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Post by orrum on Jan 19, 2013 9:36:21 GMT -5
I bought a lot of slabs off ebay, very cheap a while back. They are thin, about a 1/8 in and or thin on one end and thicker on the other. I really only have experience cabbing turquoise with backing. Seems after reading on here tgese are gonna be too thin. Do yall have any ideas what I could do with them? I had thought about glueing them together in a stack n then slabbing them straight across or even slabing them on a angle to make the individual pieces wider in the cross section. What glue and prep would I do? Any and all ideas welcome, remember I am a newbie with limited skill set. Thanks in advance.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 19, 2013 9:49:48 GMT -5
Uneven slabs are no problem since you have to dome them anyway. One side will just take more grinding, is all. If you dop, dop so the bottom is level. For thin slabs, you can do lots of things, including cabbing. I have a gotten a decent dome on 4mm slabs. You can also make doublets. You can polish the top with a flat lap and add bevels to the side, too. The last 2 I haven't done, but I'm sure someone else will tell you.
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Post by orrum on Jan 19, 2013 12:03:09 GMT -5
But rockjunquie will they break, they feel like glass to me. Dont have many, it was a lot of saw stuff advertised as good stuff. About a pound or so for $5 and they are nice, sorta semi clear with lil black spots n wavy ribbons inside them.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 19, 2013 12:15:04 GMT -5
Sounds like you might have an agate. Agates are notoriously tough. I wouldn't think they would break. But, you never really know with any stone, do you? I would say, try it on some not so great piece and test it.
It really depends on how you plan to use it, too. I wrap real tight and don't have a problem with thin stones. If it is a real soft stone, you just have to be more careful with it.
I'm still pretty much a newb, so hopefully some others will chime in, too. That way you can get more than one opinion.
All that said, if you are worried about breakage, you can back them. If they are clear agate, maybe Montana by the sound, then backing can add a whole new look.
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Post by Rockoonz on Jan 19, 2013 12:55:57 GMT -5
Quartz caps are an option. A really cool thing I've seen with clear agates is backing them with pearlescent sea shells like abalone or blister pearl shells (the flat areas between blisters). That would thicken them up for wrapping and you can either give them a low dome or do a flat top cab. When grinding shells use lots of water and a dust mask or respirator, some are toxic.
Lee
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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 Jan 19, 2013 13:28:17 GMT -5
I sometimes cut thin slabs for cabs, especially if I'm cutting something like Marfa Plume. You can actually dome a fairly thin slab and if not you can cut a cushion top or flat top cab. Lots of agate is real strong and will not break even if you finish these thin cabs in a vibe tumbler.....Mel
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stillalive
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2011
Posts: 136
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Post by stillalive on Jan 19, 2013 14:27:10 GMT -5
Pictures always help ,perhaps someone can identify what you have,and give you pointers on the best way to proceed,-all rocks and slabs being different hardnesses,will need a different approach,-many,many helpful people on here-one of them will hatch a plan for you no fear! Good luck,John.
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gerard
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 218
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Post by gerard on Jan 19, 2013 14:33:21 GMT -5
I cut slabs as thin as 1mm for earrings the material must be stable enough, I finish flat on a flat lap, even tumble em sometimes and just make from what is left after the tumble sequence.
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Jan 19, 2013 14:36:27 GMT -5
for thin slabs you can back them or cap them with quartz or both
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Jan 19, 2013 17:50:42 GMT -5
Thin cut agates also make some cool guitar picks. I`ve cut slabs 1/8" and polished them in my vibe with other slabs. Then simply cut out the shape and sand the edges slightly.
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rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2012
Posts: 1,637
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Post by rockingthenorth on Jan 19, 2013 18:43:33 GMT -5
or you could make wind chimes
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gerard
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 218
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Post by gerard on Jan 19, 2013 18:44:36 GMT -5
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Post by Pat on Jan 19, 2013 20:44:54 GMT -5
I have a very thin pendant that is about one square inch. It hangs by a sterling glue on pendant. I'll try to get a photo of it.
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Post by mohs on Jan 19, 2013 22:02:54 GMT -5
I saw thin cabs used in Tiffany lampshade the person used the thin translucent agates and molded them into metal frames tiffany style
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Post by Pat on Jan 19, 2013 22:43:18 GMT -5
Here's three photos of the thin pendant I bought. I want to make a glue on bail like that for some squares that I plan to make. The red is one square inch. Thickness is 2mm. Front Back Side Hope this helps.
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Post by talkingstones on Jan 20, 2013 8:12:23 GMT -5
If it's agate, you might also be able to put them through a vibe tumbler and have them work out well for you.
Cathy
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Post by Rockoonz on Jan 20, 2013 16:21:34 GMT -5
Thin slab earrings. These were shaped, vibe tumbles and drilled. About 2mm thick when cut. This was a pic for a customer and only one of each pair is shown. The match for each of these is bookmatched from the next slab from the rock so you need matching slabs or at least close. Lee
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Post by Pat on Jan 20, 2013 16:33:40 GMT -5
Lee, nice earrings!
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colliel82
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 664
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Post by colliel82 on Jan 20, 2013 18:21:44 GMT -5
Love the earrings.
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Post by orrum on Jan 21, 2013 19:34:01 GMT -5
Thanks folks! Sounds like no problem, I am used to the turquoise being weak. Love the earing idea. Also the ch ok mes! Yall got some skills! Dont have a vibe tumbler, could I preshape them n put in my rotary tumbler, meaning the wind chimes? Nobody likes my idea of stacking em up n gluing then slabing the laminated stack?
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