metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 27, 2017 14:41:52 GMT -5
Well 40 plus hives must be 40 visits a week so it depends on their distribution, but that sounds like it is getting to be a second job, never mind some 'work'! Mites: yes; plastic yes. Next steps on the winter course: yes Oil-seed rape (OSR) "The REAL downside of OSR is: Taking two harvest a year, and whoa betide anyone who forgets that OSR harvest. The honey will set so hard in the comb that not even the bees can use it. The same is true for OSR honey in the jar, a truly spoon pending experience." SourceMoreHeather honey (holy cr@p - look at the price of that!) ETA - Asian Hornet now too!
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 27, 2017 13:44:24 GMT -5
I've always wanted a hive in my yard. Thought about making one of the trap hives and see if I can get a free one. Making is the way forward! Apparently Cedar is the wood of choice to use. Not that you need to use wood of course! Yeah, if bees like to fill a vacant hive, lets provide them with some!
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 27, 2017 13:42:20 GMT -5
Interesting new attribute. My cousin, who is also a chiropractor, has been keeping bees for some years as a diversion from his practice. He always comes down and sets pheromone baited traps along the water to entice and entrap stray swarms to build his hives. . Fine interest and past time. Are you familiar with this new process? www.wired.com/2015/02/flow-hive/Very impressive but I'm very new... even "pre-new" in bee keeping! However, I'm always wary of folk who make out such an activity is just hard work. Smoking bees and lifting frames didn't seem particularly onerous, but that is only part of the process. In short I don't know what I'm talking about and wouldn't presume to judge. I'll bet it doesn't work on our local heather honey though: that is touted to be quite thick and oil-rape is practically a solid so that's a non-starter too. Now don't think I go around looking for problems for every solution, however that's just typical!!
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 27, 2017 12:49:57 GMT -5
Hmmm. My fav is poplar honey!!! Have to look into that one! The Pennines are an area of of highland "the spine of England" characterised by heather moorlands: seems like a no-brainer to me!
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 27, 2017 12:46:57 GMT -5
Bee's are amazing... Do you have Italian - Russian ? My buddy has Italian and they are real gentle, says the Russian variety is hot blooded. we don't even wear bee suits when doing breakdown inspections, Italian's are so cool headed. Nothing so far; just a 'taster day' ... no physical taster though It's the instructor in the suit tho I was in the same type suit just opposite. I did feel the fear and did a tactical back off when I started to get 'popular' with the bees when I went to the front of the hive where it was busier, especially with the lid off and some adverse weather the little blighters were starting to get tetchy! LOL! Does he enjoy it or spend all his time analysing it though?
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 27, 2017 3:08:35 GMT -5
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 27, 2017 3:05:39 GMT -5
Wow ... grim. Lucky to get away with that one I guess!
I'm nearly four years in to a cycle (me) meets car accident. Chronic pain nearly cost me my sanity (residual mental health issues not withstanding), job and now my wife is leaving me. I'm trying to hang on to some occasional time spent with my children. Good times indeed! Here's to the grinding. Maybe I can do some again soon.
I love your work though. I've been keeping regular contact with some sweet cab images and that is medicine to get me through this latest "patch".
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 27, 2017 2:34:51 GMT -5
That's amazing. Welcome to the forum.
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 27, 2017 2:31:52 GMT -5
Holy cr@p ... I have indigestion for you!
You sprung a rib? Is that you or the machinery? Hope you're all good!
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 27, 2017 2:28:29 GMT -5
oh that is onyx by the way. soft and easy to work. Preparing to try this with jade once I work kinks out. BTW your efforts are a great first try. Any craft with a worthwhile ending tends to be perfected and that means the development of skills is usually required and that is oft achieved through practice... I wonder if your self observed no-so-round beads are not a result of having such a soft medium to work with. I know that getting a round top to turquoise cabochons can be very difficult as each pass over my flat lap tends to impart a locally flat trace.
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 27, 2017 2:23:57 GMT -5
So I saw a video on youtube and thought oh I could do that. Anyways does anyone have any ideas for holding the bead from the hole? I thought of a pin vise but that doesnt work like I thought it did. You could try some soft dop wax. Are you aware that the bead is being rotated (at 6:15 in the video) at the same time as the angle grinder is being applied. Am I even correct? However, the bead appears to be fastened to a motor at this point. I'm pleased to see dry working without respirators ... RTFM
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 25, 2017 13:33:58 GMT -5
To be vaguely fair, I think the shells are gilded in gold leaf... They're still not worth that though! The shells are fake! Made of resin per the advertisement! The shysters! I believe that I, probably like the majority of the public was guided by assumption. If I was going to shell out (pun intended) this amount then I'd probably be reading the description a little more thoroughly!
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 24, 2017 13:04:40 GMT -5
To be vaguely fair, I think the shells are gilded in gold leaf... They're still not worth that though!
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metalsmith
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Delete
Aug 24, 2017 1:34:45 GMT -5
Post by metalsmith on Aug 24, 2017 1:34:45 GMT -5
Eviscerate Emasculate Dilate Dilatate Matriculate Verbate
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 24, 2017 1:18:06 GMT -5
Thanks for the tip! I bought a dozen seeing as they were on special. Once the price goes back up, I'll see if I can't sell them on the board here and make a small profit. Noooo ... Of course not! A Chinese friend of mine did show me his agates like this and proudly explained how they are pretty good now, but just imagine how they looked before the dye faded?! In the wider community folk don't understand that is akin to splashing wall-paint over a Renoir. They see it as just being an expectation such as you'd expect your car painted wouldn't you?
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 24, 2017 0:59:49 GMT -5
If you say so!
The top of the dark stripe narrows - to the left is his ear. The stripe falls away to define a jaw ...
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 19, 2017 17:55:24 GMT -5
The theme chosen this month was no theme. Zen theme! ETA: Chinese writing stone?!
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 19, 2017 17:41:58 GMT -5
Well I've used my medical issues to help rocks along. Does that count?
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Aug 8, 2017 6:55:53 GMT -5
Diamond polish through the grades and if that doesn't work then consider lacquer / varnish?
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Jul 31, 2017 0:37:01 GMT -5
Holly blue agate, about 8mm x 8mm. The back still needs some leveling out. Hi DonDid this get levelled out / finished? I'm just asking as at the moment your entry is still on a dop so I'm guessing not quite finished. There is much potential in this stone.
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