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Post by stardiamond on Dec 31, 2023 13:59:56 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 30, 2023 16:59:48 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 30, 2023 16:18:50 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 29, 2023 16:25:25 GMT -5
The good news is that is warm enough to grind the preforms.
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 28, 2023 18:42:16 GMT -5
My latest order was trick or treat. I grossly overpaid on the Guadalupe. I've learned my lesson to ask for size and my next order includes a Guadalupe piece where I asked for size so I will have yield and value. The Howardite was also a single cab slab but I got it for 1/3 what I paid for the Guadalupe. It is old stock which sells for more than double of the new material. Old stock has the rattlesnake pattern. The new material is close but not the same. I got an 8oz piece of Butterfly wing that was sold as Cold Mountain. Lots of Cold Mountain, but the BFW is no longer available. Whatever was available went to India and made into junk.
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 28, 2023 14:49:53 GMT -5
Where's your slab saw? My workspace is outside under the roof. Dirt floor, oil and scraps. Rather disgusting, but I don't have to look at it unless I am doing work.
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 28, 2023 14:30:42 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 27, 2023 16:54:54 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 27, 2023 15:52:14 GMT -5
Sporadic warm days for the next few months. How do I get my lapidary fix. My workspace is outside and very messy. I could bring the Genie indoors and use a lot of plastic sheets. I could learn silversmithing and set some of the cabs I've made. I could spend more time cleaning my house.
I don't like any of the alternatives. I already make more cabs than I sell. I investigated a local silversmithing class. The class costs $600 plus tools and supplies and I don't know if I have an aptitude for the work. I've never considered house cleaning recreational.
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 27, 2023 14:29:45 GMT -5
My wife had the surgery one eye at a time and had the lenses replaced on her glasses one at a time.
I had mine done so I could pass the DMV vision test without glasses. I had them both done at once and was given goggles to wear for the first night. I had to wait because of covid and was covid tested before surgery. About the same as a dental appointment. I have glaucoma and put in eye drops every night, so the drops were easy.
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 24, 2023 19:08:56 GMT -5
You have any nails or fingerprints left? Dopless cabbers probably make for the best criminals.🤓 I had one lesson with using wax. My instructor gave me some of his special wax and an alcohol lamp. I could only make cabs on the weekend. I got really tired of cabs coming off the dops. It destroyed the workflow and the moment. I went dopless for over 10 years. Even being careful, I would get abrasions on my fingers frequently but I had six days for my fingers to heal. When I retired and the weather was warm enough to grind more often I switched to superglue.
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 24, 2023 15:21:30 GMT -5
My dops are dowels with plastic chair glides. I use superglue to attach. To remove, I use an x-acto chisel blade inserted between the dop and the cab, flat side against the dop. I then tap the end of the blade holder with a utility knife. When I don't feel movement, I move the x-acto. No freezing, no popping, just tap, tap.
When the cab is off the dop, I apply acetone with a q-tip and use a chisel blade to scrape off the glue and remove the xtra fine Sharpie lines that I drew on the back. I keep adding acetone until the glue is softened enough to scrape off. Whacking the x-acto knife dulls the blade. A fresh, sharp blade really separates the glue from the cab. It doesn't need to be mush.
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 24, 2023 13:41:00 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 23, 2023 19:30:55 GMT -5
A year ago I replaced my 35 year old 24 inch oven with a 30 inch convection and have considered doing some baking. I live in the Bay Area so I have the right climate. Over 50 years ago I was stationed in North Carolina. When I went home, I would fill my duffle bag with Florida grapefruits and on the return trip, sourdough loaves which were appreciated by coworkers.
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 23, 2023 17:05:24 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 23, 2023 17:01:29 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 23, 2023 15:35:43 GMT -5
I dopped the left. The slab is not thin so grinding will move the pattern and the left has more interesting stuff. Thanks.
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 23, 2023 14:16:05 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 23, 2023 14:04:50 GMT -5
I bought this lot from Martin. I wanted the piece on the right which is from the Morgan Hill area. The one on the left could also be but not what I am used to. It doesn't look like pictures I've found of the Fresno material.
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Post by stardiamond on Dec 23, 2023 14:01:19 GMT -5
now that’s a beauty. Gimme gimme gimme 😂 But what is it?
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