Post by 88pathoffroad on Jul 11, 2011 15:52:10 GMT -5
At least, I started off with about 15 lbs of rough, now it's down to something like 12...I think. Heh. Most of this rock has been in 60-90 for at least two weeks, if not three or four.
These rocks are fresh from a one-week 220 grind, photographed under water for clarity. I culled some pieces including the highly grind-resistant baseball-sized lump at bottom right. That thing's a yard rock as far as I'm concerned now!
These are now all in 500 grit rotation with ceramic cylinders and some plastic pellets for filler. I'm gonna have another finished polished batch THIS YEAR!!! Can't wait. Next batch will be even better, I promise you. You should see the rough I picked! Lots of Calapooya plume (5+ lbs) and 2-3 more pounds of the pink agate, to start with...
I put the largest/prettiest ones in an aluminum cake pan, set it out in the sun and filled it with water. This is just plain mixed-bag agate, pet wood, jasper, rose quartz, Brazilian slabs, end cuts, cut chunks of Oregon carnelian, you get the idea.
CLICK TO ENLARGE
These are some pink/white agate pieces I picked up in Eastern Oregon (8-10 oz worth)
CLICK TO ENLARGE
I have 2-3 more pounds of this that I crushed up with a hammer for my next rough grind batch. Mmmmm baby.
Little Lakers in a 15" gold pan! These are going to be so sweet when they're shiny! I have a ton of old clear glass bottles from the 50's-70's I can fill up.
CLICK TO ENLARGE
These are the leftovers, sort of. Sorry about the orange bucket. I cull anything with too many cracks and pits at this stage and reconsider whether I want to toss them back in with the 60 grit or not. Heh.
CLICK TO ENLARGE
Hurry up and grind smooth, damn you!
These rocks are fresh from a one-week 220 grind, photographed under water for clarity. I culled some pieces including the highly grind-resistant baseball-sized lump at bottom right. That thing's a yard rock as far as I'm concerned now!
These are now all in 500 grit rotation with ceramic cylinders and some plastic pellets for filler. I'm gonna have another finished polished batch THIS YEAR!!! Can't wait. Next batch will be even better, I promise you. You should see the rough I picked! Lots of Calapooya plume (5+ lbs) and 2-3 more pounds of the pink agate, to start with...
I put the largest/prettiest ones in an aluminum cake pan, set it out in the sun and filled it with water. This is just plain mixed-bag agate, pet wood, jasper, rose quartz, Brazilian slabs, end cuts, cut chunks of Oregon carnelian, you get the idea.
CLICK TO ENLARGE
These are some pink/white agate pieces I picked up in Eastern Oregon (8-10 oz worth)
CLICK TO ENLARGE
I have 2-3 more pounds of this that I crushed up with a hammer for my next rough grind batch. Mmmmm baby.
Little Lakers in a 15" gold pan! These are going to be so sweet when they're shiny! I have a ton of old clear glass bottles from the 50's-70's I can fill up.
CLICK TO ENLARGE
These are the leftovers, sort of. Sorry about the orange bucket. I cull anything with too many cracks and pits at this stage and reconsider whether I want to toss them back in with the 60 grit or not. Heh.
CLICK TO ENLARGE
Hurry up and grind smooth, damn you!