donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
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Post by donwrob on Mar 19, 2004 10:01:59 GMT -5
Hi all, I decided to go ahead and start posting some pics from an experiment I've been working on. It isn't quite done yet, but I'll post other pics as it finishes. The first pic is of a chunk of mook and several cut slabs from it. It started out as a 40# piece @ $3/lb and didn't pan out for arrowheads as well I had hoped. So I decided to try this project. It's been fun.  Next I sawed the slabs lengthwise and then again to make the cubes. Some of them I grinded some rough facets in to make simulated crystal shapes and other odds and ends.  Well, the sawing was time consuming and I started getting itchy, it would take nearly forever to get a full load of these shapes, so I decided to add some other rocks for make-up. These 3 pieces were added to the batch. Green and rose quartz, and some picturestone. All African rock I had recieved a while back.  Here they are again, broken but not beaten. Ready for 60-90SC  I knew the picstone was a little on the soft side. After only 5 days of 60-90, it was nicely shaped and wearing away fast. I pulled it from the main load and moved it to the little hobby tumbler to finish. And yes, I will humbly accept the site award for the least shiny, finished rocks ever posted ;D hehe, they are still kind of pretty in their own way. Hey, it isn't easy to get that cool flat finish...LOL  |
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Post by creativeminded on Mar 19, 2004 10:13:02 GMT -5
That picture stone is some of the prettiest I have ever seen. It shaped up well.
Anxiously await seeing the other pictures.
Tami
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Post by rockyraccoon on Mar 19, 2004 13:31:43 GMT -5
looking good don! can't wait to see the finished products.
kim
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Mar 19, 2004 14:01:20 GMT -5
Very creative Don. I can wait to see how this projest turns out.
I can't believe how fast that picture stone shaped up! I wish all stone were that easy to deal with.
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thewiz
has rocks in the head
"What good is money if you don't spend it"
Member since January 2004
Posts: 735
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Post by thewiz on Mar 19, 2004 14:14:48 GMT -5
that picture stone looks like shaped wood chunks. gotta get me some of that.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Mar 19, 2004 14:16:52 GMT -5
don - i came back for a 2nd look and got myself confused. the rough picturestone is a caramel color in the 1st pics then in the pic with the shaped pieces it's almost white as are the tumbled pieces. what happened to it  kim |
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Post by sandsman1 on Mar 19, 2004 14:26:47 GMT -5
hi all ---hey don i realy like the mook and the shapes are cool too great idea. but i gotta say that pic stone is way cool never seen any that nice great job man seeya john
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Mar 19, 2004 15:21:50 GMT -5
I almost forgot to post pics of my upcoming batch. I want you to see how ugly these babies are. But don't let the picture deceive you though. There is a hidden beauty underneath all that crap.  They are from Mexico.  |
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Post by sandsman1 on Mar 19, 2004 15:47:35 GMT -5
whats it called james dont look so bad i see some colors
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Post by creativeminded on Mar 19, 2004 16:47:54 GMT -5
Some of that looks like my sweet water agate.
Tami
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Mar 19, 2004 16:48:05 GMT -5
They're just an assorted mix of Mexican nodules and a few laguna's.
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donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
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Post by donwrob on Mar 19, 2004 16:50:30 GMT -5
Great looking rock James! Real pretty agate under the bark on those I bet. Can't wait to see how they turn out.
Now Kim, I didn't notice how different they look till you mentioned it. They are a lot different, wow. The only thing I can think of is the dark pic was taken at night with artificial light only. The white background probably made them appear darker also by the camera adjusting to the white. The second pic was taken near a large window in bright daylight. Looking at them now in my hand, I guess I'd say they are somewhere between the 2 colors, but closer to the lighter one.
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thewiz
has rocks in the head
"What good is money if you don't spend it"
Member since January 2004
Posts: 735
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Post by thewiz on Mar 27, 2004 0:20:38 GMT -5
hey donwrob is that african queen picture jasper
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donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
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Post by donwrob on Mar 27, 2004 9:27:23 GMT -5
Could be Wiz, sorry I don't know. He just called it 'African picture stone'. Wish I was more helpful. The rest of the P-X rock is in final polish now. It should be done on Monday. The wife and I are taking a week vacation starting Tues., so I probably won't be able to get any pics up till we get back. Bummer  . The vacation will be nice though, an needed. ttyl, Don |
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thewiz
has rocks in the head
"What good is money if you don't spend it"
Member since January 2004
Posts: 735
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Post by thewiz on Mar 27, 2004 23:45:20 GMT -5
my son loves them. do you have any info on where you got them
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donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
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Post by donwrob on Mar 28, 2004 16:53:58 GMT -5
Wiz, yes. That piece and another was in the sample batch of African rough I got from Gerdus of S.Africa. The same guy that William ordered his rock from. Here is his site. www.mineralgallery.co.za/It took a while to get here and was expensive on shipping. The best and cheapest route would be to sea freight large quanitys like William did. But it is quite a commitment. Good luck Wiz |
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thewiz
has rocks in the head
"What good is money if you don't spend it"
Member since January 2004
Posts: 735
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Post by thewiz on Mar 29, 2004 18:37:41 GMT -5
the gem shop has African Queen Picture Jasper at 2.75 a pound which they say is very close to that so i might give them a try
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donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
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Post by donwrob on Apr 7, 2004 16:07:26 GMT -5
OK, finally here are a few more pics from the cubeX batch. First is just a pic of some filler rock I had mixed in to make up a full load.  Next a close up of the green India agate.  The next pic is of what looks like a miniature duck skull. You can see it in the first pic near the center. You never know what will come out of some of these batches....lol  This is the rose and green quartz. It took a good shine also. Pretty rock.  The next pic I took of the group at a different angle to try and show the gloss better. These pics don't seem to do the shine justice.  Now the pre-formed cubes and odd shapes. I really like these and have plans for one more project for a few of them. You'll just have to wait and see ;D  Last, a closer pic of some of the large cubes. Thanks for looking, talk to you later, Don  |
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thewiz
has rocks in the head
"What good is money if you don't spend it"
Member since January 2004
Posts: 735
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Post by thewiz on Apr 7, 2004 16:17:26 GMT -5
hey donwrob how did the picture jasper come out ? and is that you in the left top cube with a white shirt on bottom picture
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bschultz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 234
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Post by bschultz on Apr 7, 2004 16:32:17 GMT -5
Wow Don, great idea. I love the little cubes. Makes me want to clean out the garage so that I can get to my saw LOL.
Bob
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They are from Mexico.
. The vacation will be nice though, an needed. ttyl, Don
