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Post by lpl on Apr 7, 2019 18:48:46 GMT -5
Thanks rockjunquie I think they are like 12mm. Took 7 hours to cut these and I'm over it for a while! My son and I went up there today and got some more labradorite rough. 38F and blowing about 25mph...not ideal hounding conditions, but we found some nice stuff. More to come!
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Post by lpl on Apr 7, 2019 18:25:26 GMT -5
I haven't had a chance to cut much lately, I've been doing more smithing, but I finally got a chance to do some things and thought I'd share. I ran out of small stones for earrings, so here's what I came up with. I'm looking forward to cutting some larger pieces soon, but for now this is as good as it gets! and one that I've been wanting to play with for a while. A free form labradorite from some rough I collected north of Laramie, WY.
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Post by lpl on Apr 7, 2019 17:40:32 GMT -5
Those are all amazing rockjunquie serioulsly beautiful cabs there and I can't even choose a favorite.
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Post by lpl on Apr 2, 2019 8:51:33 GMT -5
A first attempt? To me it looks like you've been doing this for a while. Good job! Thanks opalpyrexia!
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Post by lpl on Apr 2, 2019 8:51:01 GMT -5
I think you did a great job! I don't see any melting or blobs of solder. The prongs look neat and sturdy. I call it a success- even if it is just a boring success. Thanks! I think for me that the tiny stuff just isn't all that fun to do and I'll probably only occasionally do something like this. I had to prove to myself that I could do it
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Post by lpl on Apr 2, 2019 8:49:35 GMT -5
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Post by lpl on Apr 1, 2019 15:03:53 GMT -5
This is my first attempt at soldering a 4 prong basket and setting a faceted stone. I soldered the basket into a simple bypass ring. I don't know...it was a successful attempt, I didn't melt the whole thing and the stone is in there well, but the enjoyment factor was minimal. The wire was thin, the stone tiny. I can barely see any of it. But I'm proud of the attempt and not sure I need to do any of it again
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Post by lpl on Apr 1, 2019 14:58:17 GMT -5
Those look great Ali! I really like the lepidolite.
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Post by lpl on Apr 1, 2019 12:55:24 GMT -5
Those are simply amazing! The background for your photo is perfect as well...really makes the colors pop.
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Post by lpl on Apr 1, 2019 9:21:01 GMT -5
Ghost quartz=amazing!
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Post by lpl on Apr 1, 2019 9:18:40 GMT -5
Those all look amazing and have such a nice polish. I'm jealous!
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Post by lpl on Mar 26, 2019 12:12:56 GMT -5
Yep, they are all great...the first is fantastic!
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Post by lpl on Mar 16, 2019 10:13:02 GMT -5
A lot of great fossil hounding around the Custer Battlefield site, going east... Great rock shop in Billings a buddy (Bob) of mine owns.. THE ROCK SHOP... Also amazing Montana Moss agate on the Yellowstone river in that area also... Then in Virginia City, my cousin Randy owns the Rock Shop there also.... He might even give you information on where to hound for goodies too... Montana my home state... I would buy this book, for your Montana travels "The Rockhound's Guide to Montana by Robert Feldman.. It has a orange yellow cover on it, with rocks and fossils displayed.. Best hounding book out there... Can get it off of Amazon and Ebay… You have to hit Yellowstone Park too, it's amazing! HAVE FUN!!! PS: Don't know if it was mentioned, but Crystal Park down by Dillion is a great place for amazing crystals... Fantastic tips and suggestions fossilman I really appreciate it and can't wait to go!
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Post by lpl on Mar 16, 2019 8:02:34 GMT -5
Gem Mountain in Phillipsburg is a great place to go for sapphires. Around Helena are some pay to dig sapphire places as well. If you google the area and El Dorado it should pop up. Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman has a great dinosaur display. While your out that way, mining museum in Butte is pretty cool. Virgini City is also pretty cool, if your into history. Right by it is a place called Alder that has the Red Rock mine. It’s mostly garnets, but fun. Over by Dillon is crystal park. It’s $5 a car load of I remember. Taking screens really helps there. In Spencer Idaho is an opal mine. I haven’t done it but it’s fire opal. Awesome! Thank you for all of the suggestions. That gives me a great place to start.
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Post by lpl on Mar 15, 2019 13:03:32 GMT -5
I was wondering if anyone had suggestions of some don't miss things to do/places to go in Montana...rock related are a plus, but not absolutely necessary! I always take my son on a road trip in the summer, and this year we are headed a bit north to Montana. I've only dipped my toe there in the past, but this time we would like to see a lot more. We are planning to head north out of Ft. Collins and see the Custer Battlefield site, then work our way over and up to Glacier National Park. We will have about 10 days and I'd love to see what we can see around Helena, or Bozeman or anything really along our way. I'm open to going into Idaho a bit as well. Are there some good roockhounding or pay to dig sites? Fun museums or attractions that I should see? Any help would be greatly appreciated and thank much!
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Post by lpl on Mar 5, 2019 22:22:34 GMT -5
If it gets scratched up, the resin can be polished out, right? I read that it could, but honestly I don't know!
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Post by lpl on Mar 5, 2019 10:51:05 GMT -5
I finished up making a couple cremain pieces yesterday, a ring and a little pendant. I really did try to talk her out of a ring, since I just don't know how durable the polyester resin cab will be in the long term, but she really, really wanted a ring and said that she will only wear it on special occasions. So I made her a pendant too, which should be a bit more durable. I cut a small cab of purple from amethyst sage and blue from sodalite to accent the pendant. She's only seen pictures, but seems quite happy with the pieces. I am too. I wanted to do my best and be respectful with the ashes...it was a unique experience for me all around. I thought I'd share the pieces here.
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Post by lpl on Mar 4, 2019 10:17:45 GMT -5
You have been busy! They look great.
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Post by lpl on Mar 4, 2019 10:16:11 GMT -5
Wonderful set of cabs Tommy!
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Post by lpl on Feb 28, 2019 13:18:21 GMT -5
I just saw this one too. It doesn't look like the thick stone was an issue for you at all! Beautiful!
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