rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Nov 25, 2005 4:20:00 GMT -5
Brazilian agate... so common, so inexpensive, so neglected. So why don't we see more pix of this stuff? Beats me.... it takes a glorious polish, is dirt cheap, and is easy to find in any rock shop or on any online site. Anyway, here's a few pix of some stuff that I picked up at a local rock shop for Cdn $2/lb. Not much banding, but some nice transluscent, shiny agate. In the reflections you can make out the banding of the aluminum siding on our house, and I think a distorted window or two show up also.     Thanks for looking. Don |
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Post by puppie96 on Nov 25, 2005 4:27:41 GMT -5
It's awesomely pretty.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Nov 25, 2005 5:28:29 GMT -5
Wow, those look great bud!!!!  I love the one in the last pic, beautiful!  |
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Pebbles
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2005
Posts: 557
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Post by Pebbles on Nov 25, 2005 9:52:09 GMT -5
There's no denying that shine with the reflections of the house showing up!!! Wow! Thanks for sharing. Gotta add those to my ever-growing Wish List. Heck, if the price is as good as you say it is, I want 'em NOW!!!
Pebbles
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Post by gaetzchamp on Nov 25, 2005 10:00:22 GMT -5
Rolling-
Wow you done good. Perfect, perfect batch. It always pays to shop around a little bit. Looks like you got a good deal to me.
Gaetz
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Post by creativeminded on Nov 25, 2005 10:03:24 GMT -5
Those turned out perfect, the shine on them is unbelievable. You did a great job on those.
Tami
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Post by Cher on Nov 25, 2005 10:32:29 GMT -5
Ooooooooo totally stunning shine, those are beautiful. If I had a place I could get them for $2.00 a pound I'd be polishing them like crazy. I love the brazilian agates but have never seen them for sale anywhere.
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Post by Alice on Nov 25, 2005 12:07:25 GMT -5
those are beautiful RS
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Nov 25, 2005 12:40:45 GMT -5
Super batch! I've done a few in the past. Never an all out load though. I have some coming out of polish in about a week.
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JC
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 107
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Post by JC on Nov 25, 2005 12:57:34 GMT -5
Inspiring, awesome shine. Nice job. How did you do it?
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Post by stoner on Nov 25, 2005 20:26:47 GMT -5
Excellent job RS. That's been one of my favorite agate for a long time. I've got a whole box of them, maybe I should throw some in the next recharge. Hey Kim, got a bib for me?
Ed
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Nov 26, 2005 0:24:35 GMT -5
Outstanding shine RS! I love the banded ones.
Cal
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Post by rockyraccoon on Nov 26, 2005 2:20:30 GMT -5
i love the brazilian agates. nothing lowly in that batch! and what a shine too.
i brought my mop stoner cause i knew you would make a mess when i read the thread title ; ).
kim
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Nov 26, 2005 3:09:57 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for the compliments!
Cher, I think I got a good price at my local shop, and I did go back this week and pick up 5 lbs more of what looked like it might have some nicer pattern in it. I would have got more, but their supply is really low right now. The Rockshed carries Brazilian agate, all busted up and sized for tumblers, at $4.50/lb. And if you are willing to do the busting yourself and buy it sight-unseen, then the Gem Shop sells it for $1.50/lb. Lots of it out there, those Brazilian agate fields are absolutely huge and have been harvested for more than 100 years, with no signs of slowing down.
JC, oops, forgot to post the recipe. Nothing fancy...
60/90 takes a long time, 6-8 weeks, as these are very hard agates
120/220, 8 days
500F, 9 days
CPP polish, bit under two weeks.
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Post by Cher on Nov 26, 2005 8:43:22 GMT -5
RS, is that Earthdog's favorite place, the Gem Shop in Wisconsin?
Would those be too big or too hard to cut with my saw?
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chassroc
Cave Dweller 
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Nov 26, 2005 12:26:42 GMT -5
Rollingstone
That ius a great great shine...nice rocks too. Work like this will make you a legend
csroc
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Post by parfive on Nov 27, 2005 1:37:59 GMT -5
RS - The lowly Brazilian agate is only one of the nicest rocks in the world,
and you done it proud.
Rich
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Nov 27, 2005 3:10:12 GMT -5
RS,
That is one of the Shiniest Shines I've seen! That is one heck of a SWEET Batch. I threw the Bib away and brought in the big equipment....the water pump...I'm up to my knees in my own drool!
SmmmmTmmmmEmmmmVmmmmE
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Post by rockds on Nov 27, 2005 21:27:09 GMT -5
LOL, started a new batch today and pssed over the braz agate for mex agate and blue jasper. Wishing I read this first now, those look great and have a wonderful shine. good job
robert
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