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Post by holajonathan on Jan 21, 2021 23:32:20 GMT -5
I just bought a slab saw, which means I can finally find out what is lurking inside all those big rocks that I've bought just to put on a shelf. I grabbed the biggest (supposedly) Montana agate and started slicing.     I've never seen a Montana agate with bands like this, but that doesn't mean much. The evenly spaced bands remind me of a water level agate or a Bahia agate. The colors and patterns look like Montana, just not the banding. Are Montana agates with bands common? Or did someone sell me something else? |
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 21, 2021 23:41:23 GMT -5
That's kind of neat. I haven't seen a Montana Moss Agate with banding like that (remember, I'm no expert). I did a quick image search on Google and there was one other agate labeled as a Montana that had similar banding to yours, but it was the only other example I saw. I agree with the appearance of the water level agate...it almost looks like the water levels "smeared" the moss pattern along the lines...
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Post by holajonathan on Jan 21, 2021 23:56:58 GMT -5
I am in the process of cutting it right now. In the latest slabs I'm losing some banding, but getting a new interesting pattern up top.   I'm glad I cut it like I did. I could tell that it had some banding, but it was a little ambiguous from the outside. I haven't hit the fattest part yet, which is about 5" wide. I hope it stays nice. Oh, the anticipation... This is total instant gratification, even at 15-20 minutes a cut, compared to tumbling. |
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Post by holajonathan on Jan 22, 2021 2:35:27 GMT -5
You know it's a crazy Thursday night when you are cutting two Montana agates at the same time in your unheated garage in the middle of January (in Michigan). My wife says: can't you just finish cutting them tomorrow? She'll never understand.   Such beautiful rocks, but oh, the fractures. |
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
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Post by Brian on Jan 22, 2021 6:24:28 GMT -5
I just came across a very similar looking rock that I believe is Montana agate as well. It was already end-sliced and I wasn’t sure that it was actually Montana agate due to the banding but the colors were similar to the other pieces that came with it and the exterior was also identical. I will try to put up a picture of it later today.
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
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Post by Brian on Jan 22, 2021 7:50:56 GMT -5
I just came across a very similar looking rock that I believe is Montana agate as well. It was already end-sliced and I wasn’t sure that it was actually Montana agate due to the banding but the colors were similar to the other pieces that came with it and the exterior was also identical. I will try to put up a picture of it later today. This is the piece I have. It looks pretty similar to me.  |
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 22, 2021 8:13:16 GMT -5
holajonathan - That first rock you've been showing pictures of is all over the map cool! I really like the area starting to show up top. I can't wait to see pics of slices from the fattest part of it! My wife is always making comments about me working on cabs out in the unheated garage late at night...she doesn't understand either...but is very tolerant of my seemingly abnormal behavior! LOL Brian - Are you planning on tumbling that, or leaving it "as-is"?
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723 
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 22, 2021 11:22:37 GMT -5
Beautiful slabs on all of the above.... Gotta love Montana moss agates, nothing better in my opinion...
I learned a trick from my Uncle with banded Montana agates... Cut into the band (Not with the bands) and you will get more color and designs off the material...
I tried it and it just "Pops" with awesomeness....
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 22, 2021 11:42:35 GMT -5
Those are some nice looking slabs, Jonathon. You're not the only one in Michigan cutting rocks. Our wives don't need to understand, as long as they let us play.
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
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Post by Brian on Jan 22, 2021 11:53:47 GMT -5
holajonathan - That first rock you've been showing pictures of is all over the map cool! I really like the area starting to show up top. I can't wait to see pics of slices from the fattest part of it! My wife is always making comments about me working on cabs out in the unheated garage late at night...she doesn't understand either...but is very tolerant of my seemingly abnormal behavior! LOL Brian - Are you planning on tumbling that, or leaving it "as-is"? I have no plans yet for mine. I have a nice variety of other Montana agate, so there is no rush to do anything. One idea I was tossing about was to cut a really thick slab (3/4 to 1”) and face polish both sides. That would leave the rest to tumble because I am curious to see how those bands would look nicely tumbled. |
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Post by holajonathan on Jan 22, 2021 12:02:44 GMT -5
I just came across a very similar looking rock that I believe is Montana agate as well. It was already end-sliced and I wasn’t sure that it was actually Montana agate due to the banding but the colors were similar to the other pieces that came with it and the exterior was also identical. I will try to put up a picture of it later today. This is the piece I have. It looks pretty similar to me. Ver Very similar for sure. I like it. Cut it thin for good translucence. I cut about 7/32" and now wish I had gone a little thinner, at least 6/32" |
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Post by holajonathan on Jan 22, 2021 12:07:08 GMT -5
Beautiful slabs on all of the above.... Gotta love Montana moss agates, nothing better in my opinion... I learned a trick from my Uncle with banded Montana agates... Cut into the band (Not with the bands) and you will get more color and designs off the material... I tried it and it just "Pops" with awesomeness.... Excuse my ignorance, but I am cutting the first rock "into the bands" (not with the bands), correct? I considered cutting at a 45 degree angle to the bands, in effect making the bands much wider than they are when cut at a 90 degree angle like I did. I may try this with the thick end cut that I took off to get started, if I can figure out a way to securely clamp it in the vise at that angle. |
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Post by holajonathan on Jan 22, 2021 12:22:15 GMT -5
holajonathan - That first rock you've been showing pictures of is all over the map cool! I really like the area starting to show up top. I can't wait to see pics of slices from the fattest part of it! My wife is always making comments about me working on cabs out in the unheated garage late at night...she doesn't understand either...but is very tolerant of my seemingly abnormal behavior! LOL I like it too. The rock has at least 7 or 8 more slabs in it, but I might hold off on more cutting until a narrower kerf blade that I ordered arrives. I want to really slice it thin from here on out without losing half the rock to the blade. If you PM me you address I'm happy to mail you a slab of it. It appears very solid with no significant fractures. By the time I finish cutting the rock the area starting to form at the top will be 90% of the face, as that part continues to grow and the banding continues to shrink. I know understand the praise that many others on this board have bestowed on these Montana moss agates. They are becoming my favorites, also. Many have ostensibly simple colors and patterns, that nevertheless keep my interest longer than the wild and impossibly complex designs of agates like Mexican crazy lace, for example. They are a rock-lover's rock. |
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Post by holajonathan on Jan 22, 2021 13:04:19 GMT -5
Jugglerguy Look what I noticed the other day?   Those shiny rocks you sent me ended up in a small bowl (that I carved) and displayed prominently on the dining room table. I am not a jealous man, but none of my tumbles have made it to the dining room table... Silvana likes rocks almost as much as I do. Or she is just incredibly gracious. She is an art lover and knows much more than me about paintings, painters, and art styles. When I show her moss agates, plume agates, and the like, she often pulls up an impressionist painting that has details similar to the rock. She likens the Montana moss agates to a traditional form of Japanese art done with black ink on white canvas. In short, we make a good team. I've yet to convince her to help me with tumbling. She thinks tumbling slurry is "gross." Hard to believe, I know.
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Post by holajonathan on Jan 22, 2021 13:16:40 GMT -5
Jugglerguy Look what I noticed the other day? Those shiny rocks you sent me ended up in a small bowl (that I carved) and displayed prominently on the dining room table. I am not a jealous man, but none of my tumbles have made it to the dining room table... Silvana likes rocks almost as much as I do. Or she is just incredibly gracious. She is an art lover and knows much more than me about paintings, painters, and art styles. When I show her moss agates, plume agates, and the like, she often pulls up an impressionist painting that has details similar to the rock. She likens the Montana moss agates to a traditional form of Japanese art done with black ink on white canvas. In short, we make a good team. I've yet to convince her to help me with tumbling. She thinks tumbling slurry is "gross." Hard to believe, I know. For anyone else reading this, Rob was kind enough to send me a selection of his very shiny tumbles so I could compare the shine to what I am able to achieve. The most "polishable" types (obsidian, epidote, lavic jasper) are impossibly shiny. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 22, 2021 13:28:24 GMT -5
holajonathan - That first rock you've been showing pictures of is all over the map cool! I really like the area starting to show up top. I can't wait to see pics of slices from the fattest part of it! My wife is always making comments about me working on cabs out in the unheated garage late at night...she doesn't understand either...but is very tolerant of my seemingly abnormal behavior! LOL Brian - Are you planning on tumbling that, or leaving it "as-is"? I have no plans yet for mine. I have a nice variety of other Montana agate, so there is no rush to do anything. One idea I was tossing about was to cut a really thick slab (3/4 to 1”) and face polish both sides. That would leave the rest to tumble because I am curious to see how those bands would look nicely tumbled. I know several members have tumbled slabs and it is just astounding to me! I have only face polished one thing so far and that's a Fairburn from MikeT. I think the bands would look great tumbled!  holajonathan - That first rock you've been showing pictures of is all over the map cool! I really like the area starting to show up top. I can't wait to see pics of slices from the fattest part of it! My wife is always making comments about me working on cabs out in the unheated garage late at night...she doesn't understand either...but is very tolerant of my seemingly abnormal behavior! LOL I like it too. The rock has at least 7 or 8 more slabs in it, but I might hold off on more cutting until a narrower kerf blade that I ordered arrives. I want to really slice it thin from here on out without losing half the rock to the blade. If you PM me you address I'm happy to mail you a slab of it. It appears very solid with no significant fractures. By the time I finish cutting the rock the area starting to form at the top will be 90% of the face, as that part continues to grow and the banding continues to shrink. I know understand the praise that many others on this board have bestowed on these Montana moss agates. They are becoming my favorites, also. Many have ostensibly simple colors and patterns, that nevertheless keep my interest longer than the wild and impossibly complex designs of agates like Mexican crazy lace, for example. They are a rock-lover's rock. I absolutely understand about waiting for the narrower kerf - I think it's a wise idea! However, I'd be chomping at the bit while waiting! LOL Wow. I really appreciate that offer. I'm really starting to like moss agates more than I did when I first started seeing them. However, I feel like I have to love material in the crazy lace family. I agree it has patterning which is "impossibly complex"...very similar to my wife's emotions...and I love her! LOL Jugglerguy Look what I noticed the other day? Those shiny rocks you sent me were placed in a small bowl (that I carved) and displayed prominently on the dining room table. I am not a jealous man, but none of my tumbles have ever been put on the dining room table... Silvana likes rocks almost as much as I do. Or she is just incredibly gracious. She is an art lover and knows much more than me about paintings, painters, and art styles. When I show her moss agates, plume agates, and the like, she often pulls up an impressionist painting that has details similar to the rock. She likens the Montana moss agates to a traditional form of Japanese art done with black ink on white canvas. In short, we make a good team. I've yet to convince her to help me with tumbling. She thinks tumbling slurry is "gross." Hard to believe, I know. That looks a whole lot better than my dining room table at the moment...which is covered in templates, preforms, dop sticks, and a bunch of other stuff for cabbing! LOL Please let Silvana know that pictures of her dining room look like they could be in a magazine for home decor! |
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rockstock
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2019
Posts: 472
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Post by rockstock on Jan 22, 2021 13:40:27 GMT -5
Awesome Montana! I have some rough, hope to have some interesting cuts happen anywhere close to this.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 22, 2021 13:48:51 GMT -5
Jugglerguy ]For anyone else reading this, Rob was kind enough to send me a selection of his very shiny tumbles so I could compare the shine to what I am able to achieve. The most "polishable" types (obsidian, epidote, lavic jasper) are impossibly shiny. What Jonathan didn’t mention is that he sent me a cup wheel, some nice grinding wheels and some rocks. I sent him a very small package in return. Thanks Jonathan! |
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Post by holajonathan on Jan 22, 2021 14:15:01 GMT -5
jasoninsdWe have no children. Just two cats. Only Silvana uses the dining room, and she is cleaner than me. That's why it looks nice. I haven't ruined it. The 2 or 3 rooms of the house that I use look more like this:  Bark on the floor, empty boxes in a pile, wood ash strewn about... I keep my rocks in the barn as to not bring the mess into the house. I also work out of my barn, which means no one (except me) knows when I am working and when I am working on rocks. I have considered moving my rocks and equipment into the basement, but I am worried about how my prima donna, spoiled rotten, literally-receive-more-attention-than-half-the-world's-children cats would react to the noise. And I'm afraid that fine rock dust would somehow get sucked into the HVAC system and blown throughout the house, and into the air we breathe.
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Post by holajonathan on Jan 22, 2021 14:19:16 GMT -5
Awesome Montana! I have some rough, hope to have some interesting cuts happen anywhere close to this. I've yet to cut one that I consider uninteresting. But I have cut one or two that were fractured to the point of being not good for much. Oddly, most of the fractures go from one side of the rock to the other and yet, you can't see the fractures until you tumble or cut the rocks. |
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