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Post by stephan on Feb 23, 2021 10:11:47 GMT -5
A colorful slab:  DSC_2864_Dinosaur bone slab by Stephan T., on Flickr It's a beautiful piece that won't be cabbed, for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, the whole is far better than a collection of cabs would be. Second, it is cut thin, and is heavily fractured. This may also make polishing the whole difficult. Unfortunately, the previous owner shellacked the back, which really emphasizes the saw marks. Has anyone found a way to get rid of this stuff? It would have to be a non-polishing method, as the slab is very thin. Part of an old collection I purchased over a decade ago. Shown wet, under natural, direct sunlight. |
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by Brian on Feb 23, 2021 11:19:21 GMT -5
You’re not even going to mention the big white dog who got ahold of that bone?!?
It sounds like the shellac may have been applied for a good reason if it is thin and heavily fractured. A solvent may be the best way to remove it but I would be hesitant to mess with it unless it is that distracting. If it is actual shellac, you may be able to use denatured alcohol or paint thinner to remove it.
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 23, 2021 11:49:31 GMT -5
OMG Stephan! That is an amazing piece of dino bone! I can see why you'd want to figure out how to keep that one whole...but I can see some amazing cabs coming out of that...if it were only a smidge thicker. Wowzer! Just stunning!  |
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 23, 2021 13:27:21 GMT -5
Nice slab of dino bone!
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Post by stephan on Feb 23, 2021 13:47:57 GMT -5
You’re not even going to mention the big white dog who got ahold of that bone?!? It sounds like the shellac may have been applied for a good reason if it is thin and heavily fractured. A solvent may be the best way to remove it but I would be hesitant to mess with it unless it is that distracting. If it is actual shellac, you may be able to use denatured alcohol or paint thinner to remove it. LOL! The first instance of the bone that ate a dog.... Nope, hadn't even noticed it, and I usually do see interesting pictures... often, things that prove I should never take a Rorschach test. Yeah, I know, I'm hind of hesitant to remove it, in a way. It may be holding it together. It's starting to yellow, so I'm thinking urethane, maybe? Luckily it is just on one side, so, maybe, I'll mount the sprayed side to something (not sure what, to make it look nice). and gently use sandpaper on the side I'm showing, since it is more dull when dry. Fossilman Thanks. I like it a lot. jasoninsd It would be tempting to cab it IFF 1. it was thicker, 2. it was less fractured, 3. I had two, so I could still keep one as a specimen. |
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NRG
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Post by NRG on Feb 23, 2021 16:01:00 GMT -5
I don’t see a dog
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Post by stephan on Feb 23, 2021 17:07:06 GMT -5
A Samoyed or something equally fluffy, facing to the right. Curly tail at about center slab.
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brotherbill
spending too much on rocks
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Post by brotherbill on Feb 23, 2021 17:09:08 GMT -5
Very nice. I could understand keeping it as a specimen but it being thin and fractured.... I think I'd be tempted to make doublets from it.
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Post by Pat on Feb 23, 2021 17:52:13 GMT -5
I see a white fluffy dog facing left. The red dot is its left eye.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 23, 2021 19:52:01 GMT -5
Soaking the slab in acetone would probably get whatever is on the back off. Outside, of course, in a covered tub.
You could try coating it with Hxtal once the other crud is off the back. I would coat the front and let it seep through the fractures. That would hold it together and give it an awesome shine. Hxtal doesn't yellow in our lifetime, as far as Vince and I could find out.
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by Brian on Feb 23, 2021 20:35:14 GMT -5
 NRG, I couldn't see anything else once I saw the eye. |
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NRG
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Post by NRG on Feb 23, 2021 22:43:09 GMT -5
NRG, I couldn't see anything else once I saw the eye. Lol, still don’t see a dog! Maybe I’m mentally ill |
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 23, 2021 23:24:09 GMT -5
NRG , I couldn't see anything else once I saw the eye. Lol, still don’t see a dog! Maybe I’m mentally ill ...or the only sane one! LOL |
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Post by Garage Rocker on Feb 23, 2021 23:25:46 GMT -5
stephan , that is a beautiful slab. The white on red is striking. I'm sure you can make a beautiful display out of it. NRG , you're like me...can't see squat in these rocks that other people see. No imagination, I guess. I was finally so excited to see the perfect star that others saw in the rock below. I felt normal. I mean, I never see the images others see.  Hahahaha, full disclosure, this one's been played before.
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 23, 2021 23:27:10 GMT -5
Very nice. I could understand keeping it as a specimen but it being thin and fractured.... I think I'd be tempted to make doublets from it. Okay...newbie question time. I've seen doublets mentioned a couple times in different threads, but no explanation of what it is. Do you mind letting me know what it is and how it works? |
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 23, 2021 23:28:49 GMT -5
stephan , that is a beautiful slab. The white on red is striking. I'm sure you can make a beautiful display out of it. NRG , you're like me...can't see squat in these rocks that other people see. No imagination, I guess. I was finally so excited to see the perfect star that others saw in the rock below. I felt normal. I mean, I never see the images others see. Hahahaha, full disclosure, this one's been played before. I can't believe you can't see the dinosaur in there!  |
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Post by Garage Rocker on Feb 23, 2021 23:39:57 GMT -5
Very nice. I could understand keeping it as a specimen but it being thin and fractured.... I think I'd be tempted to make doublets from it. Okay...newbie question time. I've seen doublets mentioned a couple times in different threads, but no explanation of what it is. Do you mind letting me know what it is and how it works? I am but a simple tumbler, I know enough to be dangerous. In simplest terms (my understanding), you are using a backing material, behind your desirable stone. I will let the folks with actual knowledge fill in the blanks and tell me if I'm wrong.  |
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Post by stephan on Feb 24, 2021 0:45:36 GMT -5
stephan , that is a beautiful slab. The white on red is striking. I'm sure you can make a beautiful display out of it. NRG , you're like me...can't see squat in these rocks that other people see. No imagination, I guess. I was finally so excited to see the perfect star that others saw in the rock below. I felt normal. I mean, I never see the images others see. Hahahaha, full disclosure, this one's been played before. I can't believe you can't see the dinosaur in there! Two ways it’s usually done, depending on the rock. One way is to back it with something (usually black) to give it contrast, thickness and strength. The second way it to cover it with optical quartz and polish that. Also gives thickness and strength. Can also provide protection for scratch- or fracture-prone stones. I’ve never done this way. I imagine you need a really clear glue, and I’ve often wondered if it really hides the saw marks. I wonder if a specimen-sized doublet would work. Purely a rhetorical fantasy — I do not have that much optical grade quartz, and I can’t imagine it’s cheap. |
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Post by stephan on Feb 24, 2021 0:48:43 GMT -5
NRG , I couldn't see anything else once I saw the eye. What I saw as the tail is now ear. I have to admit, this is a better dog than I saw. It has an eye, and is barking. 🐩 |
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 24, 2021 1:05:04 GMT -5
Okay...newbie question time. I've seen doublets mentioned a couple times in different threads, but no explanation of what it is. Do you mind letting me know what it is and how it works? I am but a simple tumbler, I know enough to be dangerous. In simplest terms (my understanding), you are using a backing material, behind your desirable stone. I will let the folks with actual knowledge fill in the blanks and tell me if I'm wrong. That is not what I was thinking at all! It looks like you were spot on! I can't believe you can't see the dinosaur in there! Two ways it’s usually done, depending on the rock. One way is to back it with something (usually black) to give it contrast, thickness and strength. The second way it to cover it with optical quartz and polish that. Also gives thickness and strength. Can also provide protection for scratch- or fracture-prone stones. I’ve never done this way. I imagine you need a really clear glue, and I’ve often wondered if it really hides the saw marks. I wonder if a specimen-sized doublet would work. Purely a rhetorical fantasy — I do not have that much optical grade quartz, and I can’t imagine it’s cheap. Thanks Stephan! That totally makes sense! I was actually thinking it meant to glue two pieces of the same thin material together from the same slab. It makes sense to use a lesser "grade" material as a backer. That sure would cut back on material required...but more work it would seem. |
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