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Post by perkins17 on Oct 25, 2021 20:30:13 GMT -5
I had a Mook that had both and it was a challenge. The right side ground like wood and the left was hard. Making an even dome with two different surfaces required patience.  Thanks for posting this!  Jason With the light touch How do you keep from making “facets”? Well, I try to get my shape as close to possible on the 80 grit. I have the speed on the disk turned way up when it comes to doing the actual shaping, then turn the speed to the slowest setting to get rid of as many "facets" as possible before moving onto the 180 grit hard wheel. The I usually keep the 180 speed down low in order to get rid of the vast majority of "facets"...and anything leftover is taken off with the 220 soft. Now with the Variscite, I didn't even touch it to the 80 grit wheel. The 180 cut through it like soft butter. I barely worked the cab on that 180. I relied on the 220 soft to smooth out the surface. I used a "light-medium" pressure...much lighter than I normally would on other material - like the Prairie Agates. The 220 smoothed it out amazingly well! Beauties, every last one! Good work Jason Thank you my friend! I was super stoked to see you making some cabs...I know it's been awhile. I'll take the blame. I'm glad you like it. I wish I had a crate of that stuff. Just a few pieces, though, and most will require stabilizing or creativity. You're darn right you're going to take the blame...I have no other idea how I'm gonna explain it to her! LOL The one that shattered was a heartbreaker...but I'm hoping I can still get a decent looking (wait for it.................) freeform out of it! LOL I got the black and white jasper pretty shiny in the Lot-O. Not agate shiny, but better than a high matte finish. I haven't cabbed it yet. The Lot-O is a magic polishing machine. I can rarely equal a Lot-O polish with wheels + rawhide, except perhaps on Montana agates or other hard agates. I will try to photograph or take a short video the black and white jasper saw scraps that I tumbled. Capturing the shine is tough when the sun goes down, but I will try. As for the cabs, they are all nice, as usual, but 6 and 7 are both stunning! That prairie agate looks like an expensive and rare jasper that Tela or Tommy have tucked away in their stash. Thanks Jonathan! When I looked at the pattern after the initial grind, I was already drooling. It didn't quite look the same as a preform...and I was good with that! LOL I totally agree it compares to some of the "desired" jaspers out there!  I agree with everyone else- that variscite is da bomb. Not all are that soft, though. Typically it is the whiter parts that are uber soft and will undercut. You got an amazing polish on that one. Patience paid off. Thanks Tela! The piece that shattered had more of that "white" material than this one. This one didn't really have any...and I love the tones that come across as "cloudy" to me. I agree! Those are great! Thanks Perk! I will say I finished the work today with a big smile on my face. I get that! When I work with stones, I'm kind of in my "zen" zone. Especially if I'm comfortable and have a fun price to work on. I took a cab class yesterday and stood for probably 5 HOURS! That wasn't quite as fun but I learned a lot. I must have used 7 machines. It was by far the best cab I have created to date though. No flat spots! |
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Post by holajonathan on Oct 25, 2021 20:35:35 GMT -5
I run use the same sub-micron AO polish (I think we agreed we've got the same stuff) on both rawhide as a final polish or in my Lot-O as a final polish. So it's not the polish itself, but something about how a vibe tumbler works as opposed to a rotary wheel / disc / disc pad. I have seen amazingly well-polished cabs finished only with diamonds (up to 100,000 grit) or with diamonds + cerium oxide or aluminum oxide on a polishing pad. But I personally have not figured out how to do that except with Montana agates, Botswana agates, Brazilian agates, Bahia agates, and similar rocks that polish with ease. I tried it once...a long time ago (relatively speaking) and totally screwed up. I started them out at the 500...bad move! I'll try it again using just the AO... For the ones that didn't shine up the way you had hoped, you've got nothing to lose but your pride. Just joking. I take enormous pride in my vibe polished cabs.  |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 25, 2021 20:36:32 GMT -5
Thanks for posting this! Well, I try to get my shape as close to possible on the 80 grit. I have the speed on the disk turned way up when it comes to doing the actual shaping, then turn the speed to the slowest setting to get rid of as many "facets" as possible before moving onto the 180 grit hard wheel. The I usually keep the 180 speed down low in order to get rid of the vast majority of "facets"...and anything leftover is taken off with the 220 soft. Now with the Variscite, I didn't even touch it to the 80 grit wheel. The 180 cut through it like soft butter. I barely worked the cab on that 180. I relied on the 220 soft to smooth out the surface. I used a "light-medium" pressure...much lighter than I normally would on other material - like the Prairie Agates. The 220 smoothed it out amazingly well! Thank you my friend! I was super stoked to see you making some cabs...I know it's been awhile. You're darn right you're going to take the blame...I have no other idea how I'm gonna explain it to her! LOL The one that shattered was a heartbreaker...but I'm hoping I can still get a decent looking (wait for it.................) freeform out of it! LOL Thanks Jonathan! When I looked at the pattern after the initial grind, I was already drooling. It didn't quite look the same as a preform...and I was good with that! LOL I totally agree it compares to some of the "desired" jaspers out there! Thanks Tela! The piece that shattered had more of that "white" material than this one. This one didn't really have any...and I love the tones that come across as "cloudy" to me. Thanks Perk! I will say I finished the work today with a big smile on my face. I get that! When I work with stones, I'm kind of in my "zen" zone. Especially if I'm comfortable and have a fun price to work on. I took a cab class yesterday and stood for probably 5 HOURS! That wasn't quite as fun but I learned a lot. I must have used 7 machines. It was by far the best cab I have created to date though. No flat spots! That's freaking awesome!!! - So cool you were able to take a class! I wished I had been able to go to some classes. I've been learning through trial and error and error and error! LOL I'm assuming you'll be posting pictures!  |
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Post by stardiamond on Oct 25, 2021 20:46:39 GMT -5
I had a Mook that had both and it was a challenge. The right side ground like wood and the left was hard. Making an even dome with two different surfaces required patience. It was worth the effort. The contrast in textures is eye catching. Your cab is a good example of how "flawed" material can often make the nicest cabs. I've listed 9 Mooks and sold 3. This one for $20 because it was flawed and an experiment. It sold fast. Customers like things that are different even when flawed. I had a Tahoma slab with nice colors but the left side was hollow and filed with matrix. It became another experiment. It looked like a Aztec crocodile or Cipacti. I worked on the shape. The lower part of the jaw fell of and it became a Cipacti with an overbite. Despite the flaw, with a low price, it sold quickly.  |
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Post by perkins17 on Oct 25, 2021 20:51:12 GMT -5
I get that! When I work with stones, I'm kind of in my "zen" zone. Especially if I'm comfortable and have a fun price to work on. I took a cab class yesterday and stood for probably 5 HOURS! That wasn't quite as fun but I learned a lot. I must have used 7 machines. It was by far the best cab I have created to date though. No flat spots! That's freaking awesome!!! - So cool you were able to take a class! I wished I had been able to go to some classes. I've been learning through trial and error and error and error! LOL I'm assuming you'll be posting pictures! I kinda did that... emphasis on the error part! 😂 I'll get a pic and a thread goin in a sec. I'll tag you once it's ready. |
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Post by holajonathan on Oct 25, 2021 21:51:50 GMT -5
That's freaking awesome!!! - So cool you were able to take a class! I wished I had been able to go to some classes. I've been learning through trial and error and error and error! LOL I'm assuming you'll be posting pictures! I, too, have studied cabochon creation at the trial and error and error and error school. It's not the fastest learning method, but when you learn to do something right after doing it wrong a ton of times, I think it sticks better, if that makes sense. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 25, 2021 21:57:19 GMT -5
That's freaking awesome!!! - So cool you were able to take a class! I wished I had been able to go to some classes. I've been learning through trial and error and error and error! LOL I'm assuming you'll be posting pictures! I, too, have studied cabochon creation at the trial and error and error and error school. It's not the fastest learning method, but when you learn to do something right after doing it wrong a ton of times, I think it sticks better, if that makes sense. That totally makes sense to me! LOL And once I get it, I'm like:  |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 25, 2021 22:34:00 GMT -5
The Variscite for the win, jasoninsd! Fabulous cab. Great job figuring out how to get the polish. 
The rest of the cabs are beauties, too, but that Variscite kicks a$$!
Good Variscite is hard to come by nowadays and quite pricey, too. It's out there, but it'll cost you.
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 25, 2021 22:51:53 GMT -5
The Variscite for the win, jasoninsd ! Fabulous cab. Great job figuring out how to get the polish.
The rest of the cabs are beauties, too, but that Variscite kicks a$$!
Good Variscite is hard to come by nowadays and quite pricey, too. It's out there, but it'll cost you.
Thanks Robin! Yeah...I was looking at prices of completed Variscite cabs this evening...and I have been seeing the listings for Variscite rough on eBay...well, pretty much every other night! LOL - The problem I have, is I don't know what constitutes "good" or quality Variscite rough and what constitutes bad rough. Price isn't always an indicator as I know there's gougers out there... I will totally agree the Variscite took the win on this batch!  |
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Post by stephan on Oct 25, 2021 23:06:16 GMT -5
OMG! October is backwards month! I’m making an oval, and jasoninsd is contemplating a free form.  |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 25, 2021 23:08:36 GMT -5
OMG! October is backwards month! I’m making an oval, and jasoninsd is contemplating a free form. Yeah...but yours is by choice....mine is out of pure desperation to save this material! LOL |
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Post by stephan on Oct 25, 2021 23:14:36 GMT -5
OMG! October is backwards month! I’m making an oval, and jasoninsd is contemplating a free form.  Yeah...but yours is by choice....mine is out of pure desperation to save this material! LOL Actually mine is to 1. Waste as little very pretty material as possible from a bench-whack pre-form, while also 2. Making a cab that has mirror symmetry. I wonder why that is necessary…. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 25, 2021 23:20:07 GMT -5
Yeah...but yours is by choice....mine is out of pure desperation to save this material! LOL Actually mine is to 1. Waste as little very pretty material as possible from a bench-whack pre-form, while also 2. Making a cab that has mirror symmetry. I wonder why that is necessary…. Probably because someone who resembles the south end of a northbound horse thought it would be a "freaking great idea" to make that a requirement! LOL The same individual who hasn't even started his entry yet! |
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Post by stephan on Oct 25, 2021 23:21:36 GMT -5
Actually mine is to 1. Waste as little very pretty material as possible from a bench-whack pre-form, while also 2. Making a cab that has mirror symmetry. I wonder why that is necessary…. Probably because someone who resembles the south end of a northbound horse thought it would be a "freaking great idea" to make that a requirement! LOL The same individual who hasn't even started his entry yet!  |
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
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Post by Brian on Oct 26, 2021 6:57:27 GMT -5
Well that was definitely worth a gander. Or two or three! They all look great, but that variscite is an absolute knockout!
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 26, 2021 18:01:15 GMT -5
Well that was definitely worth a gander. Or two or three! They all look great, but that variscite is an absolute knockout! Thanks Brian! I was looking at that other piece of Variscite that broke when I was working it. It broke in such a way that it'll still make a nice cab...so I'll hopefully post another "stunner" pretty soon. |
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catskillrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,270
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Post by catskillrocks on Oct 26, 2021 20:40:30 GMT -5
Well jasoninsd , I really can't add anything to what's already been said. What a great looking set of cabs! |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 26, 2021 20:45:56 GMT -5
Well jasoninsd , I really can't add anything to what's already been said. What a great looking set of cabs! Thanks Don! I was super pleased with this batch. Now I'm working on a Fairburn, some West Texas Moss, and some Teepees in this next batch. |
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