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Post by deb193redux on Aug 11, 2013 17:50:48 GMT -5
Well I tried to slab this flowering tube onyx after having it for about 7 years. Pretty much get crumbs because the slabs are breaking. I may have to try and stabilize it.
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Aug 11, 2013 18:58:06 GMT -5
Bummer... Have you stabilized a bug chunk like that before?
Sent from my phone.
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Post by deb193redux on Aug 11, 2013 21:33:02 GMT -5
no. I was thinking about slightly diluted epoxy. not as dilute as for powdery turquoise, but at least 50% thinner wilt longer/controlled curing time. may have to do it every few slices.
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robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on Aug 11, 2013 22:44:50 GMT -5
That always sucks. Much like my extra large piece of rainbow forest jasper that is now 3 large pieces. Been waiting years to cut it, really pissed me off.
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Post by tntmom on Aug 11, 2013 23:01:36 GMT -5
Ouch!!! I am going to follow this thread. Not only for the info but how you will turn a cutting catastrophe into a very expensive masterpiece!!!! This rough is gorgeous and I know that you will figure it out. There are only a few people that I follow from rough to completion and you are one of them. I always learn something from you!!!!
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ash
spending too much on rocks
Prairieville, Louisiana
Member since July 2012
Posts: 361
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Post by ash on Aug 13, 2013 20:29:42 GMT -5
On that last pic it appears that the rock is checkin out the scene below! Just check out them peepers on that rock! On a serious note, I do hope that you figure it out and can overcome the problem. *fingers crossed*
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catskillrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,270
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Post by catskillrocks on Aug 13, 2013 20:37:32 GMT -5
What a spectacular piece of rough! Really too bad about the fracturing. Hope the stabilization goes well.
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Aug 14, 2013 6:33:52 GMT -5
I bought a slab of that material once before. Don't think I will buy it again. When I got it part of the description was that it had been stabilized. However when I went to cut my preforms I still had problems with it wanting to fall apart on me. Turns out the flowering tube onyx is know for being quite unstable & definitely needs to be stabilized before getting anything decent out of it.. Perhaps if you cut a couple of thick chunks or slabs it would hold together so that you could stabilize it & then get thinner slices.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,555
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Post by jamesp on Aug 14, 2013 9:06:08 GMT -5
I will take stable material over unstable any day. That is incredibly beautiful material but....
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 14, 2013 14:53:13 GMT -5
Those bulls eyes sure look like they'd make neat cabs in spite of the breakage....Mel
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Post by helens on Aug 18, 2013 1:53:18 GMT -5
Wow. That's a beauty too.
I saw a flowering onyx COUNTERTOP slab when I was countertop shopping at granite shops. That is some of the most beautiful rock on the planet, big or small.... but way too soft and delicate for countertops in my opinion. Wonder how they cut giant slabs like that without stabilizing? You know... rather than stablizing... maybe this would be a good rock to try a plaster of paris embed in?
I think JamesP posted this before, but for smaller pieces. It would work on a larger piece as well I'd think. Put the rock in a shoebox or something that will just cover (or even partially cover) most of it, and pour a plaster cast. Then slice that, and just chip the plaster off after slicing? It should be a whole lot less time consuming to do that than stabilizing each slice as you cut...
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