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Post by glennz01 on Oct 1, 2017 23:27:52 GMT -5
October 2017 Fun Cab Challenge
This is a challenge to yourself... What is the best cab that you can create... posting the results of your creation whatever the outcome (just because the cab may not be the best please post anyway and if you like ask for feedback to improve).
Theme: chosen by prior month's winner rockjunquie : metallic stones, Copper, hematite, marcasite, silver, etc.Rules: New Rule: Please include an object in your photo so i may properly size the photos to real size  (fingers, or coins work) Thanks for the help 
All hand made cabbing techniques may be used.Cabs entered must be hand shaped (can be finished in a tumbler) and be completed by the last minute of the month in your timezone. They can be started before the month but only finished during the month. You must have 1 photo of ether a preform or slab of the rock. You can enter up to 3 individual finished piece (not combined) photos and 1 of the 3 photos will be used for voting to see what cab folks like the most (please note the photo you want used). You can change your photos or improve your cab and place new photos in your original post replacing old photos by the deadline. Finished jewelry cabs may not be entered (unless otherwise specified by the theme). It is OK if there is a hole drilled in the cab without a jump ring, as long as there is no extras on the rock (wire, chord, etc.) All entries submitted to this contest must be unique to this competition (not submitted in several different competitions). Any duplicates will not be included in the voting list. Feel free to share with us the story behind your workings or material. Also, don't forget to include the name of the material. If a tie occurs in the voting the breaker will be whoever submitted the finished item first. If there are any questions feel free to ask. Beginners to old timers are welcome. If you would like feedback (constructive criticism) ask for folks to pm you if they wish to offer tips. If you are new and think your cab isn't too good but its the best you can do post it anyway, getting feedback is how i got to where i am now! Prize : winner is allowed to chose theme for the month following voting, no physical prize yet.
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,989
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Post by Tommy on Oct 2, 2017 15:32:32 GMT -5
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Post by fernwood on Oct 2, 2017 17:00:21 GMT -5
Could be a very interesting competition.
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140 
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Post by rivarat on Oct 3, 2017 2:47:23 GMT -5
Something a little different I thought I'd try, doesn't quite fit the theme being a metallic stone, but it is metallic. I thought I'd get in early this month, it is something that I had set aside to try. Last month after 5 cabs I wasn't happy with, one tiger eye almost finished and a small opal that I couldn't get a decent photo of, I ended up without an entry. Computer CPU   |
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Post by glennz01 on Oct 3, 2017 3:17:38 GMT -5
Something a little different I thought I'd try, doesn't quite fit the theme being a metallic stone, but it is metallic. I thought I'd get in early this month, it is something that I had set aside to try. Last month after 5 cabs I wasn't happy with, one tiger eye almost finished and a small opal that I couldn't get a decent photo of, I ended up without an entry. Computer CPU i'm hoping this will help me take better photos of cabs.  everyone needs this |
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Post by glennz01 on Oct 9, 2017 0:53:53 GMT -5
Well I made a lot of preforms of the new materials i found in an area this year, some need stabilization as the pieces were small. and had some decay areas from freeze / thaw.
Note sure what one i'll use for the contest, Not going to use my rough covellite as its the only piece i have now, i was hoping one of these would have been covellite.
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NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Oct 16, 2017 20:55:17 GMT -5
I was thinking there'd be more entries by now... Come on people! Here's my attempt for this month's contest. I thought it was hematite, but when I cut it the water looked like coffee instead of blood. The slab trimmed:  The piece I cabbed:  The preform (notice how the pointed end broke at the visible fracture in the previous pic):  And finally the finished cab. Was going for a knife blade sort of shape. After the end broke off it kinda ruined that for me. Well, it's not as dramatic as I had hoped for. A few little pits opened up along the right edge. Was somewhat flaky so I decided not to chase them.  |
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Post by MrMike on Oct 17, 2017 6:08:22 GMT -5
Something a little different I thought I'd try, doesn't quite fit the theme being a metallic stone, but it is metallic. I thought I'd get in early this month, it is something that I had set aside to try. Last month after 5 cabs I wasn't happy with, one tiger eye almost finished and a small opal that I couldn't get a decent photo of, I ended up without an entry. Computer CPU That is cool 😎 |
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Post by orrum on Oct 17, 2017 7:27:33 GMT -5
What do you think it is NDK?
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Oct 17, 2017 16:38:08 GMT -5
Well Bill I'm not sure. I bought the slab for a dollar at a tailgate swap & didn't ask what it was assuming it was banded iron. I know psilomelane grinds black, but this was soft like hematite. Upon further digging for info I see psilomelane is 5-6 mohs, so I suppose maybe this could be a sort of manganese compound. I really don't know.
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Post by orrum on Oct 17, 2017 19:17:52 GMT -5
It has a damascus steel sorta look. I like it a lot. I don't discriminate against undercut ot satin final stones. Lot of times that gives them a interesting look!
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 21, 2017 19:54:20 GMT -5
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Post by kk on Oct 24, 2017 7:53:02 GMT -5
Hard to compete with that fabulous Nipomo. Was looking for something to use as eyes on another project, and found a misshapen project from a few years ago. As it happens, that allows me to produce an entry for this month. A bit of reshaping, and it resembles a cab.  messy crown of silver by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Forgot just how messy Crown of Silver is to work. Never had material comparable to patterns that made this material popular. Bought it mostly for carving....  Crown of Silver by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Things kept falling away, so a bit messy  Crown of Silver by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Will try to improve further, and if I can get better picture, will post it here later. Best regards Kurt |
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059
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Post by gemfeller on Oct 24, 2017 14:34:11 GMT -5
Metallic stones, huh? I’ve had some small gold in quartz slabs for a long time but never got around to doing anything with them. Now, it seems, is the time. Can you believe they were left-overs from a sphere-making job that an acquaintance bought at an estate sale? The idea of a chunk of this material that large amazes me. I was very happy to be able to obtain the scraps! The finished stone weighs 27.55 carats and measures 17 x 25 x 6.4 mm. deep and would make a nice large man’s ring or a pendant. Since this material is blasted during mining the stone has some micro stress fractures that will be treated with HXTAL. That will make them less visible and ensure against breakage. Rough Slab  Freehand Ground to 220  Finished Cab  Finished Cab 2  Finished Cab 3  |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 24, 2017 15:24:52 GMT -5
Very nice, Rick gemfeller! We take an extra close look at all quartz rocks that come home when we go prospecting. Have found nothing so phenomenal as that, though! (Have found pretty much nothing, so far. Maybe some day!) Nice chunk o' rock, and great cab. That gold sure does shine up! No surprise there. Jean |
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059
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Post by gemfeller on Oct 24, 2017 15:40:33 GMT -5
Thanks rockpickerforever . This piece came from a major mine up north in the Sierra gold country. I was told its name once but can't find it in my notes. A distant relative worked in a similar mine and told me big masses of this material are sometimes blasted out during regular mining operations. They bring prices well above the regular gold market when sold for jewelry-making. Same with nice nuggets from placer operations.
Keep on lookin' for the gold in them thar hills! |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 24, 2017 15:55:32 GMT -5
Oh, you betcha, we will! Kind of limited by being down here, and mostly working desert dirts, lol.
My cousin lives up in Grass Valley, and works as a docent at Empire Mine State Historic Park. www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=499
She loves it up there! Moved to Grass Valley from San Jose about ten years ago. She said someone found a three ounce nugget in the lake close to her house. Would love to do that! Will have to go up and visit her sometime.
ETA - Oh, and thanks for sharing pics of that nice piece! |
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
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Post by Tommy on Oct 25, 2017 21:53:28 GMT -5
Beautiful entries so far! I'm committed to getting a cab in since I flaked out on last month. I know time is running out though and we're about to take off on the road for a few days but I'll do my best to get it done. I was going to do a Nipomo but Tela grabbed that one already and there's no way I could compete with that gorgeous creation. I have a hunk of cobaltite so I might do that - or my fall back plan is some of the Josephine's Crown I came into recently. I also have a piece of Jaspelite that Jugglerguy sent me ... it's really beautiful and glittery but the cab I started is giving me fits haha. Every time I think I have a flat spot gone, two more pop up to take its place. I also have a slab of apache gold around here somewhere ... so many choices so little time  |
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,989
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Post by Tommy on Oct 25, 2017 21:56:56 GMT -5
Forgot just how messy Crown of Silver is to work. Never had material comparable to patterns that made this material popular. Bought it mostly for carving.... You are a brave soul my friend. Too bad extra credit points are not awarded for difficulty level - psilomelane is off the charts - dirty, smelly, and downright difficult to get right. |
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059
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Post by gemfeller on Oct 25, 2017 23:20:13 GMT -5
Forgot just how messy Crown of Silver is to work. Never had material comparable to patterns that made this material popular. Bought it mostly for carving.... You are a brave soul my friend. Too bad extra credit points are not awarded for difficulty level - psilomelane is off the charts - dirty, smelly, and downright difficult to get right. Have to disagree with your last sentence Tommy . I love the stuff and it's not difficult at all to cut if you can handle the messiness. It's one of my favorites and takes a brilliant all-diamond polish once the initial grinding operation's completed. If you can put up with cutting Nipomo marcasite, C of S should be no problem. In fact the Nipomo stuff is much stinkier. |
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(fingers, or coins work) Thanks for the help 
so many choices... 
