scorpius21
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2007
Posts: 11
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Post by scorpius21 on Feb 15, 2007 13:58:57 GMT -5
I have been collecting and tumbling my own stones for a while now. Mostly Agates and Jasper. I am wanting to turn some of it into necklaces.. My problem is finding caps than can be cemented onto the rock and then attached to a necklace.. I have read about them in a book called "Introduction to Lapidary". I am trying to learn as much as I can on my own by trial and error and reading mass amount of material.. Any help is appreciated!
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Feb 15, 2007 14:09:22 GMT -5
Welcome to the board scorpius21! They call 'em 'bell caps'. There are several places online that you can get findings from. FireMountainGems has a huge selection. Your choice is not limited to glue on caps though.. you could always drill a hole to accept a 'screw eye post' or a 'screw post bail'. BikerRandy is the RTH resident expert on bell caps... I'm sure he'll chime in here on this thread. It's important to use the right 'glue' as well.. I use a 2 part Epoxy. There's lots of great information in the Lapidary Tips section as well.... forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=tipsDan
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scorpius21
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2007
Posts: 11
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Post by scorpius21 on Feb 15, 2007 15:18:20 GMT -5
Ahhh. As I read the archives and other lapidary messages, I begin to answer my own questions.. I am interested in hearing from BikerRandy on the subject as well as hints and tips.. I have a local shop here in Phoenix, Az that specializes in Lapidary. I see they have Bell Caps/Glue on Bails, and screw eyes.. So at least I can go and browse in person..
Daniel
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Post by deb193 on Feb 15, 2007 15:18:28 GMT -5
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Feb 15, 2007 15:46:06 GMT -5
I use a drill press (7"). Some folks use a Dremmel w/a flex shaft. There are several excellent tutorials in the Lapidary section for using both. I use a home made Gem Clamp when drilling with the press. It's basically just an old cookie tin with the clamp epoxied to the bottom. I just fill it with water for submerged drilling with a diamond bit. If you are drilling a hole all the way through it's probably best to use a flex shaft drill so the the whole can be drilled from both sides to prvent break out. All diamond bit drilling should be done submerged in water. Here's the tutorials I mentioned... Flex Shaft drilling: Zotika's tutorial - forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=tips&action=display&thread=1167877755and MichiganRocks tutorial - forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=tips&action=display&thread=1101001744At the end of the 2nd thread is a pretty good description of how I drill rocks... One of the benfits of using a drill press is that the chuck will fit any size drill bit... with the Dremmel it is required to buy different size collets for diff. size bits.Another benefit to the drill press is that there is very little 'play' and it's very precise. Dan
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Feb 15, 2007 16:02:18 GMT -5
lol .. I just noticed.. another Daniel There seems to be an abundance of 'Daniels' on the board..... Again, Welcome.
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scorpius21
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2007
Posts: 11
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Post by scorpius21 on Feb 15, 2007 16:12:03 GMT -5
Thanks for the warm welcome! I too noticed when I was typing my name in.. lol, can never have too much of a good thing...
Daniel
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Post by Cher on Feb 15, 2007 16:12:27 GMT -5
I can't add much here but wanted to say welcome to the forum!!
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Post by deb193 on Feb 15, 2007 18:47:18 GMT -5
I use a drill press (7"). ,<..>.Another benefit to the drill press is that there is very little 'play' and it's very precise. I feel compelled to distinguish between a benchtop drill press or a special gem drill and the Drill Ppess accessory for the Dremel or various hand-held flex-shafts. The later has too many plastic parts and is exactly not precise. Several here have attested to that.
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Feb 15, 2007 19:02:21 GMT -5
Thanks Daniel. I guess it wasn't clear that I was referring to the bench top drill press and not the Dremel accessory drill press...
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Post by Bikerrandy on Feb 15, 2007 20:40:13 GMT -5
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Post by sandsman1 on Feb 15, 2007 21:17:13 GMT -5
daniel that last pendent you showed thats a real nice bell cap ya got there i like it better then the four sided ones i had a prob with them haha i must be usein them wrong -- but that one is way cool -- i gotta try that
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snowdog
fully equipped rock polisher
RIP David Fildes, aka: snowdog
Member since January 2005
Posts: 1,527
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Post by snowdog on Feb 15, 2007 21:19:34 GMT -5
Hi, and welcome --- if you want to "pm" me your address I could send you a few -- couple different kinds --- as I have a bunch that I really don't use and that would give you something to try without buying any
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darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
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Post by darrad on Feb 15, 2007 21:44:07 GMT -5
I can not help with the hats cause I am at the same point but I did want to say welcome. This is a great board.
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Post by deb193 on Feb 15, 2007 21:54:23 GMT -5
Sands - They have it at Kingsley North for $4.50 a dozen (8-1022Wa Dozen - Silver large 4 leaf) Just have to make sure you cut off the correct two leaves - depending on whether of not you will use a jump ring.
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Post by cpdad on Feb 15, 2007 21:59:50 GMT -5
welcome ....my search dont work real well....but maybe about 9 or 10 months ago...bikerrandy posted a thread showing pendants in styrofoam being prepared for caps...at least i think it was randy....maybe someone can pull that thread up and give you the link...i dont glue yet...but i remember it being pretty easy to follow...kev.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Feb 16, 2007 21:23:11 GMT -5
Yep, actually it was foam rubber. All you gotta do is cut little slits in neat rows, and stick the pendants in the slits. The foam rubber holds so well that you can turn it upside-down and the pendants won't fall out.
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