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Post by lpl on Dec 1, 2020 16:00:28 GMT -5
Hi Robin. I picked this up a couple years ago out collecting. I haven’t cut it because it looks to be just too plain brown! But you are welcome to it if you’d like. Background is an oak table for color comparison.
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Post by lpl on Nov 30, 2020 14:48:51 GMT -5
I don't know if you have the ability to stabilize it with CA glue or Hxtal. It helps for sure. I try not to use those often, but sometimes on this stuff, there is no choice and it will just fall apart.
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Post by lpl on Nov 30, 2020 14:32:18 GMT -5
Hi jasoninsdSorry, I missed this! And everyone's answers are spot on. Its pretty soft material, mostly fluorite, and also contains azurite and malachite. The different hardnesses do indeed present a problem with undercutting. I've gotten better at polishing it, and a light touch most certainly helps with that. But the material matters a bunch as well. I've made 4 purchases on ebay. One was a complete dud. One was ok, and the seller added a bonus piece which was actually better than the one I bid on and won. The third had lots of nice color, but is quite crumbly and really undercuts. The fourth was a home run. It's tighter grained, has great colors, and doesnt undercut. And polishes incredibly well. Buying the rough is a total crap shoot. But damn, the stuff is pretty and people seem to love it. When I first bought it a couple years ago, it was being marketed as kaleidoscope agate or jasper. I don't remember which. That has changed fairly recently as it's now kaleidoscope stone or kaleidoscope prism stone. Probably there were issues with the other material, which is totally different in a lot of ways. Enjoy working it, it's different and fun. Reach out if I can help in any way!
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Post by lpl on Nov 20, 2020 10:32:08 GMT -5
Dang Gary, those are really nice. The labradorite is fantastic, but the Cady Mountain is off the charts!
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Post by lpl on Nov 11, 2020 9:03:24 GMT -5
Wow! Those are fantastic.
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Post by lpl on Nov 9, 2020 14:46:19 GMT -5
Really nice Rick. Your cabs and your photography is top notch.
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Post by lpl on Nov 9, 2020 14:44:10 GMT -5
Fantastic work!!!
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Post by lpl on Nov 2, 2020 11:14:14 GMT -5
Both are excellent Mike, but the Richardson's Ranch freeform is fantastic!
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Post by lpl on Oct 29, 2020 11:14:57 GMT -5
Great to see you cabbing again! Very nice group!
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Post by lpl on Oct 27, 2020 13:18:15 GMT -5
super cool!
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Post by lpl on Oct 20, 2020 9:39:07 GMT -5
Wow! I've never seen that material and I like it. Those are spectacular.
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Post by lpl on Oct 14, 2020 14:55:02 GMT -5
Gorgeous!
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Post by lpl on Oct 12, 2020 13:47:30 GMT -5
That's gorgeous Paul.
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Post by lpl on Oct 12, 2020 13:46:14 GMT -5
Thank you for posting such a fantastic array of brecciated jasper goodness.
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Post by lpl on Oct 12, 2020 12:32:03 GMT -5
Should work for you I think. I struggle with backs of pieces a lot. Solder will flow into my makers stamp, or I'll forget to use barrier flux and get fire stain and have to sand that out. I think if you do a lot of pre planning, you'd be ok.
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Post by lpl on Oct 12, 2020 12:01:14 GMT -5
Is it possible that in the fabrication of the piece the solder would or could flow and cover where you etched? I'm thinking after you are finished heating the piece, but that is purely a guess...I haven't ever done it!
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Post by lpl on Oct 11, 2020 19:52:32 GMT -5
Gorgeous group and “autumn leaves” is a perfect descriptor for that Stone Canyon.
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Post by lpl on Oct 10, 2020 20:00:57 GMT -5
The coffin is really cool. Expect it to creeeeeeeaaak open and a vampire to pop out, lol. Thanks! I saw a crazy pendant that someone did where the coffin did open on a hinge and there was a silver skeleton inside. It was so amazing!
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Post by lpl on Oct 10, 2020 19:59:38 GMT -5
I had to come back and look at that coffin pendant. Love the bevels! With Halloween coming, my daughter would grab that in a heartbeat! Great job. I really thought doing the bevels would be easy, but holy cow! It was way more difficult for me than doing a regular round faced cabochon. To keep the angles the same as you move through the wheels without making multiple faces was just really hard. Maybe it’s easier with a flat lap or something, but with wheels, yikes!
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Post by lpl on Oct 10, 2020 9:12:57 GMT -5
All are amazing, fantastic work!!! Thanks Mike!
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