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Post by Rockindad on Jun 19, 2019 19:15:17 GMT -5
So I bid on a slab on ebay a few days ago and won it. It's a piece of Ocean Jasper that is just about the coolest thing I've seen. As I was sitting there staring at the pictures I asked myself: 1) Will I ever be able to cut it, and 2) Would I be able to give away/sell a cab, pendant, etc. from this material. All I come up with is a maybe to each question. I certainly wouldn't do anything with it anytime soon, not until we had more experience. I presume those of you who are serious cabbers, especially if you are selling your finished products, do not let yourself get this way too often. How often do you get a slab or finish a cab and say "this one is mine"?
Funny thing is for all I know this slab may not be considered all that great and you would be wondering what all the fuss is about. I probably paid "too much" as far as what it would normally go for but in this case it was worth it to me.
Al
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 19, 2019 19:27:24 GMT -5
I started cabbing over 15 years ago and never sold a cab until last month. We've given away a lot of cabs and they were some of the best I cut. When you get a slab you like, take a really good picture of it. When you make cabs from the slab, take good pictures of the cabs. No matter what happens to the material you will always have the pictures. I have over 2,000 in 60-70 8.5x11 Riker boxes.
When I want to look at a cab it's easier to look at the picture.
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Post by Rockindad on Jun 19, 2019 20:38:00 GMT -5
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 19, 2019 20:56:10 GMT -5
I saw that auction. OJ is lovely. I can't blame you. YES, I have slabs I just can't bring myself to cut and I have regretted selling many of them. I would enclose a pic of my favorite cab, an OJ, but when my hd crashed everything went with it.  |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 19, 2019 21:05:04 GMT -5
Here's a pic that was on my blog. I call it My Precious. I was sad to see it go. But, it went to someone who loves it as much as I do.
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Post by MsAli on Jun 19, 2019 21:20:31 GMT -5
I have a few I cant and wont part with.
Some are not that special, just something about them
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Post by Rockindad on Jun 19, 2019 21:23:23 GMT -5
I started cabbing over 15 years ago and never sold a cab until last month. We've given away a lot of cabs and they were some of the best I cut. When you get a slab you like, take a really good picture of it. When you make cabs from the slab, take good pictures of the cabs. No matter what happens to the material you will always have the pictures. I have over 2,000 in 60-70 8.5x11 Riker boxes. When I want to look at a cab it's easier to look at the picture. Great idea! Al |
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Post by Rockindad on Jun 19, 2019 21:25:56 GMT -5
Here's a pic that was on my blog. I call it My Precious. I was sad to see it go. But, it went to someone who loves it as much as I do.
That is beautiful! I've looked at your site enough to tell you like OJ just a little  Al |
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Post by opalpyrexia on Jun 19, 2019 21:44:05 GMT -5
I can see why you feel drawn to this slab. It reminds me of some abstract paintings.
You've given me an idea. I have some nice ocean jasper slabs that I recently purchased, and which I haven't quite gotten to the point of sawing up. The colors, shapes, and patterns are so nice that a saw cut seems almost criminal. Sawing also eliminates so many alternative cuts that might yield equal or better cabs. So I'm going to take a very nice piece of wood, rip a channel equal to the width of one of the slabs, and enjoy it on display until I'm really ready to slice away.
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Post by Pat on Jun 19, 2019 22:59:43 GMT -5
Hmmm, yes, but acetone will usually free me😁
Your slab is a winner!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2019 0:49:10 GMT -5
My "Profile Avatar" has a strange history. I first saw it as a slab of Biggs jasper on an auction site. I wanted it very badly because of the eye (the arch of the "eyebrow" reminded me of what I'd see in the mirror in my younger days). From the photo, it even looked to have indications of lashes. Tried to snag it at a generous price, intending to keep it as a specimen slab, but someone came along and grabbed it the last couple of seconds.
Maybe a month or two later, I see it pop up at auction as a cab - not even sure it was the same auction site. Whoever cut it had managed not to grind through most of the pattern, but none of the photos were oriented to showcase the eye. I don't think people taking a quick look may even have noticed, and I got it for about what I would have paid for the slab. It started my fascination with mimetoliths. So, no, it is staying in the cases of pieces that I've no intention of ever letting go.
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Post by christopherl1234 on Jun 20, 2019 2:38:19 GMT -5
I have had lots that I have held on to for awhile, sometimes years. I still have some now....
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Post by Rockindad on Jun 20, 2019 5:24:43 GMT -5
I can see why you feel drawn to this slab. It reminds me of some abstract paintings. You've given me an idea. I have some nice ocean jasper slabs that I recently purchased, and which I haven't quite gotten to the point of sawing up. The colors, shapes, and patterns are so nice that a saw cut seems almost criminal. Sawing also eliminates so many alternative cuts that might yield equal or better cabs. So I'm going to take a very nice piece of wood, rip a channel equal to the width of one of the slabs, and enjoy it on display until I'm really ready to slice away. Love it, might just borrow that idea! Al |
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Post by fernwood on Jun 20, 2019 6:21:05 GMT -5
I am very drawn to certain slabs and rough. Call me a hoarder. They speak to me. I have some that I would never cut or break up to polish. Others let me know when the time is right.
I have given some to friends who greatly appreciate them and are not into lapidary. They were into the rock or slab.
Can see why you were drawn to this one.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Jun 20, 2019 8:14:10 GMT -5
An antique dealer that I worked for in my youth once gave me what I considered wise advice - "Never love anything that can't love you back".
That said, nice slab rockindad. And nice cab/pendant Tela. And nice photo too. If you don't mind sharing the info Tela, what type of lighting did you use for that photo?
Larry C.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 20, 2019 8:19:26 GMT -5
An antique dealer that I worked for in my youth once gave me what I considered wise advice - "Never love anything that can't love you back". That said, nice slab rockindad. And nice cab/pendant Tela. And nice photo too. If you don't mind sharing the info Tela, what type of lighting did you use for that photo? Larry C. Thank you very much! I use a light tent with color correct bulbs. Really big ones. I use a nikon and manual settings. I love the light tent pictures because they don't have a lot of distracting reflections, but some livliness is missing and sometimes the colors are off. |
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Post by miket on Jun 20, 2019 9:29:13 GMT -5
Never love anything that can't love you back is very good advice!
However, I'm guilty as well.
I have a handful of Fairburns that I won't part with, won't do anything with. Each one is unique and when I find them I know that no one else has seen that particular stone. Ever.
So I get it.
And by the way, that is one good looking rock!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2019 9:51:30 GMT -5
An antique dealer that I worked for in my youth once gave me what I considered wise advice - "Never love anything that can't love you back". I've heard that before, too. But as I observed, I recall this being said by folks (not accusing anyone here) heavily involved in accumulating $ - another thing that can't love you back  I like stones the same way that I like fine art, music, a roaring waterfall, a beautiful view on a summer evening, etc. Just as in-sayin, just sayin. |
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Post by Rockindad on Jun 20, 2019 12:07:24 GMT -5
An antique dealer that I worked for in my youth once gave me what I considered wise advice - "Never love anything that can't love you back". That said, nice slab rockindad. And nice cab/pendant Tela. And nice photo too. If you don't mind sharing the info Tela, what type of lighting did you use for that photo? Larry C. That is good advice for everyone to follow and pertains to a lot more than antiques, rocks, money, etc. Doesn't mean you can't enjoy a material possession, just have your priorities in order. That may be different for everyone, for me it's pretty easy as our motto is "Family First". Actually, that is what brought me to this hobby. My son and I started tumbling together and are now branching out. Al |
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,958
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Post by Tommy on Jun 20, 2019 12:39:11 GMT -5
I try very hard to not get attached to either cabs or slabs but I do have ONE cab and ONE slab that I will not sell - or cut up in the case of the slab. The cab is a very unique Montana agate and the slab is a large piece of uber-rare Pope Valley jasper.
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