jason12x12
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 798
|
Post by jason12x12 on May 29, 2012 20:56:22 GMT -5
some I am working on... brighter than I could get in pics. My set up  the rock  not much but I sure am learning  I need to buy some nova burrs (when Im rich) thanks for lookin |
|
|
|
Post by kk on May 29, 2012 21:04:41 GMT -5
There are a lot of really nice possibilities in there.
Several who will not need any sunlight to shine.
Great stuff, do you also set them?
I like working them, but have put it on the backburner
as I don't know how to set and just workin without using
got to boring over time. Fire Agate is definitely one of my
top three materials.
Looking forward to the resulting cabs and jewelry.
|
|
cardiobill
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 881
|
Post by cardiobill on May 29, 2012 21:12:55 GMT -5
Wow. Really nice material. I have never seen fire agates in person but the pics posted recently on this forum are way cool. Can't wait to see what you do with them. Good luck!!
bill
|
|
|
|
Post by christopherl1234 on May 29, 2012 21:22:45 GMT -5
Looks like you have a good batch to learn on. By the time you get through those you will be a pro!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Pat on May 29, 2012 21:57:43 GMT -5
I recently bought a five pound bag of fire agate for $22. You have inspired me to get a move on! Fire agates look like they could be called root-beer opal.
|
|
|
|
Post by christopherl1234 on May 29, 2012 22:30:13 GMT -5
WOW a 5 lbs bag for $22....what a score!!!!! I look forward to seeing what you cut out of your parcel!
|
|
|
|
Post by helens on May 29, 2012 22:59:37 GMT -5
Neat!!! I need to work more on mine... and I have NOVA bits too (but I think I'm not using them right because they don't seem to do anything... LOL!)
|
|
jason12x12
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 798
|
Post by jason12x12 on May 30, 2012 0:50:36 GMT -5
Yeah 5 # for twenty sum dollars is a steal i paid 80 for 3# deer creek
|
|
|
|
Post by christopherl1234 on May 30, 2012 2:09:46 GMT -5
Those are killer prices...is this for windowed proven material??
|
|
jason12x12
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 798
|
Post by jason12x12 on May 30, 2012 2:44:40 GMT -5
No just rough.. granted above average for ebay rough.because i have gotten crap too.
|
|
|
|
Post by roy on May 30, 2012 9:12:44 GMT -5
you did good on that purchess ! you have some good fire in the bucket
|
|
Don
Cave Dweller 
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
|
Post by Don on May 30, 2012 10:06:10 GMT -5
Jason, you're doing great work on those fire agates, well done. Makes me want to get mine out again and go to work. Setting these stones can be tricky, but it's not impossible. a good jeweler can bezel set them, or a setting can be cast to fit the stone. Prong setting is an option too.
|
|
|
|
Post by FrogAndBearCreations on May 30, 2012 10:07:15 GMT -5
I also have bought mine run fire agate at a great price off of ebay and also have gotten a load of crap on some of the purchases, they were great to learn on and now I only buy proven windowed stones.
you need a hard diamond burrs to do the bulk removal of chalcedony on the fire agates and then at the polishing stage switch to the Nova burrs working up in grit to a great shine
|
|
|
|
Post by Pat on May 30, 2012 15:17:02 GMT -5
Christopher, they have been worked on a little bit; that is, a lot of the matrix has been removed. I'm on my way outside now to see what I can do.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pat on May 30, 2012 16:51:21 GMT -5
 Jason's work inspired me to attack my fire agate. Advice needed! OK. Not knowing how to attack fire agate or with what, I started with a silicon carbide bur because it seems to be gentle and has done a nice job as a finishing tool on other quartzes.. Ha! Didn't see any improvement. Next went to a diamond bur. Diamond is strong; should work. Hmm, maybe the grit was too fine. Exchanged that for a black gritty looking/feeling wheel. Looked like it ought to be quick. I can tell stuff is being removed because the water is murky, but I really cannot see a difference. The fire appears to be covered with a white material. My guess it is unfired quartz. What burs should I use and in what progression? Thanks for any help.
|
|
Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
|
Post by Don on May 30, 2012 17:00:33 GMT -5
The white material is usually a chalcedony and tends to be very hard. I use my coarsest diamond plated burs on it to remove, 40/60 grit. stop just before getting down to the fire layer and switch to a finer grit 120/220 and proceed slowly.
|
|
jason12x12
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 798
|
Post by jason12x12 on May 30, 2012 18:27:42 GMT -5
I use a diamond blade from harbor freight for cutting and grinding the heavy stuff off.. Its a four inch that fits my lap( five or six dollar) then I go to harbor freight course grit diamond burrs to grind closer to the fire to see what i have as far as color and brightness.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pat on May 30, 2012 18:44:12 GMT -5
Don and Jason, thanks. Going to Harbor Freight tomorrow, then I am going to color code the different grits that Don suggested. Fire agate is an intriguing stone.
|
|
jason12x12
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 798
|
Post by jason12x12 on May 30, 2012 22:06:10 GMT -5
here are some pics of the blade    the start of some color |
|
|
|
Post by christopherl1234 on May 30, 2012 23:07:06 GMT -5
gettin' down to the fire!!
|
|
