fencejumper
Cave Dweller 
Member since May 2021
Posts: 441
|
Post by fencejumper on May 16, 2021 9:10:47 GMT -5
Working with this material is a love hate relationship. mostly hate,but when love comes in?,she is sweet. the return rate on these is typically is 50/50. the more time you spend examining the slab,the better off you will be. good eyesight is key. i will hold the slab 8 inches above my stainless work bench and drop it flat. the pieces are what determines my design.  IMG_7468 3 by paul forsythe, on Flickr  IMG_7469 3 by paul forsythe, on Flickr |
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on May 16, 2021 9:12:51 GMT -5
Absolutely beautiful! I do the drop thing, too, on a lot of material.
|
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on May 16, 2021 9:29:39 GMT -5
Those are gorgeous, Paul! My favorite one is the last picture right side. 
|
|
|
|
Post by stardiamond on May 16, 2021 11:14:22 GMT -5
The strong patterned stuff.
Dropping a slab is probably more for entertainment. The unhealed and partially healed fractures are obvious and any line can be a fully healed fracture which may hold and may not. A surprise fracture is one where the pieces look like they were glued together.
Vugs are like sink holes in a slab, not clearly visible and will sometimes not break. When grinding a vug, three things can happen, it goes away, it gets better or it gets worse.
All a person can ask for is that a preform blows up as early as possible.
|
|
|
|
Post by opalpyrexia on May 16, 2021 11:44:44 GMT -5
Beautiful!
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
|
Post by stefan on May 16, 2021 11:47:09 GMT -5
The strong patterned stuff. Dropping a slab is probably more for entertainment. The unhealed and partially healed fractures are obvious and any line can be a fully healed fracture which may hold and may not. A surprise fracture is one where the pieces look like they were glued together. Vugs are like sink holes in a slab, not clearly visible and will sometimes not break. When grinding a vug, three things can happen, it goes away, it gets better or it gets worse. All a person can ask for is that a preform blows up as early as possible. Yea I stopped dropping slabs and started studying them. The more you look the better. I also spray them with water and watch what the water does. You will be amazed how a hidden fracture will bubble! Soft spots will absorb the water and appear dry. Often times problem areas show themselves when wet. |
|
Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
|
Post by Brian on May 16, 2021 13:04:23 GMT -5
Beautiful cabs! I’d say the unfrequent successes and frustrations are well worth it when they turn out like that!
|
|
