grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Jun 3, 2012 8:55:42 GMT -5
I received a slab of Montana agate from kk (Kurt) as part of a prize for his 'guess the glue' contest. It was a really nice thick slab. As is usually the case with darker Montanas, they have to be sliced thin to let enough light through to show the pattern. I could have just cut a couple high dome cabs, and ground them down until they transmit light, but didn't want to waste any material. So I split the slab again, was spooky trying to cut that straight and thin on the tile saw, but I managed to split it evenly into slabs still thick enough to partially dome. Pretty happy with the outcome, I will get four cabs from this slab. (two matching sets if I wish) Here is the slab. ![](http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc153/agates77/100_8682sm.jpg) What it looks like 1/2 as thick (after popping out a fracture); I cabbed the other half. ![](http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc153/agates77/100_8784sm.jpg) The cabs. Shine ![](http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc153/agates77/100_8787sm.jpg) And back-lit ![](http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc153/agates77/100_8788sm.jpg) Thanks for looking, Bill
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Post by Toad on Jun 3, 2012 9:40:48 GMT -5
Awesome. Especially like the one on the right. That rock has a bunch of frequesnt flier miles on it now...
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Post by kk on Jun 3, 2012 10:18:04 GMT -5
![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) Yep, through and through with those inclusions. Although I thought there would be slightly blue sections hiding in there. Glad you found use for it. Was not to sure if I should send the Montana as you can get them so easily, but then as you said tumbling, I thought it might be fine. Still got a lot more of the same, but have not yet found the courage to start a Dalmatian carving. Best regards, Kurt
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2012 10:33:40 GMT -5
It is funny that Kurt sent a Montana to Grey in Montana but the outcome of that stones travels is absolutely gorgeous. You did an awesome job on that stone. Splitting a slab evenly by hand takes a lot of skill. Thank you for showing us the possibilities there are with dark Montanas. I will look at them a lot differently from now on. Jim
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hubrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since April 2011
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Post by hubrocks on Jun 3, 2012 11:04:25 GMT -5
Those are way cool.!! good job on them
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rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since January 2012
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Post by rockingthenorth on Jun 3, 2012 11:15:47 GMT -5
You did a great job on those they look awesome
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
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Post by mjflinty on Jun 3, 2012 16:12:18 GMT -5
Great cabs and excellent back-lit photo! Would you be willing to share your trick with getting the photo?
Thanks, Michael
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Jun 3, 2012 19:41:00 GMT -5
Thanks all! Jim, while it does seem odd for a Montanan to receive Montana agate from Hong Kong, I could not have been more pleased! They say you can never go home, seems this has. Montana agate is my first love, and though I live here it is not as easy to come by as one might imagine. The good stuff is a five hour drive across the plains from the mountain valley where I live. It is not easy to hunt the primo, the locals and pro hunters with their jet boats get the best pickins as the water recedes. I have found some pretty nice stuff though, some unusual. I will be posting more cabs from self collected agate soon. I know folks make doublets with darker agate sliced thin, would like to learn that.
Michael, these are tough to photograph. That's why I am still working on shooting pics of the rest of the batch. I am constantly trying different things to get good (and accurate) photos of translucent agates. This time I put a chicken house brooder light upside down in a box. Then a sheet of freezer paper, and a piece of glass over that. I also lit from above.I am using 100 watt full spectrum incandescent bulbs. I don't think it will work as well with agates that have even less clear areas to pass light through, need to figure out how to get a set up that replicates the effect of holding a stone up near a bright light source.
Bill
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Post by Tony W on Jun 3, 2012 23:33:45 GMT -5
Nice material, great cabs. T
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Post by gr on Jun 3, 2012 23:46:51 GMT -5
Teardrop is perfect symmetry. Like the other one to! Both speak loudly
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Post by christopherl1234 on Jun 4, 2012 0:12:50 GMT -5
You rock Bill!!!! Really nice of Kurt to share some of his premium material with you!!
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Post by gingerkid on Jun 4, 2012 5:36:49 GMT -5
...That rock has a bunch of frequesnt flier miles on it now... ROFL!! Very pretty! Really like the patterns in the Montana agate cabs!
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
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Post by mjflinty on Jun 6, 2012 10:02:45 GMT -5
Thanks for the ideas on the photo setup!
Michael
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