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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 10, 2019 10:55:56 GMT -5
MsAli Just thought I'd throw this link out there for you. This place carries a number of things for gem carvers. I have the super polish that I bought for carving opal (hah! haven't done it yet), but it's good stuff. On the pricey side, but it's used very sparingly. I haven't been on their website in a long time, but there are some products that they didn't carry before that are awesome for carving.
My whole point is, when Vince and I took a Lapidary 2 class for sh*ts and giggles, the instructor had a guy do a cutting fire agate class. He used the super polish and brush burs to cut a fire agate in one class. He was using a fixed point system, but you can make one up for your Dremel if you wanted to.
Here's the link (finally):
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Post by MsAli on Jan 10, 2019 11:22:34 GMT -5
MsAli Just thought I'd throw this link out there for you. This place carries a number of things for gem carvers. I have the super polish that I bought for carving opal (hah! haven't done it yet), but it's good stuff. On the pricey side, but it's used very sparingly. I haven't been on their website in a long time, but there are some products that they didn't carry before that are awesome for carving.
My whole point is, when Vince and I took a Lapidary 2 class for sh*ts and giggles, the instructor had a guy do a cutting fire agate class. He used the super polish and brush burs to cut a fire agate in one class. He was using a fixed point system, but you can make one up for your Dremel if you wanted to.
Here's the link (finally):
you and Vince have been very helpful-THANK YOU! I am browsing this site now I also am religiously watching a guy on Youtube
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 10, 2019 11:32:11 GMT -5
You're welcome!
Now I'm going to have to watch this guy, too.
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gemfeller
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Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,732
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 10, 2019 12:50:27 GMT -5
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Post by MsAli on Jan 10, 2019 13:18:39 GMT -5
Those are the ones I am watching
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Don
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He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Jan 10, 2019 14:13:47 GMT -5
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Post by MsAli on Jan 10, 2019 14:24:17 GMT -5
Thank you Don Very good article and easy to follow along!
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gemfeller
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Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,732
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 10, 2019 14:28:58 GMT -5
Good tute Don. You mention a couple of things I'm not familiar with: titanium oxide and M-5. Could you expand a little on those and explain where they're available? I've had good results with the Mountain Mist super polishes but I'm always looking to add new weapons to my polishing arsenal.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 10, 2019 15:01:56 GMT -5
Very nice tutorial, Don! Thanks.
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Jan 10, 2019 16:11:34 GMT -5
Good tute Don. You mention a couple of things I'm not familiar with: titanium oxide and M-5. Could you expand a little on those and explain where they're available? I've had good results with the Mountain Mist super polishes but I'm always looking to add new weapons to my polishing arsenal. Gah! all these years and I never caught that typo. I mean TIN oxide, not titanium. LOL M-5 as I understand it is a blend of compounds. It was my gem carving friend's secret weapon for a super shine. He'd polish all way up to 100k diamond and then hit it with a little M5 on felt. He was nuts about polish. one day he discovered a super premium grade cerium oxide compound that really tickled his fancy. so he'd polish up a carving to 100k, hit it with m5 and then hit it with a touch of his super cerium and he could swear that the polish just got that much better with it. www.amazon.com/Fundamental-Rockhound-Products-Tumbling-Cabbing/dp/B00JUGT9CU
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gemfeller
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Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,732
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 10, 2019 16:58:13 GMT -5
Don, thanks for the clarification. Typos are sneaky little things -- take it from someone who's overlooked more than his share of them. I've ordered the M-5 and will experiment with it. I'd never run across it so thanks for your link and explanation.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 10, 2019 17:14:17 GMT -5
gemfeller please report back on what you think of the M-5. Thanks!
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Don
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He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Jan 10, 2019 18:28:48 GMT -5
If you want to get into high end cutting tools for fire agate work, take a look at VH technologies Diathin and Diaflex disks. they make the laborious pre-polishing a breeze, so long as you can get the disks in all of the little nooks and crannies.
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Post by MsAli on Jan 10, 2019 21:30:39 GMT -5
I have a question for my experts
At what point do you call it a dud?
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 10, 2019 21:36:21 GMT -5
I'm by no stretch of the imagination a fire agate expert, but i would think that if you've ground past the chalcedony into the brown agate and you're not seeing any fire at all, that would probably be a dud.
I'll wait for the experts to chime in.
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Post by MsAli on Jan 10, 2019 21:37:23 GMT -5
I'm by no stretch of the imagination a fire agate expert, but i would think that if you've ground past the chalcedony into the brown agate and you're not seeing any fire at all, that would probably be a dud.
I'll wait for the experts to chime in. That's what I'm thinking Maybe I need to keep going
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 10, 2019 21:56:22 GMT -5
Do you have any diamond cut-off wheels? You could maybe slice through a very small part of the brown agate on an end somewhere that wouldn't hurt the stone shape much and see if anything's in there. That's all I can think of.
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Post by MsAli on Jan 10, 2019 22:50:30 GMT -5
Do you have any diamond cut-off wheels? You could maybe slice through a very small part of the brown agate on an end somewhere that wouldn't hurt the stone shape much and see if anything's in there. That's all I can think of.
I do and that's a good idea Im gonna grind some more Im doing it one layer and then look and repeat Its frustrating because I think color is there Just have to find it
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Post by MsAli on Jan 10, 2019 22:55:32 GMT -5
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 10, 2019 22:58:50 GMT -5
I don't consider myself an expert but I've cut a whole lot of fire agate. Good stones usually show color from the beginning although some "sleepers" can often be spectacular if you know how to peel the layers.
Very generally speaking, if you don't see promising color after carefully grinding or sawing away the white chalcedony layer, you may have a dud. Not all fire agate is structured the same way and there are numerous exceptions to that rule . But color should be visible at some point during the initial "exploration" process,. After you see it then it's a matter of grinding or sanding along the color contours to reveal the full layer. Some FA's have multiple layers and then you have to decide which one may be the best and brightest. But I've ruined many a stone by over-cutting.
It's sad but unless you're willing to pay top prices for obviously colorful rough, you're mostly cutting blind. Maybe you'd be better off starting with windowed rough, where the color is obvious. It's a little more expensive but they'll teach you how the colors run and give you the satisfaction of producing a nice finished stone. Like shrimpin', fire agate cutting ain't easy.
ETA: we were posting at the same time. I think I'd give up on that piece and start with a fresh rough. I see no obvious fire layers, nor any indication you'll find one. I could be wrong.
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