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Post by vegasjames on Apr 18, 2016 18:08:26 GMT -5
Nice job. Forms a cool pattern viewed from the top.
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 18, 2016 18:19:46 GMT -5
That is really beautiful!
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geezer
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2016
Posts: 338 
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Post by geezer on Apr 18, 2016 18:49:02 GMT -5
Very nice!
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,987
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Post by Tommy on Apr 18, 2016 19:25:15 GMT -5
Very nice! congratulations!
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Post by Garage Rocker on Apr 18, 2016 19:29:43 GMT -5
Nice work! I've always found the precision in faceted stones to be satisfying\pleasing to my obsessive mind. Everything is in order, like I want it to be, in contrast to life, which is chaotic and unpredictable.
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NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Apr 18, 2016 19:43:56 GMT -5
That's awesome!
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geezer
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2016
Posts: 338
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Post by geezer on Apr 18, 2016 20:16:01 GMT -5
Collecting, slabbing, tumbling, cabbing, faceting, etc....
So many dark paths to go down, so little time.....
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cardiobill
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 881
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Post by cardiobill on Apr 18, 2016 20:25:20 GMT -5
I know nothing about faceting but if that is your 1st attempt I would say your doing great!!!
Bill
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Post by beefjello on Apr 18, 2016 20:27:31 GMT -5
Wow, great job!
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Post by mohs on Apr 18, 2016 20:53:50 GMT -5
beautiful job Michelle
stick with if you can
did you start out with a flat bottom grind to start?
how did the dopping go ?
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059
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Post by gemfeller on Apr 18, 2016 21:45:58 GMT -5
Nice job. Is that a Gram design? I think I recognize it but can't recall the name. Faceted labradorite/sunstone gives a surprising bang for the buck doesn't it? A lot of flash for such a low R.I.
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,790
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Post by adrian65 on Apr 18, 2016 21:48:43 GMT -5
What a beautiful result! What's the tool you used for it?
Adrian
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micellular
has rocks in the head
Rock fever is curable with more rocks.
Member since September 2015
Posts: 640
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Post by micellular on Apr 18, 2016 22:45:52 GMT -5
mohs, no I didn't grind it much at all. I sawed off a yucky end but luckily the rough had a flattish spot that the dop stuck to ok. gemfeller, yes, it is Jeff Graham's Mistress design. Fewest facets of any I've come across so far (37). It really is so beautiful for the low RI, and a little more interesting than quartz. adrian65, I cut this on an old Ultratec v2, that I bought Saturday. It had been well maintained and was for a decent price, so I'm lucky to have gotten it.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2016 10:29:57 GMT -5
I can hear the wind produced as the bills in your pocket book fly out buying facet rough.
Ha-ha.
Michelle that is really beautiful. Nice work. If you are ever down here, bring it. We will do some macro photography on it.
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micellular
has rocks in the head
Rock fever is curable with more rocks.
Member since September 2015
Posts: 640
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Post by micellular on Apr 19, 2016 12:02:47 GMT -5
@shotgunner, if not the rough, then equipment for sure! I'm still using a set of borrowed laps, borrowed optivisor, borrowed small dops... Thanks for the offer! Turns out getting these things well-photographed is a bit of a bugger. But I do currently have enough facet rough to last me at least six months. I hope.  |
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059
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Post by gemfeller on Apr 19, 2016 14:15:15 GMT -5
[quote author=" micellular " source="/post/859941/thread" timestamp="1461037552@gemfeller, yes, it is Jeff Graham's Mistress design. Fewest facets of any I've come across so far (37). It really is so beautiful for the low RI, and a little more interesting than quartz. [/quote] I really like the Graham designs. Before he passed at a too-early age, he changed the name of his company to Gram Faceting. You seem to be getting excellent instruction but on the off-chance no one has mentioned it to you, his book of instructions and beginner patterns is well worth the cost. It's titled "Learn How to Facet 'The Right Way,'" and it's available from the Rock Peddler and several other sources. It will get you off to a good start, with some hopefully happy, rewarding quick results on your dop. With that background getting into the Long & Steele meetpoint technique (where I started) will be much easier I think. Graham uses the meetpoint method, of course, but his approach is much more user-friendly IMO. The UltraTech is a very high quality machine. It will give you many years of service. But as you're aware, getting the whole kit together -- dops, laps, diamond compounds, etc. -- is an uphill and financially punishing affair. The same is true of fine rough which becomes harder and harder to find and increasingly expensive. PM me when you run out of rough; I may be able to contribute some good "learner" material from my stash. |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
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Post by Fossilman on Apr 19, 2016 14:44:30 GMT -5
Great job!!!!!!!!! Your hired!!!!!!!
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Post by radio on Apr 19, 2016 16:15:08 GMT -5
Outstanding job!!! I envy those who master the art of faceting!
Remember, I offered a handfull of Sunstones for practice if you want them.
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Post by pauls on Apr 19, 2016 16:18:21 GMT -5
Tom Herbst's books "Amateur Gemstone Faceting" are really excellent books, Two huge volumes filled with very easily readable information. Available on Amazon for peanuts. Tom is selling them way too cheap, they are fantastic.
Really good job for a first stone, you will get quicker as you gain more experience. The plated laps are reasonably cheap but you will need a couple of more expensive laps for polishing.
Rough doesn't need to be expensive either, if you are looking at Saphires and Tourmaline yes but you can get Topaz and Zircon reasonably priced and the synthetics, CZ etc are really cheap.
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