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Post by stardiamond on Jun 22, 2024 21:38:49 GMT -5
I was looking for some cacoxenite crystals and with an internet search I got a link to Amazon. $16 for what was described as 10 pieces of Cacoxenite/super 7. Super 7 has up to 7 minerals including cacoxenite. The more cacoxenite the better. Many crystals have none. Cacoxenite appearance is gold filaments. I don't need a crystal ball to know that what I was going to get wouldn't look like the picture and probably junk. I still took a flier. What I received was 15 smaller pieces without cacoxenite. I've already printed out the return label.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 22, 2024 20:02:27 GMT -5
4 is 100% BMJ.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 17, 2024 13:07:28 GMT -5
Welcome from Tidewater VA. I think someone here has a manual for you. Maybe stardiamond does? My machine was a console model which is a cabinet with the arbor on top. Most of the SD are tabletop units. I never had a manual but it was a basic machine; arbor, motor, belt and pulleys.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 15, 2024 16:59:50 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 15, 2024 16:38:56 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 15, 2024 14:01:29 GMT -5
I flatten using an 80 grit wheel to remove most of the material; circular and figure eight motion. The lap is only to get the back perfectly flat since it is slow.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 14, 2024 16:48:20 GMT -5
Mine is enclosed but doesn't have a cover. My work area is outside. HP said that the advantage a slab saw has over a drop saw is automatic shut off. My saw will be located next to my cabbing equipment and if mist is not an issue, I can cab while slabbing. If not, they will need to be done separately. My only experience with a drop saw is when my wife wanted a large agate nodule cut in half to expose the middle and it took forever using a Lortone drop saw. The kerf of mine is larger than my previous 14 inch slab saw so there is more waste. The first thing I am going to slab is a ten pound piece of Mookaite so I can tolerate the waste.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 14, 2024 13:29:40 GMT -5
I have a 10 inch and a 14 inch (still in the box) HP Hightone slab saws. I also bought the drop saw (still in the crate) which I plan to set up. The advantages of the drop saw over the slab saw are much faster cutting (according to HP) and a simpler design. I've had nothing but problems with the feed and clutch on my saws. Nothing could be simpler than a weight controlling the cut speed.
The saw will work with water or oil. Mine is set up for oil with a pump that lubricates the blade rather than having it dip into the oil reservoir. I also have an 8 inch trim saw that uses water. Blades last much longer cutting with oil. I go through a lot of trim saw blades.
I buy mineral oil that is used as a horse laxative from a veterinary supply. It isn't that messy or hard to clean off.
The reason I have two saws in crates is that I have a lifetime supply of slabs and preforms to work on. The reason I bought the saws is that I have some rocks that need a bigger saw that don't duplicate what I already have.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 14, 2024 12:38:44 GMT -5
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5S7
Jun 13, 2024 21:06:31 GMT -5
Post by stardiamond on Jun 13, 2024 21:06:31 GMT -5
So that’s what that stuff is? I got a bunch of that stuff with that yellow crap in it. I need to go dig it out if it’s worth what you’re saying it is. It comes from Minas Gerais in Brazil.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 13, 2024 20:30:28 GMT -5
azrockgeek. That one requires a second mortgage as a specimen slab with all that cacoxenite.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 13, 2024 20:15:36 GMT -5
It is easy to work and doesn't fracture. It can have vugs where the different materials meet. I look for material that has amethyst and cacoxenite; the more cacoxenite the better. Cacoxenite increases the cost. I look for points that show some cacoxenite and split them into slabs.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 13, 2024 19:02:13 GMT -5
Tough to get a great picture.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 13, 2024 16:15:05 GMT -5
Second cut on top.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 10, 2024 14:01:35 GMT -5
I bought an eighteen ounce piece of Imperial Jasper on Facebook from a seller that I have bought from before and has good rocks. I like Royal Imperial but the rough is expensive and a gamble since it is heavily pattern dependent. Imperial is more reliable. I needed to replace my trim saw blade and decided to make a few slab cuts before I tossed it. I made a cut on the largest face and saw orbs. I rotated it 90 degrees and cut this face. Listing picture: Cut face:
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 9, 2024 19:42:31 GMT -5
The Nova that wears out fasted is the 220/280 Nova because they are overused. My other Novas last a long time.
I bought an 80 grit end lap that has lasted for a while. It is not as aggressive as an 80 grit wheel and loses it's bite fairly quickly. I use it to flatten backs. Ideally the flat side is the bottom but when I want to make the flat top the bottom, I get close using a wheel and then get it perfectly flat using the lap.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 9, 2024 18:03:57 GMT -5
the good stuff.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 8, 2024 14:09:42 GMT -5
That is the only option available and is geared towards getting repeat customers by offering a coupon directly after a sale is made. It doesn't create new customers. My sale was open to everyone and 25% off is a significant discount. I get a lot of repeat business because customers are pleased with their first purchase. Occasionally, Etsy will offer site wide coupons. I've used them to buy and very little sales off of them.
The offer I wanted to do would have generated significant sales. I was hoping that Etsy had a feature to generate a message list off of people who bought before. They don't and it is costing them revenue.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 7, 2024 12:57:31 GMT -5
My sale is over and my announcement produced zero responses and zero sales.
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Post by stardiamond on Jun 5, 2024 13:45:52 GMT -5
The fifth one is definitely BWJ. Both BWJ and Cold Mountain are thundereggs from Mexico. BWJ is very difficult to find now.
A lot of the rough ended up in India. Cold Mountain is similar and both have a lot of different appearances. The coloration and pattern of your slab is what I look for along with minimal fracture lines.
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