|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Nov 22, 2021 11:23:40 GMT -5
When I fist started cabbing, I bought a MFRB of mixed materials on eBay. The woman was absolutely amazing and really hooked me up with lots of decent slabs. She sent a good size slab of black WY jade, too, with a note on it in pencil that read, "Save for when you have more experience". Well, I think the time has come.  Jim (@wampidytoo) sent several samples of different jades for me to practice on. Some I was able to get a good polish, some not. So, before I begin- which will probably be in the Spring since I have to cut it outside, Do you any of you have any tips? I have an extra arbor with worn novas I plan to use.
|
|
Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,989
|
Post by Tommy on Nov 22, 2021 13:43:54 GMT -5
When I fist started cabbing, I bought a MFRB of mixed materials on eBay. The woman was absolutely amazing and really hooked me up with lots of decent slabs. She sent a good size slab of black WY jade, too, with a note on it in pencil that read, "Save for when you have more experience". Well, I think the time has come. Jim (@wampidytoo) sent several samples of different jades for me to practice on. Some I was able to get a good polish, some not. So, before I begin- which will probably be in the Spring since I have to cut it outside, Do you any of you have any tips? I have an extra arbor with worn novas I plan to use.
I have nothing useful to offer other than good luck and I can't wait to see the finished product |
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Nov 22, 2021 13:53:35 GMT -5
When I fist started cabbing, I bought a MFRB of mixed materials on eBay. The woman was absolutely amazing and really hooked me up with lots of decent slabs. She sent a good size slab of black WY jade, too, with a note on it in pencil that read, "Save for when you have more experience". Well, I think the time has come. Jim (@wampidytoo) sent several samples of different jades for me to practice on. Some I was able to get a good polish, some not. So, before I begin- which will probably be in the Spring since I have to cut it outside, Do you any of you have any tips? I have an extra arbor with worn novas I plan to use.
I have nothing useful to offer other than good luck and I can't wait to see the finished product Thanks! Not feeling too confident about it. Jade is difficult for me. Actually, not jadeite so much. Mostly it's the nephrite. Hmmm.... |
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Nov 22, 2021 13:57:54 GMT -5
I'm looking forward to this. I have some that I've set aside as well
|
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Nov 22, 2021 14:00:43 GMT -5
I'm looking forward to this. I have some that I've set aside as well Yeah, I hope some of our veteran cabbers can answer this. |
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
|
Post by Sabre52 on Nov 22, 2021 14:09:40 GMT -5
Best jade working advice I ever got was to always use very worn wheels in the sanding stages. New wheels just cause too much undercutting. That being said, I've only ever cut one cab from Wyoming black jade and that was the easiest to polish of any jade I've tried. Took a mirror polish with ease and zero undercutting compared to other Wyoming jades I've cut.
|
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Nov 22, 2021 14:23:44 GMT -5
Best jade working advice I ever got was to always use very worn wheels in the sanding stages. New wheels just cause too much undercutting. That being said, I've only ever cut one cab from Wyoming black jade and that was the easiest to polish of any jade I've tried. Took a mirror polish with ease and zero undercutting compared to other Wyoming jades I've cut. Thank you, Mel! That was great. |
|
|
|
Post by stephan on Nov 22, 2021 15:28:00 GMT -5
I've never worked WY jade, specifically, but for jade, in general, what Mel said, plus reduce water and let the cabs get hot (I usually do this from 600 grit onward, but if you don't get orange peeling, you might get away with just doing it on the final polish -- which I do with 100k Super Cerium).
|
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Nov 22, 2021 21:40:22 GMT -5
I've never worked WY jade, specifically, but for jade, in general, what Mel said, plus reduce water and let the cabs get hot (I usually do this from 600 grit onward, but if you don't get orange peeling, you might get away with just doing it on the final polish -- which I do with 100k Super Cerium). Thank you! I remember hearing that before now that you said it. Thanks- Maybe I can remember by the time I cab it. |
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Nov 22, 2021 22:04:25 GMT -5
Jade and I do not get along.
However, our lapidary instructor at the college told us you have to get it HOT. I tried and tried and tried (this was a piece of Russian jade if I remember correctly) and I still couldn't get a freakin' polish on it. Vince had absolutely no problem getting a polish on his.
I believe we have some Wyoming jade in the mess of rocks we just got. I'll have a go at it at some point and report back on whether I still hate jade or not.  |
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Nov 22, 2021 22:25:01 GMT -5
Jade and I do not get along.
However, our lapidary instructor at the college told us you have to get it HOT. I tried and tried and tried (this was a piece of Russian jade if I remember correctly) and I still couldn't get a freakin' polish on it. Vince had absolutely no problem getting a polish on his.
I believe we have some Wyoming jade in the mess of rocks we just got. I'll have a go at it at some point and report back on whether I still hate jade or not. Jim sent a piece of Burma beautiful light green jadeite that polished easily. I have more trouble with nephrite, I think.
Have you ever had one crack under the heat?
|
|
|
|
Post by stephan on Nov 22, 2021 22:48:33 GMT -5
Jade and I do not get along.
However, our lapidary instructor at the college told us you have to get it HOT. I tried and tried and tried (this was a piece of Russian jade if I remember correctly) and I still couldn't get a freakin' polish on it. Vince had absolutely no problem getting a polish on his.
I believe we have some Wyoming jade in the mess of rocks we just got. I'll have a go at it at some point and report back on whether I still hate jade or not. Jim sent a piece of Burma beautiful light green jadeite that polished easily. I have more trouble with nephrite, I think.
Have you ever had one crack under the heat?
Jadeite and nephrite have a different structure. Nephrite is fibrous, which can lead to the dreaded orange peeling. Jadeite is granular, so it acts more like jasper/agate than nephrite does. LOL. You won’t crack it with heat. The stuff forms at higher than 500 degrees…. Celsius. |
|
|
|
Post by stephan on Nov 22, 2021 22:50:23 GMT -5
Jade and I do not get along.
However, our lapidary instructor at the college told us you have to get it HOT. I tried and tried and tried (this was a piece of Russian jade if I remember correctly) and I still couldn't get a freakin' polish on it. Vince had absolutely no problem getting a polish on his.
I believe we have some Wyoming jade in the mess of rocks we just got. I'll have a go at it at some point and report back on whether I still hate jade or not. You should just send it all to me. 😁 |
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Nov 22, 2021 22:50:54 GMT -5
Jim sent a piece of Burma beautiful light green jadeite that polished easily. I have more trouble with nephrite, I think.
Have you ever had one crack under the heat?
Jadeite and nephrite have a different structure. Nephrite is fibrous, which can lead to the dreaded orange peeling. Jadeite is granular, so it acts more like jasper/agate than nephrite does. LOL. You won’t crack it with heat. The stuff forms at higher than 500 degrees…. Celsius. OK, so the question is- Is WY black jade actually jadeite? |
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Nov 22, 2021 22:53:23 GMT -5
Jade and I do not get along.
However, our lapidary instructor at the college told us you have to get it HOT. I tried and tried and tried (this was a piece of Russian jade if I remember correctly) and I still couldn't get a freakin' polish on it. Vince had absolutely no problem getting a polish on his.
I believe we have some Wyoming jade in the mess of rocks we just got. I'll have a go at it at some point and report back on whether I still hate jade or not. Jim sent a piece of Burma beautiful light green jadeite that polished easily. I have more trouble with nephrite, I think.
Have you ever had one crack under the heat?
I only cut that one. Vince has cut a couple more. Like stephan said, the heat won't hurt it. |
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Nov 22, 2021 22:55:58 GMT -5
Jadeite and nephrite have a different structure. Nephrite is fibrous, which can lead to the dreaded orange peeling. Jadeite is granular, so it acts more like jasper/agate than nephrite does. LOL. You won’t crack it with heat. The stuff forms at higher than 500 degrees…. Celsius. OK, so the question is- Is WY black jade actually jadeite? I believe it is Nephrite. It's actually a very dark green, not black. |
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Nov 22, 2021 22:57:02 GMT -5
OK, so the question is- Is WY black jade actually jadeite? I believe it is Nephrite. It's actually a very dark green, not black. Damn. I was hoping it was jade- less trouble. |
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Nov 22, 2021 23:00:29 GMT -5
I believe it is Nephrite. It's actually a very dark green, not black. Damn. I was hoping it was jade- less trouble. Indeed. I will try to cut one though and let you know whether I was successful or not. |
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Nov 22, 2021 23:02:07 GMT -5
Damn. I was hoping it was jade- less trouble. Indeed. I will try to cut one though and let you know whether I was successful or not. Cool! I appreciate it. |
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Nov 22, 2021 23:35:13 GMT -5
I think chrome oxide was recommended for jade "back in the day". You could try that, but you might be green as Kermit's ass when you're done... .
|
|
