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Post by stardiamond on Jun 9, 2021 15:07:39 GMT -5
I divide my Riker boxes into two groups; cabs I have listed or plan to list and everything else. Everything else is over 50 boxes. I ran out of boxes for listed cabs and decided to consolidate two everything else boxes so I could store the listed cabs, I've searched through the everything else boxes multiple times. The cab on the left is one of the first ones I made. My wife designed my cabs and didn't think I could work small so I made this 65mm cab from unknown material. It has a nice polish and tin oxide was probably used. It would have been a good candidate for a big and ugly contest. The one in the middle is a 40mm Pietersite. I definitely didn't make it because of the shape and the design. It is marked $3 on the back so my wife must have bought it a show. Nice material so I'll recut it. The one on the right is a mystery. Clay Canyon variscite. Based on the shape and design I could have made it except I doubt I would buy a clay canyon slab. The only clay canyon cab I've made was a recut of one my wife bought and wanted recut to her shape. I started on it and put it aside for over 10 years because I was afraid of it. It was completed and sold.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 9, 2021 15:49:06 GMT -5
The fibrous blue area in the bottom right was distracting so I got rid of most of it with a narrower shape on the bottom. Shape ground and ready to dop. Dome adjustment will be minor.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 9, 2021 17:02:36 GMT -5
I finished it and although the pictures don't show it the polish was slightly better before. I went back to 3,000 and there was some improvement. I might go back to 1200 when I work on the next batch. Polishing is like painting, the prep work is important.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jun 11, 2021 15:21:40 GMT -5
Nice job on the Pietersite. Much better than original.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 11, 2021 20:12:08 GMT -5
Before I knew what a cabochon was my wife started collecting crystals, minerals and cabs. It was all from ebay auctions and she would buy cabs that had nice material and bad framing with the intention of having them recut. I wasn't in the picture. I've recut some cabs where the material was misused. I ground the edges of a Clay Canyon to her design and then let it sit for 10 years because I wasn't ready to dome it. It was easier than I expected. She had a bunch of beautiful, clunky Morrisonite cabs to recut. I've looked at them multiple times and can't improve them.
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