|
|
Post by stardiamond on Aug 28, 2019 16:25:14 GMT -5
Bruneau  When I slabbed this Nipomo it was nothing but trouble. The preform held together nicely and I got the cab I wanted from the material. Metal with clearn in between.  I guessed on where the crystals would end up when doming the Dryhead and I was a little off.  The Ocean had vugs in the slab and some poppies popped. It could have been worse.  The Howardite came out how I wanted; solid with a lot of depth in the scene. The picture not so much.  This piece was very vuggy and the vugs went into the girdle on both sides. Kaboom at the 1200 wheel.  |
|
|
|
Post by miket on Aug 28, 2019 16:36:33 GMT -5
While I like them all, the Nipomo is my favorite by far. A fog-filled forest...kinda spooky.  Sorry about the Kaboom! Thanks for sharing! |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2019 18:48:11 GMT -5
These are all fantastic!
|
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Aug 28, 2019 21:41:00 GMT -5
Very nice! The Nipomo is my favorite.
|
|
NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
|
Post by NevadaBill on Aug 29, 2019 12:57:52 GMT -5
Those are some really great looking rocks that you have there. It is too bad that you lost that one on the 1200 wheel. That was my favorite rock of the group. I really don't know how you have the nerves to cut and shape such nice material. I don't see material like that, and if I did, then I would probably be afraid of making a mistake on the cab, at all times. Speaking of cabs, I need to get to the grinder today and make some more of them, from my well stocked pile of bland, garden variety rocks.  |
|
|
|
Post by stardiamond on Aug 29, 2019 13:10:56 GMT -5
Those are some really great looking rocks that you have there. It is too bad that you lost that one on the 1200 wheel. That was my favorite rock of the group. I really don't know how you have the nerves to cut and shape such nice material. I don't see material like that, and if I did, then I would probably be afraid of making a mistake on the cab, at all times. Speaking of cabs, I need to get to the grinder today and make some more of them, from my well stocked pile of bland, garden variety rocks. I have stuff that I was reluctant to cut for 10 years. Doing a lot of cutting builds confidence. Most of my material was acquired over 15 years. I'm running out and not optimistic about being able to replace it. What I see available is abut the same as my lesser material. Even when I wasn't selling when I decided whether to make a cab I had to believe that at some point someone would consider buying it. I don't think there is much of a market for lesser cabs and I already have a lot of those already. |
|
|
|
Post by stardiamond on Sept 1, 2019 12:13:30 GMT -5
I recut the Howardite that fractured and changed he subject to 5.4 out of 6.  |
|
NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
|
Post by NevadaBill on Sept 1, 2019 23:10:46 GMT -5
You know, this is interesting. The Howardite (Rattlesnake Jasper, Plaid Agate, Royal Flamingo var., etc), have been found in my state. I realize the stuff is probably rare (collections) and considered by many that there is no rough left to be found. But I wonder ..
|
|
|
|
Post by stardiamond on Sept 1, 2019 23:44:28 GMT -5
You know, this is interesting. The Howardite (Rattlesnake Jasper, Plaid Agate, Royal Flamingo var., etc), have been found in my state. I realize the stuff is probably rare (collections) and considered by many that there is no rough left to be found. But I wonder .. I don't see any old stock Howardite rough or slabs on ebay or etsy. Mine was acquired years ago. What I see is the flamingo and new dig which doesn't have the rattlesnake pattern. I've been chasing stuff that resembles Howardite for a long time and the closest I can get is opalized wood. Howardite is silicated chert. I had an opportunity to buy rough years ago very cheap but didn't have a saw. Right after that the price went up 1000 percent. Buying rough without seeing it is risky. The cabs I made were from a specimen slab and only 30% of the slab had the desirable pattern. I can imagine that the percent of good material in rough would be very small. All of the Howardite I got was on ebay and was with pictures. Howardite also fractures frequently when being worked. The three cabs that I made recently were from the non rattlesnake portion of the slab. I already have some cabs with the good pattern and won't cut more until they sell. |
|
NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
|
Post by NevadaBill on Sept 2, 2019 6:46:38 GMT -5
Really rare stuff, indeed. I spent a couple of hours researching this, and you are not the only person who is educated about the source of Howardite, or has spent a great deal of time searching for more. This stone seems to almost have had a cult following. It is super popular. I had no idea. And I am betting that it is super extinct too. I am not going to expend an ounce of energy reading more about or searching for it. Perhaps if I was a buyer, but I am not. Thank you for the great cab example though!
|
|
|
|
Post by stardiamond on Sept 2, 2019 12:09:20 GMT -5
The closest material to the appearance of Howardite is Hells Canyon which is also expensive. HellMy attempts were various petrified and opalized wood.    |
|
|
|
Post by drocknut on Sept 2, 2019 12:33:34 GMT -5
Beautiful cabs, the Bruneau is my favorite, just speaks to me somehow. If you're a wire wrapper you'll know what I mean...lol.
As far as Howardite goes there is a guy who is digging it and he is on Instagram and/or Facebook. His name is Jeff and his business is Silverhill Lapidary. It is also referred to as Rattlesnake Jasper. I saw at one time that Dominion Gems owned claims for it but can't find anything since 2018 about them having Howardite. It is definitely pricey but also totally beautiful.
|
|
|
|
Post by stardiamond on Sept 2, 2019 13:09:40 GMT -5
I have two with the rattlesnake pattern on etsy and two more that I made and enough material to make two more. The best one I have was bought on auction at ebay by my wife from silverhawk. His wife was the person who was offering the rough.  I found silverhill on etsy and they were offering "new dig" Howardite. |
|
|
|
Post by stardiamond on Sept 4, 2019 18:24:20 GMT -5
Smart/stupid/risky purchase of the day: www.ebay.com/itm/163844735991 about 4x1 inches and 5.3 mm thick with a lot of issues for $17.90 delivered. I think it was just listed. |
|
