jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 28, 2018 17:46:20 GMT -5
Wow and what a big chunk. I see this has swirls in it. I have a chunk but it is flat layers. So if it is swirly does that make it tricky to saw it to reflect a sheen ? I've never cut a big chunk Garrick usually does that. Apparently there is a right way to cut it. Maybe best I dont try Today he was cutting massive chunks of plasma agate That stuff is incredible I see. I would like to know how to cut sheen properly. Perhaps with the layers. If you get a chance could you ask him ? Looked up plasma agate. Amazing color combos not so commonly found in agates. |
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Post by MsAli on May 28, 2018 18:42:59 GMT -5
I've never cut a big chunk Garrick usually does that. Apparently there is a right way to cut it. Maybe best I dont try Today he was cutting massive chunks of plasma agate That stuff is incredible I see. I would like to know how to cut sheen properly. Perhaps with the layers. If you get a chance could you ask him ? Looked up plasma agate. Amazing color combos not so commonly found in agates. I will for sure ask him for you The plasma is amazing. Reminds me of an abstract painting |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on May 28, 2018 18:46:59 GMT -5
I see. I would like to know how to cut sheen properly. Perhaps with the layers. If you get a chance could you ask him ? Looked up plasma agate. Amazing color combos not so commonly found in agates. I will for sure ask him for you The plasma is amazing. Reminds me of an abstract painting Thanks. I had never seen the plasma. It has fun colors. You are lucky to live close to fine rocks. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on May 28, 2018 19:08:19 GMT -5
From what I have heard obsidian occurs in large quantities where it is found. It is unimaginable to have massive piles and exposures of it being an easterner. It would be a treasure hunt to sort thru it as it is found in nature. Are you sawing it with the sheen to get it to be reflective ? A good volcano eruption will do that. The lava has to cool quickly to form obsidian (minimal crystal growth) and has to be from the right kind of volcano (lighter minerals instead of iron and heavier minerals). Too bad the volcanoes in Hawaii are the wrong kind to make obsidian. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on May 28, 2018 19:29:31 GMT -5
I've never cut a big chunk Garrick usually does that. Apparently there is a right way to cut it. Maybe best I dont try Today he was cutting massive chunks of plasma agate That stuff is incredible I see. I would like to know how to cut sheen properly. Perhaps with the layers. If you get a chance could you ask him ? Looked up plasma agate. Amazing color combos not so commonly found in agates. I think you would have to cut it with the layers. If cut across the layers, you'll get a striped sheen. |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on May 28, 2018 21:06:17 GMT -5
I see. I would like to know how to cut sheen properly. Perhaps with the layers. If you get a chance could you ask him ? Looked up plasma agate. Amazing color combos not so commonly found in agates. I think you would have to cut it with the layers. If cut across the layers, you'll get a striped sheen. Makes sense because the reflection seems to be when looking at the layers from the top or bottom and not from the stacked view. With the layers, I get it. Thanks. I noticed MsAli's chunk has swirls, would that make bands of sheen when cut through the swirls ? |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on May 28, 2018 21:08:14 GMT -5
From what I have heard obsidian occurs in large quantities where it is found. It is unimaginable to have massive piles and exposures of it being an easterner. It would be a treasure hunt to sort thru it as it is found in nature. Are you sawing it with the sheen to get it to be reflective ? A good volcano eruption will do that. The lava has to cool quickly to form obsidian (minimal crystal growth) and has to be from the right kind of volcano (lighter minerals instead of iron and heavier minerals). Too bad the volcanoes in Hawaii are the wrong kind to make obsidian. So would Glass Butte be an example of these conditions ? |
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Post by MsAli on May 28, 2018 22:00:15 GMT -5
I think you would have to cut it with the layers. If cut across the layers, you'll get a striped sheen. Makes sense because the reflection seems to be when looking at the layers from the top or bottom and not from the stacked view. With the layers, I get it. Thanks. I noticed MsAli 's chunk has swirls, would that make bands of sheen when cut through the swirls ? Next time im out there, I'll see if he will cut it and video it for you |
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quartz
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breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,359
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Post by quartz on May 29, 2018 0:13:46 GMT -5
If you cut sheen across the pattern, you generally get a nice swirly pattern. If you cut sheen with the color layer, you see just that color layer. Try to establish a cut angle that maximizes the area of each layer showing across the face of the cut, without being so steep as to be just across the pattern. Stretch out the layers to get maximum reflection off each. Equate to spreading a deck of cards out to max. area of each card but still maintaining coverage of lower card [layer]. Makes sense I hope.
Glass butte is good material source.
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Post by rockpickerforever on May 29, 2018 0:57:05 GMT -5
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Post by 1dave on May 29, 2018 6:54:23 GMT -5
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on May 29, 2018 7:14:47 GMT -5
If you cut sheen across the pattern, you generally get a nice swirly pattern. If you cut sheen with the color layer, you see just that color layer. Try to establish a cut angle that maximizes the area of each layer showing across the face of the cut, without being so steep as to be just across the pattern. Stretch out the layers to get maximum reflection off each. Equate to spreading a deck of cards out to max. area of each card but still maintaining coverage of lower card [layer]. Makes sense I hope. Glass butte is good material source. This is what I was curious about Larry. Sawing exactly on the one layer or sawing at a slight angle and picking up a bit of a view of several layers. Spreading playing cards - BOOM ! Perfect analogy. For the life of me I could not put that into words. card analogy = genius |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on May 29, 2018 7:24:35 GMT -5
Thanks Jean, I bought a 14 pound chunk of fine Davis Creek sheen a few years back. It has flat well defined layers all dead flat top to bottom. I see Don mentioned 15 degrees he had heard about. In some places the layers have 2-3mm gaps, others it has 1mm or less gaps. I am going to saw this chunk on the 18 inch saw into like 3 to 4 inch cubes right down and 90 degrees across the layers and then make fine angle adjustments on each cube. To get 0 - 5 -10 - 15 degree slants across the layers. quartz 's describe slammed it with the playing card analogy. |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on May 29, 2018 7:26:10 GMT -5
I see it in the dome Dave. The dome feathers down the layers from center of high dome and working down. I get it. I see the light ! |
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Post by rockpickerforever on May 29, 2018 8:08:45 GMT -5
Thanks Jean, I bought a 14 pound chunk of fine Davis Creek sheen a few years back. It has flat well defined layers all dead flat top to bottom. I see Don mentioned 15 degrees he had heard about. In some places the layers have 2-3mm gaps, others it has 1mm or less gaps. I am going to saw this chunk on the 18 inch saw into like 3 to 4 inch cubes right down and 90 degrees across the layers and then make fine angle adjustments on each cube. To get 0 - 5 -10 - 15 degree slants across the layers. quartz 's describe slammed it with the playing card analogy. I had also heard 12 to 15 degrees for cut angle across the layers, makes sense. Very much enjoyed Larry's quartz analogy about the fanned playing cards. Easy to understand and spot on!
Kris Rowe at Hand to Mouth Mining is the Davis Creek guru. Here's a post he made on cutting Rainbow obsidian. Imagine it is the same principle as sheen. His cutting explanation is the second to last post in the thread. Fresh from Davis Creek ... Rainbow Obsidian!
And one more on Rainbow orienting - Orientation for cutting rainbow obsidian
Don't have any fancy stuff like rainbow or Royal Peacock, but till have some mahogany and plain ol' black.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on May 29, 2018 8:31:50 GMT -5
Thanks Jean, I bought a 14 pound chunk of fine Davis Creek sheen a few years back. It has flat well defined layers all dead flat top to bottom. I see Don mentioned 15 degrees he had heard about. In some places the layers have 2-3mm gaps, others it has 1mm or less gaps. I am going to saw this chunk on the 18 inch saw into like 3 to 4 inch cubes right down and 90 degrees across the layers and then make fine angle adjustments on each cube. To get 0 - 5 -10 - 15 degree slants across the layers. quartz 's describe slammed it with the playing card analogy. I had also heard 12 to 15 degrees for cut angle across the layers, makes sense. Very much enjoyed Larry's quartz analogy about the fanned playing cards. Easy to understand and spot on!
Kris Rowe at Hand to Mouth Mining is the Davis Creek guru. Here's a post he made on cutting Rainbow obsidian. Imagine it is the same principle as sheen. His cutting explanation is the second to last post in the thread. Fresh from Davis Creek ... Rainbow Obsidian!
And one more on Rainbow orienting - Orientation for cutting rainbow obsidian
Don't have any fancy stuff like rainbow or Royal Peacock, but till have some mahogany and plain ol' black.
I think I got it Jean. A bit of time at the saw and lap will quickly tell the truth. I mentioned the variation in the closeness of the layers, like fat playing cards and thin playing cards(adding to Larry's fine analogy) randomly piled in the stack. 4 close together layers verses 4 spaced out layers may dictate the angle of the cut to expose them all 4 ? Just brain storming... |
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Post by 1dave on May 29, 2018 8:44:16 GMT -5
A domed face over the reflecting band does the trick. Much like Moon Stone.
I used a drop of glycerine. That also helps in locating the best cut for star stones.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on May 29, 2018 8:48:10 GMT -5
El cheap machine layered vase makes single test sexy orange lips. Melt schedule could not be better thanks to higher melt point machine blown glass. Must saw and grind before forgetting angles and connection points. As the lips are cut closer to the thicker base glass fatter more succulent lips should happen. Wish I knew the manufacturer as this is best lip vase ever aside from alien orange color. Should look great tumble polished. And minimal shaping - yes.  "Kiss Me You Fool"  |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on May 29, 2018 9:04:21 GMT -5
Makes sense because the reflection seems to be when looking at the layers from the top or bottom and not from the stacked view. With the layers, I get it. Thanks. I noticed MsAli 's chunk has swirls, would that make bands of sheen when cut through the swirls ? I'm not sure which type that chunk is. There are so many different kinds of obsidian. I've seen the sheen obsidians with swirls in it, so you get the black with beautiful ribbons of sheen instead of one large sheet of sheen. I have a few different types that have the swirly patterns in them. Mahogany, midnight lace, red ribbon and fire obsidian all have swirls. Interesting stuff.
Glass Buttes definitely has the right kind of volcano. Basically to form obsidian, it needs a really high silica content.
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Post by MsAli on May 29, 2018 9:14:54 GMT -5
Kris Rowe is the guy I am learning from. Its his daughters place. Garrick is her boyfriend and is Kris's partner.
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