Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,965
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Post by Tommy on Dec 24, 2018 10:56:28 GMT -5
The older I get and the sorer my hands become the larger my cabs have become. It's almost comical at times - I'll get half way through a cab and suddenly realized it's the size of the titanic and likely to suffer a similar fate. My old favorite starting template shape barely gets a sniff nowadays because it just seems ... so ... small. Anyway, the other day I was asked about making a tiny cab for which I had no real answers, then just like clockwork a project landed on my desk. My daughter in law had this nice sterling prong ring with an opal but something had happened to the opal and it had become chipped and very yellow and had very little fire left. Well I told her I would see what I could do with it and not having any opal around, and not really being an opal guy I decided to cut into a tiny piece of gem chrysoprase I've had for like five years. It's not perfect - there is a tiny natural pit and something white internally, but it shaped out nice and I didn't lose as much finger skin as I thought I would free-handing such a tiny stone. I know it's not opal but I'm hoping she likes it. First picture shows the original opal.    |
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 24, 2018 14:24:16 GMT -5
Nice Job! I can't figure out how someone could do something that small while dopless, sounds messy.
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NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Dec 24, 2018 14:30:37 GMT -5
You know what Tommy, she can wear the ring again and it was made by her father-in-law. I bet she'll love it and probably cherish it for life.
Well done!
P.S. I 2nd Lee in not knowing how you got that done without a dop. Very well done!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 24, 2018 14:49:35 GMT -5
Maybe not opal but a nice gemmy piece of chrysoprase. I think she will love it.
Chuck
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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 24, 2018 15:09:59 GMT -5
Tommy - Nice work & I always like hearing the story behind it. Stones that small are when I use a dop stick. It gives me way more control over the shaping process. To misquote a line from Rocky - Man: "Have you thought of investing in dop sticks?" Rocky: "I never use 'em" Lynn
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Dec 24, 2018 15:23:48 GMT -5
LOL! Yeah I know what you mean Tommy. My cabs have been getting larger too. They're starting to resemble something that Flavor Flav would wear around his neck. I was thinking just a couple of weeks ago that even in sterling the chains required to support some of my current cab projects are going to cost a @#$% fortune.
This getting older thing stinks but as I've been told ...it beats the alternative!
Oh, and almost forgot, Merry Christmas everybody!
Larry C.
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Post by MsAli on Dec 24, 2018 16:17:53 GMT -5
Really nice!
Removal of finger skin hurts!
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Post by fernwood on Dec 24, 2018 16:19:23 GMT -5
Story and arthritis are two things I appreciate. Well done.
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Post by Pat on Dec 24, 2018 16:32:14 GMT -5
Good save!
As our 96 year old friend has said ---"Getting old is not for wimps".
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Post by lpl on Dec 24, 2018 16:33:58 GMT -5
Beautiful! And I'm really impressed you didn't use a dop! Well done! She will love it.
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mossyrockhound
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2011
Posts: 1,315
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Post by mossyrockhound on Dec 24, 2018 17:26:17 GMT -5
Beautiful cab - makes a nice ring! When I try to do cabs that small I use a small dopstick so I can hold on to it when it is covered with polishing compound. I don't know how many small cabs I've put into orbit while polishing.
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Post by stephan on Dec 24, 2018 17:28:38 GMT -5
What's not to love? It's beautiful and hand-made. Not perfect? It has wabi-sabi.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 24, 2018 21:42:03 GMT -5
You did a great job on that ring, Tommy. It's a beautiful piece of gem chrysoprase -- what's not to like? She'll love it! |
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 25, 2018 11:24:58 GMT -5
That's beautiful, and works perfectly with the setting! I would venture to say that it's prettier than most opals too! Nice job. And Merry Christmas!
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NRG
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,688
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Post by NRG on Dec 25, 2018 16:59:50 GMT -5
(facepalm)
I wish I had a desk.
---
Seriously, love that 'prase!
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