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Post by stardiamond on Apr 14, 2019 16:28:40 GMT -5
I decided to split the howardite slab. The slab is 3/8+ inches. I'll trim the edges mark the middle and hand cut with a new trim saw blade. It isn't the end of the world if I ruin it. I'll cab the lump side as the top first and should have an even 3/16 " slab remaining.
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hummingbirdstones2
fully equipped rock polisher
Vince A., 1958-2023
Member since August 2018
Posts: 1,461
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Apr 14, 2019 22:41:12 GMT -5
Ah, yes. One of my favorite things to do. Gettin' two-fer-one out of a slab. It's fun to me to pull off a tricky slice freehand.
That was a great way to use that piece of Howardite.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,729
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Post by gemfeller on Apr 15, 2019 15:58:23 GMT -5
[quote author="@rocks2dust " Thing I hate most, though, is that cameras are EXCELLENT for sharply focusing on every microscopic bit of dust that happens to come along and attach itself to the stone. Fingerprint smudges come in second, but dust looks the worst. [/quote][/p] That makes me LOL. It's absolutely infuriating that what seems perfect to my aging eyes ends up showing every little blemish, including all the items you mention, when photographed. I spend a lot of time going back to the machines to improve what I thought were already "near-perfect" cabs.
Others might disagree but I think I have the photography thing pretty well handled, though I can see many areas for improvement. It's the digital stuff required for setting up on-line outlets that drives me nuts. I keep trying to set up an Etsy store but get lost in all the options and minutiae required. Maybe one of these days...
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Post by stardiamond on Apr 17, 2019 14:01:01 GMT -5
I finished the cab and polished the slab. I haven't decided how to market them.
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Post by fernwood on Apr 17, 2019 15:35:21 GMT -5
Such beautiful material. Both have merits.
Market the slab as a specimen?
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Post by stardiamond on Apr 17, 2019 15:47:52 GMT -5
Such beautiful material. Both have merits. Market the slab as a specimen? I'll offer the cab and then show the slab to my wife when she is receptive to looking at lapidary material. The vugs are a typical attribute of the material and as a specimen they are fine. No shape comes to mind that wouldn't put the vugs on the edges. She designed my cabs when I was starting out and has a degree in studio art, then she got bored with lapidary. She comes up with designs that I would never think of.
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willie
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2019
Posts: 16
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Post by willie on Apr 18, 2019 3:07:51 GMT -5
The ability to offer a quality item isn't the only aspect of selling on eBay or Etsy its even more important to show good quality. I've probably missed out on some great deals because I couldn't judge from the pictures. Here is a relatively cheap way to set up a photo booth.
This guy is impressive and has some great information on his utube channel
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Post by stardiamond on Apr 24, 2019 19:31:59 GMT -5
I pulled 36 items from my boxes to list and another 10 that need minor work. I'll pick 10 from the 36 to list to start with. A good picture will be the determining factor in selection. I've spent a lot of time on etsy looking for similar items. There are so many cabs on etsy, I need to pick examples to stand out.
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pocketfullarocks
having dreams about rocks
I love being a rock and mineral nerd!
Member since March 2019
Posts: 60
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Post by pocketfullarocks on Apr 24, 2019 20:53:56 GMT -5
I am of the belief that you get help wherever you can, so be it cool or not to reference this other site, dang, it is info you need, so here goes - it is all about photographing your cabs and slabs: lapidaryforum.net/group/index.php?PHPSESSID=v6ul77bmn30ibc5erknvmjb4q0&board=45.0And another thought: Recently I was searching for a particular stone and I found a seller on Etsy who offered a small slab - and stated a cost to cab it for the buyer! A unique approach, I felt. So, perhaps you could mix it up and offer that with some of your smaller slabs too. I wish you lots of luck. I tried...and tired of Etsy before even starting to sell! The photographs, loading all the information, etc. just made me think it was too much like work (I too am retired). Although, my cabbing wheels are telling me that I may need to make this hobby pay for itself sometime soon!! Do let us all know when you are up and running, put the store name in your profile.
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Post by Rockindad on Apr 24, 2019 21:21:58 GMT -5
It's pretty clear that the photographing of relatively small shiny objects is it's own art form. After visiting a bunch of different members websites I was so impressed at the effort and time that they clearly put into showing off their products. It would seem to put those who don't at a pretty big disadvantage.
Al
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Post by stardiamond on Apr 24, 2019 21:37:04 GMT -5
I am of the belief that you get help wherever you can, so be it cool or not to reference this other site, dang, it is info you need, so here goes - it is all about photographing your cabs and slabs: lapidaryforum.net/group/index.php?PHPSESSID=v6ul77bmn30ibc5erknvmjb4q0&board=45.0And another thought: Recently I was searching for a particular stone and I found a seller on Etsy who offered a small slab - and stated a cost to cab it for the buyer! A unique approach, I felt. So, perhaps you could mix it up and offer that with some of your smaller slabs too. I wish you lots of luck. I tried...and tired of Etsy before even starting to sell! The photographs, loading all the information, etc. just made me think it was too much like work (I too am retired). Although, my cabbing wheels are telling me that I may need to make this hobby pay for itself sometime soon!! Do let us all know when you are up and running, put the store name in your profile. I do not have the requisite skill level to do custom work. I've been interested in photography for a long time. I won't take a picture unless I see a scene with interesting attributes that can be cropped into an interesting scene. I do the same thing with slabs. A lot of the cabs I've cut have high girdles because when I have the scene and a good dome, I want to move on to something else. Maybe 90% of the cabs I've cut I won't even try to sell. It's not that they couldn't be sold; it's not worth my free time. They were created recreationally and I got my value in that.
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pocketfullarocks
having dreams about rocks
I love being a rock and mineral nerd!
Member since March 2019
Posts: 60
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Post by pocketfullarocks on Apr 24, 2019 21:48:02 GMT -5
"They were created recreationally and I got my value in that. "
I am borrowing that line, embroidering it and hanging it over my machine! YES! Isn't that what it is all about? I almost--- almost! feel like I need to justify all these cabs I make by selling them or at least forcing them on someone as a gift , but that is so purely it. It is recreational. It is RE - CREATION- AL. We are recreating these raw stones into something beautiful, and so, there you have it. Thank you for that!
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Post by stardiamond on Apr 24, 2019 23:37:49 GMT -5
My previous hobby was golf. I quit when I lost feeling in my feet. I hardly played but practiced a lot and took lessons. Golf makes lapidary look like a bargain hobby.
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stonemon
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2017
Posts: 1,024
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Post by stonemon on Apr 25, 2019 17:58:54 GMT -5
I was reluctant to open a shop when I got back into the hobby 5 years ago. Finally some young folks who were helping us on the farm offered to help me set one up. After some practice, I find the listing and photography to be a joy as well as the slabbing and cabbing that I love. It is not like work to me. It is also nice to wake up with money in the bank that was not there when you went to bed. I do not count on sales for everyday spending or bills but it does support my rock habit and sometimes adds a little to the bucket beyond my expectations.
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Post by stardiamond on May 7, 2019 19:29:34 GMT -5
I completed my set up for my etsy shop; stardiamonddesigns. I have 6 cabs listed and will start with either 10 or 20. I'm alternating my time between fixing cabs and photography. It will be an extension of the hobby for me not a revenue source.
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Post by Rockindad on May 7, 2019 19:33:16 GMT -5
I completed my set up for my etsy shop; stardiamonddesigns. I have 6 cabs listed and will start with either 10 or 20. I'm alternating my time between fixing cabs and photography. It will be an extension of the hobby for me not a revenue source. Congrats! Make sure to put a link to your store in your profile or at the bottom of your posts. Al
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Post by stardiamond on May 7, 2019 19:41:58 GMT -5
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Post by stardiamond on May 8, 2019 19:23:16 GMT -5
I photographed and listed 15 cabs. I'm happy with the photographs. I managed to keep my hands from shaking when I pressed the shudder. I'm into etsy for $3 and my time. I'll move on to creating and fixing cabs.
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Post by rockjunquie on May 8, 2019 20:25:46 GMT -5
Your pictures look MUCH better. Wow! You have some nice cabs, too!
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Post by Rockindad on May 8, 2019 20:34:34 GMT -5
Looking good, best of luck!
Al
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