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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 23, 2012 13:30:13 GMT -5
Nice tumble Jack!
The mystery agate looks organic to me, like silica replaced an organism.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 23, 2012 13:24:42 GMT -5
Christopher, I've not used Johnson Bros. for their wheel surfacing service, but I have ordered parts/supplies from them. Yes, the prices were low, but the service was terrible. I would hesitate to ask them to resurface wheels.
Chuck
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Hello!
Jan 23, 2012 13:21:15 GMT -5
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 23, 2012 13:21:15 GMT -5
Welcome! Next thing you know, you'll want a bead mill!
On a slightly more serious note, there are several members here (and at least one from the UK) who use a Lot-O vibrating tumbler. It makes fast work of the sanding and polishing. I think it would be just the thing for beads.
And I'd also enjoy seeing the axes!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 23, 2012 13:07:55 GMT -5
Wow! Congratulations!
I hate to burst your bubble, shermlock, but I don't think that's a jar of "pink eyed prehnite". I think it is actually a jar of thomsonites, which are much better IMHO! They're extremely difficult to get anymore.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 23, 2012 11:07:40 GMT -5
LOL, Jeri. I'm pretty selective on who I share a tent with, too!
Looking at the night time lows, I may have to get a dog! LOL
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 20, 2012 15:57:54 GMT -5
That's really cool! Nice work!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 20, 2012 13:23:46 GMT -5
Nice!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 20, 2012 12:49:20 GMT -5
I like them all, but I love the green one! Reminds me of the egg in "Alien".
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 20, 2012 12:39:13 GMT -5
Yeah, it's really too bad that you have all that beautiful large material to work with!
Rut on! I love the results!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 20, 2012 12:33:29 GMT -5
Two observations: 1. Some rocks will never polish to a high shine because they're not hard enough, they have mixed hardness, or because they have pits, cracks, etc. It's better to just move on, just as you did.
2. If you see parallel scratches, like in Stu's photos, you have to go back to your 220 soft wheel/expanding drum to remove them.
It's like anything else, you have to develop your skill. I'm still developing mine and really admire the work of some of the masters on this board.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 20, 2012 12:19:28 GMT -5
I got a kitchen pass this year! Yippee! I'll be coming alone---Jeri and Spike can I hang out with you? I'm pretty easy to get along with. I'd offer to pick up Spike on my way through Wichita, but I'll probably be a day or two behind you. There's a woman who manages a hotel in Alpine who arranges trips to other ranches; we may want to look her up for plume agate. I think it was kind of spendy, though. I got some great flower garden agate (2nd and last pics) while I was there. Looks like you did, too! Have you cut it, yet? It's phenomenal. Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 20, 2012 10:59:58 GMT -5
Where do you live Jock? There must be someplace you can go rock hounding...you're welcome to come visit the U.S. and I'm sure people would take you out. I'll volunteer myself!
I agree that we are fortunate to have the amount and variety that we do...
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 20, 2012 10:56:01 GMT -5
Hey Julie, welcome back!
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 20, 2012 10:52:52 GMT -5
It's a good thing I don't live closer, I'd spend all of my money and tick off my wife. A huge Laguna for $30? $25 for big Lakers?
I think I'd just pull a Tony and ask them what they wanted for the lot.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 17, 2012 13:47:05 GMT -5
If you go slowly with a tapered bit, you can just pierce the other side. I use a Dremel drill press.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 16, 2012 13:54:00 GMT -5
Just a thought: when two dissimilar metals come in contact, one will become an anode and the other a cathode, which can lead to corrosion. Of course, using stainless will help prevent that. As you can tell I'm no expert on the topic, so I don't know long it would take. Humidity would be a factor. Maybe there is some way to insulate the two metals from each other while still achieving a mechanical bond? I'd just hate to see it turn into a NiFe battery!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 16, 2012 13:44:12 GMT -5
What Frog, Rick, and Don said. In addition, you don't have to run the Dremel at full speed. You'll get better life out of the burrs by running at a middle to low speed. Yorkshire Jack can probably give specifics on speed.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 16, 2012 13:39:55 GMT -5
My labels always come off in the tumbler. LOL My wife gave me a small rolling scrapbook cart with pull out 12x12 plastic trays to hold slabs for cabbing, like this: www.containerstore.com/shop/collections/scrapbookingStorage?productId=10012555Works well except that the wheels couldn't handle the weight! That's okay, I don't really need it roll anyway. If I decide I do, I'll make a dolly. Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 16, 2012 13:32:23 GMT -5
I second Don's ID.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 16, 2012 11:19:35 GMT -5
Gotta disagree with you slightly, Lee. What most of us use is "white mineral oil", which is the second type listed in the bulletin.
But, I also agree that as hobbyists our exposure is pretty limited. Good advice by all on adequate ventilation and respirators.
Chuck
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