skystone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 171
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Post by skystone on Jul 17, 2011 22:20:17 GMT -5
I had this end cut piece of Turquoise. I'd started grinding on it some time ago & set it aside. I wanted to keep the uneven surface (really doesn't show too well in pix though) rather than the cut pieces that got turned into cabs. So yesterday afternoon I started playing with it (wish I'd bought a couple of pounds more from Colbaugh when I got this rough). I was looking at it & got out the red coral & stared playing with different pieces. Found one that prety well fit the shape & size of the stone (with a little adjustment of the stone shape LOL). Ok good stone & coral what else? Got out the cast leaves & flowers & started playing with them. Ok good nice frame work for the stone. How to attach the coral? Didn't really want to bezel set it (been there done that lol). So I used 1/2 round 12 ga. & made a double loop for the big end to slip into. Bent 2 other pieces in a "U" to hold the rest of the branch ( should have cut the 1/2 round a little longer. You can see the end one doesn't quite go all the way around). Oh well a new method is always a learning experience LOL. But I really like the look of it. It shows off the coral branch better & alows for the curvature/ uneveness of the branch. Without having to grind the bottom flat. Finished polishing it this afternoon (after geting home from Church & a Admin. Council meeting. I hate meeting blahhh!!!!) So now I have a new bolo tie to wear. Hope you like it & thanks for looking. Mike     It's a comercial bolo fitting. |
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colliel82
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 664
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Post by colliel82 on Jul 17, 2011 22:25:22 GMT -5
It is a beautiful piece
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Post by tntmom on Jul 18, 2011 0:45:13 GMT -5
That is very nice and the picture with the shirt captures it so well!!
~Krystee
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Post by tanyafrench on Jul 18, 2011 7:09:06 GMT -5
That's one sweet piece!
Tanya
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Post by Toad on Jul 18, 2011 7:46:45 GMT -5
Very well made. Me likes.
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Post by rockmanken on Jul 18, 2011 8:58:27 GMT -5
I like it.
How did you attach the bolo fitting to the silver? I can't ever get it to work right.
Ken
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skystone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 171
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Post by skystone on Jul 18, 2011 10:46:46 GMT -5
Ken it's silver soldered on just like the rest of the pieces. I usually heat & put the solder on the back of the fitting first. Then flux the main piece & heat so that it fuses the two together. I'll feed a little solder through one of the holes in it. Just to make sure both pieces were hot enough. That way you don't end up with a bunch of solder showing around it either.
Mike
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Post by rockmanken on Jul 18, 2011 10:58:49 GMT -5
Ah, I waited until it was done to try to put it on.
Thanks, Ken
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mossyrockhound
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2011
Posts: 1,315
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Post by mossyrockhound on Jul 18, 2011 15:32:21 GMT -5
Very nice, Mike! I like the color combination and the addition of the cast leaves and flowers. The coral is vibe-polished I assume?
Garry
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skystone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 171
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Post by skystone on Jul 18, 2011 22:47:15 GMT -5
Thanks all for your kind comments. The coral is vibe-polished I assume? Ken no it's hand polished. I don't have a vibe polisher. I trim off any small branches. Then grind off the stubs & sand with diamond burrs in the Fordom. Sand by hand with wet & dry & polish. Old school hand work but that's me. Mike |
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Post by tntmom on Jul 18, 2011 23:01:03 GMT -5
Wait a minute... Sandpaper or felt burs and diamond paste? I'm really wondering now because I have the whole dremel setup from bits to burs and paste up to 50k. Love your work so much.... I am EAGER ears!!!
Krystee
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skystone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 171
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Post by skystone on Jul 19, 2011 12:01:49 GMT -5
Yep Krystee I use a lot of wet & dry sandpaper by hand on stones & coral etc. I don't have any diamond paste but it would work I suppose on say a leather disk in the Fordom/Dremel. I do use rubberized abrasives though.
Mike
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skystone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 171
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Post by skystone on Aug 18, 2011 11:43:01 GMT -5
Well this one is now in the Red Canyon Collections gallery in Sedona. I was going to keep it for myself LOL But when they wanted it & the retail price they quoted I couldn't resist LOL. They priced it at nearly $900. Which blew me away!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But they know the market better than I do. I just make the stuff. Hope it sells. Then I can buy more silver & make more pieces. Which is what I love doing & the reson I decided to start selling. To feed my "habbit".
Mike
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Post by christopherl1234 on Aug 18, 2011 12:14:03 GMT -5
Mike,
I am pretty confident that it is only a matter of time now that you will have plenty to feed that habit. Your habit will be buying new cloths it will be so well fed!!
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skystone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 171
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Post by skystone on Aug 18, 2011 22:23:41 GMT -5
New clothes? Naaaah!!!! Well I could use a pair of jeans or two LOL Probably more like a truck load of Turquoise. Or red coral by the pound? Several pounds of silver stock, sheet, wire bezel?? Well one can dream.
Mike
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