blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Jan 13, 2009 8:43:21 GMT -5
I'm sure it's been almost a year since I actually finished a tumble batch.... of the four rotary tumblers I have... only one is functional and is only strong enough to turn one 1.5lb barrel.. lol... Anyways.... This batch was mostly crosses... with some odds and ends thrown in.... (these are thumbnails so click for a larger pic) St. John Flower agate-1  St. John Flower agate-2  St. John Flower agate-3  St. John Flower agate-4  AZ Pet Wood-1  AZ Pet Wood-2  AZ Pet Wood-3  Mookaite - Mook Jasper-1  Mookaite - Mook Jasper-2  Mookaite - Mook Jasper-3  Unknown Moss agate-1  Unknown Moss agate-2  If you'd like to see how I make these just follow this link.... davidsonoftulloch.net/rocks/blarney/tutor/tutorials.htmThanks for lookin'! Dan |
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Post by NatureNut on Jan 13, 2009 9:00:16 GMT -5
Dan, First of all, your crosses are awesome. Love the colors, textures and shape. Secondly, I checked out the link and think you did an excellent job laying it all out for us! It's well organized and the diagrams are super!
That was just so interesting and your explanation about the inside cuts avoiding overcutting was incredibly helpful and the tip of keeping two saw blades, one for cutting and one for shaping. I've been wondering about that myself! Just awesome stuff all around! Jo
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Silver Lass
spending too much on rocks
diagonally parked in a parallel universe!
Member since March 2007
Posts: 395
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Post by Silver Lass on Jan 13, 2009 9:08:43 GMT -5
Dan, as always your work is wonderful.
silverlass
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Jan 13, 2009 9:44:35 GMT -5
Thank you ladies! Naturenut ~ I'm glad you like the tutorial  and thank you Lass... love you dear...  Dan |
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Jan 13, 2009 10:24:41 GMT -5
Blarney: What awesome work! You started with great slabs, cut them really well, and then did a great job on the polish! Stunning results.
Several questions:
- are these meant for hanging like a pendant? If so, how does the cross get attached to the string?
- can you tell your process for smoothing/polishing after the cutting? Did you use a vibe or a rotary?
- I love the tutorial! Thank you so much for putting that together. I notice that your hands get very close to the blade. Is that dangerous? (I have a WF wet tile saw but it is still in the box waiting for the big NH thaw in a few months!).
- Can you post links to other shapes that you've cut/polished?
Thanks again and great work!
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jan 13, 2009 10:40:20 GMT -5
Wow, it looks like you took the same one and painted it different colors each time, too cool!! Great tutorial also, it looks professional.  ejs- each time I use the Workforce, my fingers touch the blade at least 2 dozen times or more. As long as you don't "press" your fingers into the blade, the worse that can happen is a minor friction burn (after your fingers finally get tired of touching the blade). I've been using mine for three years and haven't bled yet. |
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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 Jan 13, 2009 10:50:05 GMT -5
Beautiful crosses, Dan!
That pink AZ pet wood is my favorite.
Adrian
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Jan 13, 2009 11:02:11 GMT -5
Thanks for the reassurance, Randy. I'm sure I would have been pretty hesitant to try it for the first time! I can't help but wonder how/why a diamond blade can cut rock but fails to cut skin.
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Jan 13, 2009 11:16:04 GMT -5
Thanks EJS, Randy and Adrian! EJS ~ They're made to use as pendants... when I first began making them I was drilling a hole in the top to accept a screw eye post and then I would attach a hidden loop bail. Now I wire wrap them mostly...  I'll have to dig to find a picture of a top drilled... These were rotary tumble polished... i like the rounded look that the rotary gives the shape.... the process is the same as you would use for any other quartz based stone.... soft stones (like chrysocola, jade, poppie jaspers, calcites, etc... ) are next to impossible to do and stones w/varying hardness never come out right. The best stones to use are hard jaspers and solid agates (no pitting or inclusions)... Aventurine works ok if it's a proprietary load (tumble it only with other Aventurine stones) Oh... and the spaces in between the arms of the cross don't get polished in the tumbler but i never worry about that... I guess you could polish them with a Dremel. My tile saw uses a solid rim diamond blade which will not cut skin (friction burn is possible though).... so working close to the blade is not dangerous as long as you keep your fingernails away from it... but I would be much more cautious using a notched rim blade. Here's a link to my gallery home page... needs to be updated... davidsonoftulloch.net/rocks/Blarney.htmand this is a direct link to the tumble polished shapes page... davidsonoftulloch.net/rocks/blarney/frefrms/cabs_04.htmThanks again.. Dan |
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,496
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 13, 2009 15:45:46 GMT -5
Dang you've got that down to a fine art now Dan! I don't often see flower agate worked up at all and it sure does make some fine looking crosses....Mel
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Jan 13, 2009 19:00:43 GMT -5
After cutting, do you put the piece through the usual tumbling stages (60/90 SC coarse, 120/200 SC medium, 500 SC pre-polish, AO/CE polish, burnish)? Just one week in each stage? I guess what I'm asking is: do you treat your cut piece just like you would treat crushed stone for tumbling?
Thanks again!
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jan 13, 2009 19:18:56 GMT -5
Shapes like his would have to be done in a vibratory tumbler, I use the Thumlers UV-10 to do my pendants. A rotary tumbler would probably be too harsh on crosses.
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bwcachick
having dreams about rocks
Member since December 2008
Posts: 63 
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Post by bwcachick on Jan 13, 2009 19:31:03 GMT -5
Holy cow! (classic minnesotan)  You're crosses are awesome! my dad and I have a work force tile saw, and I read your tutorial on how to make them! You make it look so easy! I saw that randy said that a vibe is better for the crosses. We got a rotary tumbler...so would that really work? (I mean for any shape made on a WF.)  |
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Post by frane on Jan 13, 2009 22:02:15 GMT -5
You are the master of crosses!
The wire wrap you had done not to long ago, I just assumed you had done the fine cutting with something like a dremmel or a band saw, anything other than a WF. I am still in shock with that! I really do like the rounding you get and how beautiful they do look. Thanks for posting your step by step too. It is really well done!
Fran
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MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
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Post by MikeS on Jan 13, 2009 22:11:10 GMT -5
nice...I really like the wire wrap...I need to learn how to wrap like that! |
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ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
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Post by ejs on Jan 13, 2009 22:32:38 GMT -5
Randy sez: Shapes like his would have to be done in a vibratory tumbler ... A rotary tumbler would probably be too harsh on crosses.
But Blarneystone sez: These were rotary tumble polished... i like the rounded look that the rotary gives the shape.
So which is it? Does one have to have a vibe to polish pre-cuts like this, or can one do it in a rotary (with plenty of plastic pellets for cushioning, natch!).
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jan 13, 2009 22:44:10 GMT -5
Those are beautiful, and definately an inspiration!
Thanks for sharing!
Nate
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Post by beefjello on Jan 13, 2009 22:48:47 GMT -5
Those are nothing short of fantastic Dan! I'm not just saying that 'cuz of all the Arizona material either ;D You've got the perfect wrap down too! Excellent!!
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DeanW
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2007
Posts: 721
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Post by DeanW on Jan 21, 2009 12:32:57 GMT -5
Dan, nicely done tutorial!
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colliel82
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 664
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Post by colliel82 on Jan 22, 2009 8:49:46 GMT -5
I love your tutorial. I wonder if you could make an angled shim to hold the cross against for the inside cuts? I don't think I could hold it steady enough to maintain the angle.
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