agatewhisperer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2020
Posts: 836
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Post by agatewhisperer on Sept 23, 2021 22:16:17 GMT -5
I'm starting to go through slabs of different materials and practice a few cabs at a time. Slab in progress is some noreena jasper! So far I'm liking it...  |
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 23, 2021 22:36:09 GMT -5
I'm starting to go through slabs of different materials and practice a few cabs at a time. Slab in progress is some noreena jasper! So far I'm liking it... How in the heck are you getting that level of polish on that Noreena!?! I've only been able to get a matte finish at best. I've heard it can be the fault of the rough...and I've even been told to dry polish at the 1200 level. However, I'm curious as to how you get this...it's fantastic! |
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Post by stephan on Sept 23, 2021 22:52:41 GMT -5
I'm starting to go through slabs of different materials and practice a few cabs at a time. Slab in progress is some noreena jasper! So far I'm liking it... How in the heck are you getting that level of polish on that Noreena!?! I've only been able to get a matte finish at best. I've heard it can be the fault of the rough...and I've even been told to dry polish at the 1200 level. However, I'm curious as to how you get this...it's fantastic! Yeah… what Jason said…. |
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agatewhisperer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2020
Posts: 836
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Post by agatewhisperer on Sept 23, 2021 22:55:00 GMT -5
jasoninsd thanks! Yeah getting the polish is a very interesting process. It starts with a nice dinner and a little music, followed by some tap dancing... Nah just having some fun. Honestly, I'm not experienced enough to try a ton of different polishing techniques so I just do it the same was as my other rocks! Shape it, soft wheels from 280 up to 3k and then polish it on a leather disk with some micro alumina. I may have gotten lucky with the material?This one came from a new piece I slabbed over the summer but seems to be fairly consistent for the few pieces I've tried. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Give it another try and see how it goes! My biggest problem with noreena ends up being the fractures. I'm getting better about slapping it on the work bench ahead of time... Here it is before and after
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 23, 2021 23:11:44 GMT -5
jasoninsd thanks! Yeah getting the polish is a very interesting process. It starts with a nice dinner and a little music, followed by some tap dancing... Nah just having some fun. Honestly, I'm not experienced enough to try a ton of different polishing techniques so I just do it the same was as my other rocks! Shape it, soft wheels from 280 up to 3k and then polish it on a leather disk with some micro alumina. I may have gotten lucky with the material?This one came from a new piece I slabbed over the summer but seems to be fairly consistent for the few pieces I've tried. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Give it another try and see how it goes! My biggest problem with noreena ends up being the fractures. I'm getting better about slapping it on the work bench ahead of time... Here it is before and after That first part had me rolling! LOL I tell you...if you search Noreena on here, you'll have a hard time finding any better polish than what you got. It really is fantastic! Knock on wood, but mine has been pretty solid...but won't polish the way yours does. (I'm blaming the rough now! LOL) |
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Post by rockjunquie on Sept 24, 2021 5:56:52 GMT -5
Sweet!
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Post by knave on Sept 24, 2021 6:00:28 GMT -5
Noreena Whisperer
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catskillrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,270
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Post by catskillrocks on Sept 24, 2021 16:44:34 GMT -5
Wow, that is one beautiful cab!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Sept 24, 2021 21:20:54 GMT -5
Beautiful cab!
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Post by holajonathan on Sept 24, 2021 21:58:30 GMT -5
How in the heck are you getting that level of polish on that Noreena!?! I've only been able to get a matte finish at best. I've heard it can be the fault of the rough...and I've even been told to dry polish at the 1200 level. However, I'm curious as to how you get this...it's fantastic! Yeah… what Jason said…. The only explanation is that Noreena varies wildly in its silica content. I've bought it twice and none of it will take any shine whatsoever. Luck of the draw, I guess, since I bought it from two reputable rock dealers. |
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Post by stephan on Sept 24, 2021 23:11:45 GMT -5
The only explanation is that Noreena varies wildly in its silica content. I've bought it twice and none of it will take any shine whatsoever. Luck of the draw, I guess, since I bought it from two reputable rock dealers. Must be. The stuff I tried — from multiple sources — was all soft and maxed out at satin finish. Good to know that this exists as well. Mookaite tended to polish like that, and was “harder than the gates of Hell” ( TM Joe Shook, former president and shop steward of the Sacramento Gem & Mineral Society). Different colors, though, for the soft Noreena. I never had any with that gray…. |
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Post by holajonathan on Sept 25, 2021 12:48:10 GMT -5
The only explanation is that Noreena varies wildly in its silica content. I've bought it twice and none of it will take any shine whatsoever. Luck of the draw, I guess, since I bought it from two reputable rock dealers. Must be. The stuff I tried — from multiple sources — was all soft and maxed out at satin finish. Good to know that this exists as well. Mookaite tended to polish like that, and was “harder than the gates of Hell” ( TM Joe Shook, former president and shop steward of the Sacramento Gem & Mineral Society). Different colors, though, for the soft Noreena. I never had any with that gray…. Same experience here. Mookaite, which is similar material, seems more consistent in taking a high shine. The Noreena colors and patters are just so appealing. I would love to buy some more if there was a way to high grade it for silica content. |
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agatewhisperer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2020
Posts: 836
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Post by agatewhisperer on Oct 8, 2021 12:43:34 GMT -5
Still working on this slab. Had one that fell apart on me but here are the other two... Am liking it so far but there are some cracks I can't do a whole lot with. Let me know if that's a no no...   |
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Post by miket on Oct 8, 2021 14:35:43 GMT -5
Beautiful, very nice shine!
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 8, 2021 19:09:16 GMT -5
Those are STILL amazing! I've cabbed numerous pieces that have cracks/fractures. I figure I'm not selling the cab by itself without me wire-wrapping it...so the cracks are what they are. People are either going to want it or they're not.  |
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Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
