|
|
Post by cobbledstones on May 17, 2015 21:21:59 GMT -5
I am starting to make a series of necklaces from the gravels of rivers around the world. First up: the Rio Grande with material from Mel.
This is going to be a longer necklace so I want to make about 50 beads. To get started, I mark out potential crack free places on extra thick slabs that have nice patterns. Then I cut the slabs into chunks, drill them, and cut out the preforms. I get bored sometimes at each step, so I have blanks in each phase of the process.
some undrilled blanks 
some drilled blanks 
and some roughed out preforms 
sometimes, there is a hidden crack and they break apart, like the 2 on the right in the photo above. Next step is to make the preforms perfectly cylindrical with a jig, then shape and polish
thanks for looking |
|
|
|
Post by Pat on May 17, 2015 22:37:53 GMT -5
Great project!
Keep us posted and thanks !
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718 
|
Post by Fossilman on May 17, 2015 22:57:41 GMT -5
Can't wait to see the finished project.................Thumbs up
|
|
|
|
Post by cobbledstones on May 24, 2015 18:13:16 GMT -5
|
|
Joe
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2014
Posts: 274
|
Post by Joe on May 24, 2015 18:31:13 GMT -5
Sweeeet! Cant wait to see it finished  |
|
|
|
Post by drocknut on May 25, 2015 11:16:57 GMT -5
Those are very cool. Bet that necklace is going to be awesome.
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,492
|
Post by Sabre52 on May 25, 2015 11:59:41 GMT -5
Holy smokes, that is a freaking awesome project. Can't wait to see thee finished project....Mel
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718
|
Post by Fossilman on May 25, 2015 18:25:53 GMT -5
Crazy cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by snowmom on Jun 3, 2015 17:50:58 GMT -5
this is gonna be great! watching with interest
|
|
adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,790
|
Post by adrian65 on Jun 4, 2015 21:57:49 GMT -5
I like it very much, so far. Looking forward.
Drilling and grinding all those beads might had been a tremendous work.
Adrian
|
|
|
|
Post by cobbledstones on Jun 5, 2015 15:44:10 GMT -5
Thanks for the kind words everyone. I will have an update this weekend. Right now I have about half of them shaped to nearly their final form, and should finish the shaping this weekend. Got sidelined last week with an experimental project that may or may not work, but I always wanted to try. adrian65, you are right, these take a long time to make. It takes me about 2.5x the amount of time it takes to make a cab for 1 bead (2 domes + the hole = bead). So you can think of 20 beads = 50 cabs in time and effort. But, somehow I like making them much more than cabs. Dunno what there is about it...I can sit for hours making beads, but give up on cabs quick. Other thing about bead making that is shocking is the amount of waste. I will use an entire MFRB of rough to make this necklace. |
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Jun 5, 2015 15:56:58 GMT -5
That is some kind of special! Glad you are not burning out on the bead making as you would be on cab making. I would be tired of it before the first necklace is even completed. (That's the ADD talking, lol.) Whew, but that's a lot of work. When this one is finished, it will kick off your "River Gravel Necklaces from Around the World" collection? I'm thinking you should make two of each type, so one can go in the collection, and the other gifted to a significant other (mom, wife, girlfriend, etc?). Just a thought. I know it would be very hard for me to part with a certain type if I only had the one. Jean
|
|
|
|
Post by cobbledstones on Jun 5, 2015 22:11:48 GMT -5
rockpickerforever, the lovely wife has already claimed this, and I suspect that most of the collection will go that direction. I may make multiples from particularly interesting or personally important rivers, like the Willamette where I collect. We'll see where this leads, if I get bored I will work on something else and come back to it.
|
|
|
|
Post by cobbledstones on Jun 7, 2015 18:43:34 GMT -5
all beads shaped on the 80 grit wheel. Shapes still have to be refined on the 220 wheel. here is a selection, shown wet  I decided to make a matched pair for some earrings to go with the necklace, and the big bright one will probably stay by itself. Also there are some oddballs here that I made from broken preforms, don't know what I will do with them but they are still fun.  While I was on the wheels I preformed a bunch of other stuff, beads and cabs  and some cabs  These will all go into the UV10 when I am happy with the shapes Thanks for looking |
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 7, 2015 18:52:34 GMT -5
I Love those beads. Drilling rock is one thing I don not enjoy doing so this really impresses me.
Chuck
|
|
|
|
Post by cobbledstones on Jun 7, 2015 21:53:01 GMT -5
Thanks Chuck, Drilling is a Zen thing for me. It's all about matching the rpm with the pressure and the cleanout rhythm. I drilled through 3+feet of rock for this project over the course of a couple weekends.
|
|
rastageezer
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 169
|
Post by rastageezer on Jun 8, 2015 1:22:53 GMT -5
Love the beads! I got some Rios from Mel a while back that are still working thru the tumblers. Watching with interest.
|
|
|
|
Post by cobbledstones on Jul 11, 2015 21:56:11 GMT -5
beads coming along. have some finished now. I also discovered the macro setting on the camera. Llots of pics of some of my favs. below, but first, a group shot
now the close  ups
|
|
|
|
Post by cobbledstones on Jul 11, 2015 21:59:24 GMT -5
I also made a matched pair for earings 
and I have something special in mind for this one 
thanks for looking
|
|
|
|
Post by snowmom on Jul 13, 2015 4:33:28 GMT -5
each one a treasure. What a work of art, labor of love. <3
|
|
