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Post by Bejewelme on Dec 21, 2008 23:13:06 GMT -5
Well had a few hours at Tony's before his company Christmas party. Started off poorly......We are both dop challenged, the pot from Maryann was working great but Sat everything was flying off again.......of course it was Tony's fault, so I tried dopping, and guess what mine flew off too............we need the dop short bus!!! The pics are lousy, sorry I tried a piece of Amber that grinded down to nothing and cracked all up, need advice on working that. So I wanted to work on some things from Michael John, he sent a piece of snow white dolomite, which wasn't snow white when cut A little disappointing because the flecks on the exterior are so pretty. I have another slice I want to try to work again because it is so beautiful uncut. Then this darn piece of red horn coral, that is not so red, and has been flying off sticks for weeks now. I finally just finished it so I could quit looking at it. This was the stuff that was so expensive and not that great in my novice opinion I did a piece from naturenut--our PA rock. This is actually very pretty, and has a gold shimmer to it, she is getting this one to practice her wire wrapping. Ok, then things started to look up, this is the Rhodo I got from Michaeljohn.....was needing a pink stone fix, I love this cab, it is like pink crazy lace w/gems. Then my grand piece of the day was Tony W's boulder opal. I swear BO is like gambling, you are never sure whether to take a chance and touch the wheel hoping for more flash, or are you going to grind the color away? It is such a challenge. This was way better material and I love it It is big and flashy with that electric blue band!!!!! And this was the only one that didn't fly, the BO gods were listening!!!! Amber These pics look really bad, the stones do look a little better than this
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Post by NatureNut on Dec 21, 2008 23:29:38 GMT -5
Amber, I love the curves and the shape of the BO. And the coral looks like a sunset (turned sideways) or an oriental fan. But... the PA stone is definitely my fav and I can't wait to wrap it! Gonna follow Randy's tutorial for that one. I swear hearing about you and Tony and the dop is like hearing a Three Stooges Movie!
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Post by Bikerrandy on Dec 21, 2008 23:35:48 GMT -5
I really like the third one down, I gotta cut up more of her stuff tomorrow. Everyone of them is full of surprizes. Those all look great!!
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reelman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 114
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Post by reelman on Dec 21, 2008 23:56:20 GMT -5
They turned out fine. I would be happy with the red horn coral. Nice color in the BO also.
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Dec 22, 2008 0:11:47 GMT -5
I think you did just fine too! I like that B.O. and your PA. Rock. I know how you feel about the dop shits! I have experienced those stones that just don't want to stay on...and after repeatedly having them come off...I turned to a little tube called SuperGlue! It worked awesome...and all my dopping problems were solved. Glad you had some cabbing time Girl! Steve
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Post by Tony W on Dec 22, 2008 1:25:33 GMT -5
Glad you got some time to grind! They all look great. You are really making great strides and it shows. I like your coral and the piece from Jo! The opal looks good but I wish for you more color came out. YOu just never know. At least some was showing so you can hope more appears. You did real good with it!! My rule is to cut a big slab so I can grind down to 1/8th trying to find more color. If I don't get it I don't go under an eight as it gets so easy to break a cab. I've cut a lot of skinny opals, but I've broken a lot too.....usually polishing.. when it hurts the worst. Tony
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Post by sitnwrap on Dec 22, 2008 2:55:49 GMT -5
Wow, you made some pretty rocks there. You may not like that Coral cause it was suppose to be red but I love it and love the colors and that shine. You may have had some trouble with some of the cabs but you are showing some awesome stuff. That BO is beautiful.
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Post by texaswoodie on Dec 22, 2008 7:12:59 GMT -5
Hey Amber, I like the coral. And the rock from PA is great also. Doing great on your cabbing!
Curt
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Post by Bejewelme on Dec 22, 2008 8:51:22 GMT -5
Thanks guys Curt, the PA stuff almost reminds me of your ghostwood. TonyW- I was so afraid of breaking that darn opal I figured I better quit while it was in tact. I was grinding a piece of Amber, and it cracked, but I reshaped and then the whole thing broke in pieces, that is tough stuff to work with. The dolomite was so pretty, will try it again, and the coral--maybe I am being too rough on that one, maybe it is nicer than I give it credit for.
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Post by Tweetiepy on Dec 22, 2008 9:32:20 GMT -5
The BO is awesome good job on them all
For the dopping, try using warm water while cabbing it helps the stones not fly off - remember dops come off in the freezer, warm water might help
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UtahRockHound
spending too much on rocks
Sometimes your the Windshield, sometimes your the Rock.
Member since May 2008
Posts: 301
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Post by UtahRockHound on Dec 22, 2008 9:49:21 GMT -5
Just a thought, but what are you using to grind/polish with. Is it out of round or off balance. If it vibrates hard when running, this easily could be why you keep knocking them off the dop. I use wax and a oil candle and preheat my stone, then let them cool natural, and it is rare that it ever comes off.
Nice Cabs, and the shape is good too. :-)
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 22, 2008 9:59:25 GMT -5
Nice batch of pretties! Some ,more dopping advice: 1. The stone must be clean and free of all saw oil. I wash mine first in dish soap and water, dry for a good while, then scrub them off again with rubbing alcohol before I go to the dop pot. 2. Stone and wax must both be almost too hot to handle before dopping. Hot enough my fingers swell if Im dopping a bunch of stones 3. Dop wax should be in a cone shape extending clear to the stones margin. Thinner wax cools easier and the cold water makes it break from the stone more easily and the less surface area covered by the wax, the less it sticks. 4. Don't work the dopped stone till it's totally cooled off as sudden temperature change from hot to cold will again make the stone break free of the wax. 5. Dop wax can be reused for awhile but loses a bit of it's stickiness each time it's reused. When the stones stop sticking, it's time to start a new batch of wax. Hope some of these tips help.....Mel
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Post by Tonyterner on Dec 22, 2008 10:27:02 GMT -5
Man those pics turned out terrible, they looked so much better on the computer. I'll go into photoshop today and see if I can fix them. You did a nice job on all of these and they have perfect domes and a good shine.
Yes the dopping is my downfall. I don't dop myself but have no luck dopping for her. Mostly the wax breaks rather than it coming off of the stone but that happens too. I do let the stone get real hot but maybe I'm not getting enough wax on the stick. I'll try smaller sticks and a bigger wax blob. We do use red hot water because my basement is so cold and I have a problem with my finger.
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Post by NatureNut on Dec 22, 2008 10:39:28 GMT -5
Sabre, you should do a dopping tutorial with pics. I would really like to learn about it. Tony, you are way ahead of me!
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Post by BuiltonRock on Dec 22, 2008 10:44:29 GMT -5
Amber, Those are all great and the shape of each one is nice. john
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Post by fishenman on Dec 22, 2008 14:23:18 GMT -5
You did a really good job with the horn coral. That stuff can be tricky, but your cab looks very nice.
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Post by Tweetiepy on Dec 22, 2008 14:26:44 GMT -5
Renovate brittle dop wax by adding a piece of bees wax the size of a pea to 1/4 pound of dop wax. (Original source unknown via Breccia 4/98 via T-Town rockhound 7/98)
Got this from our local clubs newsletter
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Post by Bejewelme on Dec 22, 2008 14:43:50 GMT -5
Thanks guys: We do heat the stones, I think Mel is on to something, I don't think we are using enough wax, it is sort of just dopped in the middle, so more might help, also whoever said about vibration never heard Tony's machine, that thing is like a locomotive!!!! So that is probably not helping, and I tend to do everything backwards which I think I am putting more pressure on the sticks, it is just so frustrating it is hard enough to cab without losing them all the time, and then the photography...............ugh!!! I appreciate everyone's help, it is amazing, Tweetie I read about the beeswax we might need to try that, the wax is brand new becuase Tony didn't have a pot!!!
Amber
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