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Post by stoner on Aug 10, 2005 2:05:01 GMT -5
A while back someone was talking about agate candleholders. This one was given to me, but they are easy to make. Thought I'd post this in case anyone wanted to use it as a template to make their own.  Ed |
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Aug 10, 2005 8:01:28 GMT -5
Hey Ed, I've always thought about making one of those. Problem is, I've got so many projects going now that I can't seem to finish. One of these days....
Ron
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Post by Cher on Aug 10, 2005 11:03:36 GMT -5
Looks like it would take forever to drill a hole that big.
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Aug 10, 2005 11:04:02 GMT -5
cool oh man I would be slabbing up that chunk!
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Post by krazydiamond on Aug 10, 2005 14:26:45 GMT -5
what size core drill do you need do ya reckon? how big is that chunk, Ed? is there sticky felt as a backing for the bottom?
cool rock,
KD
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Post by stoner on Aug 11, 2005 1:45:33 GMT -5
I know what ya mean Ron, so many projects, so little time.
Okay, KD, the stone is 3.25 inches high, and about 3.5 inches long. It looks like an agate that was cut in quarters. The hole is 1.75 inches and about 3 inches deep with the edge of the hole about 3/8" from the face of the rock. Looks like they used the spray on felt for the bottom. It has a sticker saying "Made in Brazil". The rock, or the candle holder?
Ed
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Aug 13, 2005 14:56:15 GMT -5
My wife and I recently tried our hand at making candleholders out of rock. We got some beach rocks from Rockport, Mass. They are probably granite and are fairly smooth, though definitely not polished. The tourist shops are selling them for $30-$50.00 each. The ones for sale are engraved and have been worked on more than ours. Here are a few pictures: The first shows all three together  The next two are individual candle holders:   We found it is not as easy as you might think...If you do not have a good drill press it is very hard to centralize the hole...a little trick we learned is drill the hole first , cut off the bottom last, gives you more control csroc |
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Aug 13, 2005 15:42:40 GMT -5
I was thinking more along the lines of cutting up some large agates and polishing them. Then cutting a large hole that will hold something like a tea candle so that the flame burns down inside and will light up the translucent agate.
Ron
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Aug 13, 2005 16:03:05 GMT -5
Ron and Stoner/
I believe the candle inside a translucent agate is a great idea and far more aestheically pleasing .
csroc
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Post by rockyraccoon on Aug 13, 2005 20:16:52 GMT -5
i have a piece of swazi set aside just for this stoner. what is step 2??
the rock shop i went to yesterday even had the cores they had removed for sell too.
kim
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Post by stoner on Aug 14, 2005 1:22:26 GMT -5
Hey chasroc. Do the slabs come with the candleholder? Those look pretty cool too.
Kim, step 2? buy some small votive candles, place in the hole and light. They look cool at night with the face of the agate backlit by the flame.
Ed
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
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Post by chassroc on Aug 14, 2005 11:20:27 GMT -5
Ed,
I purchased those slabs; the big one is one of those Brazilian agate slabs you see in many shops, great color. Bought it in the Sapphire shop Phillipsburg, MT. The other slab I bought with some slab odds and ends at a rock show in West Palm Beach last November; it was dull and I just gave it a shine...
Kim,
How do they remove those cores in one piece? I drilled my holes and then used a chiselto break the core apart and remove...This step isnt easy either. If you dont control the chisel, it slips and breaks the edge of the hole...
Ron, I started with a smaller hole, might try the tea candle size next.
csroc
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Post by rockyraccoon on Aug 14, 2005 21:08:11 GMT -5
but ed, i don't have a hole yet lol. just the right rock. how do you make the hole.
kim
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Aug 14, 2005 22:16:16 GMT -5
Hey Kim, you need to use a diamond core drill. Something approximately 1.75 inches diameter. It will leave a column standing that if you are careful, you can tap it on the corner edge with a small chisel and break it loose. It works best if you mark the circle on the rock and then use your Dremel to carefully grind a small groove around the circle where the drill will start. If you don't do that, the drill will try to wander all over the rock. Remember that a core drill that size must run at a much slower speed. Preferably something down around 200 to 300 RPM.
Ron
ps
You don't need a drill press. Drills of that size can easily be handled free hand. Just use your Dremel to grind and dress up the hole when you're finished.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Aug 16, 2005 7:40:29 GMT -5
help, help, i'm lost in the land of core drills.....................
can we go back to "drills of that size" and show pictures : ).
kim
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Aug 16, 2005 7:59:00 GMT -5
Hey Kim, core drills are hollow and the size refers to the outside diameter of the drill. They are a hollow cylinder. That's why they leave a post standing in the middle of the hole. They allow you to make a much larger hole without grinding away all of that rock. Ron  |
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Post by rockyraccoon on Aug 16, 2005 20:31:20 GMT -5
pssst ron, what do those attach to? surely not my little dremel.
:-/kim
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Post by stoner on Aug 17, 2005 1:52:11 GMT -5
You attach them to a drill press or even a hand drill. They are kinda like hole saws that are used to cut holes in wood.
Ed
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