rockhound97058
freely admits to licking rocks
Thundereggs - Oregons Official State Rock!
Member since January 2006
Posts: 760
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Post by rockhound97058 on Apr 30, 2010 23:13:03 GMT -5
HA! - Being a sphere maker I can say that and not even be perverted! - Dirty minded people ;D Today I hit the shop at 7:30 am and ran two spheres on 600 grit and polished out. First one was a 4" Labradorite and the second is this beauty which I listed for sale on my website. Outstanding Deming New Mexico Thunderegg. I started out with a very large baker egg to cut this sphere, typical Thunderegg with fractures, but overall it's a eye catching specimen. Personally when I make Thunderegg spheres I always leave matrix within. Many sphere makers give me heck for it, but I challenge their theory. Most sphere makers take a large T-Egg cut the solid agate core and make a sphere, so when your done you have a agate sphere. I like to leave matrix, to prove it was a Thunderegg and still is! Enjoy!
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elementary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,077
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Post by elementary on Apr 30, 2010 23:54:56 GMT -5
My, that is excellent! That really looks like crazy lace in how it came out in some photos. As for your other comments, I prefer the matrix included.
Great job and please, show all your balls in the future!
Er....uh... you know what I mean...
Lowell
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Post by NatureNut on May 1, 2010 6:10:07 GMT -5
Normally a man would get slapped for showing his balls... but here, you get praised! ;D Beautiful! Jo
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Post by drocknut on May 1, 2010 16:51:46 GMT -5
LOL Lowell and Jo I think that is an awesome sphere. I too like the matrix in it. Glad you got to play with your balls rockhound and thanks for showing us at least one. And I resemble that remark about dirty minded people....lol. Oh did I say that out loud :blush:
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Post by Roller on May 1, 2010 18:31:56 GMT -5
I agree as well with the matrix especially on this one ...
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on May 1, 2010 18:56:53 GMT -5
great looking, do you sell them?
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rockhound97058
freely admits to licking rocks
Thundereggs - Oregons Official State Rock!
Member since January 2006
Posts: 760
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Post by rockhound97058 on May 1, 2010 23:06:20 GMT -5
Chromenut - Actually this specific sphere is for sale. The stone itself belongs to my buddy, however I did all the cutting and sphere grinding so we decided to sell this one to pay for some future material. The sphere measures 3-7/16" diameter and we were asking $250 for it.
My original idea when I started collecting Thundereggs years ago was to obtain a Thunderegg from each possible locality - And at the same time I had planned to make a sphere to match the locality as well. Well, lets say it's takes way too long to create spheres, especially for a personal collection. I made several over the years both in my collection and have sold to other collectors, but the idea/dream to have a matched sphere has since fizzled out LOL.
I had right at 16 Hours labor into this sphere between cutting, grinding, and polishing. So a person really has to enjoy it as it's something you cannot make money doing.
Jason
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rons
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2010
Posts: 450
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Post by rons on May 4, 2010 10:40:57 GMT -5
How did I miss this one...great work...I agree with you on the matrix...thanks for posting it..
Ron
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Post by jakesrocks on May 4, 2010 15:47:50 GMT -5
Nice job on the sphere. What sort of sphere machine do you have ? I have a small one that will make spheres up to 1". plan on a new Covington machine before the end of the year, so I can use up some of the larger material I have piling up. Don
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on May 4, 2010 20:09:48 GMT -5
Excellent specimen! I like the matrix too. Makes it look more eggy..Mel
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rockhound97058
freely admits to licking rocks
Thundereggs - Oregons Official State Rock!
Member since January 2006
Posts: 760
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Post by rockhound97058 on May 5, 2010 0:31:27 GMT -5
Don, The machine I run is a model which was built and sold by a relative of mine years ago. Howard Gordon of Gladstone, Oregon. He was a commercial sphere maker and actually produced his own machines and sold them. I happened to buy the last one he had years ago.
It's a 3 headed machine like the Richardson's model, but has a few things different on it. depending on the cups you use I can run anywhere from marbles (3/4" is the smaller diameter sphere I've turned) to 6" is Max for this machine. I really hate doing the large spheres due to wear and tear so I usually tend to stick with the 2" to 4.5" range.
I still do my spheres the old school way cutting 26 cuts and turning with silicon carbide. I usually don't do too many spheres, but when I do I try to make them count lol.
Jason
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Post by bobby1 on May 5, 2010 9:07:56 GMT -5
Great looking sphere! A couple weeks ago when I was at a show in San Jose there was a dealer from Texas selling spheres. He claimed to have reduced the time of grinding by about 90% by running the cups at a much faster speed - something like 450 rpm (I think. I didn't pay that much attention). He uses the diamond cups. His spheres were rather spectacular and reasonably priced. Bob
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Post by jakesrocks on May 5, 2010 10:03:29 GMT -5
The little machine I have was manufactured by Victor. The same Victor that makes welding and cutting torches. It has as set of cups that will cut 1/4 " beads, up to 1" marbles. I want that 3 head machine that Covington makes, but will probably have to settle for the 2 head machine because of cost. Hope to spend the long, cold winter months cutting spheres. Probably in the 3 to 4 inch range. I have over a ton of old stock material in my shed to choose from. Don
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rockhound97058
freely admits to licking rocks
Thundereggs - Oregons Official State Rock!
Member since January 2006
Posts: 760
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Post by rockhound97058 on May 5, 2010 22:41:03 GMT -5
I wish I had the chance to run a 2 headed machine just for curiosity sakes. Never ever seen one run. Some guys I've talked with actually say a 2 headed machine makes a more "true" sphere than a 3 headed machine? But I can't honestly say since I've never much more than looked and felt the two header.
I started another sphere today for a customer. It's a interesting banded agate - I myself would have passed for a sphere due to some rot pockets, but he wanted it for sentimental reasons so that's fine with me.
Will post pics of it when I get it done in a couple days.
Jason
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Post by stonesthatrock on May 7, 2010 20:48:24 GMT -5
wow that beautiful.......... i have a friend that is gonna make me one out of st. john's flower agate. i hope it turns out as nice as yours.
mary ann
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Post by jakesrocks on May 7, 2010 21:37:24 GMT -5
Hey Jason, I can't speak for 3 headed machines, but after reading your last post, I put a micrometer on one of the little spheres I cut. It was dead on from all directions I tried. Don
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49er
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 753
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Post by 49er on May 9, 2010 21:50:04 GMT -5
I agree with you 100% on your method...Fantastic work....AMAZING
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Post by jakesrocks on May 12, 2010 12:02:43 GMT -5
Hope this worked. Having problems posting pics on here. This should be a pic of my little sphere machine. Picked it up at an estate sale back in the 90's. Don't know how old it actually is, but it was made by Victor. The same Victor that makes cutting and welding torches. It will cut sizes from 1/4" up to just over 1", depending on which set of cups are installed Don
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rock
having dreams about rocks
Metamorphosed Mind
Member since June 2007
Posts: 62
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Post by rock on May 12, 2010 13:04:01 GMT -5
that victor is a beautiful machine, Old school solid! I have one machine built like that, my Imahashi USD-100 ultrasonic drill. Its a BEAST.
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Post by jakesrocks on May 12, 2010 13:22:08 GMT -5
I'll have to post pics of some of the other old school equipment I have, just as soon as I figure out how to reduce the size of my pics. The new equipment just isn't built as solid as the old stuff was. Don
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