL! ;D
