Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,686
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Post by Fossilman on May 12, 2017 8:55:48 GMT -5
Was cutting preforms yesterday,It was going great till I got to my central Oregon jaspers-it seemed for every three I cut (trim saw), one would break... Grrrrrrr,would rather a moss agate or petwood would break than jasper's...A few were "Biggs" too!!!! Oh well,part of the game I guess.....They will still tumble....
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geezer
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2016
Posts: 338
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Post by geezer on May 12, 2017 9:11:44 GMT -5
Was cutting preforms yesterday,It was going great till I got to my central Oregon jaspers-it seemed for every three I cut (trim saw), one would break... Grrrrrrr,would rather a moss agate or petwood would break than jasper's...A few were "Biggs" too!!!! Oh well,part of the game I guess.....They will still tumble.... Michael, use a very light touch, let the lap or wheel do the cutting. Become one with the jasper. Let the shape flow from you to the jasper where you and the wheel become one. Use the force young Skywalker...... Shit, it will still look damn good tumbled too!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,686
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Post by Fossilman on May 12, 2017 11:03:10 GMT -5
Up down,up down,now side to side......Always work slow moves,always glide... Yuppers will try that!!! I'm about temped to cut some old stock "Biggs",so I need to practice...LOL Thanks!
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Post by rockjunquie on May 12, 2017 11:05:02 GMT -5
Some people drop a slab to get it to break up first, then cut. Some people, like myself, mark obvious fractures and use them to our advantage or avoid them. But, sometimes, I'm really happy when a preform breaks because it gives me a chance to feeform.
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Post by pauls on May 12, 2017 17:45:10 GMT -5
I'm with rockjunquie on this one. Don't concern yourself too much if your piece doesn't fit a template, just start grinding and see what happens, as geezer said let the rock guide you.
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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 May 12, 2017 22:04:17 GMT -5
Yep, nice thing about picture jasper is usually the fracture prone areas are pretty visible. Since they tend to break pretty clean along those zones, I pre break mine before cabbing. Like the other folks said too, don't be locked into calibrated cab shapes. Picture jasper is all about the scene in the cab, not necessarily the shape of it. Oddly, I find a good solid picture jasper slab often lends itself real well to the glass cutting scribe and breaking pliers. Lots of the picture jasper types break along clean cutter scribed lines as well as something like obsidian does and it saves trim time a lot..Mel
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Post by pghram on May 13, 2017 10:50:06 GMT -5
Yep, better to break before cabbing.
Peace, Rich
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,686
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Post by Fossilman on May 13, 2017 12:54:18 GMT -5
Yep, nice thing about picture jasper is usually the fracture prone areas are pretty visible. Since they tend to break pretty clean along those zones, I pre break mine before cabbing. Like the other folks said too, don't be locked into calibrated cab shapes. Picture jasper is all about the scene in the cab, not necessarily the shape of it. Oddly, I find a good solid picture jasper slab often lends itself real well to the glass cutting scribe and breaking pliers. Lots of the picture jasper types break along clean cutter scribed lines as well as something like obsidian does and it saves trim time a lot..Mel I never go by shape on most cabs I see a point of interest in it and work the design around it...That's why I like free form,instead of templates... I guess I have to try it out myself to get a taste of both sides of the fence... (so to speak) LOL Brealing the jasper,yes,that I agree on...Sounds a lot simpler!!! That's why I like this forum,up front and honest!!! Thanks all.....
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Post by Bluesky78987 on May 13, 2017 14:17:25 GMT -5
Yup, now you're on the right track. I do the drop test on mine. I drop onto wood floor from about 2-3 feet (not for a large slab, more for a slabette) before marking my cutting lines for the preforms. Might as well let the cab be the shape it wants to be.
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