standles
spending too much on rocks
Well all I got was a rock ... Cool!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 325 
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Post by standles on May 13, 2021 19:51:05 GMT -5
Hello friends:
I was gifted a hunk or two of amber and was going to see about making a couple cabs for rings/bracelets. I took a small piece and ran it through the cab wheel up to 6000.
That's when I knew this wasn't gonna be easy.
I found out Amber is alot softer than I thought it would be. I have had rosin hunks about same softness. Even though I ran it up through the grits I did not get a shine on it. it was smooth (until I dropped it and it shattered which is why no pics) but dull and had what looked like smear spots on it. I searched and found posts on testing for true amber versus copal and others along with heat treating it so will do that to whats left.
So If any of you have played with amber please shoot me a few tips.
Thanks, Steven
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Post by jasoninsd on May 13, 2021 20:54:09 GMT -5
I kind of messed around with an Amber back in High School, but that's a totally different subject!  |
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Post by RickB on May 13, 2021 21:16:38 GMT -5
I kind of messed around with an Amber back in High School, but that's a totally different subject! Any ants or other insects? |
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standles
spending too much on rocks
Well all I got was a rock ... Cool!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 325
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Post by standles on May 13, 2021 21:49:37 GMT -5
I kind of messed around with an Amber back in High School, but that's a totally different subject! Dude.. you just aint right  |
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Post by jasoninsd on May 13, 2021 22:57:25 GMT -5
I kind of messed around with an Amber back in High School, but that's a totally different subject! Any ants or other insects? Nothing like what's in your new profile pic, if that's what you're asking! LOL I kind of messed around with an Amber back in High School, but that's a totally different subject! Dude.. you just aint right  (I'll apologize for sidetracking the thread. ) |
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on May 14, 2021 6:15:02 GMT -5
Amber (the mineral, not jasoninsd long lost love) is very heat sensitive. If I remember correctly it needs to go up to 50K to get any kind of shine. I also remember that a hand polish (with something like ZAM) works pretty good also. |
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standles
spending too much on rocks
Well all I got was a rock ... Cool!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 325
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Post by standles on May 14, 2021 8:29:33 GMT -5
Amber (the mineral, not jasoninsd long lost love) is very heat sensitive. If I remember correctly it needs to go up to 50K to get any kind of shine. I also remember that a hand polish (with something like ZAM) works pretty good also. Thanks for info. Once I saw how soft it was I did max out water on cab wheels to keep them clean and the amber cool. Mabye after initial shapping it would be better to hand finish them. Although after seeing how soft they are I do not think they would be robust enough for a ring or pendant. Probably scratch to easily. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on May 14, 2021 8:58:35 GMT -5
I don't know this for sure because I've never cabbed amber, but I do remember reading a long time ago that to polish it folks would just rub it on on denim. If you have a small piece from the one you dropped (  ), try it and let us know. |
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on May 14, 2021 9:30:08 GMT -5
Yes Robin! I remember reading that too! I completely forgotten about that trick.
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standles
spending too much on rocks
Well all I got was a rock ... Cool!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 325
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Post by standles on May 14, 2021 10:33:34 GMT -5
I don't know this for sure because I've never cabbed amber, but I do remember reading a long time ago that to polish it folks would just rub it on on denim. If you have a small piece from the one you dropped ( ), try it and let us know. Neat trick. I see what I can salvage and give it a try. I'll take pics this time as well. |
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,061
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Post by gemfeller on May 14, 2021 15:31:11 GMT -5
A long time ago I cabbed a bunch of Domincan amber. It's extremely heat-sensitive and will actually melt if heated too much during polishing. As I recall I had good results on my Genie using lots of water and finer grit soft wheels mainly. I don't recall if I shaped it with a hard 220 or 600 or just used soft wheels, but I was able to get a great polish by taking it up to 3K soft and buffing with cloth. I even found a bug that look like a flea. Goes to prove the old saying: "Fleas: Adam had 'em."
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Post by rmf on May 14, 2021 20:06:56 GMT -5
standles smear spots are a sign of copal not amber. You can't look at it and tel lthe difference but copal is <10000 years old and Amber is >10000 years old and the age really makes a difference. I bought some "amber" that turned out to be copal and discovered this the hard way. I have since been commissioned to cut someone's amber and it was soft but took a great polish using light touch and being careful not to get it hot.
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standles
spending too much on rocks
Well all I got was a rock ... Cool!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 325
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Post by standles on May 15, 2021 8:48:42 GMT -5
standles smear spots are a sign of copal not amber. You can't look at it and tel lthe difference but copal is <10000 years old and Amber is >10000 years old and the age really makes a difference. I bought some "amber" that turned out to be copal and discovered this the hard way. I have since been commissioned to cut someone's amber and it was soft but took a great polish using light touch and being careful not to get it hot. Yeah I had seen some references to that in my searching. One test was heat a pin and see if it burns and smells like pine when pressed into "amber" if so it is copal. Another was wipe with acetone or alchohol and if affected it is copal. One of my todos this weekend. Steven |
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Post by stephan on May 15, 2021 11:31:50 GMT -5
Amber (the mineral, not jasoninsd long lost love) is very heat sensitive. If I remember correctly it needs to go up to 50K to get any kind of shine. I also remember that a hand polish (with something like ZAM) works pretty good also. Thanks for info. Once I saw how soft it was I did max out water on cab wheels to keep them clean and the amber cool. Mabye after initial shapping it would be better to hand finish them. Although after seeing how soft they are I do not think they would be robust enough for a ring or pendant. Probably scratch to easily. Hardness is 2-2.5... fingernail territory |
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,061
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Post by gemfeller on May 15, 2021 14:06:15 GMT -5
standles smear spots are a sign of copal not amber. You can't look at it and tel lthe difference but copal is <10000 years old and Amber is >10000 years old and the age really makes a difference. I bought some "amber" that turned out to be copal and discovered this the hard way. I have since been commissioned to cut someone's amber and it was soft but took a great polish using light touch and being careful not to get it hot. I'm 99% sure my Dominican material is amber, not copal. The source is well documented and my supplier was legit. I think I have a few pieces left if I can find them (just moved). If you can determine true amber from copal I'll send you a little chunk to test. |
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Post by rmf on May 16, 2021 17:56:36 GMT -5
standles smear spots are a sign of copal not amber. You can't look at it and tel lthe difference but copal is <10000 years old and Amber is >10000 years old and the age really makes a difference. I bought some "amber" that turned out to be copal and discovered this the hard way. I have since been commissioned to cut someone's amber and it was soft but took a great polish using light touch and being careful not to get it hot. I'm 99% sure my Dominican material is amber, not copal. The source is well documented and my supplier was legit. I think I have a few pieces left if I can find them (just moved). If you can determine true amber from copal I'll send you a little chunk to test. No need the acetone/alcohol test is pretty diagnostic. I have also tried that on my copal. It is really interesting what a little more time does to sap. I wish there was a way to put it under pressure and heat and speed up the process. |
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Post by stardiamond on May 16, 2021 18:20:16 GMT -5
My knowledge of amber is limited. About 35 years ago I was working as a contract programmer and two of the female employees were from Russia. They wore a lot of amber. Premium amber is expensive. They wore a lot of polished chunks as necklaces. I don't anyone would be interested in cabbing it.
I would wonder if freezing amber before working would be helpful.
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Post by opalpyrexia on May 16, 2021 20:36:40 GMT -5
Can't offer any advice myself, except to point out that the Ganoksin archive has more than a dozen discussions on polishing amber. It might be worth reading those posts: Polish Amber |
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nik
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2019
Posts: 315
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Post by nik on May 16, 2021 23:23:44 GMT -5
I have cut a few pieces of amber over the years. The best luck I had was just using hand tools and sand paper. It is soft enough that a hacksaw and files make quick work of rough shaping, then sand paper from about 150 to 1000 to smooth it out, and liquid or paste polish for plastic or headlight repair on cotton cloth for the final shine. The biggest thing I remember is to keep the heat to a minimum.
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standles
spending too much on rocks
Well all I got was a rock ... Cool!
Member since February 2021
Posts: 325
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Post by standles on May 16, 2021 23:57:25 GMT -5
I have cut a few pieces of amber over the years. The best luck I had was just using hand tools and sand paper. It is soft enough that a hacksaw and files make quick work of rough shaping, then sand paper from about 150 to 1000 to smooth it out, and liquid or paste polish for plastic or headlight repair on cotton cloth for the final shine. The biggest thing I remember is to keep the heat to a minimum. Thx. Yes I have found that heat management is critical. Very light cuts flooded with water or as you suggest hand tools |
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), try it and let us know.
