NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Feb 7, 2011 17:11:44 GMT -5
I took the girls on a road trip to Cedarburg, WI saturday. I finally got to The Gem Shop. Was a cool store, and I picked up a few pieces to cut. Please bear with me, they're still on the stick - hence the dark circle showing in the middle of the agates. First is Binghamite a.k.a. American Tigereye. Also from what I've read called silkstone. The more I worked this piece, the more flaws showed up. It still turned out ok. It's sloppy, messy stuff! I also got a hunk of Blue Chalcedony. This is a bit lighter than I thought it would be. Is there different grades of this stuff? It's very gemmy and was a pleasure to work, but not as "blue" as I had hoped. Then I worked a small and very thin (1/8" before grinding!) piece of Montana found on the auction stuff I got last summer. The patern was worth the extra care in grinding such a low dome! I also got a piece of Janos (or Rainbow) Agate, and Pink Imperial Jasper. I'll work them later. This was a fun trip, and we enjoyed the store. Trudging through 2' snow drifts to get the Binghamite didn't bother me in the least LOL. I will be going back when I can explore the whole yard, that's for sure! Thanks for looking! Nate
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Post by texaswoodie on Feb 7, 2011 17:24:48 GMT -5
Wow, that Montana is awesome!
Curt
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Feb 7, 2011 18:33:12 GMT -5
Thanks Curt. When I first saw that baby, I knew I had to cab it!
Nate
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bgast1
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2010
Posts: 1,076
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Post by bgast1 on Feb 7, 2011 19:36:51 GMT -5
Nate, those are awesome. Fantastic Montana. I've been wanting to get up to that store too. There are different shops there too, right? My wife says that it is similar to Long Grove here in Illinois.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Feb 7, 2011 19:46:58 GMT -5
Thanks Bob. Yes, there's other shops there. It's an old mill / factory with some clothing, jewelry, art shops and a wine shop. Drop your wife off there and walk 1/2 a block to the rock shop lol.
Nate
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RockIt2Me
has rocks in the head
Sometimes I have to tell myself, "It's not worth the jail time."
Member since December 2009
Posts: 668
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Post by RockIt2Me on Feb 7, 2011 19:48:03 GMT -5
Very nice....Montana is my rock 'du jour'.
Nancie
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Feb 7, 2011 21:28:05 GMT -5
Thanks Nancie. Montana's one of my faves too. I just have so much stuff I don't work it nearly enough.
Nate
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Post by fishenman on Feb 7, 2011 21:39:04 GMT -5
What a fantastic Montana! The wild horse is really cool too.
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Post by Toad on Feb 7, 2011 21:55:22 GMT -5
Really like the Montana. Great job on those.
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,787
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Post by adrian65 on Feb 7, 2011 23:46:00 GMT -5
I like the tiger eye, looks a bit like pet wood. But the Montana is the candy on the cake!
Adrian
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Post by mohs on Feb 7, 2011 23:47:22 GMT -5
Those are 3 very cool & different type of stones the silky blue-- is that a spot of yellow at the top ?
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Feb 8, 2011 11:01:39 GMT -5
Nice on all those but the montana is a stunner! Nice job working that one!
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Feb 8, 2011 17:07:39 GMT -5
Thanks everyone. I knew that Montana would steal the show LOL. Ed, that's a little bit of the rind showing at the top of the chalcedony cab. I was going to grind it off, but liked how the shape was at that point and decided to polish it up as is. I beveled the girdle on this one for a clean wire wrap, so it may end up covered anyway.
Nate
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Post by tandl on Feb 10, 2011 10:59:08 GMT -5
Nice ones Nate The blue chalcedony is usually more blue in nodule , when you cut it thinner , it washes out . If You set it with a backing . it is more blue .
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Feb 10, 2011 11:30:34 GMT -5
I'm on a Blue Agate/Blue Calcedony kick, so I just love that stone but holy moly, as others point out, that Montana steals the show!
Not set up to do silversmithing yet but I've been thinking along the lines of what Tandl suggests -- that when I do, I will put a silver backing on my best piece of Montana Blue. Back in the day, my hubby's first piece of silver smithing was a Namibia Blue Lace Agate, not a material I particularly like, but it looks wonderful set in silver. I see no reason it wouldn't work just as well or better for the Montana Blue.
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Post by christopherl1234 on Feb 10, 2011 11:46:41 GMT -5
sweet stones
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Feb 10, 2011 19:11:27 GMT -5
Thanks y'all. The chalcedony was a "grab it on the way out", as the barrel was next to the door lol. I didn't look so much at color as to making sure it looked solid and what it weighed. I'll have to take more time and look the color over next time I get there, and hopefully find a bluer piece.
Nate
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Post by tntmom on Feb 10, 2011 19:27:05 GMT -5
Great job Nate, on all of them! Sure love that Montana!!!! My very first cab I ever made was a Montana and it has a very special place on my desk.
~Krystee
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