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Post by connrock on Nov 13, 2013 9:31:29 GMT -5
Can anyone give me a source for clear quartz slabs for making doublets and triplets?
Thanks,,,
connrock
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Post by 150FromFundy on Nov 13, 2013 19:41:42 GMT -5
There's a real good question that I have also wondered about as I don't recall ever seeing quartz crystal slabs when browsing for slabs.
To add to connrock's question, can leaded glass "crystal" be used, or is it simply too soft?
Darryl.
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Nov 13, 2013 20:59:34 GMT -5
Browse for "optical quartz." It used to be fairly abundant but the supply seems to have dried up. There's one source I found for rough and you can probably locate more: www.naturesforyou.comWegener Quartz Crystal Mines in Arkansas offers a number of optical quartz crystal assortments by the pound. There's quite a hardness difference between real quartz and leaded glass, the last being very soft even for glass. Pretty Rock has some fused quartz on their website that would likely work well for that purpose. Rick |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2013 23:46:54 GMT -5
why not just by big points and slab 'em up yourself. If it's the back of a doublet does it hafta be perfectly optical?!?!?
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Post by connrock on Nov 14, 2013 8:42:32 GMT -5
Rick, Thanks for the help. Not knowing anything about this I thought the clear quartz slabs were easy to find but I'm now finding they are pretty difficult to acquire and buying big points is not only too expensive for me but it's also a crap shoot as to what I would actually get. I did a search for optical quartz (as you suggested) and found this site,,, linkDo you think this would work? Thanks again,, connrock |
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Post by connrock on Nov 14, 2013 8:46:32 GMT -5
Scott,,
The clear quartz isn't for the backs.It's to cover the tops of the cabs so it has to be perfectly clear.
Buying points big enough to do this just isn't in my budget,,,retirement is GREAT but the pay stinks! LOL
connrock
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Post by rockpickerforever on Nov 14, 2013 10:11:54 GMT -5
I know it's a few months off yet, but I've always been able to pick up both basinite and quartz sheets in Quartzsite at the PowWow. I can usually get some for a good price at local rock club shows as well. The basinite is natural, I think the quartz is grown.
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Post by catmandewe on Nov 14, 2013 11:09:19 GMT -5
I could probably cut you some if you need them, I think I still have a few points left that are big enough to slab.
Let me know what sizes and how many you need.
Tony
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Nov 14, 2013 12:24:39 GMT -5
Rick, Thanks for the help. Not knowing anything about this I thought the clear quartz slabs were easy to find but I'm now finding they are pretty difficult to acquire and buying big points is not only too expensive for me but it's also a crap shoot as to what I would actually get. I did a search for optical quartz (as you suggested) and found this site,,, linkDo you think this would work? Thanks again,, connrock From what I can tell from the site I think that slab would probably work. But definitely look into Tony's offer. As Jean mentioned there are probably a few dealers who show up in Quartzsite and other gem shows who cater to that small specialty market. I searched in vain for suppliers of synthetic clear quartz at reasonable prices. Maybe other searchers will do better. All I found were high-tech suppliers with high prices! New Era Gems always used to stock optical rough. Maybe you should give them a call; they often have items that aren't on their website. Good luck! Rick |
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Post by connrock on Nov 15, 2013 8:51:39 GMT -5
Tony,,
Thanks for the offer!
I PM'd you.
connrock
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Post by connrock on Nov 15, 2013 9:02:22 GMT -5
Jean,
Thanks,,,
I didn't even give shows a thought!Mainly because the only good one in this area is in August up in Massachusetts.
connrock
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Post by connrock on Nov 15, 2013 9:05:25 GMT -5
Rick,,,
Thanks,,,
I had no idea how difficult and pricy it would be to find these slabs! LOL
I sent Tony a PM,,,
connrock
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Post by bobby1 on Nov 18, 2013 1:43:53 GMT -5
A friend of mine used to have a rock shop in the Bay Area and he dealt in synthetic Quartz bars. Over the years I have gotten quite a bit of these bars. He still sells the materials. If you want I can post some photos of the material that he sells. His phone number is:
Bob Lewis
650 773 9964 He lives in Sunnyvale, CA Pacific coast time.
Bob
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Post by bobby1 on Nov 18, 2013 1:44:29 GMT -5
He only sells the bars, no slabs
Bob
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Post by Woodyrock on Nov 18, 2013 3:09:43 GMT -5
The Ammolite rough we buy from Canada is capped with Spinel crystal, which I believe is man made sine it come is slab form. You might try a query on it. The Spinel crystal has a Mohs hardness of 8.
Woody
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Post by connrock on Nov 18, 2013 9:31:39 GMT -5
Bobby and Woody,
Thanks for the info!
Tony has offered to cut me some quartz slabs so I'm going to hold off pursuing any other options right now!
Thanks again!
connrock
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Post by 1dave on Nov 18, 2013 9:45:09 GMT -5
Rick, Thanks for the help. Not knowing anything about this I thought the clear quartz slabs were easy to find but I'm now finding they are pretty difficult to acquire and buying big points is not only too expensive for me but it's also a crap shoot as to what I would actually get. I did a search for optical quartz (as you suggested) and found this site,,, linkDo you think this would work? Thanks again,, connrock When the big boys started growing their own quartz, the price of Brazilian optical quartz tumbled to near shipping prices. I don't know if any is still available. In my opinion, this (3"x1"/1.6 oz./11mm thick) at $1.50 per slice is a bargain! |
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Nov 18, 2013 15:25:31 GMT -5
Woodyrock, where do you get the clear spinel slabs? Spinel is a natural gem but vast amounts of it are man-made too. I know where to get lab-produced material but not in slab form. I passed this information on to connrock but forgot to post it. There's a company that sells calibrated triplet caps but they're not quartz. Their email to me said: "Our caps are made from a manufactured crystal specially formulated for low dispersion/ high refraction with a hardness of 6." That sounds to me like some kind of glass. Anyhow, here's their website: www.opalsmith.com/triplettops.htmRick |
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Post by bobby1 on Nov 18, 2013 21:22:31 GMT -5
This is what the larger Synthetic Quartz bars look like.  Medium bar  Small bar. These are grown for the electronics industry and are absolutely clear except for a thin fuzzy line where the seed crystal is. Bob |
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Post by bobby1 on Nov 18, 2013 21:23:32 GMT -5
OOPS! I missed posting the photo of the small bars. Bob  |
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