Post by Rockoonz on Nov 24, 2017 14:10:36 GMT -5
Started in on some basic focal beads yesterday while the turkey was cooking. Wanted to try out the new Al Sesona grinder and also make up a few jade items for tomorrows Christmas bazaar. Also play at the new rotary work table.
Yes, it spins. Yes, I can sit there for hours without needing to move, at least till I need the Genie...
Anyway, back to the jade. I have some mixed slabs, a customer interested in jade, and a cabbed, drilled and carved bead design in my head.
Started by taking cut preform to the new Sesona flat lap.
Reshaped my finger too. Better to work freehand without the tool rest.
After the basic shaping I took it to the genie and gently ran it down all the wheels. I'm thinking gently is the reason there's no apparent orange peel. My genie is set up with a 14k wheel at the far right so I often am finished at that point.
After the genie it was back to the rotary table, rotate to the carving station, and drill. I have found that I like to use small diamond ball burrs to drill jade, I hold the piece with a finger at the place where the hole will finish, then when I feel the burr getting close I reverse the piece for a nice hole with no blow outs.
The piece on the right of the pic was an earlier attempt at something different that ended up being a toothpick, LOL. It's probably from Wyoming.
The bead is some decent translucent Canadian stuff.
Might get to some pink jade today and if I can figure out where it is maybe some purple Turkish "jade".
Yes, it spins. Yes, I can sit there for hours without needing to move, at least till I need the Genie...
Anyway, back to the jade. I have some mixed slabs, a customer interested in jade, and a cabbed, drilled and carved bead design in my head.
Started by taking cut preform to the new Sesona flat lap.
Reshaped my finger too. Better to work freehand without the tool rest.
After the basic shaping I took it to the genie and gently ran it down all the wheels. I'm thinking gently is the reason there's no apparent orange peel. My genie is set up with a 14k wheel at the far right so I often am finished at that point.
After the genie it was back to the rotary table, rotate to the carving station, and drill. I have found that I like to use small diamond ball burrs to drill jade, I hold the piece with a finger at the place where the hole will finish, then when I feel the burr getting close I reverse the piece for a nice hole with no blow outs.
The piece on the right of the pic was an earlier attempt at something different that ended up being a toothpick, LOL. It's probably from Wyoming.
The bead is some decent translucent Canadian stuff.
Might get to some pink jade today and if I can figure out where it is maybe some purple Turkish "jade".
