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Post by tkrueger3 on Mar 21, 2011 18:38:50 GMT -5
Been having arthritis issues, plus I really didn't relish the thought of going outside and playing in the water in cool weather, so I haven't cut any preforms in quite a while. So I got off my 6 today, broke out the tile saw, and commenced to cutting. I got a few cut before the old arthritis told me to quit. Here's the whole lot: These are rose quartz, about 9mm thick: This is some sort of red jasper that I found in a gifted box: This little guy is about dime-sized, and about as thick as it is around. I think it's either lepidolite or perhaps purple jadeite: This batch are all from one big slab of mahogany obsidian - one of them that was going to be a bolo-type cab, decided in mid cut that it would rather be a freeform, so it is: These 2 are from a pretty slab of leopardskin that I got from Nancyid about a year ago. Been saving it for some unknown reason! My camera blew the colors, so I "adjusted" the images - the true color is somewhere between these 2 images: These are from a slab of what I think may be variscite, although it's not the prettiest variscite, for sure. This stuff is soft, and breaks easily along color-change lines (as can be seen on one of them), but it can take a decent (not glossy) shine. Well, I hope ya'll got a kick out of my sub-standard attempts! LOL! I'm going to make a concerted effort to do more cutting and cabbing as the weather continues to get better and better, and hopefully my crappy joints will ease up a bit and get used to it. Thanks for lookin, y'all! Tom
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Mar 21, 2011 19:42:37 GMT -5
That leopard skin looks like it's gonna be a winner! Keep putting out the product pal, the proof is in the posting. Thanks
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Post by gr on Mar 21, 2011 20:11:07 GMT -5
Going to be some nice ones Tom. Hope ur wheels are in where it's warm so your old friend Author-itis won't come by. looking foward to the finished pieces
gary
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Mar 22, 2011 15:33:09 GMT -5
Good to see ya around again Tom. Those are some nice looking preforms, I can't wait to see the cabs.
Nate
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Post by tandl on Mar 22, 2011 16:16:26 GMT -5
Real nice batch , love mahogany
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stoneviews
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2009
Posts: 1,864
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Post by stoneviews on Mar 22, 2011 18:49:00 GMT -5
They look like they are gonna be some nice cabs!!
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mossyrockhound
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2011
Posts: 1,314
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Post by mossyrockhound on Mar 30, 2011 19:07:30 GMT -5
Those should keep you busy for awhile. I'll be looking for them in the cabochon section. I could be wrong, but I believe the ones you refer to as "leopard skin" are spiderman jasper. Nice stuff in any event. Garry
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Post by stonesthatrock on Mar 31, 2011 0:00:08 GMT -5
yes i agree...... the leopard skin is spiderman jasper. good to see you cutting again, tom mary ann
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Mar 31, 2011 6:57:49 GMT -5
Tom, those look like a real good batch. Now it's time to get'em all polished up. Looking forward to seeing them all nice & shiny!
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 31, 2011 7:51:54 GMT -5
Nice, Tom. If the one you labeled red jasper has blue spots it looks like llanoite to me. Also, if you think variscite is soft lepidolite is at least as soft (unless it is in quartz).
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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 Mar 31, 2011 9:22:54 GMT -5
I will ask a stupid question. It is probably answered somewhere else on the forum, but I don't remember the answer. This tile saw...this is the cheap tile saw from Harbor Freight, right? Does it cut "slow" like a rock saw or "fast" like a wood saw? I don't use fast saws, hence my question.
I can see that it would save a lot of time to preform the way you are doing. The way I am doing is the old-fashioned way of I cut a lot of straight cuts on a rock saw and it's still not really preformed, so I smooth it off on a very coarse grinding wheel. It takes a lot of time. I could never make as many preforms in an evening as you just produced! However, I feel comfortable with the speed of my saw. More in control. I am probably unusual because I have never used a wood-working saw other than in shop class in college, so I am somewhat fearful of them. But just the name, tile saw, it sounds like it would go at a reasonable, controllable speed and not put a finger at risk, ha ha.
Also...I would love to see the Spiderman Jasper in particular once you have it worked up. Whoa.
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colliel82
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 664
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Post by colliel82 on Mar 31, 2011 14:51:25 GMT -5
Can hardly wait to see the finished products, especially the leopardskin
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Post by frane on Mar 31, 2011 15:47:31 GMT -5
Tom, those are all beauties and that spiderman, I thought it was obsidian. The pieces that I am working seem to be anyway. I think you got a whole lot trimmed out before you had to listen to your body and stop! Great job!!! Peachfront. I have used the sears wet tile saw and it was great on cutting rock fast or slow, however you wanted to trim your preforms out. There was a design flaw as far as I can see in that it is easy for water to splash into the sealed compartment where the motor is. I have lost two that way. I have a harbor freight now and hate it. It is better than nothing but it breaks more rock than cuts it. Only 7 " blade I can find with a 1" arbor is through them and even on their site, it is hard to find. It is thick and the blade does not seem to stay cool enough in the pan of water. If you fill it to the level they say, it barely touches it and you have to keep throwing water on the blade to help it out. It actually sizzled this past weekend when I was using it and added water, even though I had the pan overfilled according to their directions. Fran
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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 Mar 31, 2011 18:41:05 GMT -5
Thanks, Fran. Sounds like I better stick with what I have for now, because I'm a little overloaded with learning new "stuff" and it sounds like I would need to have the right "touch" to make the tile saw work. Just got a little jealous when I saw how many preforms COULD be produced in a night. But I shouldn't be in such a hurry when I'm learning anyways...
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Post by tntmom on Mar 31, 2011 19:01:46 GMT -5
Nice preforms Tom! Makes me a little jealous... I still haven't replaced my blade on my tile saw. I burned it up right after getting it, should have asked questions here first on how to use it. I did a major :nono: and pushed my stones through it. Worked awesome for a day, then my husband laughed and told me that I ground off every single diamond chip on it . Took a look and dang if he wasn't right. Oh well, I'm back to the dremel cutting disks for the interim. ~Krystee
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 31, 2011 19:12:17 GMT -5
Peachfront, wood saws have nothing to do with rock or tile saws. Wood blades tear through wood with sharp teeth. Rock and tile blades grind with diamond abrasive. You have to work at injuring yourself with either a tilr or good lapidary blade. A lot of Tom's preforms are square, freeforms, etc. so only require cutting straight cuts just outside the lines. Ovals, circles, etc. have to be cut like you described (straight lines around perimeter, grinding out the points). Unless you use a band saw or ring saw. Tile saws turn much faster than typical rock saws so with the correct blade will cut faster. Speed of cut is determined by how fast you push the rock even on a high speed saw with a lapidary blade. A tile saw with a standard tile blade will usually cut slower in hard materials due to the very thick blade and hard matrix designed for durable tile cutting.
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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 Apr 3, 2011 8:47:26 GMT -5
Thanks, John. This is a nice clear explanation, and I appreciate it.
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Post by tanyafrench on Apr 3, 2011 11:50:35 GMT -5
Those are some beautiful preforms, can't wait to see the finished product.
Tanya
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Apr 3, 2011 12:18:52 GMT -5
Your gonna be busy!
can't wait to see them all cabbed up
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