Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2015 19:29:35 GMT -5
I think I told you earlier that I was going to knock your socks off. Not sure if it came out that good but I am way happy with the way it looks. I hate it when I have to take so long to sit and stink think but the ideas that come out of it makes it well worth the time. With all the other things I have going on (setting up a page for selling on FB) and the weather up and down it took a while to get it done but finally finished today. Cut the alabaster blanks on the miter saw.  Went to carving and this is what happened.  I could not wait to get the stone waxed (had to photograph it) because my oven won't light so I was not sure how I was going to get it done.   Pinned the tank to the base so it would be easy to empty the incense ashes then put it back.   Ended up putting a two quart sauce pan on a burner on the top of the stove, put a piece of sheet metal with the sides bent over in the pan, put the stones on the sheet metal and fired it up. What I learned when I was carving before is to put the pieces in the oven set at 150 for fifteen minutes, take them out one piece at a time and rub bees wax all over them. When the wax starts to harden buff them with a soft cloth. With the burner set as low as I could possibly get it without going out my oven thermometer went off the scale. I pulled out the thermometer, slid the lid half way off and figured the heat wouldn't hurt the stone no matter how high it got. I finally got them waxed and it now looks a hundred times better. And I am okay, really, I only burnt myself once.   The cone incense can be burnt inside and there is a hole in the center of the top so stick incense can be held there. It was a pain in the butt to make but now that I have made one the next should be a lot easier. The grooves in the roof were not planned but I was using a ball bur to grind the proper slope on the eight sides so I could get it even all around and noticed that a corrugated roof wouldn't be that tough. It was tough but I think it was well worth the time. Now all I have to do is glue the base and the stones down and it is good to go. Jim |
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Post by fantastic5 on Feb 23, 2015 20:53:54 GMT -5
Oh my gosh! My socks are off  That turned out so great! I really love the look of it! |
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Post by snowmom on Feb 24, 2015 3:39:09 GMT -5
awesome! barefoot here too, I love how the wax antiques the stone. how creative you are! The incense burner is a brilliant idea and so cool that you could take it from a piece of rock to a thing of function and beauty.
looks great!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2015 20:27:20 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply's. I think it really goes good with the zen garden. I will be doing more.
Jm
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,722 
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 25, 2015 10:22:25 GMT -5
Jim,those are crazy cool!!!!
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grizman
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since July 2011
Posts: 878
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Post by grizman on Feb 25, 2015 14:37:39 GMT -5
Your entire project, deserves a big WOWWWZERS!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Feb 25, 2015 17:54:36 GMT -5
Do you find the alabaster ?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2015 20:34:18 GMT -5
Do you find the alabaster ? I haven't found any of that yet. About five years ago I bought a big box of assorted alabaster end cuts that were pretty large and I am still carving on that stuff. I am about out so I checked my supplier and they only sell tools now and no stone. If I carve much more I am going to have to find another supplier or start carving jade which I do not see happening. Marble is easier than jade but it is still pretty hard and requires power tools. I would have to put a second story on my trailer for things like air compressor, chisels, etc etc. Jim |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Feb 26, 2015 9:22:21 GMT -5
Do you find the alabaster ? I haven't found any of that yet. About five years ago I bought a big box of assorted alabaster end cuts that were pretty large and I am still carving on that stuff. I am about out so I checked my supplier and they only sell tools now and no stone. If I carve much more I am going to have to find another supplier or start carving jade which I do not see happening. Marble is easier than jade but it is still pretty hard and requires power tools. I would have to put a second story on my trailer for things like air compressor, chisels, etc etc. Jim Jim, my Dad took me to an old garnet or ruby mine up in N Carolina mountains where soapstone was strewn everywhere. The soapstone was in plats and flat sections. You could hold that stuff up to the sun and see light thru 2 inch thick plates. It was a pretty yellow green. I can remember being able to scratch it with my fingernail and it felt greasy. It was pure and had no flaws. Made me want to get my pocket knife out carve away. And do you carve soap stone ? You can warm it up and it stays warm for a long time, holds heat very well. |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Feb 26, 2015 11:07:28 GMT -5
That's pretty cool, Jim @wampidy. I like the glow the alabaster has. Would you say it is about the same hardness (for carving) as marble, or a bit softer. Also wondered about onyx?
So, how many of those do you have sold? A really great project, splendid execution.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2015 19:52:25 GMT -5
jamesp I no longer carve soapstone because it is so soft it can be scratched with a fingernail like you said. Hold them wrong and they are toast. They do not hold a corner as well either so shapes have to be flowing with no sharp edges.
Thanks Jean rockpickerforever. Alabaster is a step down from marble and a step up from soapstone. It is about the hardest that can be carved without a hammer and chisel. I used my rotary on this one which is a first for me. It made digging out that cup a hell of a lot easier.
Jim
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meviva
Cave Dweller
Member since July 2013
Posts: 1,474 
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Post by meviva on Mar 2, 2015 0:19:32 GMT -5
Love it!!
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Post by iant on Mar 4, 2015 2:48:30 GMT -5
Awesome work!
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Post by gingerkid on Mar 4, 2015 13:10:46 GMT -5
That is beautiful, @wampidy! Do you have any plans on selling your sand gardens?
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Post by MrP on Mar 4, 2015 13:55:43 GMT -5
Great Job........................MrP
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2015 22:19:40 GMT -5
That is beautiful, @wampidy! Do you have any plans on selling your sand gardens? Yes I do as soon as I get my ducks in a row. My son set up a sale page on FB but I have been trying to get a bunch of other stuff up first, e-cig holders then pendants then ......... I am still not happy with the sand and rakes. I need a little bit more coarse sand and I need to make rakes with the tines just a little bit further apart. The sand I have now is too flighty and seems to get all over the place some how. Play sand is from dust to quite large chunks so I would have to screen it twice. I am going to hit a pet store in Billings this week to see if I can buy some good old beach sand. If that doesn't work I may have to try to get someone on here to get some sand for me the next time they hit the beach. All the times I went to the beach in the past I did not have the foresight to think "maybe ten years from now I will need some of this sand". Jim |
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Post by snowmom on Mar 5, 2015 5:56:44 GMT -5
check out the silica gravel they use for grit for birds,( for their gizzards) kinda expensive but pretty much dust free..
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aimeesrockworks
spending too much on rocks
I really do look like my avatar... it kinda freaks me out.
Member since December 2010
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Post by aimeesrockworks on Mar 6, 2015 15:29:31 GMT -5
Entirely too awesome.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
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Post by jamesp on Mar 7, 2015 10:05:17 GMT -5
If you have a cat the sand may get used for a dumping spot.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 9, 2015 9:45:40 GMT -5
Lowes and Home Depoe carry sand in the 20-30 pound bags...
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