ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 12, 2016 11:28:47 GMT -5
Wow, love that ghost agate and the chrysocolla(?) in picture 8.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 11, 2016 17:36:26 GMT -5
Got a PM asking how I took the pictures so I thought I would show everyone my professional setup. I've spent quite a bit getting this studio setup. All photos taken with my high end DSLR Iphone. And since someone might ask, that IS an exact 1/4 scale picnic table made from a single 1x8x8' (competition item from my previous woodworking hobby). Enjoy!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 11, 2016 16:22:23 GMT -5
479.65 miles - give or take a few 0.01s
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 11, 2016 14:48:34 GMT -5
2 corn tortillas - meat - cilantro - onions Couple squeeze bottles of the red and green HOT sauces Basket of hot chips and a nice assortment of salsas HEAVEN And about $10 for 2 people (minus the drinks)
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 11, 2016 14:37:31 GMT -5
One of the perks of living in Chicago - delicious Mexican food. No cheese needed anywhere near those! I can't even eat at Mexican places in most other cities. If we see every plate coming from the kitchen covered in cheese, we're outta there!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 10, 2016 9:55:16 GMT -5
I agree, it was a very nice offer.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 10, 2016 9:52:44 GMT -5
Really like that Amazonite. Thanks for sharing.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 10, 2016 9:24:19 GMT -5
Oohh, pick me, pick me!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 10, 2016 8:27:57 GMT -5
Rockandroll, I think that green stone is Kambaba Jasper.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 9, 2016 19:54:12 GMT -5
You're a good student, Dave. You get an A on your first try. Those look really great. The hardest part of the whole process is that first step. You have the patience to wait until they're done properly in the first stage, the rest is easy. One small suggestion. I used to run borax in the 220 stage until Chuck convinced me not to. It just dries things out even faster in the first Lot-O stage, so I don't use it there anymore. Good job on your first batch! Thanks for the suggestion on the Borax. I felt like I was adding water every few hours in the 120/220 stage. I'll try that on my next batch.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 9, 2016 19:53:16 GMT -5
napoleonrags, the quartz has very tiny pits. You have to look at the right angle. They are very obvious on the 10x loupe. There are also weird whit patches that I've seen some people refer to as bruising. I don't actually feel anything there so I just moved the material out of the rough stage and onto the next. The picture jasper at the 10 o'clock position did not shine up like all the others. It almost looks matte. And there are quite a few of these "micro pits" in that material also. Not sure if that is the nature of the material or I did something wrong. And finally, I grew up in Cincinnati so the Cubs are a divisional rival. However, I'm rooting for them to win!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 9, 2016 18:51:48 GMT -5
Beautiful batch Dave. Really like the blue quartz. The one clear quartz looks flawless. Awesome. Are these Rock Shed material? Yes, everything is from The Rock Shed.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 9, 2016 17:38:41 GMT -5
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 8, 2016 15:15:01 GMT -5
Nice shine and well rounded. Wonderful!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 7, 2016 18:37:52 GMT -5
OK, so the replacement motor made it back to me. They received the package on Monday and it was delivered back to me on Wednesday. Fast turnaround, but zero communication. So, just know that the replacement motor will be sent quickly, but you'll get no kind of updates that they got your package or any info that the replacement was shipped. Just an FYI. Still, super fast.
Now that the new motor is running, it is very obvious there was something wrong with the previous one. I thought the whole things was very loud. Now it's whisper quiet. I can still hear a distinct low frequency hum, but the Lot-O is directly below the living room. The rubber mat is making a huge difference and I will play around with other locations in the basement. But before I could hear the motor running. Now I can't.
First batch running thru final polish right now. Maybe pictures on Sunday!!??
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 7, 2016 8:15:01 GMT -5
Wow, that is some great work!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 6, 2016 21:34:46 GMT -5
You are correct. I was typing the wire sizes I had written down from the wire wrapping tutorial. The ones you listed are what I have written down for groove wrapping. Do you use the dead soft or half hard wire? Thanks!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 6, 2016 21:33:16 GMT -5
I just missed the post where the 12# barrel was available. Would have jumped all over that. I now actually have 4 Lot-O barrels. I bought an extra one for polish. The new one I just purchased also came with an extra. BTW, Chuck, love that setup you posted!
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 6, 2016 20:17:49 GMT -5
Yup. Trying to work on a 4'x8' HO layout. Kind of in a rut now, but it'll be winter soon and I usually do something each year.
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ChicagoDave
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2016
Posts: 720
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Post by ChicagoDave on Oct 6, 2016 18:46:16 GMT -5
Do you still recommend 22ga square dead soft and 21ga half round half hard as a good place to start?
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