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Post by Peruano on Feb 6, 2022 20:30:16 GMT -5
Its probably a great machine. One of the most versatile of the non-rotary community. Fill it mostly full of somewhat smooth rocks (preforms or beach cobble) and dump excess water, add a splash of dawn liquid, and two teaspoons of grit and let it cook. If it is not moving smoothly after an hour, add a squirt of water. But if you can see water in the bottom, you have too much. You can run it with the top off but expect it to need more water attention due to evaporation.
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Post by Peruano on Feb 5, 2022 7:33:22 GMT -5
Stay focused on recovering. Everything else depends on that.
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Post by Peruano on Feb 4, 2022 9:39:31 GMT -5
Pass it on. Rocks are forever.
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Post by Peruano on Feb 1, 2022 7:11:25 GMT -5
In Spanish Pedernal means flint. The rock comes from Cerro Pedernal, but then the Spanish guys who named it were not geologists. The material was commonly used by the Anasazi (Prepueblo) natives for weapons and tools, and hence has been studied much by archeologists. The archeologists call it chert (Pedernal chert). However, if you consult rockhound books and look at the way they describe the rocks around but further away from the ancient quarries on Cerro Pedernal, they all list abundant agate. I think the Pedernal chert is of sedimentary origin and some if not all of the stuff called agate is the same but more heavily oxidized and transported. It is commonly beige and pink, but reds and blacks blend into the primary colors and often are in association with some divits and crumbly sections that I can't explain other than being nature's imperfections. They produce waste or rationalizing they make my pieces more creative.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 31, 2022 7:32:26 GMT -5
Hobbies branch and get extended. Something drew you to the hobby and that may still be operant as you push your interest along a string of related activities. I like to walk; pick up rocks, shape rocks, saw rocks, bought a motorcycle to get to rocks farther away; learned to fix rock equipment; began to help others fix equipment; taught folks to do all of the above; well you get the point. For a mental exercise try to determine what still gives you the greatest pleasure in the old hobby and try to extend that into future efforts. What it turns out is I like nature, exercise, and people. Those fit within many aspects of my rock hobby; but bikes or photography or ?? could touch the same pleasure zones and not be far from my original rock hobby. I'll never stop hiking even if I give up rocks. But . . . I'll never stop looking at rocks even if I ease my commitment to the hobby.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 31, 2022 7:24:05 GMT -5
Not likely, not impossible. Its a bit like identifying birds on the wing. Its hard to prove the id as erroneous when the "bird" is not in hand. In this case it might take cutting the end off of your specimen and I'd wager you are not going to do that. BTW many of the stones folks like to claim came from reptile stomachs are probably just smooth stones. Again like that bird on the wing. Not impossible, not verifiable.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 29, 2022 7:04:24 GMT -5
I enjoy your arrays and appreciate that you don't feel compelled to make every rock perfect in shape. Nature has imperfections and preserving that individuality distinctly marks the work as "handmade" and artisanal. Cheers.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 27, 2022 10:10:57 GMT -5
Tile saw! A cheapie from Craigslist. I was really going to do the smash routine, I'd put the slab in bench vice and hit the part that sticks up above the jaws. Or place the slab on a table edge with a piece of plywood on top and clamp with c=clamps. Hit the part that sticks over the edge.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 26, 2022 7:28:20 GMT -5
Having at least one expando gives you an infinite number of wheels. Sic belts are cheap; and diamond belts last a long time so there is no reason not to try to have one expando (easier on the Star Diamond rig, or your custom design). I have an extra shaft for your 6" star diamond machine if you decide you want to build another one of similar dimensions. Shipping would be the only issue.
As someone who foolishly is working 3 cab machines at present, trying to decide how to refurbish or build them up, I have a strong preference for designs that let you get to (change out) one or more wheels. Depending on how much you use the machine, wheels wear out and need to be replaced. If that wheel is inside a bearing its a bigger task than just removing a nut and a couple of washer (i.e. a virtual teardown). So the ends of the arbor should be configured to hold the wheels most likely to be replaced because of wear or because of special needs or circumstances. Other than that its free style as to wheel choice, placement, and spacing.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 24, 2022 13:10:16 GMT -5
I'm sure if we did a bit of a sharing of activities we would find that many of us are involved in charitable activities. I know trying to get together with another RTH member, we both had to juggle days that we were involved as community volunteers. I don't sell my work but I do give it away to people who ask to buy it - the price - whatever they might choose to give to a charitable organization. On a couple of occasions their gift told me that they thought more of my art than I might have had I placed a price on it. Never hide your light under a basket.
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ISO Jet
Jan 21, 2022 17:39:16 GMT -5
Post by Peruano on Jan 21, 2022 17:39:16 GMT -5
I have a bunch of slabs that I cut from a jet ashtray/bowl. They run 1.5" x 5" and would make cabs.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 18, 2022 20:35:06 GMT -5
Those uncut agates are some of my favorites to pull out of the tumbler. Its truly the ugly duckling turning into the swan. Personally a swan without knowledge of the duckling would be a lessened experience.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 18, 2022 18:26:02 GMT -5
I go to Quartzite to look and talk as much as to buy rocks. And when I hear that some of the regulars are not there and certainly that includes some of the diversity from down under, I take that into account but . . . when there are too many venders to deal with on regular years, I'm sure that a covid year would still be an interesting rock adventure. There are a lot of folks who store material from year to year at the Q area, and hence don't need to arrive on a big boat from downunder. All I'm really trying to say is, yes the Q at Desert Gardens is probably different, but not a bust; and the PowWow may be less likely to be significantly altered, and hey. . . one good score at a rock show in the way of rough, cabs, or equipment can justify the day invested. This is coming from someone like most of us who is not trying to make a fortune in lapidary, or maybe not even a profit, but just enjoying the community of folks of a like mind and those who support or attempts in that direction by gathering, processing, and selling the things that bring smiles to our faces. Thanks Tony and all the others that are there even in the face of a diminished crowd.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 18, 2022 18:15:57 GMT -5
Can you show us the loop at the top? It might be more complicated than a knot.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 18, 2022 18:13:46 GMT -5
Nice but I see a couple of pairs of stone for earrings in the "between spaces". Tighten up the saw work there please..
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Post by Peruano on Jan 17, 2022 7:45:44 GMT -5
Nice. Very nice.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 15, 2022 16:13:20 GMT -5
I'd say you are safe calling the questioned slab, palm wood. You had fun and thats what gifts are supposed to allow.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 15, 2022 10:12:58 GMT -5
I have no recent information, but my recollection of my original research was that the exact source of the original material was open to dispute. Some folks said nw Nevada and some said lost in California. Either way it appeared that the new material was from a new site and not merely going deeper into the original source. Its pricey stuff and desirable, . . . even if a bit brittle from my experience.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 15, 2022 10:05:04 GMT -5
There's no argument here. Indeed a beautiful array and proof why folks love that "lace" family. Luckily these found their way into the hands of someone with the talent and diligence to bring their merits to their best light. Thanks for showing them to us.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 14, 2022 13:56:41 GMT -5
Even bankers need to clear their head and take a walk in the wide open spaces once in awhile. Plus they have deep pockets and hence can carry bigger rocks than the rest of us. Best of luck in the new job.
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