celt40
noticing nice landscape pebbles
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KNIGHTHOOD FOR JOCK STEIN.
Member since July 2009
Posts: 99
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Post by celt40 on Feb 4, 2012 19:02:27 GMT -5
I promised to post some pictures of the Agates I have found this Winter on my local beaches. It is difficult to know what to look for when looking for your first Agate. I can talk from experience, it took me months and hundreds of bending to find my first one. I promised Harry (Jockstrap) that I would post some to help him know what to look for. All of my Agates have been polished, I can only show what I have found since last Summer. Here are some Agates with the outside rough coat that hides their true ID. ![](http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd177/dermot40/IMG_0160.jpg) The same Agates turned around showing just a bit more of the beautiful insides. ![](http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd177/dermot40/IMG_0164.jpg) Here are a slection of Agates still rough. ![](http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd177/dermot40/IMG_0166.jpg) ![](http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd177/dermot40/IMG_0167.jpg) ![](http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd177/dermot40/IMG_0169.jpg) Some of last Summers findings polished. ![](http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd177/dermot40/IMG_0171.jpg) ![](http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd177/dermot40/IMG_0172.jpg) ![](http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd177/dermot40/IMG_0175.jpg)
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jockstrap
having dreams about rocks
Member since December 2011
Posts: 56
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Post by jockstrap on Feb 4, 2012 20:12:14 GMT -5
Many thanks Dermot, for posting the Agates as I know your mother has been ill. I think I have found an agate on Irvine beach. It's in the tumbler now, and I'll post some pictures when they're polished. I called up a guy about an Inland Laptop. Guess what?. he's waiting for a shipment to come from the states. Meantime, through these pages, I am starting to have second thoughts. I'm looking now at saving a bit more and go for the Ameritool flatlap. I can get one in the UK that uses a step up transformer for 110 to 240 VAC. However, Ameritool site has their units with a 240 VAC motor fitted. I'm in a quandary as to what to do. Perhaps some of these Page Sages can advise?. Does the transformer cause any loss of Performance?.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Feb 5, 2012 2:55:25 GMT -5
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Feb 5, 2012 3:00:41 GMT -5
Dermot
My you got some nice ones there thanks for showing them
Yes when you start to look for Agates it is difficult to pick the right one I was told once if they are pock marked its a sure sign of a agate
They are so very beautiful especialy the 5th Pic I got a bit at Dunure like the rock on the RH side a broken piece Hmmmmm if only it had a full Rock !
jack Yorkshire uk
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celt40
noticing nice landscape pebbles
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KNIGHTHOOD FOR JOCK STEIN.
Member since July 2009
Posts: 99
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Post by celt40 on Feb 5, 2012 6:25:22 GMT -5
Harry, I don't know much about the Inland machines, I thought of buying one in the past. I phoned a Brittish supplier and talked to him about all the different combinations it offers. I was sold on getting one when the cash situation was right. I did some further looking and found that some rock hounds did not speak to well about the quality of the motors and other parts. This put me off. Just my thoughts. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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Simon
spending too much on rocks
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Member since March 2009
Posts: 352
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Post by Simon on Feb 5, 2012 7:11:37 GMT -5
I have 2 flat laps, an all in one gem tek, old one that is and a robilt. They're both surplus to requirements, I also have a lot of accessories that I will never use. Laps etc, they go with the robilt.
The robilt has a faceting head (but no motor) with it. If you're interested Pm me and I'll take pictures for you.
I looked into the inland machines as well, and decided against because of the mentioned motor issues. So bought what I wanted mostly as job lots so ended up with things I don't/won't use.
Simon
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riverrock
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since April 2010
Posts: 1,395
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Post by riverrock on Feb 6, 2012 20:06:02 GMT -5
i like the one that looks like a eye ball.
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GlamRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Member since July 2009
Posts: 105
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Post by GlamRocks on Nov 1, 2012 9:12:52 GMT -5
Beautiful beach agates Celt, thanks for sharing them.
Lapidary equipment in the uk is a pain, it's either pay big cash or make your own. But having gone the inland route due to lack of options and resources I'd say don't bother unless you really really have to. Yup the motors are rubbish, as are the bearings. It feels plasticky and like a toy in use, and won't cut the cabs your imagining without some serious changes. You will have to make soft backed laps and invest in diamond to strike a good shine on a nice surface. It can be done.... But I'd rather save up and buy the Ameritool from our uk supplier. Since i converted about 6 months ago I have loved every second of it, the hardware feels reliable and up to the job, it cuts beautiful stones right out of the box, and the extra 2 laps required to strike dazzling shine are a worthy investment. It ain't cheap, but it is the tool for the job.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Nov 1, 2012 19:10:54 GMT -5
Beautiful stuff, I wanna see a close-up!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,275
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Post by jamesp on Nov 4, 2012 3:29:24 GMT -5
That material is very nice.And fortifications
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