Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Sept 1, 2004 16:05:38 GMT -5
I located an old mine in Superior AZ. that has these things scattered all over the place. It is a very tedious job collecting them, since it has been so dang hot here in AZ. But I think it is worth it. Most of these are about the size of a pea. I left out most of the bigger ones. I just wanted to do a bunch of small sized stones. I just love em. Especially in a big shiney pile. Anyway, the mine is only about a 45 minute drive, and when I was there last Saturday, a buddy of mine and myself collected about 8# in 3 hours. That was at a lesurely pace, since he was having more fun digging while I just gathered what was on top. They are photographed on a light table to let the light show through. I am really becoming fond of Obsidian. Thanks for looking.      T.T.F.N. |
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Post by sandsman1 on Sept 1, 2004 16:09:27 GMT -5
hey banjo very cool lookin i like them,, are the ones with the tan on them is that still matrix cause it looks realy cool
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Sept 1, 2004 16:34:57 GMT -5
Nope, no matrix on these. It must be where the light is shinning up from the light table they are on. The thinner ones let more light through, and the thicker ones are darker. A lot of reflections dancing around.
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JKowalski33
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 451
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Post by JKowalski33 on Sept 1, 2004 17:10:05 GMT -5
Hey banjo, those are awesome. I have 2# of tears i got off ebay and I was wondering if you could tell me how long in each step you did yours and what polish you used. I just hope mine turn out as nice as yours! How big is the biggest one in those pics, because the biggest one i have is about 1.75 inches at the longest part.
[glow=blue,2,300][/glow]
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Sept 1, 2004 17:46:23 GMT -5
OK Jackson-
1 week 60/90, then I took out all the smallest that were round and shaped well, so as not to have them disappear into nothingness.
1 more week 60/90 for the rest.
All together now for 1 week 120/220
1 week 500
5 days 1000
4 days Tin Oxide
Rinse with Borax and a little Cascade for about an hour.
Done!
The largest Tear is about 1"
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Post by krazydiamond on Sept 1, 2004 18:42:50 GMT -5
those are glorious, Banjo! did you buy or make your light table? it is a fab photo aid!
KD
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Sept 1, 2004 18:50:50 GMT -5
Banjo,those are yummy! I love the light brown ones that are transparent! Whatever you decide to do with them, it's gonna be neat lookin'!
llana
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JKowalski33
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 451
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Post by JKowalski33 on Sept 1, 2004 19:18:30 GMT -5
Thanks for the help banjo, also did you use the same amount of pellets as in obsidian lesson part 2?
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Sept 1, 2004 19:59:15 GMT -5
Hello Banjo,
Boy howdy ... those look sweet!
I have a mixed batch in my 10# now and I just recharged the bowl with 220 this evening.
I found a couple of highly banded agates ... Lake Superior or something similar ... I hope they turn out as nice as your did.
Thanks for the photo's,
John
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Post by rockyraccoon on Sept 1, 2004 20:30:20 GMT -5
/_\/_\/_\ best crown i could make you - you definitely deserve a crown for those - they look absolutely flawless.
kim
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deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
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Post by deepsouth on Sept 1, 2004 21:12:24 GMT -5
That is truly an astonishing pile of stones Banjo , WOW
You have done them very well.
Thanks for the fotos
Jack
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Sept 1, 2004 22:09:16 GMT -5
Pellets-
I had 3/8 to 1/2 a barrel of stones and put in pellets up to 7/8 full.
So I guess that would be more than I would typically use.
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JKowalski33
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 451
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Post by JKowalski33 on Sept 1, 2004 23:55:49 GMT -5
Okay thanks again banjo, I also have some other obsidian besides the tears and I will follow those instructions for it as well. ;D
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MoonStone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 202
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Post by MoonStone on Sept 2, 2004 1:42:48 GMT -5
I was just loking and looking at your pictures and all of your stones look flawless! You just did an amazing job with them! I see that you use Tin Oxide, I also hear good things in other postings about Titanium oxide as well, all I have is the aluminum oxide that came with my kit  , I think I'm going to buy and try the tin, and titanium in case the aluminum does not work as well. Beautiful work Banjo!!!  |
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Post by Cher on Sept 2, 2004 7:25:16 GMT -5
[glow=blue,2,300]OMG[/glow] Those are so cool and do they bring back memories. I had an uncle who was in to rock hounding and tumbling. When I was very young he used to take us kids with him on rock hunting day trips. He gave me a handful of polished Apache Tears once, I just loved those things.
That is so neat that you have a place where you can pick them up like that. Could you do a pic of a few of them unpolished so we could see what to look for? (Like I'll ever get to go to a place that has them but ... )
[glow=red,2,300]~ Cher ~[/glow]
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Post by creativeminded on Sept 2, 2004 8:34:22 GMT -5
Those are georgous.
Tami
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Post by hermatite on Sept 2, 2004 10:15:46 GMT -5
I love apache tears. When I was in grade school I found a tear just like one of the little ones in your photo. A rock that I could see through. And I've been hooked on rocks ever since. Thanks for reminding me of such a happy thought.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Sept 2, 2004 11:25:14 GMT -5
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Post by Cher on Sept 2, 2004 11:38:20 GMT -5
Thanks Kim, who would ever believe something that looks like that could be so awesome polished.
[glow=red,2,300]~ Cher ~[/glow]
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Marishiku
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2004
Posts: 24
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Post by Marishiku on Sept 4, 2004 19:51:17 GMT -5
[glow=blue,2,300]Those are Amazing![/glow] Jackson (you may know him better as JKowalski33) was over here today, and he brought some of his tears. They are so ugly in the rough (but still fun to look at) and yet, when polished they are beautiful  I'm thinking of trying to buy some and tumble em' up. Fellow Rock Nerd, [glow=blue,2,300][/glow] |
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, I think I'm going to buy and try the tin, and titanium in case the aluminum does not work as well. Beautiful work Banjo!!! 
I'm thinking of trying to buy some and tumble em' up. Fellow Rock Nerd,
