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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Nov 9, 2012 9:34:39 GMT -5
I'd be extremely happy with those finds! And those are some industrial size tumblers. Wow!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 26, 2012 18:45:35 GMT -5
Nice Don! I'd love to see them in person!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 26, 2012 18:36:05 GMT -5
Okay, I'm tiptoeing into the fray on one point. I also used to say "you can't legislate morality", but as was pointed out to me, I was wrong. We pass laws (legislate) all the time on what constitutes moral behavior. Murder is illegal. Bigamy is illegal. Adultery is illegal in about half of the states. Rape is illegal. Etc., etc., etc.
Obviously, some people are still going to act immorally, but at least they have the potential to be punished for it.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 26, 2012 16:35:39 GMT -5
LOL Geoff. I think the only real issue would be the motors heating up. I have a hard time believing that the SiC in a tumbler is going to get hot enough to affect it.
Nice greenhouse!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 26, 2012 16:31:56 GMT -5
I had the same thought, Lynn: some of them look like Crowley Ridge agates, but those are in Arkansas. Some look like Fairburns, too. I guess you never know what the rivers will wash downstream.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 24, 2012 12:22:31 GMT -5
Glad you found one you like Donnie.
As long as you stick with a name brand, it doesn't really matter what you buy because they're all pretty competitive at each price point (except Apple). There's very little margin in computers now.
Fossil is mostly right: the components all come from the same group of suppliers (in China).
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 24, 2012 12:10:46 GMT -5
Yes, that's Binghamite.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 19, 2012 22:56:04 GMT -5
Take your time and nibble away at it. Don't get impatient and try to remove too much at once or you risk cutting the specimen.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 19, 2012 22:54:01 GMT -5
Wow. Somebody got a deal.
Yes, larger tumblers due grind faster because of extra weight of material.
I can't answer regarding the comparison as I built my own.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 19, 2012 12:02:54 GMT -5
Agree on the stabilization. Another approach that has worked well for me is using an engraver. Replace the standard tip with and old drill bit that you have ground down to a long, fine point. Work away from the fossil, not toward it. Matrix should come off at the joint between the fossil and the matrix.
Practice on lesser quality pieces first!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 19, 2012 11:58:14 GMT -5
I'm inclined to think that it is the ground from the main panel that is causing the problem. I think Jim is on the right track.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 16, 2012 17:02:39 GMT -5
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 16, 2012 16:11:08 GMT -5
This seems consistent with their rules for agate, although they suggest agate quantities are lower, as I recall.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 16, 2012 16:06:58 GMT -5
Do they look good wet? You may need to go back one step. What is your grit sequence and how long at each step?
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 16, 2012 15:59:13 GMT -5
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 15, 2012 13:22:32 GMT -5
Yep, the Biggs is killer. I also like the tree in the second Owyhee slab.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 15, 2012 11:21:16 GMT -5
That's a really nice slab Daniel!
If it were me, I'd hesitate to cut it with a band saw because I don't think I could get a straight cut. Maybe you have a vise for it...
My brother lives in Medford, OR and I've been planning a vist/rockhound trip. I'll have to add the ranch to my list!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 15, 2012 11:06:22 GMT -5
Yes, that's right, Tim. You need to soak the agate in a sugar solution because it's the sugar that carbonizes (turns black). We tried a weaker acid, but it didn't change anything. The acid is manageable if you're careful and comfortable working with it. Otherwise, the oven should work. Use a slow ramp up and hold at 350 to 400, then slowly cool. You may want to put the slabs in sand before putting them in the oven so that the heat is absorbed more evenly. Here's an interesting link related to the process: www.uni-regensburg.de/Fakultaeten/nat_Fak_IV/Organische_Chemie/Didaktik/Keusch/D-sugar_coal-e.htmChuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 15, 2012 8:18:21 GMT -5
Thanks for the clarification on the tuxedo Daniel! You know better than I! The back side has some darker bands, which I think is due to different porosity. It's hard to tell from the photos, but the back has some additional partial bands that are not on the front.
Lessons learned: 1. I would definitely wear long chemical gloves if I were to do it again. I had a minor splash as I moved the slabs around and the acid burned a small hole in my shirt sleeve as well as my hand.
2. Do this outside and stand upwind! The process really gives off a lot of fumes.
3. My Walmart hot plate didn't quite get hot enough to boil the acid, although it got hot enough to cook the sugar.
4. My Pyrex casserole dish either had a hidden crack or developed a crack that opened up in the process. Result: sulfuric acid draining into my hot plate. Fortunately I had unplugged it by then because I was done. I had also put a sheet of plywood on the ground under the hot plate, which caught most of the spill.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Oct 14, 2012 16:10:12 GMT -5
Daniel (deb193redux) came to visit for the Celebration of Agates show in July and we tried to cook some agate. Unfortunately, he brought the wrong acid and I didn't get it done until recently. He's done a lot of experimenting and can chime in. The basic procedure is that you soak the agate in sugar water (or honey water) and then let it dry. Once dry, boil it in a strong acid (I used sulfuric). Be sure to have baking soda or some other neutralizer handy! The acid turns the sugar to carbon, thus making it black. If you don't want to use acid, you can try it in an oven. Here is the "before" picture that Daniel took: Here is "after", dry: Here is "after", wet: Some agates work better than others. The clear and white agates have the most potential for improved contrast. These came out brown and white, rather than the "tuxedo agate" black and white that we were hoping for. The process can be repeated, I believe. I'll post results if I do it again. Thanks again for the lesson and the agates Daniel!!! Chuck
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