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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 4, 2015 19:04:17 GMT -5
This was my first small batch of snakeskin agates from the material captbob shared last month. I was a little surprised by how fast the rind ground down in 46/70. Luckily I checked the barrel after only 5 days and that might have already taken off too much. There is a bunch of extra labor in this batch due to the intense clean outs with all the natural nooks and crannies. Here is the rough as received And these are what they all look like after 5 days in 46/70 These are my finished ones (indoor photos) and these are the outside photos Thanks for looking Chuck
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Post by orrum on Jun 4, 2015 19:12:12 GMT -5
That is a cool textured look!
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Thunder69
Cave Dweller
Thunder 2000-2015
Member since January 2009
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Post by Thunder69 on Jun 4, 2015 19:52:45 GMT -5
You knocked it out of the park on this batch....Great job...john
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 4, 2015 20:04:05 GMT -5
Nice shine!!!!!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jun 4, 2015 20:51:05 GMT -5
Super cool! I've never seen you do a batch that had texture. You usually tumble them completely smooth, but that would have totally ruined them. Nice work, Chuck.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 4, 2015 20:59:22 GMT -5
Super cool! I've never seen you do a batch that had texture. You usually tumble them completely smooth, but that would have totally ruined them. Nice work, Chuck. Thanks Rob. yeah these are tricky. I knew I wanted to tumble off any sharp edges but I also did not want to ruin them by tumbling off all the texture. I did some google image searches but did not find a whole lot of pictures of these tumbled. I did not see any great potential for cabbing so in the tumbler they went. I just put batch #2 of these in the loto. Chuck
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Jun 4, 2015 22:05:09 GMT -5
Very nice texture tumble.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 4, 2015 22:10:24 GMT -5
Thanks jamesp. It was refreshing to try something a little different. I want to be a "well rounded" rock tumbler - pun intended. Chuck
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Post by captbob on Jun 4, 2015 22:36:07 GMT -5
Outstanding Chuck! Really diggin' those with some snakeskin left on them. Great shine on the smoothed areas too. Did you take the 2nd batch down as far? I have another 55 lbs coming in this week. Hadn't planned on it, but may just have to tumble some after seeing your batch. Thanks for the heads up on checking on them often in coarse grit. Imagine it is a labor intensive run. How about cabs with the skin still on? (got ya thinkin' now huh?)
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Jun 5, 2015 5:02:54 GMT -5
Yes, would like to see some free form lapidary skills slapped on those snakeskin's.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jun 5, 2015 9:02:31 GMT -5
Great job on those, Chuck. Again with the shine . Makes me want to dig the ones captbob sent to me and maybe try a cab?
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Jun 5, 2015 9:09:45 GMT -5
Great job on those, Chuck. Again with the shine . Makes me want to dig the ones captbob sent to me and maybe try a cab? what would you know about making strange cabs Jean ?
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 5, 2015 9:10:10 GMT -5
captbob jamesp rockpickerforeverI would think trying to make anything out of these would require tumble polishing them as shown to get a polished texture then maybe take a slice off so you have a flat back and a textured polished front. Then shape and polish the sides on the diamond wheels. just a thought. any other ideas? I did find a picture of something I liked from an old etsy listing but the agate would have to be the right shape and size. Chuck
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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 Jun 5, 2015 9:11:56 GMT -5
*squint* my eyes are hurting from the glare!!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 5, 2015 9:13:13 GMT -5
*squint* my eyes are hurting from the glare!! mission accomplished
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jun 5, 2015 9:16:04 GMT -5
I really like that, Chuck! Not a flat backed cab, but a nice 3-dimensional freeform bead basically.
Agree, would need a nicely shaped piece of rough, tumble it first, flatten back and polish sides to make cab. May be more work involved, but was thinking about using some grinding/polishing tools on the Foredom. Could just take the rind down a little, polish up and shape.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jun 5, 2015 9:18:38 GMT -5
Great job on those, Chuck. Again with the shine . Makes me want to dig the ones captbob sent to me and maybe try a cab? what would you know about making strange cabs Jean ?
James, it was strange before I started on it (consider the source). I only let it be what it wanted to be, lol.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 5, 2015 9:30:40 GMT -5
Chuck, dial in an abstract mind or borrow Jean's for a while. I would think you could grind and shape to an awesome gem. Another Aardvark from Jean:
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 5, 2015 9:39:17 GMT -5
Chuck, dial in an abstract mind or borrow Jean's for a while. I would think you could grind and shape to an awesome gem. Another Aardvark from Jean: you should know I don't think like that. I am an engineer so everything is calculated and precise. I dont do abstract very well. It takes a different mind set of that kind of work. Cant wait to see what Jean does with her box of these though. Chuck
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jun 5, 2015 9:41:24 GMT -5
Chuck, dial in an abstract mind or borrow Jean's for a while. I would think you could grind and shape to an awesome gem. Another Aardvark from Jean: you should know I don't think like that. I am an engineer so everything is calculated and precise. I dont do abstract very well. It takes a different mind set of that kind of work. Cant wait to see what Jean does with her box of these though. Chuck I hope I can find some time, will try to satisfy your curiosity, Chuck. You guys are both giving me a jones for rock grinding...
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