oldschoolrocker
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,578
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Post by oldschoolrocker on Mar 18, 2022 14:42:09 GMT -5
Long story short, at the request of my daughter, I attempted to make her some stone rings. I made 3 rings for her and I think they all turned out nice to look at. But that's all they are good for it turns out. My bright idea was to make the rings from material softer than agate and just use a hole saw bit and drill to make my preform... first one was made of Moroccan mookaite. This one lasted all of 5 minutes before it broke on bottom side of ring. Pls excuse my nasty thumbnail lol  The second ring I think is green aventurine from India. Beautiful deep green with some sparkles throughout. I convinced my daughter the first one was just way too soft material and this material should hold up better...it lasted a few days before it also broke..  And the last one is also green aventurine but dk where from. My daughter is too worried about breaking this one as well so she refuses to wear it lol. Pls excuse the pc of lint on ring.  Id assume agate hardness material would be best bet but even then im not sure it would hold up well with regular use by a 12 year old . So probably going to glue some cabs to some metal ring findings and call it a day lol. |
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Post by parfive on Mar 18, 2022 15:01:25 GMT -5
All three look(ed) terrific, you can't give up before you try an aggie. : )
The last one would look nice on a chain, no? You see plenty of rings worn like that.
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oldschoolrocker
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,578
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Post by oldschoolrocker on Mar 18, 2022 15:07:28 GMT -5
All three look(ed) terrific, you can't give up before you try an aggie. Â Â Â : ) The last one would look nice on a chain, no? You see plenty of rings worn like that. Lol thank you! I guess you are right, I should give agate a try first. And thank you for the suggestion, I hadn't thought of putting it on a chain. My daughter will like that idea for sure! |
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Post by jasoninsd on Mar 18, 2022 15:59:28 GMT -5
Well dang it all! They look absolutely stunning!
I agree with Rich...gotta give agate a try before throwing in the towel! (And the chain idea was a good one too...)
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oldschoolrocker
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,578
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Post by oldschoolrocker on Mar 18, 2022 17:20:31 GMT -5
Well dang it all! They look absolutely stunning! I agree with Rich...gotta give agate a try before throwing in the towel! (And the chain idea was a good one too...) Thanks Jason! Glad I got pictures of them before they broke lol. I think I will try agate soon! |
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Post by jasoninsd on Mar 18, 2022 17:22:34 GMT -5
Well dang it all! They look absolutely stunning! I agree with Rich...gotta give agate a try before throwing in the towel! (And the chain idea was a good one too...) Thanks Jason! Glad I got pictures of them before they broke lol. I think I will try agate soon! I meant to ask - How did you round the outside of that second Aventurine? |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 18, 2022 19:35:11 GMT -5
I remember reading a thread many years ago and someone was trying to make stone rings. It turned out that the only stone that was tough enough to actually be used as a ring was jade. Everything else they tried just broke.
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Brian
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Member since July 2020
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Post by Brian on Mar 18, 2022 19:53:13 GMT -5
Those are very cool! I'll echo the others' thoughts that it would look great as a pendant. I'd hate to see the 3rd one meet the same fate, too.
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Post by Pat on Mar 18, 2022 20:39:41 GMT -5
I remember reading a thread many years ago and someone was trying to make stone rings. It turned out that the only stone that was tough enough to actually be used as a ring was jade. Everything else they tried just broke. That was Jim Brown. I have his photos on this website. I forget his RTHLING name. He made me a jade ring. No problem. I made several non- jade rings. No problem. He told me that blue lace agate would not survive. It survived until I hit it on the enamel sink. |
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Post by Pat on Mar 18, 2022 21:12:08 GMT -5
Jim is @wampidy 1. And @wampidy 2
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 18, 2022 21:19:19 GMT -5
Jim is @wampidy 1. And @wampidy 2 Yes! I don't think I ever knew Jim's last name. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 18, 2022 22:43:46 GMT -5
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 18, 2022 22:45:16 GMT -5
They are gorgeous! Don't give up! You can do it! I agree you should do an agate one and put the other on a chain.
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Post by vegasjames on Mar 19, 2022 3:32:30 GMT -5
A lathe really comes in handy when trying to make rings like this. I bought a nice metal lathe to do this, but broke the belt so I have to get a new belt.
I suggestion to help stabilize the rings would be to line them. I would find some soft metal tubing, such as aluminum around the size of the inner diameter of the hole you are cutting. Cut to slightly longer than the width of the ring. Use a flaring tool to flare one end of the tube. Put glue on the outer portion of the flare, and inside the ring then slide the ring over the tube pressing the flared end in to the ring. once set up add some glue to other side of the ring between the metal and stone then use the flaring tool to flare that end so it also butts up to the ring. Then the excess metal can be lathed away or create a mandrel to hold the ring then spin in a drill press as you sand away the excess metal.
This reinforcement will also allow the bottom of the ring to be thinned out some making the ring more comfortable to wear.
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Post by vegasjames on Mar 19, 2022 3:44:28 GMT -5
Here is an example of the flaring tool I was talking about in case what I wrote did not make sense.
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inbtb
Cave Dweller 
Member since May 2016
Posts: 351 
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Post by inbtb on Mar 19, 2022 8:07:45 GMT -5
Would a coating of clear epoxy on the inside help? Nice looking rings.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 19, 2022 9:46:50 GMT -5
Your rings are beautiful! I agree, don't give up! I think if you could do the metal liner that vegasjames talked about, that might give the stone more strength against breaking. |
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brybry
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Post by brybry on Mar 19, 2022 10:24:32 GMT -5
Stabilizing the finished ring could make it stronger too.
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oldschoolrocker
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
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Post by oldschoolrocker on Mar 19, 2022 11:43:38 GMT -5
Thanks Jason! Glad I got pictures of them before they broke lol. I think I will try agate soon! I meant to ask - How did you round the outside of that second Aventurine? after I used the hole saw for the finger hole I then drew circle around the hole and cut it out like I would a cab. Then finished them on the genie. |
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oldschoolrocker
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,578
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Post by oldschoolrocker on Mar 19, 2022 11:51:01 GMT -5
Wow, thanks everyone for the info! I really appreciate it! I enjoyed making them so I'm looking forward to learning how to make them better! And my daughter loves idea of wearing on chain so for now at least the third one should survive for a while. Thanks again for everyone's input!!
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