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Post by kk on Oct 10, 2017 21:31:46 GMT -5
Done, but might take a while to reach destination.
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Post by kk on Oct 9, 2017 20:15:28 GMT -5
Accepted, to be completed tomorrow.....
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Post by kk on Oct 9, 2017 9:22:24 GMT -5
Thank you so much for the file. Always nice to have reference material,
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Post by kk on Sept 30, 2017 19:28:22 GMT -5
Yeah, it's really great material. You can hardly go wrong with it. I was gonna do a mp4 of it and totally forgot. Looks great from the pictures. Because its so soft, I never gave that material a shot... Trying to work with Variegated Tiger eye right now, and have huge problems doing anything close to a mm or sub-mm. Those things break just so easily. Your material would be even harder. And by the way: while there are not many entries, its far from a "one horse" race. There are many fabolous pieces here this month. In my opinion, one of the best qualitative and attractive challenges we had in a long while. The punt: I had a slab of Australian tiger-iron I'd been meaning to cab and since it met the criteria for this month's competition I decided to substitute it for my intended opal entry. It isn't too showy in the images below but in the hand it has wonderful chatoyance as it moves in the light. The hematite has an interesting visual effect as well. Not done much with this material, but the ones I tried are always looking fabolous at hand. So I know how good your piece looks.
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Post by kk on Sept 25, 2017 23:08:16 GMT -5
Thanks, I forgot what pain tiger eye can be to cab up. all those little fibers wanting to do funny things to your polish surface... Love that variety of Tigereye. Excellent workmanship you got there Don. Will try a 1cm frog later this week, so will get to enjoy the pain of polishing this thing.....
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Post by kk on Sept 22, 2017 18:20:46 GMT -5
Whats your credit-score/rating? I don't know how it is these days over in your places, but over here things are more likely to evolve around financial questions and or passports. While pretty normal to locals, for us westerners that's a good sign to start running.
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Post by kk on Sept 15, 2017 19:11:33 GMT -5
All are very nice; but, I simply adore the one on top left and second from bottom right.
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Post by kk on Sept 13, 2017 8:38:40 GMT -5
Congrats to all participating. Job well done all round. Especially hard for me to choose just one as all show wonderful strong colour.
Is it just me, or is the overall picture-quality getting better too?
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Post by kk on Sept 11, 2017 22:41:02 GMT -5
OK, Orrum. Will do so. Thank you soooo much. Here we go...... Midday Sun, outddoors....... One for measurement: Finnland Spectrolite by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr And one for the contest: Finnland Spectrolite by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Left some vegetation in the picture to get a comparative feel for colours and to show that the colours have not been tempered with. I'm still not hundred percent happy with it. At hand it feels like the finish could still be better. Have tried all sorts of things all morning, but can't yet get a better glassy finish. But that is something that will not influence the quality for pictures, so, the above will be for my entry.
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Post by kk on Sept 11, 2017 17:57:12 GMT -5
Yup, basically mine are trimmings. I kinda got ripped off on them and paid too much. I'm hoping to one day to salvage at least a couple cabs. Most of the specs I have seen and own are flat tops. I'll just have to try that. Maybe even use the flat lap. You are doing mostly smaller cabs, so it should work out fine. The bigger you get, the harder alignment and colour gets. Basically, same as with Fire Agate.
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Post by kk on Sept 11, 2017 17:13:55 GMT -5
Do the purple bottom right. LOVE IT!!!!! I'm a spectrolholic. I have a bunch of small preforms, but I have yet to gather the nerves to cab them. Not very nice, though, I'm afraid. I was just going to suggest the same. Yeah, will be likely the one. Unfortunately I'm reminded why those broken fragments and cut offs where in the drawer. The colour is nice in most, but highly sensitive to angle. Hoped sanding will help some, but most remain one-angle wonders. The one on the right has some now, but rather limited from all four direction. but if I sand any more, I might start loosing colour. So, I'm increasing the grit now towards the finish line. It has the colours/patterns that I like, and besides the triangle, its the only one that allows viewing from more than one angle with full face colours. The only thing that bothers me personally though is that there are no colours head on. I have a bunch of small preforms, but I have yet to gather the nerves to cab them. Not very nice, though, I'm afraid. Like every material, Spectrolite is a learning curve. The only thing really to worry about, and hence different to other material is the dome. Make it as shallow as possible, or you might get a black rimmed cab. The viewing angle can be adjusted a little, but it all depends on how it was slabbed in the first place. At best, one ends up with colours from every angle, at worst its one single angle (I find material from Madagascar a bit better in this regard)..... But, thats the gamble...., so there is nothing else to do than to try and hope for the best.......
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Post by kk on Sept 11, 2017 8:37:51 GMT -5
How much is postage from the US to you Kurt? You got some spare? I'm more than willing to come up with postage. Had not had anything from mainland US in a while, but I think small boxes are about 25$.
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Post by kk on Sept 10, 2017 15:41:06 GMT -5
Is hand cabbing where you just use abrasives without power equipment? I know a guy who buys a pile of sandpaper and does this with feldspar and I'll be darned if he doesn't turn out a few nice cabs! He's got to have the strongest fingers in town! He even showed me one last month that had some cats eye in it. Files and sandpaper.... Is there another way? Do everything with blade attachment for Dremel/Foredome (Jade, agates, no problem), followed by sandpaper and return to Dremel/Foredome for polish. Right now, with Spectrolite, I suppose sandpaper is even preferable (for me at least), as it is easier to adjust angles for colours.
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Post by kk on Sept 9, 2017 23:41:06 GMT -5
I/we have always been lucky, health-wise. I never needed a vet for any of my dogs. And I'm rather sorry to have allowed my wife to talk me into "Fixing" the three. Since spaying, the girl has shown quite a few smaller irritations, and the boys are behaving somewhat differently too. Might be pure coincidence, but somehow I belief the procedure weakens their health balance.
Currently, we got way too many dogs here in the village, and quite a few are brought to the vet for regular checkups. Somehow, I seem to see an increase in health problems in those dogs (quite a few got problems with their balance and seizures are rather common), and they seem to be more aggressive in general in contrast to dogs that are kept liberally and without constant visits to the vets.
Somehow, my general distrust in doctors, has extended to vets over the past few years.
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Post by kk on Sept 9, 2017 23:34:44 GMT -5
Preforms are ready. Now comes the hard part; which one to choose for the contest? ? Sectrolite by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr
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Post by kk on Sept 9, 2017 20:09:09 GMT -5
Great to see Africa coming to the table. Wile so much material comes from the continent, we only have a couple of members from S.A.. So hope you can become a regular contributor to get a better understanding of the situation on the ground. Some pictures of your treasures would be highly welcome. Even pictures of your country or rock-related trips...... Thanks in advance,... Kurt
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Post by kk on Sept 9, 2017 19:15:04 GMT -5
Ohhh, yes. Who can resist those eyes.... My guys know exactly that I cant withstand them for long. Just stumbled onto this tread, reading through it is a nice way to start the day (instead of turning on TV).... I somehow always managed to have at least one dog in my life since I was about 5 years old, and strongly belief that companions like that make us better/kinder people in general. pphope for carma by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Currently, we got three in the house; Lilo came to us as a stray one day, started playing with the kids and never left. That was nearly 14 years ago. Here with Krista (my younger daughter about 13 years ago) 13512226_1296808010346489_7193620809154806633_n by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Now, a grand old Dame, nearly blind, and if not completely, at least selectively deaf, she spends most of her day in Krista's room where she feels save. Despite of her condition, she will still at times tell the boys off when they get too close to some of her favorite treads.... Lilo pp by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr She had always been afraid of loud noises, but now sits at the door, looking at fireworks and lightning, seemingly in wonder...... Her last litter produced three puppies, and in anticipation of certain eventuality of Lilo having to leave us, we decided to keep two of the pups. Here a few months ago, Peanut (seated) and Sprinkles. ppBday boys by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Very different individuals, with very different likes and dislikes, plus protective and loyal to a fault. My constant companions when walking to the cabin. By now, they are pretty much the only ones who still want to come with me, each and every time... ppDogs by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Thanks for the posts, fun to look through, and add a little..... Best regards, Kurt
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Post by kk on Sept 9, 2017 9:32:16 GMT -5
OK, lets start that thing. Spectrolite from Ylämaa option 1 by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Lets see where this takes me. If it does not work out, I found a few broken pieces from past attempts with colours more to my taste;just have to re-cut them all over again...... option 2 by Kainzer Kurt, on Flickr Best regards, Kurt
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Post by kk on Sept 9, 2017 9:03:20 GMT -5
Will be watching this post. Hopefully you get some advice and or answers. I also hope, people would show some of their Slag treasures.
Have never been into anything man-made, but recently came into some slag from England, and that stuff is mesmerizing.
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Post by kk on Sept 8, 2017 19:44:03 GMT -5
Kurt do moonstone!! I wanna see moonstone, I have struggled with it tumbling and cabbing and really no good results. Always been reluctant buying moonstone. I like the colour, always have, but there are simply too many fakes out there, so I never actually bought any to try out.
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