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Post by Bluesky78987 on Nov 27, 2017 11:13:54 GMT -5
I started a couple new intarsias this weekend. Here is the more intricate of the two - I'll post the other later after I polish it, since it's simpler and almost done. Step one: cut matchsticks and glue them together.  Jet and Howlite.  Then cut them and grind front down so that 3 sides are flat. Back side doesn't matter.    Choosing which bits and pieces of turquoise to use.  The design (sorry I didn't take a pic of it by itself).    I started with the bottom right segment. Glued the turquoise pieces onto the striped bit.  Then I lapped the left face flat and laid out the other two bits of the bottom half.  Glue added  More glue added  Getting the top half ready.   Dang cat hair.   Construction done. I only glued my finger to the rock once. Oops.  Here's what the back looks like. This is using my teacher's method, where you try to line up the fronts of the pieces as closely as possible (to minimize grinding and waste later), then fill in the back with steel epoxy. Mel's instructor (and I think Pat's too) taught the opposite - glue the pieces on a flat backer. These pieces were such different thicknesses I didn't want to bother grinding them even later. The other piece I did this weekend I did the other way, which worked out nicely for cabbing and it has a tidier look to it.  Next step will be to epoxy the back, lap the back flat, cut the preform, and cab it. I'll probably do a very low dome. Thanks for watching! |
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Post by Pat on Nov 27, 2017 17:42:26 GMT -5
Thanks for doing this WIP. Lots of different ways to do it.
So many pieces makes it a bit trickier.
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Post by kk on Nov 27, 2017 18:59:02 GMT -5
Very nice work. AND SOOOOOO small!
Love to see more people thinking outside the box.
Its a lot more work, but the possibilities are endless.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Nov 28, 2017 10:45:03 GMT -5
Thanks. It was kind of tricky holding the little black and white sticks on the flat lap. Sometimes I'm very thankful to have fairly small fingers! Well, not small for a girl, but it would be much harder for a large-handed guy to hold them. I'm hoping to finish it up this weekend.
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NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Nov 28, 2017 20:03:21 GMT -5
Very cool!
I did 1 simple intarsia a few yrs ago & always wanted to do another.
Can't wait to see the finish!
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 4, 2017 12:07:03 GMT -5
Ok, finished it last night, what fun! For once everything went according to plan. Water drippers didn't clog, wheels didn't unspin on me (don't even ask), didn't spill the sludge water, didn't drop and break my rock or my camera! First, had to use steel epoxy to fill in the back side. With the way I did it, the back side is all uneven because the different bits of stone are all different thicknesses - I lined up the fronts during construction, to preserve materials, not the back. Some of those turquoise bits were extremely thin - the bottom right one was about 3/32" thick. I just blobbed the epoxy on not too carefully since I knew I was going to be forming the outside and flattening the back. If the piece was already the right size, I would have made a little bucket by putting blue tape around the outside to hold the epoxy.  You can see it's not very even, but it doesn't matter, I had to lap it down to the right thickness anyway. Let cure for 24 hours. Help it along a little with the heat from a lamp if you maybe didn't mix the epoxy in exactly the right proportions. ;-)  Drew on the oval:  After trimming on the saw (can't say how great it is to be able to use the trim saw in the house, after dark - that little guy was a great purchase):  Ground the outline on the 220 wheel (would normally use the 80 wheel but didn't want to catch one of the edges; and, materials are soft enough that it was fast.)  Domed the top and lapped the back flat:  See how the thickness of the stones is quite uneven. That Kingman (?) piece on the left was much thicker than all the rest of the pieces. Then, sand and polish like any other cab, being careful of the different hardnesses. Finished!    Inspired by rockjunquie , I got out my spin-on polishing disc and the 50,000 diamond paste, which I've never bothered to use before. It made a big difference on the turquoise. This thing is SHINY!  On my next one I think I'll make the black and white bits narrower, but overall I really like it! Got set it now so I can wear it at Q! |
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Post by Pat on Dec 4, 2017 12:32:19 GMT -5
Wow! The shine really adds to it. Thanks for the tute.
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 4, 2017 13:02:12 GMT -5
Girl, you are rocking!!! That is uber sweet! Thank you so much for the WIP. Nice to see another way of doing it.
I'm gonna move this to the tute section in a few days. Glad I caught it because I missed it before.
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Dec 4, 2017 13:23:38 GMT -5
Bluesky78987, Susan Thanks for posting this. Looks like fun. I want to try this someday. Lynn
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 4, 2017 15:07:22 GMT -5
Thanks y'all! I'm finding that I think more about the piece if I do it as a tute, taking pictures as I go - helps me be in the moment with it.
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Post by fernwood on Dec 4, 2017 19:51:41 GMT -5
Nice WIP. Great outcome. Loved following the progress of this. Very creative techniques and materials.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2017 19:53:28 GMT -5
Just in time for my birthday. How nice of you to offer!
Seriously,that is freeking cool!
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Post by vegasjames on Dec 4, 2017 20:22:35 GMT -5
Wow, that came out great!
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Post by toiv0 on Dec 4, 2017 22:50:01 GMT -5
I like this alot, great job
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Dec 5, 2017 9:09:00 GMT -5
Great job and thanks for all the pictures along the way!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 5, 2017 9:13:54 GMT -5
Turned out great! I really like it. It was interesting watching your WIP thread. Thanks for that!
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Post by fantastic5 on Dec 5, 2017 9:39:55 GMT -5
Beautiful piece. I sure love your WIP. Thank you for taking the time to post another !
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wampidytoo
has rocks in the head
Add 5016 to my post count.
Member since June 2013
Posts: 709
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Post by wampidytoo on Dec 5, 2017 10:55:36 GMT -5
Young lady, you are a glutton for punishment but something (grit maybe) got er done and got er done beautifully. You rock.
Jim
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TByrd
fully equipped rock polisher
Have you performed your random act of kindness?
Member since December 2010
Posts: 1,350
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Post by TByrd on Dec 6, 2017 1:01:43 GMT -5
I have never seen it done that way before. Had me worried using super glue, lol.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Dec 6, 2017 12:08:34 GMT -5
Fantastic outcome, Susan!
I agree with the others, great tutorial too.
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