oldschoolrocker
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,578
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Post by oldschoolrocker on Dec 10, 2019 13:07:18 GMT -5
Been spending bit of time working in garage with my dremel. Hadnt really tried to make domed pieces until these. Still have some work to do on the shaping before I put them in the lot o to finish them up. These are locally found pet wood -    These were from small pcs picked up at rock sale-    The one with blue and orange was small PC full of fractures but really liked the colors so gave it a shot anyways. Last isnt domed but really liked how the shape turned out so figured I'd include it -  Thanks for looking! |
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oldschoolrocker
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,578
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Post by oldschoolrocker on Dec 10, 2019 13:08:32 GMT -5
Argggh really frustrated with sideways photos...thot I had fixed it but guess not. My apologies
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Post by miket on Dec 10, 2019 13:10:39 GMT -5
Jeez.
I thought I was doing ok with the dremel, but these are absolutely fantastic!
One question- are you doing them completely with a dremel, from start to finish?
Thanks!
*Never mind. After I got over the pictures and actually read the post I saw that you're going to finish them in the lot-o.
Great work, sir!
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Post by RocksInNJ on Dec 10, 2019 13:23:14 GMT -5
Argggh really frustrated with sideways photos...thot I had fixed it but guess not. My apologies Not sideways for me. Those are awesome looking. Man I couldn’t even imagine opening up my tumbler and seeing something like that. |
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oldschoolrocker
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,578
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Post by oldschoolrocker on Dec 10, 2019 13:41:50 GMT -5
Jeez. I thought I was doing ok with the dremel, but these are absolutely fantastic! One question- are you doing them completely with a dremel, from start to finish? Thanks! *Never mind. After I got over the pictures and actually read the post I saw that you're going to finish them in the lot-o. Great work, sir! Thanks man! Pictures can be deceiving tho bc still have some troubles with flat spots/high spots. And these took much longer than I'd like to admit lol. actually its was all the great work on Cabs you have been doing that inspired me to give it a shot. |
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oldschoolrocker
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,578
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Post by oldschoolrocker on Dec 10, 2019 13:45:38 GMT -5
Argggh really frustrated with sideways photos...thot I had fixed it but guess not. My apologies Not sideways for me. Those are awesome looking. Man I couldn’t even imagine opening up my tumbler and seeing something like that. Thanks! Hopefully they will make it thru the tumbling ok. Worried most about the round one with fractures but never know if dont try. |
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oldschoolrocker
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,578
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Post by oldschoolrocker on Dec 10, 2019 13:48:39 GMT -5
This picture better shows the colors of this one..  |
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Post by miket on Dec 10, 2019 13:49:06 GMT -5
Jeez. I thought I was doing ok with the dremel, but these are absolutely fantastic! One question- are you doing them completely with a dremel, from start to finish? Thanks! *Never mind. After I got over the pictures and actually read the post I saw that you're going to finish them in the lot-o. Great work, sir! Thanks man! Pictures can be deceiving tho bc still have some troubles with flat spots/high spots. And these took much longer than I'd like to admit lol. actually its was all the great work on Cabs you have been doing that inspired me to give it a shot. It's hard to get them perfect, and they definitely take a while this way. But I'm still having fun at it. And thanks for the compliment- but I don't want to hijack your thread. Again, these really are well done. 😀 |
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oldschoolrocker
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,578
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Post by oldschoolrocker on Dec 10, 2019 14:19:02 GMT -5
Thanks man! Pictures can be deceiving tho bc still have some troubles with flat spots/high spots. And these took much longer than I'd like to admit lol. actually its was all the great work on Cabs you have been doing that inspired me to give it a shot. It's hard to get them perfect, and they definitely take a while this way. But I'm still having fun at it. And thanks for the compliment- but I don't want to hijack your thread. Again, these really are well done. 😀 Yes, there is something about dremeling rocks that I find really satisfying and relaxing. I can start with intentions of spending just a bit of time working on stones and end up sitting in garage for several hours. And to think I've liked rocks and owned a dremel for many years but just now finding this hobby that I enjoy so much! And thanks again! |
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Post by parfive on Dec 10, 2019 14:27:10 GMT -5
A Dremel, eh? You could’ve fooled me.
They look terrific, especially like the aggie you posted twice.
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Post by RocksInNJ on Dec 10, 2019 18:48:06 GMT -5
A Dremel, eh? You could’ve fooled me. They look terrific, especially like the aggie you posted twice. My thoughts exactly. Pretty amazing for a Dremel. A thick slurry, a bunch of pea gravel and plenty of media for cushioning and you should be fine. Best of luck with it. |
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mckinneykathy6
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2018
Posts: 6
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Post by mckinneykathy6 on Dec 11, 2019 2:20:34 GMT -5
Wow!😮
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Post by fernwood on Dec 11, 2019 4:13:26 GMT -5
Those are great. Nice work.
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Post by MsAli on Dec 11, 2019 7:57:31 GMT -5
You are doing a fantastic job on those with your dremel!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 11, 2019 8:33:41 GMT -5
Fabulous job on those! Looking forward to seeing them again when they're tumbled.
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 11, 2019 12:25:01 GMT -5
Wow! Great job!
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oldschoolrocker
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,578
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Post by oldschoolrocker on Dec 11, 2019 18:10:54 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for the kind words!
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Post by TheRock on Dec 12, 2019 4:12:47 GMT -5
Those are real beauty's great work!  |
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Gadabout
starting to shine!
Member since December 2019
Posts: 48 
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Post by Gadabout on Dec 21, 2019 13:05:44 GMT -5
Holy cow, those are beautiful oldschoolrocker! I just joined the forum and am a true greenhorn when it come to lapidary work. Because I'm using a dremel too, your thread was the first I looked at. This is just amazing work. Way to go! If it's out of line to ask questions about tools and methods, please let me know, but I would be interested in knowing or seeing what type of grinders you're putting in your dremel. I'm just using an 80 grit diamond wheel from Harbor Freight and I don't use a drip. I just dip the stone in a bowl water every 10 or 15 seconds. I've ground about a dozen stones (mostly quartz & agate) with that little wheel and it still grinds well even without the constant drip. Thanks for sharing pictures of your wonderful work.
Again, I'm brand new to the forum and am not sure if it is appropriate to ask members about their tools or methods, so I apologize if I am being out of line. Just let me know and I'll know better for future posts.
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oldschoolrocker
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,578
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Post by oldschoolrocker on Dec 22, 2019 15:12:14 GMT -5
Sure Gadabout. Tho it comes with the disclaimer that I am by all means very much a novice at this and I'm sure there are easier, quicker and better ways than how I do. But happy to share what has been working best for me so far. I cut out the preform from the slab with cheapo tile saw. Then grind with side of saw blade to close to shape outline. Then I go to dremel and finish grinding up to outline with diamond cut off/grinding wheel. Usually get off Amazon for about $1 a PC for the bigger 40-50mm diameter ones and little less for the 22-30mm ones. Amazon can be hit or miss on durability/quality. These are ones I'm currently using and so far are holding up ok-  Then once I'm happy with the shape I mark the girdle line. Just use a fine tip sharpie and lay the cab face up on a flat PC of wood and hold the tip of sharpie up against edge of wood and put tip against the cab and while keeping sharpie from moving I rotate the cab all the way around until lines meet. Then I start grinding around outer edge of cab and going down to girdle line at roughly a 45° angle. Then keep working around cab making my way inward to center. Depends on shape for what bits I use on this step but mostly I use the same grinding wheel as above but also use bits similar to these ( this photo is for reference only.i have not purchased thi particular product)  Then once I have made the dome I hand sand the cab to find the high and low spots and either try fixing with dremel or hand sanding. Then after I'm happy with it I then clean up the girdle and back of cab. Then because I'm putting them straight to the lot o tumbler 120/220 stage I do best to hand sand or use dremel and get smooth as I can. Theres others here that dremel some and likely a different method to doing it. One is Miket. He has several threads with cans hes done with the dremel. Recommend checking those out as well |
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