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Post by Peruano on Jan 31, 2023 10:37:13 GMT -5
My best advice for learning to cab would be to take some of your appropriately sized (not too thick) tumbles and try enhancing them. As you learn to remove bumps, divots, and improve outer edge contours, you will be gaining experience in how to remove material when working with a slabbed preformed cabachon. The cardinal rule is to remove material from the edges before you ever venture toward the center dome of the stone. You are basically moving the shape from the edge to the center. They are just stones, they didn't cost much and therefore you can experiment as much as you want with them and learn in the process. Adelante.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 31, 2023 6:49:47 GMT -5
if you mix it with epoxy you can use it to fill holes, pits, or fractures in dark colored stones. Its color is capable of resisting removal from anything IIRC.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 18, 2023 20:56:45 GMT -5
The basic differences are in viscosity and from a practical standpoint, thinner means the solids (read rock dust) settle to the bottom of your tank and the oil floats on top and stays clear longer. Cleaning means scraping the detritus out like semi-dried paint from your old latex bucket. Thicker (read human laxative and to a lesser extent horse laxatives) will mean that rock detritus will remain suspended in the coolant (same clean out interval probably but in my experience easier in that its is removed like pudding. In my eyes they both have the same lubricating and cooling properties; but I suspect that the thinner stuff will mist more and hence contribute to the film of adjacent equipment and persistent odors. While some folks recommend baby oil and other things with fragrances, I am totally turned off by such intrusions in my shop. There is not best lapidary oil, except one that is readily available to you, within your cost range, and not as obnoxiously offensive as kerosene, diesel fuel, hydraulic fluid, or oils from electrical transformers that have toxic stuff unmentionable. Go home with the oil that brung you and don't fret too much about whether it was the best.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 17, 2023 6:09:44 GMT -5
As a zoologist who spent some time studying whales, I was and am in the left facing whale crowd with rockjunquie. All other answers are accepted as well.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 16, 2023 13:10:53 GMT -5
This material is a bit heterogenous (i.e. soft in spots) for my taste, but this one jumped out at me once I mostly overcame the tendency to undercut. I hope you see something in it too!
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Post by Peruano on Jan 16, 2023 11:09:14 GMT -5
Strange that belts should come up for discussion, as I had a belt malfunction on my Gy-Roc Model B vibe last night. Delving into a pile of parts gifted to me with a couple of machines several years ago, I found replacement belts that had been purchased from an industrial supplier at what I suspect were economical prices compared to lapidary sources. The belts came from: Gasket, Packing, Seal Supply Co. Inc., 3015 Princeton NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107. The have a website. The belt designations appropriate for my Gy-Roc were Buna 230 (thinner) and Buna 231 (same diameter but a thicker belt and hence a smidge tighter). My suggestion would be to try to locate comparable belts through industrial supply houses and make note/share the part designations for the various machines that we frequently replace belts for. Meanwhile, I'm back and running with my midnight repair. Tumble on.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 11, 2023 6:41:33 GMT -5
A satisfied customer.!
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Post by Peruano on Jan 11, 2023 6:40:11 GMT -5
vegasjames Yes, like that. I did not misspeak; that is beautiful stuff. Son Of Beach And its a bit more difficult to work with. Tends to fracture especially if you get it to hot on the wheel or treat it roughly.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 10, 2023 17:02:31 GMT -5
I'll give praise for composition. Too often I'm tempted to try to incoporate a scene that is too busy when work with the mook. Yours is a simple but lovingly complex color scheme, and I like it.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 10, 2023 16:57:30 GMT -5
I'm partial to opalized wood which I have some access to locally, but I've seen some wonderful opalized wood from NV. You are in a rock hounder's heaven (as am I being in NM). Keep on tumbling.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 9, 2023 16:44:47 GMT -5
The University of Nebraska's food science department use to support a food outlet with specialty cheeses and processed meats. My favorites were the Buffalo Chips (bison jerky in vacum sealed packets). I'll be they are available on line.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 7, 2023 17:26:34 GMT -5
That's super on both health and lapidary fronts. The minisonic is a versatile and sturdy machine. Load it and watch in run even with a few rocks big enough to make you wonder if they will move or not. I have had several loads that my gyroc just didn't move right, but when shifted to the minisonic they performed admirały. You have the perfect excuse to renew the wardrobe so splurge a bit on that front too. Oh, and happy birthday too.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 6, 2023 18:29:01 GMT -5
LIke candy!
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Post by Peruano on Jan 6, 2023 17:14:43 GMT -5
Don't give up too soon. I ve seen them rise from the grave or close anyway
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Post by Peruano on Jan 6, 2023 7:06:25 GMT -5
nursetumblerI'm in Albuquerque, and would be glad to have you contact me once in town. Call or text when life settle down. Tom
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Post by Peruano on Jan 5, 2023 6:34:41 GMT -5
Time to clean the saw!
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Post by Peruano on Jan 3, 2023 7:47:56 GMT -5
When asking about speeds you have to consider hand vs automatic feed. A saw with power feed will feed the material slowly, saving blade wear and allowing a top of the saw that prevents coolant messes. Almost anyone will hand feed a stone faster than a power feed, but with the greater risk of stone breakage, sore fingers, rock grit in eyes, oil on your work shirt, and other ills. I clamp even small stones in a vice and use my power feed saws to cut them instead of my trim saw (equivalent of a tile saw with some differences). If I'm in a real hurry yes hand feed will do, but not if I'm trying to be careful with the quality of cuts to be made when slabbing. Congratualtions on the HP purchase. Treat it well and it will do the same for you.
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Post by Peruano on Dec 30, 2022 14:13:32 GMT -5
I was sorting a large number of iron nodules this week and was struck by this one. Is it just me with my mind on Christmas? Or does this natural hematite nodule look like an abstract nativity scene? Its OK to say you see something else or nothing at all.
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Post by Peruano on Dec 27, 2022 7:22:50 GMT -5
You may end up with black, black, black.
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Post by Peruano on Dec 21, 2022 7:05:40 GMT -5
I am sorry for your loss.
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