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Post by stardiamond on Aug 26, 2022 22:51:33 GMT -5
I buy rocks and slabs to cab. I don't tumble. Etsy has nice stuff but is expensive with the exception of altamontbead and I buy a lot from him. Good pictures and free shipping. I buy from blairrock and three facebook pages. I also buy on ebay but am very selective on quality and price. Everyone who sells rock has more than they list, so I ask.
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 26, 2022 21:51:39 GMT -5
Nice plumes.
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 26, 2022 20:51:05 GMT -5
5 years ago I had emergency spinal surgery for a staph infection and elective surgery after I recovered that was related to the other surgery. My health is just ok but I have no respiratory or cardiovascular issues so it was only a matter of a long recovery. If I need surgery again, I wouldn't be concerned.
This was a very risky surgery for her and she will be okay. Thanks for the support.
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 26, 2022 20:27:11 GMT -5
My wife needs my assistance on a regular basis. This weekend she was not feeling well and disoriented. I kept pushing her so get medical care. On Tuesday, she agreed to let me call 911. She needed emergency surgery for a twisted bowel which was complicated by her COPD. She was on a ventilator during and after surgery. I was checking her online medical record and it showed a discharge date of tomorrow. I've been busting my butt for the last two days, cleaning and decluttering in preparation of her coming home. I'm pooped. Her doctor had a very busy day and didn't call. He hadn't called today so I called my wife and she didn't answer. I had the nurse contact the doctor and he called me back. From the medical notes, I knew she was off the ventilator, getting respiratory treatment and breathing on her own. If this was elective surgery, it wouldn't have been done since any surgery was extremely risky. She will be in the hospital for another week and doesn't like being visited. I'll be there when she wants me to visit.
I've taken care of everything that needed to be done and I have a week with a lot of free time. Tomorrow I can resume grinding knowing she will be ok,
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 21, 2022 14:58:37 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 21, 2022 11:35:37 GMT -5
A Blue Dream that reminds me of an asteroid belt.
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 20, 2022 12:30:06 GMT -5
I hand slabbed a small piece of Tahoma rough and the pattern looked like confetti. Completed one of the two preforms.
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 18, 2022 13:37:35 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 18, 2022 13:11:02 GMT -5
That one was my favorite. I would have liked to have made 3 with the same pattern and different shapes. The slab has a significant vug on the other side so I was limited with what I could do.
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 18, 2022 11:53:59 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 16, 2022 12:27:47 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 15, 2022 15:40:50 GMT -5
A nice Royal Sahara collector's slab. I've got the picture and onto the preforms.
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 12, 2022 9:47:51 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 11, 2022 18:44:33 GMT -5
I am repeat customer so I am probably getting better service. I use a buying formula which is I expect to get 3 times the cost of material for the value of cabs produced. I bought 3 slabs for $18 plus $10 shipping.
I have been unsuccessful buying jellybean jasper rough. I check Blair and buy slabs I like. I sent them an email with a picture of a cab I made with one of their slabs. I mentioned the material is treacherous with fractures and vugs. I concluded the message with please let me know if you have any nice jellybean or Tahoma. Everyone has more than what is listed. It wasn't a complaint email.
I just got a $16 refund to paypal from them.
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 11, 2022 15:21:58 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 11, 2022 14:25:22 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 10, 2022 19:25:35 GMT -5
I have two 80 grit wheels, an aggressive top 80 and a worn DP 80. I apply a lot of pressure to the aggressive and when it quits being aggressive, I replace it. I use light pressure on everything else. The aggressive 80 leaves scratches which I take out with the DP 80 and use it to fine tune the shape. All other wheels it is light pressure.
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 10, 2022 19:05:05 GMT -5
What I have learned is using the right wheel for the job. Don't use a 600 soft to do the job of a 280. Don't use a 280 soft to the job of an 80 hard. Most people who start out are afraid of the 80 grit wheel. They try to shape with the 280 because they feel like they have more control and quickly wear the 280. Unless a wheel is worn, I don't press down. On a hard material gem Owyhee, when there scratches it is better to go back to a coarser grit to get rid of them.
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 10, 2022 10:46:57 GMT -5
I got 3 slabs from Blairrock, a Linda Marie and two Jellybeans which one was special. Laid out six preforms and had five fractures. I redesigned four and one of the redesigns fractured again. My favorite, bottom left, held together.
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 8, 2022 17:25:37 GMT -5
How was the show?
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