fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Jul 14, 2019 20:10:34 GMT -5
I realize this is an old thread but just have to say Tony is still number one in my book. In the past I have bought rough from Tony and just recently I bought a saw from him. With every one of those transactions I have more than received value for my dollar. If you want rough or renovated equipment give him a shout. You can't get a better deal
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Jun 13, 2019 9:47:01 GMT -5
Zarguy you might want to call Lortone and update your info. The last time I called Lortone they told me that they had stoped making and selling saws and that the parts may not be available and if they were available it would take up to two months to get them if I ordered them. I would not count on parts from lortone.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Jan 27, 2019 9:36:52 GMT -5
You may find that the first one breaks up along those lines you can see. Some of those prairie rocks are just confounding like that. You think they are solid and then bam just like that they explode. It its worth a try anyway.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Jan 27, 2019 9:06:52 GMT -5
Those are really awesome. The red one seems really nice but understand why you might hate it if it is hard to work. Would like to see the other colors you have. They would all look good in jewelry.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Jan 22, 2019 16:27:17 GMT -5
Lots of work ahead you there. The results could be spectacular. Cant wait to see them.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Jan 22, 2019 16:24:50 GMT -5
Yep those prairie and bible gum agates are very nice. I am surprised that more people don't promote them the way they do other agates and jaspers.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Jan 22, 2019 16:20:03 GMT -5
That should tumble up nicely. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Jan 12, 2019 14:26:10 GMT -5
That pietersite/lapis piece is killer. love the design.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Jan 11, 2019 9:26:19 GMT -5
Nice, thanks for showing me. I've collected a ton of prairie agates and jasper, now I know that once I finally begin cabbing they'll be worth doing... Not all of them are suitable for cabbing. Some pieces have fine pitting that spoils the polish. Other pieces seem to develop fractures as you cut and polish them. The only way I have figured out to determine if you can cab the rock is to cut it and try it and move on if they are too frustrating.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Jan 9, 2019 22:30:16 GMT -5
P1060232 by Rodney Mace, on Flickr IMG_0331 by Rodney Mace, on Flickr The first is a pendant I have for sale in my wife's shop. The second two were not finished when I took the picture of them but I sent them to the customer before I took a finished picture. The first one is a slice of prairie agate and the second two were of jasper and brecciate jasper. All the stones were self collected from near Scenic SD.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Jan 8, 2019 19:15:35 GMT -5
Those are real nice. I like cutting the prairie agates and jaspers that I find in western SD as well. The pastel colors make beautiful cabs when you get to cutting the right rocks. Most of the time those prairie rocks are just overlooked as lapidary material.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Dec 8, 2018 21:15:15 GMT -5
I have never had good results trying to tumble labradorite.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Dec 8, 2018 20:34:40 GMT -5
Could it be a chrome calcedony? I have some with that hardness and color but not that pattern.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Dec 7, 2018 22:33:12 GMT -5
Well at least nobody has suggested it is jade:)
Just a bad joke. Don't get mad at me.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Dec 6, 2018 18:14:07 GMT -5
I checked out those cabs and they are fabulous. I can see why you like working with the material. Some of it looks like it may have varying hardnesses and maybe a tendency to chip and pit. Do you have to stabilize? I wish I could go out and pick up material like this. Totally green with envy.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Dec 6, 2018 13:25:12 GMT -5
Does not look like any variscite that I have seen. But they are very beautiful. How hard are they?
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Dec 6, 2018 13:19:51 GMT -5
Is that all hard and will it take a shine? looks very nice to me.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Dec 3, 2018 14:46:25 GMT -5
Wow one could make some spectacular jewelry with those. I wonder if you can find larger pieces or if they are all that size.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Nov 28, 2018 12:46:17 GMT -5
I hear you. I guess I am a glutton for punishment. At this point I am just testing my limits.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Nov 28, 2018 11:32:23 GMT -5
Here is a piece of tiffany stone that I am struggling with to cab. There are many tiny pits in the top that I am trying to get out. By the time I am done there may be more super glue than stone in this piece. I acquired the two small slabs recently and am trying to make something with them. You can see just how pitted and fractured they are. This stuff just makes you tear out your hair and in the end you don't have something you can sell or put in a piece of jewelry.
IMG_0733 by Rodney Mace, on Flickr
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