ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 16, 2014 21:04:20 GMT -5
Hi Tony - It appears that you have developed a method of holding the pieces and than soldering for your projects. You answered my question about fusing sterling and I have also come to the conclusion that soldering the sterling will be most reliable & cost effective for me. As I have the sterling on hand. Thanks again for taking the time to post your results & conclusions. IV
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 16, 2014 20:23:34 GMT -5
Do you have a pic of the rough?...That would help to try to figure it out.....John As soon as I can figure out how to post a photo of the material I will do that for you. I'm pretty sure the catseye is at right angle to the "c" axis of the crystal. I'll see what I can do. Thank you very much! IV
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 15, 2014 22:42:15 GMT -5
Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but here goes. Have a few pieces of Catseye Tourmaline that I picked up from a tailgater at a rock show. Nothing spectacular, but it does show a Catseye. Is there anybody in our group that is familiar with this material and has worked it? Probably more suited for cabbing. Thank you very much! IV
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 15, 2014 22:32:03 GMT -5
Hello Tom, It was good of you to take the time to post the details of your project. This will serve very well when I actually get my work area cleaned and set up. You did a super job in making the chain very very nicely done and I hope that you will have more of your work posted. Thank you for sharing. IV
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 14, 2014 17:12:09 GMT -5
Greetings & salutations! Photos are pretty neat. I'll have to find out, in time, how to post photos. Very fascinating the formations and the beds of partially tumbled piles of rock you have there that evidently have been tumbling around for awhile. They look like they may have some possibilities! Thanks for posting. IV
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 13, 2014 22:37:36 GMT -5
In the beginning I wanted to know if it was possible and easy to fuse sterling. I appreciate all the outstanding replies, suggestions, and insight that was contributed to assist me in the final analysis of what I can use & how to accomplish it. If I understood correctly So far as a silver chain goes, it could be fine silver, Argentium sterling silver, for the fusing process or sterling if I prefer to solder. You're right I am fairly set on the outstanding chain design that you fabricated & posted. Since I already have some sterling wire and a rolling mill, & drawing plate for configuring wire, if need be, will probably set up as Pat mentioned. Hope this serves to answer your inquiry satisfactory - Tom? Thank you all so very much for your sage advice & assistance. IV
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 12, 2014 21:56:00 GMT -5
That's it exactly, Tom! You made my day. Your project is what got me thinking if it could be done by fusing sterling? Very nicely done. It's going to be a future project for the little woman. I bookmarked it this time. Thank you for posting. IV
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 11, 2014 22:09:25 GMT -5
When I started running the load in the wet stage it is way to go, as you suggest. Thanks for the confirmation. I should of known better anyway. I've been following Mr.Smith's (the individual that invented the minisonic) instructions, as best as I can, that he posted in Volume 1 - 2nd edition of his book How to Tumble Polish Rocks into Gems. Currently on Step 2 using Vibra Dry Compound #2500. Have a final step using #25000 Vibra-dry yet in a day or so. You mentioned the Lot-O tumbler. Sounds as though you have some experience and familiar with the Lot-O? I have a few of the different vibrating tumblers but do not have a Lot-0 (small) as yet. Maybe look into purchasing one. Appreciate your reply - nice to hear from you MrCoffee IV
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 11, 2014 21:20:37 GMT -5
Drat & Double Drat! I can't seem to locate the fine silver handmade chain that some member of this Hobby Group fabricated, if my feeble memory serves me right, did such a splendid chain project with. It was done using fine silver jump rings than stretching them into and oval than putting each one through the other. Something like that? However I'm not sure whether the fused sterling jump rings would, in the long scheme of things, be faster & hold up as well?
In any event I'll just have to look into the process of fusing the sterling and see if I might get it to work for me. Now that I know that it can be make to work. IV
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 11, 2014 21:05:31 GMT -5
Howdy - Thanks for the greeting ash. Going to post you a quick reply to see how it turns out. IV
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 10, 2014 14:40:58 GMT -5
I've been using Blue Fuse to fuse sterling, pure, sterling to pure, lol. All the stuff that it was said I couldn't do with enamel, like using sterling, and getting the enamel to stick, and to fuse onto sterling, etc. I've gotten it all to work. That Blue Fuse is great since it lets the parts you paint with it, fuse at lower heat, while it keeps me from melting the wire, or plate, or bezel wire..whatever it is. I'm great at melting stuff, so the Blue Fuse is the way to go for me. T Your information is encouraging. Most of the sources & notes I reviewed and read indicated that it would be almost impossible to do what you, and maybe very few others. have proven to work. The first step I will have to find a source of Blue Fuse Flux that you mentioned and practice. Thank you for your note and congratulations on your work with enameling, fusing, onto sterling, etc. What other metals have you found this to be effective on? Eventually may try to do a bit of enameling in the future. Kindest regards - IV
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 8, 2014 19:15:22 GMT -5
Picked up a little of this material. Anybody familiar with and what is being called Horse Creek Chert? Perhaps a flintknapper here might know something as well as cabochon makers if it is suitable for arrowheads and/or cabochons. Thank you for your assistance. IV
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 8, 2014 18:29:20 GMT -5
Just joined the Group and been viewing the many topics & forums. Slow learner but have thoroughly been impressed with the information and the posting that the people have taken the time to share. Have a long way to go and if you find me out of line do not hesitate to let me know.
? - Has anybody successfully been able to fuse Sterling Silver wire for example? I've seen Pure silver jump ring wire being fused on one of the links provided. That chain was done very nicely without the use of a flux. From time to time I've attempted to make small projects most all using Sterling. Soldering Sterling jump rings takes a lot of time. After seeing the Silver chain on one of the topics I would like to know if anybody has been able to do this successfully, with Sterling, and possibly disclose your secrets to us. My work bench is cluttered up so bad that I need to do some Spring cleaning before I can get to the torch setup. Thank you very much! IV
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 8, 2014 15:05:25 GMT -5
The backs of your cabs are as pretty as the front. One strategy advanced in our lapidary class is that of doing all your shaping and doming on the wheels and then letting the vibratory tumbler do the polishing to save time I'm not into production but thats an efficient system timewise. And yes you have to have filler to keep your slabs from sticking together back to back. Tom Tom - It's interesting to note that the backs come out that well. Would like to get set up to do the shaping, doming and possibly sanding the contours of the cabs on the wheels. Have some large slabs that I may experiment with. I've asked this before - but are you or the class using a wet method. There is a vibra-dry compound but haven't had a little time to work with it. Thanks for taking the time to post. IV
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 8, 2014 14:57:34 GMT -5
You can tumble them.it just tends to soften the lines a bit.you must use lots of filler though.ive done them in my lotto. Thank you for your note! I assume your lotto is a vibratory version? IV
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 8, 2014 14:55:01 GMT -5
My recent cabs were finished on diamond disks/pads up to the #600. They were then finished in my UV-10 with 500F, 1000F and polish. I fill the bowl to the near top of nosecone with ceramic media and then throw in 10 to 20 cabs. If there is any variation in hardness of your cabs (soft spots), this process will kill your cab. The softer material will wear away faster than the hard. But, if you material is of uniform hardness, it works well, most of the time. It also takes care of the backs. Darryl. Daryl - Again I presume you are using your UV-10 vibratory wet in the 500F and 1000F stages? Is your polishing process (wet)? What are you using for polish, if any? Is that also done wet? If you cabs are calibrated going in will this effect the dimensions any When finished? Does it make any difference on what ceramic media you use? Enough questions for you for now. Nice to know that the method works for you and does a great job on the back.
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 8, 2014 3:19:25 GMT -5
Not sure if I posted this on the right topic forum but would like to know if anybody has tried sanding & polishing your cabochons, preforms using the Tumbler? The results I have seen are pretty encouraging. Not sure exactly what all would be involve but it would be interesting hearing from somebody here that has attempted this method? Thank you very much! IV
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 7, 2014 21:34:44 GMT -5
They're ready for polishing. I'll post pictures as some of the better ones start to stand out. Been following your progress doing up the star garnets. They are very very nicely done! The photo of your machine brings back a memory of the time I purchased a Blake Compact Gem Polisher which looks just lot like in the photo. That was during the late 70's I believe. Haven't used it a whole lot. Yours still looks in very useable condition. Thank you for the posting an explanation of how to orient the star. Gathered up some of the old garnet rough and may give it a try. IV
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 6, 2014 16:16:23 GMT -5
Currently have a KG-1 mini-sonic by Geode Industries, that is doing a pre-polish on apache tears. The small batch of tears (approx 1 lb) were setting around now for awhile and had, have somewhat of a polish. After researching this a bit it was suggested that I put them through a prepolish. I would like to use vibra-dry at some point to do the final polish.
With that said. The prepolish is a wet mixture. ?? is it preferable to use this stage with the lid on or off the process? How often is it required to remove the lid once you get the batter requirements? What/if you use with lid on what is best method to seal the barrel? The reason I ask this is that whenever you check process & batter you have to remove the lid. Of course a lot of the liquid will seep around the seal and will run down the drum/barrel and produce something like concrete on the tumbler when it is in operation. Even with the lid & plastic wrap as a seal.
Hope this feeble attempt to explain is helpful? Would appreciate any an all suggestions, etc. Thank you very much! IV
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ivan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 165
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Post by ivan on Mar 6, 2014 1:41:28 GMT -5
I never used the shout box but I think it is a real time chat as opposed to posting and waiting for a reply. It is an actual real time converation, I think. Anyway welcome Ivan from Stu in NJ Thanks for the update Stu and the welcome. I'll try to keep that in mind. Most of the time, as you say, you have to post then wait for a reply if you get one. Not sure I can get the plugins loaded that are needed. This will be a work in process for me. Nice to hear from you!
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