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Post by tkrueger3 on Jul 7, 2009 22:32:30 GMT -5
Don't laugh too hard! I grabbed a badly-finished little amethyst cab, and the only wire I have (21-guage silver square and half-round) and, with a printout of Randy's tutorial at hand, proceeded to mangle my first wrap. Missed the middle of the cab on the bottom bind, made some other mistakes, etc. But I "GOT 'ER DONE!" I figure practice may someday make better than mediocre, right? ;D You may notice a slight disparity between the size of the wires and the cab, and the size of my fingers. This is not conducive to artistic wire wrapping! You may also notice, if you've seen my past photos, that I figured out how my camera works, after only using it for 5 years! LOL! The front, I think: And what I call the back: Thanks for looking. Tom
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Jul 7, 2009 22:36:09 GMT -5
That turned out great, no laughing is required for it. Looks like you have been doing it for years.
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Geo-Ing Crazy
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2008
Posts: 238
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Post by Geo-Ing Crazy on Jul 7, 2009 23:08:34 GMT -5
I agree with Saskrock - it looks great. Looks like you could be on the road to a new addiction. Barb
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Post by tkrueger3 on Jul 7, 2009 23:15:09 GMT -5
Thanks - although I'm not satisfied with it, it IS my very first attempt, so I'll let it slide. I'm usually my own harshest critic, so maybe I'm expecting too much too soon. But I really did enjoy the exercise, despite just barely being able to see it, and having to improvise how to hold it with my fat fingers. I plan to do lots more, assuming I produce a bunch of much nicer cabs soon. I also want to try groove-wrap soon - I even have the grooving bit for my Inland grinder.
But, one day at a time ......
Tom
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Post by sitnwrap on Jul 7, 2009 23:30:05 GMT -5
That is one first wrap to be proud of and I am being serious. You may not have intended it but that binding at the bottom that you say is off center, well it may be off center for the wire but it alligns beautifully with the grain in the cab.
Your swirls at the top are great.
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Post by tkrueger3 on Jul 7, 2009 23:41:45 GMT -5
Thanks - well, now you have me almost blushing!
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Post by stonesthatrock on Jul 8, 2009 0:26:08 GMT -5
dang, thats nice. my first, i tangled up so bad i had to throw it away.
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mc2
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2009
Posts: 1,147
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Post by mc2 on Jul 8, 2009 5:18:29 GMT -5
Tom, that looks far better than my first attempt. Also, my second,third,fourth,etc,etc! If it wasn't for the groove wrap method, I would be gluing the wire to the stone. Keep practicing and you will be turning out some really nice wraps in no time at all. Careful though, the grooving will spoil you! It is the only way to go for me. Mike
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Post by rockmanken on Jul 8, 2009 6:31:33 GMT -5
WTG. That is great for a first wrap. They get easier as you go. To be able to do that with just a written printout is great. Now you are addicted. Ken
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Post by NatureNut on Jul 8, 2009 7:53:35 GMT -5
Looks really good and well balanced. Great stone and you're on your way to wrapping stardom!
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Post by frane on Jul 8, 2009 7:59:13 GMT -5
You are way too hard on yourself! I can understand that since I get that way too. Your wrap is beautiful and being your first, it is really a nice one! You sure have hit the ground running as far as wraps are concerned! Fran
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Post by Bejewelme on Jul 8, 2009 9:06:04 GMT -5
Very nice wrap, I would be darn proud of that if it were my first! You can only get better the more you do!
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jul 8, 2009 9:26:50 GMT -5
You've got the steps down, and that looks great!! Now just wait until you do the second and third, each one will look better than the last.
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Post by Tweetiepy on Jul 8, 2009 9:39:23 GMT -5
Well you got a fantastic purple cab (can't go wrong with that) You got the perfect wire for wrapping (can't go wrong with that) AND you got Randy's great tutorial (you really can't go wrong with that) How could you possibly make anything less that great!?? The only flaw I see is that it isn't being mailled to me!
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Post by tkrueger3 on Jul 8, 2009 11:54:47 GMT -5
:blush: Awwww, you guys! You've made an old guy feel good! I guess I'll admit that, for a very first wrap, I did ok. Many kudos to Randy - that tutorial is excellent, and for me, indispensable. I have a purchased DVD tutorial that isn't even close, so thanks, Randy! Now if I can just get some more cabs finished ..... but that's a different topic. Tom
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10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
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Post by 10thumbs on Jul 8, 2009 12:51:04 GMT -5
After I read the preface I was fully prepared to provide comments like "nice try" and "better luck next time". Maybe it's just camera wizardry based on your 5 years experience but that looks like a pretty nice wrap job to me. I have the impression that the wire to cab ratio is off but I believe that's only because you mentioned it. My "starter kit" of copper wire (as recommended by arkansan and Randy) from Brandywine should get her this week. I'll be proud if my first shot is half as good as yours.
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Post by MyNewHobby on Jul 8, 2009 14:13:59 GMT -5
First one??!! You have a very cool talent there!
I am gonna love to see more of yours as you get better. ;D
Julie
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Post by tkrueger3 on Jul 8, 2009 16:48:47 GMT -5
;D There will be more in future - I obtained an old Lortone 2-wheeler with an expando on one side and a polishing pad on the other. Cheap. Today, I mounted it all on a 2X2 piece of plywood, and jumped through a bunch of hoops to connect up my old sump pump through vinyl tubing, to the spritzers on the grinder. Finally got to turn it all on to see if it works about 30 minutes ago - EUREKA! IT WORKS!. Of course, it is right now 105 degrees, heat index hovering around 110. With 3 fans blowing on me, I could not keep the sweat off my glasses. I won't be grinding anything today, for sure. It's supposed to be like this at least through Friday. I might be able to do some early morning, and late at night after sundown, but other than that, cabbing time is going to be few and far between for a bit. But thanks for all the compliments - coming from folks whose work pictured here is, to me, astonishingly beautiful.
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Post by tkrueger3 on Jul 9, 2009 10:13:08 GMT -5
Here's how I have the new (old) grinder set up: Front view - the black garbage can is my water resevoir, with my sump pump sitting in the bottom. I fill it from the hose, of course. The orange "Home Depot" bucket is the drain resevoir. Rear view - the motor is mounted on a hinged base, such that the weight of the motor maintains the tension on the belt, and to remove or move the belt, I can just lift the motor. And the electrical switch box contains a switched outlet into which the sump pump is plugged. So turning the switch on runs both the grinder and the pump. Slick. But it's way too hot to sit out there for any time at all! Tom
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bouldergal
freely admits to licking rocks
Glacier Meadow
Member since July 2007
Posts: 783
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Post by bouldergal on Jul 9, 2009 21:48:16 GMT -5
Tom, You're right about Randy's tutorial. I've turned out four decent (not phenomenal) wraps that wouldn't have been possible without it. I've purchased several books and nothing compares with Randy's info. You're first is wonderful...artistic, pleasing, and just darn great!!! Susan
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