Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Jan 20, 2013 13:24:15 GMT -5
Here's a contest that I proposed to my Rock Club. The judging will be at the next meeting.
To make a marble or a small sphere. However, there is the restriction that only hand powered tools may be used. No power tools. This pretty much restricts you to materials that can be cut with a hacksaw, worked with a file, and carved with a pocket knife. The categories are: 1. Most round -- to be determined by measurements and rolling. 2. Peoples choice. 3. Best polish. 4. Closest to 1.5 inches.
Most folks seem to be using soapstone, alabaster, or travertine. If you don't want to compete in the best polish category, pumice is also a good choice. I think someone may be making one with petoskey stone.
If anyone expresses interest, I'll explain the method I use for making these marbles by hand.
Steve
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carleton
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2012
Posts: 277
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Post by carleton on Jan 20, 2013 23:19:47 GMT -5
I'm always up for a challenge! especially something new. Sounds fun, count me in Carleton
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Post by helens on Jan 20, 2013 23:44:29 GMT -5
Does this count? This is: round (and will roll:P) polished almost 1.5" No power tools can be cut with a hacksaw, file, cut with pocketknife - not sure about carving (5.5 moh) You didn't say anything about stone!! But glass is made from the same SiO2 as most other stones.... and technically made from stones. I'm just yanking your chain, sending this to JamesP for sharing his coral secrets, so I can't enter it anyway:).
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carleton
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2012
Posts: 277
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Post by carleton on Jan 21, 2013 0:13:07 GMT -5
;D
Nice!!!!
Carleton
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,559
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Post by jamesp on Jan 21, 2013 5:49:52 GMT -5
If you need more secrets,i will gladly share for marbles looking like that!How did you find this category?It took me a while to figure out the marble contest-you are jerking Steve's chain and jerked me too LOL a lot! I decided that marble has botyroidal design.look at the boobs on the inside.Was that your intention Helen?I am so looking forward to that marble. 100% hand made by Helen of Azenglass.com.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 21, 2013 11:27:42 GMT -5
Helen thats a totally awesome marble-WOW!!!!
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 21, 2013 12:32:28 GMT -5
Gorgeous Helen!
Chuck
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Post by helens on Jan 21, 2013 14:32:14 GMT -5
What?! You see BOOBS?! *facepalm*
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2013 15:29:22 GMT -5
Jim must have breasts on the brain. Maybe he wasn't nursed as a baby. That certainly describes my problem. lol
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Jan 21, 2013 17:07:25 GMT -5
Helen, Beautiful work. Great photo - and I'm sure as wonderful as the photo is, that it doesn't show the true depth and beauty of your work. I'd have no problem if someone showed up with a glass marble -- however, wouldn't a gas torch come under the heading of a powered tool? Guess this may be more of a philosophical rather than a practical question.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2013 17:52:20 GMT -5
Is this a go? When is the ending date?
I carved a cube with a ball on the top once but it was only about an inch high. A marble might be fun. Jim
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Jan 21, 2013 21:35:37 GMT -5
This was a contest that I proposed for my club. They're doing it. I don't know of any way to judge this without physical possession of the marble -- so feel free to post pictures for bragging rights.
This may be a fun contest to propose for your rock club.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2013 12:25:52 GMT -5
The marbles could be sent to the master marbler for judgment with return postage if they want it back. Just a thought. Jim
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Jan 22, 2013 19:53:10 GMT -5
OK Jim -- I'm all for enthusiasm,
I'm far from a master marbler - so I have no problem judging and not entering. I am entering my club's contest. If you want to enter, PM me for my physical address. If you want your marble back and any prize you may win, please include return postage for a small flat rate box. I'll use newspaper and obsidian to fill the extra space.
The rules are vague, so please try to follow the spirit of the contest. You can use machinery to make or sharpen your tools, but any tool that touches the rock must not be powered - electrical, water, air pressure. It's ok if the rock has previously been cut on a saw, but you get to use hand powered tools to cut out your preform.
Ending date -- I will judge the weekend of March 16. This should give enough time to get a rock, make a marble and send it in without undue haste. Also it's the only weekend I'm free for the next few months. Hate it when work gets in the way of the important stuff.
People's choice will by vote based on posted photos. I'm a horrible photographer so you can either rely on my skill or submit a photo by email. You can enter the peoples choice portion of the contest without mailing in your marble.
Please wait until I verify there are at least 5 contestants before sending your marble. No point in spending money on postage when there's no real competition. In fact, I will not give out my address until at least 5 people ask for it and verify that they have a marble made and ready to be sent.
If you want prizes other than bragging rights then please include something with your marble that I can award to another contestant -- something that will fit in a small flat rate along with the return marble. My suggestion is that you make 2 marbles - one for the contest and one to award to another contestant.
I know nothing about international shipping, but I guess if you can get it to me I can get it back to you. I'm in Oregon, USA
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TByrd
fully equipped rock polisher
Have you performed your random act of kindness?
Member since December 2010
Posts: 1,350
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Post by TByrd on Feb 13, 2013 1:27:47 GMT -5
Sounds like fun to me?
Tammy
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Feb 19, 2013 14:51:55 GMT -5
Here's a quick photo of the marbles I made for the club contest. The middle three are all 1.5 inches and made of various types of soapstone. The smaller striped brown one on the end is about 1.3 inches and is made of pipestone. The larger one is alabaster. These were each made with hand tools. I cut the preform with a hacksaw, rough carved the shape with a pocketknife, and finished off by shaping the marble with a piece of pipe. I wet sanded them. Didn't succeed at getting a polish on any of them. Steve Attachments:
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bushmanbilly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2008
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Post by bushmanbilly on Feb 21, 2013 14:46:28 GMT -5
Does this count? This is: round (and will roll:P) polished almost 1.5" No power tools can be cut with a hacksaw, file, cut with pocketknife - not sure about carving (5.5 moh) You didn't say anything about stone!! But glass is made from the same SiO2 as most other stones.... and technically made from stones. I'm just yanking your chain, sending this to JamesP for sharing his coral secrets, so I can't enter it anyway:). All I can say is, WOW!!!!! :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:
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Post by helens on Feb 21, 2013 16:21:59 GMT -5
Thanks Billy:). JamesP has it now:).
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Post by gingerkid on Feb 22, 2013 20:02:25 GMT -5
A marble contest sounds like fun, and not to forget to mention hard work!! Steve, would be interested in instructions of how you made your marbles. They look great!! How long does it usually take to make one without using machinery?? Helen, I love the glass marble you kindly gave to James. It reminds me of a fire agate.
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Steve
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2005
Posts: 506
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Post by Steve on Feb 24, 2013 17:40:22 GMT -5
In this thread I gave instruction for making sphere preforms. forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=creationtime&thread=56111&page=1The precess is the same for marbles, except I use a hacksaw and draw cutting lines instead of using an angle. Also I didn't do the last 8 small cuts. Then I used a pocket knife to round off the sharp corners. Then for a 1.5 inch marble I used a piece of 1 inch pipe and a piece of 3/4 inch pipe. I rolled the preform in the 1 inch pipe while exerting a bit of pressure. This grinds off the high spots and rounds out the marble. The secret is to use good random movements and to not get into a (pun coming) groove. I use the 3/4 inch pipe in the same way to round it out some more. All the time I measure with calipers pretty often to make sure that I stay in round. It takes me about 3 - 6 hours to make a marble this way, 1 - 2 hours to cut out the preform -- if I had a good vise this step would be a lot faster, but I don't. Then 2 - 4 hours to make it round and bring it to size.
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