unclesamster
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2021
Posts: 15
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Post by unclesamster on Aug 24, 2021 18:07:52 GMT -5
I have been going to Orderville Utah for years and had now idea about the septarian nodules in that area until this last winter, when I got into rock tumbling. I thought it would be fun, so we went and talked to the guys at Joe's Rock Shop. They were nice and gave us a map and info about where to look. They also told us no one has any mineral rights up there at the moment. I know there has been a lot of debate about weather it's legal to gather them on public land, but I think it's fine right now, just in case anyone is looking into it at the moment. I finally decided to cut them up, but I don't have the right tools for the job. I used a small tile saw to cut both sides, trying to line up the cuts just right, and an angle grinder to smooth it out and try to make a flat surface that I could polish with some of those diamond polishing pads. Needless to say, it was a disaster. They look like garbage and didn't get very shiny. Granted, they weren't very quality pieces to start with. I was going to make them as Christmas gifts for some family that we vacation with in Orderville. I know it's probably super lame to non-rock people, but I thought it would be fun. So, I'd like to make it work if I can. So my question is.... are these salvageable? There are some pretty deep scratches that I couldn't get with the diamond polishing pads. Is it possible to just go over the bad spots with a dremel and some kind of compound to smooth and shine them up? If I could repair the bad spots without starting over, could I make the polish any better by running it on my bench grinder with a cloth wheel and some kind of compound? I have like 10 times more of these and most are bigger and more complete pieces, but I can't cut deep enough with anything I have, so I'll probably just have to toss all the others. I thought it would be easier, that's my motto after every project I've ever started.      |
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Post by mohs on Aug 24, 2021 18:30:58 GMT -5
wow sam those are nice  and nothing is easy m  slty definitely difficult to slab manually w/ a small tile saw so the goal is to polish up a a large flat as a display piece ? I never done that but other will have good advice but first is to get a good slab sliced you may have to invest or job it out good luck look forward to the progress |
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Post by Pat on Aug 24, 2021 18:46:09 GMT -5
I like your unconventional Septarian nodule shapes!! I’ve never made a sphere, and have a 4” tile saw I use for preforms.
I think you are on to something good!!
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Post by jasoninsd on Aug 24, 2021 18:56:19 GMT -5
Dang Sam. There's got to be a way of salvaging those. I've only cut one Septarian Nodule - on my 10" saw. It was super soft...in fact, one of the softest materials I've ever worked. I would think if you could get access to a large enough saw, a small sliver could be taken off the surface eliminating the problems and "starting over". However, without access to a large saw, maybe using a coarse grit on the angle grinder would take enough surface off to eliminate the problems.
I'm sure someone on here will have found a solution somewhere in their past...
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rewdownunder
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 357
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Post by rewdownunder on Aug 24, 2021 20:32:48 GMT -5
I have been collecting septarians for almost 35 years and give a presentation on them to rock clubs and geology classes. Many of the mine owners are not mining right now because of the high cost of fuel. Most of the old claim owners are in Delta Utah and there are several shops that sell them. Very easy material to work with and takes a great polish but you are going to need a bigger saw to get a flat surface then polish on a flat lap. You can collect at the surface all you want but most of the big open pits have been backfilled. If it rains in that area get out fast 4X4 will not help you the worst mud I have ever be in. I have done a few free forms with an angle grinder and diamond pads but it takes a bit of time. The material is so soft you could polish a flat surface on a glass plate with SC grit. Sometimes you can find some great ones in the creek in the Spring as they erode out of the formation. You have some interesting chunks good luck. Try to find a rock club in your area and they may make a few cuts for you. It cuts so quick and easy with the right saw.
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JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 807
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Post by JR8675309 on Aug 24, 2021 21:09:43 GMT -5
unclesamster can you mail a few flat rate and have someone cut them for you?
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unclesamster
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2021
Posts: 15
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Post by unclesamster on Aug 26, 2021 9:26:44 GMT -5
Thank you everyone for your help and encouragement. I don't know how to quote or reply to multiple people individually in one post, I will have to look into that. I started with these already fractured pieces that already had a bad section to cut along. I didn't really have any kind of plan in mind as to how they would turn out or what purpose they would serve. These were kind of my practice pieces to play around with, but I think I will try to keep these and clean them up. I'll try out some unconventional methods using the tools I have until I come up with something that works, because I have more time than money at this stage of life haha. In another post, people recommended joining a club. I think I will join one and see if someone wants all the rest of the bigger pieces because I can always go get more later down the road when I have better equipment. Someone may even cut me off one nice piece if they were interested in keeping the rest.
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Post by fernwood on Aug 26, 2021 10:27:40 GMT -5
They are very nice pieces.
Yes, join a local club. Members there will have some advice. some might even cut you a few slabs.
Please keep us updated.
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JR8675309
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2019
Posts: 807
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Post by JR8675309 on Aug 26, 2021 15:20:18 GMT -5
unclesamster you can tag people using @ and their handle name (hiver Over yellow name). Why not make a deal with someone who has a saw? if they slab half they can have half... or something agreeable. Just a thought.
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Post by jasoninsd on Aug 26, 2021 20:11:39 GMT -5
Thank you everyone for your help and encouragement. I don't know how to quote or reply to multiple people individually in one post, I will have to look into that. I started with these already fractured pieces that already had a bad section to cut along. I didn't really have any kind of plan in mind as to how they would turn out or what purpose they would serve. These were kind of my practice pieces to play around with, but I think I will try to keep these and clean them up. I'll try out some unconventional methods using the tools I have until I come up with something that works, because I have more time than money at this stage of life haha. In another post, people recommended joining a club. I think I will join one and see if someone wants all the rest of the bigger pieces because I can always go get more later down the road when I have better equipment. Someone may even cut me off one nice piece if they were interested in keeping the rest. On your PC: At the top right of someone's post, there's the quote button (to quote an individual post), the thumbs up button (to like a post), and then there's the Post Options button. Press the Post Options button and it will bring up a drop down box. Click Select Post. Do this for every post that you want to reply to in a single reply post from you. Once you've select all the posts you want to reply to, scroll down to the bottom of the thread and hit the Reply button on the right. This will take you to the Reply page and will have everyone's post that you chose. Just be sure to type your replies OUTSIDE of their quotes (they'll be in a box). Try it a couple times and you'll get it.  |
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slty 
