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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 7, 2021 18:07:52 GMT -5
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Post by stephan on Oct 7, 2021 18:30:16 GMT -5
Cool all around, but that sponge is super-cool. What a great find! Nice work on those.
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 7, 2021 18:50:05 GMT -5
Cool all around, but that sponge is super-cool. What a great find! Nice work on those. Thank you my friend!  This afternoon was the first time I zoomed in through the loupe on those sponges...I agree "super cool"! |
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lunker
Cave Dweller 
Member since April 2021
Posts: 430
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Post by lunker on Oct 7, 2021 22:59:11 GMT -5
Very cool
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 7, 2021 23:01:39 GMT -5
Thanks Lunk! When I first started working that sponge, I wasn't sure it was going to take a shine or not. But it kind of came alive on the 1200 disk. And I'm really enamored with that first unknown. LOL |
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lunker
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2021
Posts: 430
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Post by lunker on Oct 7, 2021 23:06:51 GMT -5
Thanks Lunk! When I first started working that sponge, I wasn't sure it was going to take a shine or not. But it kind of came alive on the 1200 disk. And I'm really enamored with that first unknown. LOL Yes that one is great. It reminds me of laying under fall trees and looking at a gray sky. |
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Post by holajonathan on Oct 8, 2021 0:32:37 GMT -5
The Syringopora Sponge is the hands down winner if you ask me -- although the moss agate is some nice material as well. I probably would have been afraid to cab a rock like the Syringopora Sponge because it looks like it would be unstable and undercut horribly. It was obviously solid enough to hold up to cabbing, and if it did undercut, I can't tell and it doesn't matter. I guess the moral of the story is -- when the rock is really awesome, cab it, and don't worry too much about whether the finish will be flawless.
As to your moss agate, I doubt that you will have any more luck that I have had when asking for help with moss agate ID. Moss agates must not be distinctive enough to be able to nail down where they come from. I have seen moss agates with that color scheme from Texas, but I can't say with any certainly whatsoever that your rock is from Texas.
Your last wild rock is from Mexico. 100% certain.
Just kidding. I haven't got a clue! I have never seen a rock with those colors. It looks like a vein agate or some sort.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 8, 2021 0:49:57 GMT -5
Thanks Lunk! When I first started working that sponge, I wasn't sure it was going to take a shine or not. But it kind of came alive on the 1200 disk. And I'm really enamored with that first unknown. LOL Jason, you've been extra busy lately! Have enjoyed seeing the progress you have been making with your cabbing, and loving your work. You just keep getting better! I've always loved the syringopora. It is for sure a fossil, but it is not a sponge. It is actually an extinct genus of phaceloid tabulate coral. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 8, 2021 0:50:12 GMT -5
The Syringopora Sponge is the hands down winner if you ask me -- although the moss agate is some nice material as well. I probably would have been afraid to cab a rock like the Syringopora Sponge because it looks like it would be unstable and undercut horribly. It was obviously solid enough to hold up to cabbing, and if it did undercut, I can't tell and it doesn't matter. I guess the moral of the story is -- when the rock is really awesome, cab it, and don't worry too much about whether the finish will be flawless. As to your moss agate, I doubt that you will have any more luck that I have had when asking for help with moss agate ID. Moss agates must not be distinctive enough to be able to nail down where they come from. I have seen moss agates with that color scheme from Texas, but I can't say with any certainly whatsoever that your rock is from Texas. Your last wild rock is from Mexico. 100% certain. Just kidding. I haven't got a clue! I have never seen a rock with those colors. It looks like a vein agate or some sort. Thank you my friend! I find Syringopora Sponge quite frequently out here, but the tubes are generally empty...just hollow holes. I've found a couple where the tubes were still filled, so I thought "what the heck" and slabbed the best one I had. I figure I'd find some more if it fell apart. LOL It's really solid. There was NO undercutting in the tubes. I was very surprised. I was expecting a little, but there is absolutely none. There are some white specks that look like there on the surface, but there a part of the "matrix". I still have four more preforms to work at some point. I was talking with stephan via PM about that moss agate. He suggested West Texas Plume Agate also. So, that might be the closest "guesstimate" I'm going to get. (Thank you both for giving your thoughts on it! ) I think the darker colors than the ones I'm working from you as well as the Hematite was keeping me from being certain it was from Texas. Not that there aren't differing colors coming from Texas. LOL Yeah...that last one has been on my radar ever since I saw it in that hodgepodge of material. I have NO clue what to even start looking for with regards to a possible identification. I wish I could get a better picture of it. To me, it looks like a Thunderegg that took a hit of acid! LOL |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 8, 2021 0:56:13 GMT -5
Thanks Lunk! When I first started working that sponge, I wasn't sure it was going to take a shine or not. But it kind of came alive on the 1200 disk. And I'm really enamored with that first unknown. LOL Jason, you've been extra busy lately! Have enjoyed seeing the progress you have been making with your cabbing, and loving your work. You just keep getting better! I've always loved the syringopora. It is for sure a fossil, but it is not a sponge. It is actually an extinct genus of phaceloid tabulate coral. Thank you SO much Jean! I really appreciate the compliment. And thank you for correcting me! I fixed the title and the original post...I'm too lazy right now to fix the rest of my posts...maybe tomorrow. LOL I'm hoping I can find some more with the tubes filled. Most of what I find has empty tubes...so I suppose I could make some Swiss Cheese type cabs from those! LOL |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 8, 2021 1:02:49 GMT -5
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CLErocks
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2021
Posts: 342
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Post by CLErocks on Oct 8, 2021 8:15:35 GMT -5
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 8, 2021 8:27:45 GMT -5
More winners! I'm with Jean, you are really taking off!
I have some of that sponge/coral, but it isn't as nice as yours. I got it off ebay where it was advertised as being good for knife handles. Don't know about that, but I like the cabs.
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 8, 2021 8:50:40 GMT -5
Thank you so much! I wish I had more of that material...whatever it is! All I had was enough to make one cab.  Just over a year ago I joined this forum because I was interested in hounding...that led to tumbling...which led to cabbing with a Dremel...which led to cabbing on a slant cabber. When I say "rabbit hole", I ain't kidding! LOL More winners! I'm with Jean, you are really taking off!
I have some of that sponge/coral, but it isn't as nice as yours. I got it off ebay where it was advertised as being good for knife handles. Don't know about that, but I like the cabs.
Thank you so very much Tela! That means a lot. The sponge I worked was somewhere in the Mohs 6 range (I'm estimating). It was pretty sturdy stuff. I think it could hold up pretty well as a knife handle. I will say that I KNOW it's hard enough to use as a weapon to fend off the "vicious" attacks of some poor Stick insect...it might save your pride a little bit!   |
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Post by miket on Oct 8, 2021 9:39:53 GMT -5
Very nice cabs, my friend!
You've been producing some great work, keep it up!
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oldschoolrocker
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,578
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Post by oldschoolrocker on Oct 8, 2021 9:50:14 GMT -5
Great work on all of them! I personally get an extra bit of enjoyment from cabbing my own finds, especially the oddities and unknowns so I really dig the coral cab! But that moss agate takes it for me. Beautiful! Love the shape and color scheme! And as others have said it's fun to watch how quickly your skills have progressed! Keep up good work!
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Post by holajonathan on Oct 8, 2021 10:00:03 GMT -5
Yeah...that last one has been on my radar ever since I saw it in that hodgepodge of material. I have NO clue what to even start looking for with regards to a possible identification. I wish I could get a better picture of it. To me, it looks like a Thunderegg that took a hit of acid! LOL You could be on to something with the thunderegg idea. The sort of cloudy translucent part in the middle is consistent with thundereggs I have seen, and they do often have strange colors not common in agates. |
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Post by Rockindad on Oct 8, 2021 10:05:17 GMT -5
No doubt the coral is cool but that moss is killer. Way to bring out the best from the material.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 8, 2021 10:18:58 GMT -5
Oooh-la-la jasoninsd! Love the Syringopora and the moss. Gorgeous stones.
And look at you taking pictures through a loop! You got some really awesome shots that way. I agree with everyone else -- you have come a long way very quickly. Your technique, the shapes you're attempting and everything. I remember not that long ago, all you were doing were ovals. 
It gives me a lot of pleasure seeing your progression and enjoying the fabulous cabs you're turning out.
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 8, 2021 11:20:36 GMT -5
Very nice cabs, my friend! You've been producing some great work, keep it up! Thank you so much my friend! Seriously, I owe the beginning of all this to you! Without your ability to cab with a Dremel, I'm not too sure I would have attempted it...and now look where it's lead. Great work on all of them! I personally get an extra bit of enjoyment from cabbing my own finds, especially the oddities and unknowns so I really dig the coral cab! But that moss agate takes it for me. Beautiful! Love the shape and color scheme! And as others have said it's fun to watch how quickly your skills have progressed! Keep up good work! Thank you very much! I too enjoy cabbing my own finds! I have a ton of Prairie Agates that I can cab...but when I find something extra special like the coral, there's an added pleasure or satisfaction to it! The slabette I had of that material just called for this shape so there wasn't much of any wasted material...and I wish I could find more of it as I love the looks of this stuff! Yeah...that last one has been on my radar ever since I saw it in that hodgepodge of material. I have NO clue what to even start looking for with regards to a possible identification. I wish I could get a better picture of it. To me, it looks like a Thunderegg that took a hit of acid! LOL You could be on to something with the thunderegg idea. The sort of cloudy translucent part in the middle is consistent with thundereggs I have seen, and they do often have strange colors not common in agates. When I first looked at the tumbled rock...it was like that when I got it...it didn't look like a "Thunderegg" initially. But after closer inspection while working it, that's what immediately came to mind. I'm very curious to know if I'll ever find out the material. No doubt the coral is cool but that moss is killer. Way to bring out the best from the material. Thanks Al! I agree...I think the coral is really cool because of what's going on in the tubes...but for me, the moss agate steals the show with this batch. Oooh-la-la jasoninsd ! Love the Syringopora and the moss. Gorgeous stones.
And look at you taking pictures through a loop! You got some really awesome shots that way. I agree with everyone else -- you have come a long way very quickly. Your technique, the shapes you're attempting and everything. I remember not that long ago, all you were doing were ovals.
It gives me a lot of pleasure seeing your progression and enjoying the fabulous cabs you're turning out.
Oh Robin...you're making me blush! Thank you so so much! Taking pics through the loupe was a little easier on the old phone due to where the lens was located...this new phone it's a little more of a pain in the tail, but totally worth it! As far as the shapes...I find it SUPER difficult to do straight edges on the flat lap (slant cabber) for the last 6 months. That's why I've mainly stuck to ovals and teardrops. However, I've been working on a different technique which seems to make the grind go a little better, making a straight edge a little easier to do...and when I say a little, I mean a LITTLE easier! LOL Just like with what I said to Mike...you're another reason I've been able to progress as quickly as I have. Without your input in a LOT of areas, I believe I would still be stuck back at stage one. |
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