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Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 1, 2004 21:44:05 GMT -5
Hi all; I recently broke up some agate and had some problems that concern me about their outcome. I used my rock hammer ( don't know how many ounces but it was small) and ended up breaking it. the head came off Some of the agate broke up nicely but I have alot of thin shards and big angular pieces. I was afraid to break up the bigger pieces because they tended to chip up, not split evenly. Do most of you use dremels to shape or cut them with a saw? do some of you break them with a hammer and just go free form? Is there a size of rough stone you prefer? My pieces are not uniform at all, but I'm hoping for the best. thanks cookie
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Jun 1, 2004 22:37:02 GMT -5
as far as I can tell an agate will never break evenly the cracks will determine the shape if you want even shapes you will need to saw or cut them
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jun 1, 2004 23:05:42 GMT -5
i get that with most anything i bust up with the hammer. those chisels i bought help alot with getting better pieces. i can't remember who mentioned using the cardboard box but i tried it today and it worked great. if it's something i don't want to lose any rock to the splinters and shards i use the saw - but the hammer's much more fun ;D. i got to use my new clear safety glasses from kingsley today too and i love them. can you believe i could not buy any decent safety glasses local - either clear ones that suction to your face like a swim mask or colored ones . i like to see my fingers and hands when i'm hammering or sawing. kim
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Post by sandsman1 on Jun 1, 2004 23:12:33 GMT -5
cookie i like when there all dif sizes and shapes ya never know what your gonna get when finished -----------caaaaause im a lumberjack and im ok i sleep all night and i work all day hahahaha ------------your gonna have me singing that in my head for days
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 1, 2004 23:43:59 GMT -5
"I wear high heels, I skip and jump, Iike to press wild flowers" Sorry, I couldn't resist I think the different sizes will be cool I'm just wondering, how big is too big, and how small is too small? Kim, I need saftey glasses, I've got a kingsley catalog, I'll check it out. I have just been swinging, closing my eyes and praying. Um, not good.
cookie
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Post by sandsman1 on Jun 2, 2004 0:04:17 GMT -5
he puts on womans clothing and hangs around in bars -----------hes a lumberjack and hes ok ---hahaha
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Post by sandsman1 on Jun 2, 2004 0:07:37 GMT -5
he works all day he eats his lunch he gos to the lavatree
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bwalters
has rocks in the head
Member since March 2004
Posts: 557
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Post by bwalters on Jun 2, 2004 0:38:03 GMT -5
Cookie, I don't know about everyone else, but I break them with the hammer, saw them with the tile saw, and/or shape them with the Dremel. Kinda depends on what kinda mood I'm in, and what they look like. I recently have not been randomly taking the hammer to my rocks without looking at them carefully, but when I think that they won't fit in the saw, and I don't have the patience to Dremel shape them, then I whack them! ;D And whatever pieces/shards I can find that come off of them get tumbled no matter what size/shape they are. Safety Glasses? Yes, an absolute must! And, they can be purchased ANYWHERE, including WalMart. God only gave us two eyes .....and they don't grow back! I think that means we're supposed to take care of them! BE
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Post by mrbrett on Jun 2, 2004 7:37:13 GMT -5
BE is right. You can buy safteyglasses anywhere. If you have a tool rental place or hardware store or anyplace that sells or rents construction equipment you can find them. I'm in the construction field and can get all sorts of saftey glasses if you have trouble finding some let me know and Ill send you a pair that you like.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jun 2, 2004 8:24:24 GMT -5
cookie - you need some safety glasses! i've had 3 eye mishaps - 2 mowing and 1 striking a match toward my face instead of away from it. the whole flaming end went in my eye. pirate chicks on percudan are scarey!
kim
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Post by creativeminded on Jun 2, 2004 11:09:38 GMT -5
That was me that used the cardboard box to break up the rock in. You still get some pieces that fly but not as many, most of them wind up in the box, and the ones that do fly tend to be either the teenie tiny ones or larger chunks and easier to find later. Tami
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jun 2, 2004 11:35:13 GMT -5
OK OK, point taken, I'll get some safety glasses. The nearest walmart is 40 miles away in any direction, so when I go I make it a day trip. I'm really out in the booneys. But YES, I promise the get some before I break any more rocks, K? Thanks for scolding me guys. I had it comming Sandman, I can't remember the next verse...? cookie
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Post by sandsman1 on Jun 2, 2004 12:24:33 GMT -5
and has butterd scones with teaaaa-----hahaha
something like that i was hopein you knew that part hahaha
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