|
Post by stephan on Dec 23, 2018 23:14:21 GMT -5
This little cab was fun. It was reshaped from one I cut almost a decade ago, when I was just learning, and my freeforms were a little bit too free to be visually pleasing. I love the barest hint of lavender in the fortification agate. If I remember correctly, this is some Rio Grande material. DSC_1294_Golden Plume Agate by Stephan Telm, on Flickr This has to be one of the messiest rocks ever... even more so that the brecciated hodge-podge from a couple of weeks ago. This water was black in seconds, and I was operating blindly, leading to a few dull spots I still need to touch up. Even when I changed water, black still came out of the wheels for a while (and my gloves). Pretty unbelievable. I deliberatly left the pocket, because it's botryoidal(ish). Now I just need to figure a way to shine it up. I wonder if a toothbrush and toothpaste will work, like they do on oxidized silver. DSC_1284_Marcasite Plume Agate by Stephan Telm, on Flickr And the what-the-heck, non-rock bonus pic (but it fits the golden theme)... Coral mushrooms (Ramaria), exact species unknown. Spotted while walking the dork dog today. A saprophytic mushroom. Some members of this genus are edible. None are poisonous, but not all taste good. This is one of those that does not. Pretty, though. DSC_1304_Coral mushrooms by Stephan Telm, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Dec 24, 2018 5:59:06 GMT -5
Cab 1. Very pretty. Cab 2. That is a very pretty piece of marcasite. Love how the ore is floating among agate type bands. The larger section of ore looks exactly like tree branches when laying on the ground looking up. I do not know if the pocket can be shined. Mushroom. I love beautiful, unusual mushrooms and this one is a winner. Nothing like this in Wisconsin.
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Dec 24, 2018 6:54:32 GMT -5
I love the look of Marcasite, but get turned off by stories on how messy it is The mushroom is awesome
|
|
|
Post by stephan on Dec 24, 2018 10:44:27 GMT -5
Cab 1. Very pretty. Cab 2. That is a very pretty piece of marcasite. Love how the ore is floating among agate type bands. The larger section of ore looks exactly like tree branches when laying on the ground looking up. I do not know if the pocket can be shined. Mushroom. I love beautiful, unusual mushrooms and this one is a winner. Nothing like this in Wisconsin. Thank you. I’ll do some research to see if there’s anything to remove the oxidation. I otherwise like the results of the cab, but the material is a definite PITA. As for ‘shrooms, they are a minor photographic obsession, and I wish I got to see a few more. We’re too dry most of the time, though. I love coral mushrooms. If I recall correctly, isn’t Wisconsin the home of a ginormous mushroom? I recall reading something about the underground structure of a single mushroom being something along the order of thousands of acres. I know the largest is in Oregon, but I think I remember Wisconsin as well.
|
|
|
Post by stephan on Dec 24, 2018 10:51:36 GMT -5
I love the look of Marcasite, but get turned off by stories on how messy it is The mushroom is awesome Yup. I’ve worked both marcasite and pyrite lately. Both yielded beautiful cabs, but were so messy, that I’m not eager to return to the rest of my material anytime soon.
|
|
stonemon
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2017
Posts: 1,024
|
Post by stonemon on Dec 24, 2018 10:58:57 GMT -5
Nice cabs there, and the mushroom is a nice coral type. We have a huge variety of mushrooms including many corals here on the McKenzie River in Oregon. This was not a great year for them because of the drought.
|
|
Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,685
|
Post by Tommy on Dec 24, 2018 11:06:51 GMT -5
Nice cabs Stephan! yeah that Nipomo gets MESSY haha. It's the only stone that I require myself to wear gloves for. I hate wearing gloves too so I rarely can get the motivation up to work on it.
|
|
|
Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 24, 2018 11:12:13 GMT -5
Love those! The agate calls to me but I love the Marcasite as well.
I wonder if a mild pickle solution or some other very mild acid would work to remove the oxidation in the pocket long enough to get some wax on it?
|
|
|
Post by stephan on Dec 24, 2018 15:08:21 GMT -5
Love those! The agate calls to me but I love the Marcasite as well. I wonder if a mild pickle solution or some other very mild acid would work to remove the oxidation in the pocket long enough to get some wax on it? Since I’m not a metal smith... I have to ask,what might comprise a mild pickle solution? Arctic acid? Oxalic acid? Something else? Thanks for the suggestion.
|
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
|
Post by NDK on Dec 24, 2018 18:29:29 GMT -5
Cab 1. Very pretty. Cab 2. That is a very pretty piece of marcasite. Love how the ore is floating among agate type bands. The larger section of ore looks exactly like tree branches when laying on the ground looking up. I do not know if the pocket can be shined. Mushroom. I love beautiful, unusual mushrooms and this one is a winner. Nothing like this in Wisconsin. Thank you. I’ll do some research to see if there’s anything to remove the oxidation. I otherwise like the results of the cab, but the material is a definite PITA. As for ‘shrooms, they are a minor photographic obsession, and I wish I got to see a few more. We’re too dry most of the time, though. I love coral mushrooms. If I recall correctly, isn’t Wisconsin the home of a ginormous mushroom? I recall reading something about the underground structure of a single mushroom being something along the order of thousands of acres. I know the largest is in Oregon, but I think I remember Wisconsin as well. stephan I asked my daughter (horticulture major) about the mushroom you mentioned and although she hasn't learned about mushrooms she said they did discuss the 1 you refer to. She said it's in NE Minnesota. That piqued my interest, I may look it up. Love the cabs too. Nice work.
|
|
|
Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 24, 2018 19:16:34 GMT -5
I have the pre-mixed kind of pickle, but google "homemade pickle solution for silver" and there are several recipes. One popular one seems to be 1/2 c vinegar, 1/2 c water, 1tsp salt. Heat up (to like coffee-drinking temperature). Plop your piece in there for 5-10 minutes and see if anything happens. There is also one that uses citric acid, one that uses hot tub chemicals if you have those around.
|
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
|
Post by NDK on Dec 24, 2018 19:20:06 GMT -5
I use the hot tub chemical for pickle. It's called pH down.
|
|
|
Post by Pat on Dec 24, 2018 19:24:35 GMT -5
We use ph down found in the swimming pool section of Home Depot.
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 24, 2018 21:32:39 GMT -5
PH Down user here, too. Cheap and no scum from impurities like Sparex.
I've heard of the vinegar, water & salt and citric acid (found in the grocery store). They just take longer to work.
I'm wondering if maybe giving it a very light buff with Zam on a fluffy cotton buff would work. They make little buffs that will fit on a Foredom or Dremel. No pushing on the stone, just barely touch it with the buff.
|
|
|
Post by stephan on Dec 24, 2018 23:19:16 GMT -5
I use the hot tub chemical for pickle. It's called pH down. pH down is 1M HCl, is it not?
|
|
|
Post by stephan on Dec 24, 2018 23:22:10 GMT -5
PH Down user here, too. Cheap and no scum from impurities like Sparex.
I've heard of the vinegar, water & salt and citric acid (found in the grocery store). They just take longer to work.
I'm wondering if maybe giving it a very light buff with Zam on a fluffy cotton buff would work. They make little buffs that will fit on a Foredom or Dremel. No pushing on the stone, just barely touch it with the buff.
Don't have a Fordom or Dremel. 😱 I suspect I can put the same bit on my Makita and use it a low torque.
|
|
|
Post by stephan on Dec 24, 2018 23:24:30 GMT -5
I have the pre-mixed kind of pickle, but google "homemade pickle solution for silver" and there are several recipes. One popular one seems to be 1/2 c vinegar, 1/2 c water, 1tsp salt. Heat up (to like coffee-drinking temperature). Plop your piece in there for 5-10 minutes and see if anything happens. There is also one that uses citric acid, one that uses hot tub chemicals if you have those around. Cool. I actually have citric acid, as well as acetic that is more concentrated than vinegar. Thanks all for the options
|
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
|
Post by NDK on Dec 25, 2018 10:23:03 GMT -5
I use the hot tub chemical for pickle. It's called pH down. pH down is 1M HCl, is it not? I checked and the package says 96% sodium bisulfate
|
|
|
Post by stephan on Dec 25, 2018 10:49:31 GMT -5
pH down is 1M HCl, is it not? I checked and the package says 96% sodium bisulfate Ok. Oxygen scavenger, then. Thanks.
|
|