transcendental
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 459
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Post by transcendental on Jun 9, 2014 17:40:32 GMT -5
Figured I should introduce myself before I started posting anywhere else, I'm Becky from connecticut. Long time rock picker-upper, just recently started a business using rocks in sculpture and even more recently started making jewelry and got into the lapidary process. Thought I should try to connect with some fellow rockies in case I have questions and I'm always more than happy to check out other people's finds and to share my own.
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hi ^_^
Jun 9, 2014 18:00:52 GMT -5
Post by vegasjames on Jun 9, 2014 18:00:52 GMT -5
Welcome Becky. Like to see some pics of some of your sculptures when you get a chance.
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transcendental
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 459
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Post by transcendental on Jun 9, 2014 18:26:26 GMT -5
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hi ^_^
Jun 9, 2014 18:37:55 GMT -5
Post by vegasjames on Jun 9, 2014 18:37:55 GMT -5
Incredible work. I especially like the tree in the first pic.
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transcendental
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 459
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hi ^_^
Jun 9, 2014 18:47:13 GMT -5
Post by transcendental on Jun 9, 2014 18:47:13 GMT -5
Here's my first attempt at polishing stones. I actually did these 100% by hand with wet/dry sandpaper and final polish with cerium oxide on damp denim. One is a smoky amethyst the other is an amethyst, clear quartz with cacoxenite, geothite, and lepidocrosite inclusions. These are my most prized possessions lol. Back lit
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transcendental
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 459
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hi ^_^
Jun 9, 2014 18:50:22 GMT -5
Post by transcendental on Jun 9, 2014 18:50:22 GMT -5
Thank you It's actually my favorite too, was a gift for my father in law. He is a linesman so the copper ore and the copper wire was a reflection on that since copper is what all the power lines are made of
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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hi ^_^
Jun 9, 2014 20:36:41 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2014 20:36:41 GMT -5
Welcome from Austin,Texas.there is a treasure trove of information,and kind,ingenious people here.
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transcendental
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 459
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hi ^_^
Jun 9, 2014 21:01:13 GMT -5
Post by transcendental on Jun 9, 2014 21:01:13 GMT -5
Thank you and yes I've been immersing myself into this wealth of information and I'm really impressed with the tallent I've seen, real motivation! Lol
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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hi ^_^
Jun 10, 2014 1:11:19 GMT -5
Post by tkvancil on Jun 10, 2014 1:11:19 GMT -5
Hi and welcome. You got some talent kiddo. Some patience too, hand polishing can be a chore.
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transcendental
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 459
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hi ^_^
Jun 10, 2014 7:27:02 GMT -5
Post by transcendental on Jun 10, 2014 7:27:02 GMT -5
Thanks, I had to do it by hand or else I would have lost almost all of the cacoxenite and the geothite in one and a lot if not all of the deeper purple in the other if I had put them in a tumbler. They also have some cracks and one has splintered inclusions ( where it still looks scratched even tho it has its final polish) I tried to wear it down as far as I could to a less splintered level in the stone but it goes all the way thru. My arms were pretty sore after I finished these lol
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hi ^_^
Jun 10, 2014 8:14:08 GMT -5
Post by beefjello on Jun 10, 2014 8:14:08 GMT -5
Hi and welcome from Arizona! Your creations are superb!!
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transcendental
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 459
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hi ^_^
Jun 10, 2014 9:10:58 GMT -5
Post by transcendental on Jun 10, 2014 9:10:58 GMT -5
Thank you very happy to be here
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grizman
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since July 2011
Posts: 878
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hi ^_^
Jun 10, 2014 13:03:46 GMT -5
Post by grizman on Jun 10, 2014 13:03:46 GMT -5
Yes, your talent is very obvious in your rock sculptures, and your persistence is more than seen in your hand-polishing of your stones. Great job. Keep it up!
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 10, 2014 13:33:03 GMT -5
Welcome from another East Coastie in Virginia Beach. Beautiful sculptures! Can't even pick a fav- no way- they are all awesome! It was a natural leap to do the tree of life pendants, which are also very nice.
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transcendental
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 459
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hi ^_^
Jun 10, 2014 13:45:13 GMT -5
Post by transcendental on Jun 10, 2014 13:45:13 GMT -5
Thank you very much I'm hoping to fund my future lapidary en devour with these trees lol. Bought a tumbler and a mini drill press to make beads, i found an unlimited supply of peach moonstone at a local beach. looking at a 4 in wet tile saw to attempt some shaping on smaller stones, then I need to find or fashion a grinder. That last one is hard to find. It needs to be housed properly to avoid getting water in the motor and lapidary grinders even used ones aren't cheap. Everything else I've been able to get at work on a discount and can make them work for what I'd like to use them for as a noob, except the grinder. Keeping my eyes peeled and noticed a lot of good info here about making your own lap equip so dreams far from dead
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transcendental
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 459
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hi ^_^
Jun 10, 2014 13:57:27 GMT -5
Post by transcendental on Jun 10, 2014 13:57:27 GMT -5
Thanks rockjunquie, I actually put off doing the tree of life pendants about 8 months from when I first started making the sculptures. There is a lot of them on the market and it wasn't really a challenge for me since I mastered the technique for the tree portion itself. I make the trunk first which is contrary to all the tutorials I've seen on how to make them but think the branches group together better this way. But your right it was a natural leap and I'm looking forward to getting more intricate in the designs. Those 2 are part of a batch of 4 of my first attempts at it. Tried seed beads with the first 2 but like it with chips better and wasnt sure I was going to enjoy making them so used the cheaper seed beads first to try it out.
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hi ^_^
Jun 10, 2014 17:14:26 GMT -5
Post by vegasjames on Jun 10, 2014 17:14:26 GMT -5
Thank you very much I'm hoping to fund my future lapidary en devour with these trees lol. Bought a tumbler and a mini drill press to make beads, i found an unlimited supply of peach moonstone at a local beach. looking at a 4 in wet tile saw to attempt some shaping on smaller stones, then I need to find or fashion a grinder. That last one is hard to find. It needs to be housed properly to avoid getting water in the motor and lapidary grinders even used ones aren't cheap. Everything else I've been able to get at work on a discount and can make them work for what I'd like to use them for as a noob, except the grinder. Keeping my eyes peeled and noticed a lot of good info here about making your own lap equip so dreams far from dead How about getting a small water pump motor or a motor from an old garbage disposal unit. These are already sealed to keep water out.
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transcendental
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 459
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hi ^_^
Jun 10, 2014 18:18:56 GMT -5
Post by transcendental on Jun 10, 2014 18:18:56 GMT -5
I was actually looking thru this forum and found this set up, really clever. I could probably modify it with a dual grinder instead of the engine. Use some plexiglass glass and caulk to water seal to create a wheel housing..... gotta tell hubby I'll be taking over more of the garage lol forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/65839/mini-grinder
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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hi ^_^
Jun 11, 2014 11:01:57 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2014 11:01:57 GMT -5
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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hi ^_^
Jun 11, 2014 12:22:57 GMT -5
Post by unclestu on Jun 11, 2014 12:22:57 GMT -5
Hi Becky, I love your work. Those sculptures are reall cool. I just started wire wrapping just finished my 5th wrap, and now see that there is much more to look forward to doing with wire. The addiction never ends LOL I se you are from CT, I am in NJ. Welcome Stu
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