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Post by kk on Aug 4, 2016 19:54:17 GMT -5
Easier to post to facebook. Simple upload.... That, and FB is the fast-food for internet. No real discussions really, but always people to talk to 24/7. Forums have become rather quiet (for me), so FB is a way out for chatty people like me.
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Post by kk on Aug 4, 2016 10:14:28 GMT -5
Don't get upset Kurt but I see a cat! Never! Where is the cat? In the owl or the Lizard-project? The bird will become clearer once the cuts are deeper..... For today, I just wanted to ensue proportions are falling into place.
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Post by kk on Aug 4, 2016 8:58:23 GMT -5
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Post by kk on Aug 4, 2016 8:14:43 GMT -5
OK, as requested, here is the progress of my current project from the beginning with all the tools listed. Throughout this project (owl and Lizard)I use only one tool really. A Fordome equivalent, I don't use Foot-pedal so it runs at a constant 22k RPM. Bought this agate for its skin rather than the carving that is already there. Used cheap Chinese blades to cut off two sections for use here After cutting I see an Owl and Lizard in the cuts. Here are the burs/shapes that I will use for the project. Easy to list ahead of time, as they are nearly always the same. So I start with number one burs for heavy removal and basic shape. And number two burs for getting a smother background and curvature. As you can see the top of the owl project has come off, so no more shelter. But as I saw the crack early, I was able to keep the ears under the crack-line in anticipation of the break. If it held out, fine, now broken, still fine! Don't ever get discouraged by possible mistakes and or mishaps. I seem to learn most from projects where I had to adapt to new conditions. And slowly the owl comes into view: Number 3 burs come next from tomorrow onward. Still have to figure out the legs of the lizard to conform to the agate. So there is a big holdup, but should get two legs into place tomorrow. Till here for now, thanks for looking, Kurt
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Post by kk on Aug 4, 2016 7:49:58 GMT -5
A bit prickly to wear, but looks cute. Top part of my owl project broke off, so no more shelter as such, but still a rescue-project. Lets call it a snow-owl and everything is OK. Will start a new post for it, as it was requested to show tools throughout project.
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Post by kk on Aug 3, 2016 11:37:36 GMT -5
The owl inside a shelter concept is huge Kurt!!! There are tiny owls that live in holes in the Saguaro cactus in Arizona where we spend the winter!!! Hmm saguaro cactus are green with ridges up and down the cactus, the hole heals over inside and out with a tan, smooth scar. The owls are a standard owl color. What rock is green on the outside and deep enough for the ridges to be green? Also a tan brown color inside? That would be so cool! The cabin getaway is so nice and beautiful. Yall are lucky to get to go there! Jaspers might give you the right colours, or even moss-agate. I can remember green Moss-agate that had sufficient green around darker material.
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Post by kk on Aug 2, 2016 3:51:59 GMT -5
To me it will always be a cab. And a fantabolous one at that! Love all those curves.
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Post by kk on Aug 1, 2016 8:48:48 GMT -5
Those are great. I love owls so that one is my favorite. Thank you. The two nephrite's are my "Thank You" for my neighbor who let us stay in his cottage later this month. The agate one is for me!....
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Post by kk on Aug 1, 2016 5:41:45 GMT -5
Wow, would have dropped everything collected up to the point where you hit the agates. Thats a multiple years carving supply in absolutely fantabolous variety.
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Post by kk on Aug 1, 2016 5:31:21 GMT -5
Still not done, still needs proper claws, but did a light polish today to get a sense of colours in place. At the same time, cut into the agate I got in China, And lets try a Lizard from the other side. And another owl. The skin should be thick enough to provide the owls shelter. . Thanks for looking, Kurt
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Post by kk on Jul 30, 2016 21:23:39 GMT -5
I think if you opened the mouth wider by raising the upper jaw toward the nose it would make a big difference. Wolves have a thin nose and upper jaw. Just a guess but you are not far off. Will try that today! The owl is a new project for August. Will be trying different materials two to three times. Had wanted to do some since years, but never got round to it. The basic shape of owls is quite easy to do, but never had the incentive really to try until now. In a couple of weeks, we will be staying in a cabin high up on a mountain here, that belongs to one of our neighbors here in the village. Last week we went there, so he could show me the house-rules. As we sat there for a couple of hours, he told me how he usually called his son back from to the cabin without having to shout or using the phone. He uses the sound of an Eagle-owl that is common to Eurasia. So, as he is not asking for money, or anything else for that matter, I thought I might reward his kindness to us, by making something for him. Two owls and the dog/wolf should do the trick, if done well. Everyone wins: I get to do something new in stone, and get a few days living up there without electricity away from all those people down here with the bonus of having my kids partaking. And my neighbor has a house-sitter, while on holiday in Greenland, and a few pendants of interest as everyone in that family seems to be into dogs and owls. Thats where we will be going What we shall call home for a few days Kerosene, candles for light, and a shovel for every toilet-run. No electricity or drinking-water, so everything has to be carried in from 3 hours away. Will make at least 4 supply-runs to have all the basics ready by the time we get there, so when we go, all we need to carry, is our food and a few spare clothes. Just like I remember from my youth in the alps. One bonus though, if the next few weeks are not too dry, we got that pool to cool off in..... Hard to imagine that the airport is barely 4 miles as the crow flies, and a 8 million people city just under 15 miles away. Picture taken about 20 min walk from the cabin......
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Post by kk on Jul 30, 2016 10:20:37 GMT -5
The wolf with the moon in the background is a classic and is looking good. Too early to tell but I have a feeling that the owl is going to be great too. Jim Don't know, but something is not right with the head of the wolf. Most likely need just a small change somewhere to set it right, but have it in front of me for two weeks now, and simply seem not to be able to pinpoint what and where.
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Post by kk on Jul 30, 2016 5:51:44 GMT -5
Recently went to China and brought back some nephrite with skin to try my hand at something akin to cameo. Looked easier than it is. Here is my first try for your kind evaluation Attempted something akin to Tribal Tattoo, but then got scared with the different levels of thickness, so started carving. Still needs refining background, and polish. Hope to have pictures up before the month is out. Tried another only to find that the skin is too thin, so will not stand out enough. All good things are 3, so tried again today going back to the black one So together with 4 FA's. and two agates, I got now 10 pieces as WIP Thanks for looking, Have a great weekend, Kurt
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Post by kk on Jul 15, 2016 6:35:25 GMT -5
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Post by kk on Jul 15, 2016 6:21:23 GMT -5
Very good article, but must admit, that I gave up after the history part.
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Post by kk on Jul 11, 2016 10:00:28 GMT -5
KK, I have so many questions. What took you you to China? Do live in Hong Kong? How do you have such restraint to only buy SIX pieces of rock? Did you tour a factory? Do you have more pictures to post? I love traveling but have a family now so I have to live vicariously through others. Thank you for posting, it let me know that my wanderlust is not completely dead. I'm one of the lucky ones, my work in hospitality took me around the world several times over, more or less right out of school. Settled in Hong Kong and then traveled a lot as tour-guide throughout Asia for quite a while. So I consider myself very lucky, having seen quite a large part of the world, yet never paid for it. These days, life is much quieter, right now I'm just in Guangzhou, a city about a 100 miles north of Hong Kong. So similar, yet completely different. But again, I'm here on someone-elses purse, as I work as teacher holding a two week English program here at a school. For me, cutting and polish is just a hobby, so over the years I have gotten material that would last me at least 10 years if nothing new is added. The only things that I do add, are new things that I really would like to try, like the coral and amber of the past few months. Long ago, I set myself a budget per individual stone, and have learned to stick with it. This time I really wanted two stones, and knew the approximate estimated cost. So I budgeted that, and took little more than that with me into the markets. The main piece (the black skinned one) was unexpectedly low priced, that allowed for other purchases to take place. As said, its a hobby, and I do not sell, so I definitely want those things, but do not have to have them. Even if I would have returned empty handed (like that's ever going to happen ) I got material at home that would let me forget the pursuit till next time. Factories are tourist traps all over the planet, I have been a tour-guide long enough to know how those visits work. And getting into real factories, you need to be able to deal in quantity. Nevertheless, I collected a few name-cards, and have one guys promise, that if I call next time two days ahead, he will have a few rough pieces for me to choose from at the shop. So something to look forward to, and practice toward for the year. Im afraid, I did not take too many pics this time round. The only others that I have from the markets are the stone I bought. You can find the post here: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/75493/loot-year Will put up another post unrelated to stones up by the end of the week, regarding the school and what we did.
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Post by kk on Jul 11, 2016 7:11:55 GMT -5
Ohh OK, I thought German is your first language looking at your baseline there..... Yep, Florida is certainly not that easy in this hobby. Hong Kong is pretty much the same, nothing but chert and granite. Lucky for me, I don't need much, those six pieces will last me for at least a half a year, if not longer.
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Post by kk on Jul 10, 2016 18:46:49 GMT -5
How nice to be able to travel to China and explore the markets there. Sie haben ebenso sehr gute quellen in der Nachbarschaft. Finde Deutsche, Ungarishe und Tuerkische Achate sehr interressant. Tuerkei und Marocco haben ebenso sehr viel anderes Material das Fantastisch fuer dieses Hobby geeignet ist. Werd jetzt dehmnechst Oesterreichischen Magnesit bekommen und probieren. Hab verpasst letztes Jahr mir welchen zu besorgen als Ich an der Quelle in der Steiermark war.
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Post by kk on Jul 10, 2016 10:13:52 GMT -5
Lots of cool stuff to look at, I imagine hours could easily be consumed in a place like that. That feeling of being the 'outsider' is interesting. I was an exchange student a couple times and found it challenging, but very educational. You will learn more than you ever would in a classroom. Still, it's a strange feeling being picked up and taken home by a family with whom you've never spoken, in a foreign country. Thanks for the post! I have been a relative outsider for a long while, so its just a matter of getting used to I suppose. Home-visits? that sounds like Mediterranean, Hispanic or North African cultures, but in general, pretty much every culture around the world outside cities will allow you those courtesies.
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Post by kk on Jul 10, 2016 10:07:03 GMT -5
Great post Kurt. I did not see anything similar to this when I was in Nanning China but I would love to make that trip with you. I did not have fear at any place I went and I almost always traveled alone. I did take extra precautions with my wallet though because I was told that the pick pockets are very skilled plus the will power to not buy a lot of the gorgeous carvings has to be strong or the wallet is soon empty. Looking forward to seeing your new possessions. Jim The three main parts are near Shanhai, Guangzhou and anywhere near to the Burmese border. Thats where all the factories are located. Security: yes we have the usual ills of society, but overall I have never had reason to fear about personal safety on any of my visits to China. As long as you keep your wits and commonsense etiquette, its unlikely that you become a target. No different to any new place that one visits in the world. Years ago, I set a maximum budget for single stone purchases. That often leads to seemingly missing out on possible candies, but on the other hand ensues a budget that suffices for the hobby and keeps losses in disappointments to a reasonable limit. It also helps, that by now, I go in there whit a specific wishlist. Find those first, and then choose if something else gets your interest. This time it was very helpful, that the main-stone I was looking for came in at 40% of what I had budgeted. So three other stones fit nicely into the budget set for that one. By the end of the day, those are things I really want, yet do not have to have it.
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