QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on May 15, 2024 15:21:17 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for your comments. And sorry I didn't specify it's a 6" machine. It sounds like a sintered wheel is going to be in my future. Also, thanks for mentioning dressing the wheel. I'll make sure I do that to see if I can squeeze some more life out of it. My fingers are crossed that the BAT textured wheel will be a pleasent surprise and I'll make sure to share here. When you do get a sintered wheel I would recommend getting one with an aluminum hub. On my 8" HP machine I have both aluminum and steel hub sintered wheels and much more prefer the aluminum hub. The aluminum hub wheels are much lighter weight than the steel hub wheels and no matter how long I spin-dry the steel hub wheels the steel hubs still rust. And I don't want to coat them with oil after each use. So from now on I will only buy aluminum hub sintered wheels. Inland, Johnson Brothers, BAT and I believe Covington all have aluminum hub sintered wheels available.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on May 15, 2024 10:58:36 GMT -5
No such thing as enough tools, Just need more shop Once when my wife was railing allegations that I have too much stuff, I responded with "One can never have too much stuff - just not enough room". Her response was "Then I should buy her a bigger house"... okay, so she won that one. No she didn't get a bigger house but I did surrender the field and admitted that I do have too much stuff! While she seemed a little disappointed she wasn't going to get a bigger house, to this day she still cherishes that win.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on May 10, 2024 14:03:50 GMT -5
Very nice work! Especially love the Rutilated Quartz!
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on May 10, 2024 8:51:37 GMT -5
Restarting doesn't help. And I delete the cookies cache daily. So it's something else. Like that image of the Laguna Lace Slab you posted a couple of weeks ago. I could not see it until you replaced the image with cloudinary instead of link. Maybe a windows, or firefox, or AVG update is causing problems with other programs. A few years ago Windows updates especially used to cause problems with other programs on my PC but I haven't had those issues in a long while. Is it still a problem? I can't really venture a guess, but AVG updates often cause problems. eta Maybe Tommy has an idea? No link or photo is showing for me on your original post from 5/3 but I can see the photo on your post from 5/8.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on May 9, 2024 0:03:29 GMT -5
Okay tonight I could see the boxes and got to vote. Not sure if the issue was with me or with my computer but nice work everyone!
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on May 8, 2024 23:53:31 GMT -5
Even the eBay link wasn't showing up on my end. But for some reason various images and links on this site haven't been showing up at times for me lately. I'm still using windows 7, I don't know 7 is getting too outdated or if I may have accidentally changed a setting. Sometimes, issues are sometimes cleared up simply by restarting your computer. I think Win7 should still show images. Try clearing your cache, too. It may be getting too big. Restarting doesn't help. And I delete the cookies cache daily. So it's something else. Like that image of the Laguna Lace Slab you posted a couple of weeks ago. I could not see it until you replaced the image with cloudinary instead of link. Maybe a windows, or firefox, or AVG update is causing problems with other programs. A few years ago Windows updates especially used to cause problems with other programs on my PC but I haven't had those issues in a long while.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on May 8, 2024 16:16:54 GMT -5
The voting buttons are not showing for me. Not sure if it's on my end or the site's? Is it by any chance that you have voted already? No I don't think I have voted yet this month. If I did I must be having an extended senior moment.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on May 8, 2024 16:13:06 GMT -5
Gorgeous Slab!!! Thank you for posting the image!
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on May 8, 2024 16:11:44 GMT -5
The image isn't showing up for me on this one either. Is there a setting I can change on my end to make it visible in the format that is being used? That was a link from eBay. I'll follow with the downloaded pic.
Even the eBay link wasn't showing up on my end. But for some reason various images and links on this site haven't been showing up at times for me lately. I'm still using windows 7, I don't know 7 is getting too outdated or if I may have accidentally changed a setting.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on May 8, 2024 12:11:11 GMT -5
Had to have it. Should make some nice cabs. The image isn't showing up for me on this one either. Is there a setting I can change on my end to make it visible in the format that is being used?
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on May 8, 2024 12:06:03 GMT -5
bump... lets see if we can get to 52 votes since there are 52 hours to go The voting buttons are not showing for me. Not sure if it's on my end or the site's?
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 30, 2024 10:35:35 GMT -5
Happy lil accidents. Just lil triangular bubbles floating off into space WOW!!! That is absolutely Stunning! It's pieces like that that keep slaboholics like me addicted to the search! Great find realrockhound - and Great cab!
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 24, 2024 13:31:03 GMT -5
I too live in an area where there isn't much in the way of large native cabbing rough. And have 10", 12" 14" 18" and 20" slab saws and cut mostly materials from the western U.S., Mexico and Australia that have been shipped into the eastern U.S. over the years. The 14" and 18" saws by far get the most use and IMO are the most practical for most average commercially available cabbing rough sizes. That said I still am always on the lookout for a screaming deal on a 24" saw. I have a few rocks worthy of slabbing that are too large for my 20" saw so have been squirreled away just waiting. But if I could only have one size slab saw, for my situation and for cutting slabs primarily for cabbing, I would choose the 14" over the others.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 16, 2024 20:11:20 GMT -5
Correct that traditional diamond paste (bort) is not water soluble. Some of the modern Gearloose brand diamond sticks now available are. But those were not around back when I was using diamond paste so I usually used the Crystalite brand paste on canvas resin pads/belts. And I too used the spray silicon for lubricant. The cigarette lighter fluid is basically the same thing as NAPTHA which is a mild petroleum based solvent. It also works well for dissolving some adhesives like the types used on price stickers.
I will use leather with aluminum oxide polishes for some of the softer stones like Howlite, Tiger Iron, Malachite, Chrysocolla, Turquoise, etc.. But leather with cerium doesn't polish as well in my opinion.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 15, 2024 12:52:19 GMT -5
Hard felt and cerium oxide is hard to beat for polishing high silica content stones like agates, jasper, quartz, etc.. Minimum 1/4" thick hard felt pad (3/8" thick even better). Not the 1/8" thick ones that some of the lapidary suppliers sell. And when using cerium oxide on hard felt you only need to sand up to 1200 or 3000 depending on the hardness of the stone. If using diamond paste it is very important to thoroughly clean the cab between stages to prevent cross contamination. Back when I was using diamond paste I used Ronsonol cigarette lighter - lighter fluid (which is basically NAPTHA) on a paper napkin to clean the stone between stages. And always avoid cross contamination of polishing agents on your polishing pads/belts. Have a dedicated polishing pad/belt for each polishing compound. Covington Engineering has a good polishing chart of recommendations for various stones linked here: covington-engineering.com/content/_pdf_files/buff%20%26%20polish%20chart.pdf
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 13, 2024 13:12:05 GMT -5
Very sorry to read this Tela! We had to have our 14 year old Chow Chow/mix put down early last month. It just seems cruel at times that dog's lifespans are so short.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 13, 2024 13:01:10 GMT -5
Congrats agatewhisperer! Beautiful cab. That's the exact reason I didn't participate lol - I would have had the wonkiest symmetrical triangle ever lol... Hey that sounds like a great contest theme - the "wonkiest cab" contest! Tommy?
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 10, 2024 22:57:40 GMT -5
Try the Gem Shop and Gem Center USA. I have seen both of them have some Rainforest rough at shows in the past. Even if they don't have it on their websites it might still be worth giving them a call.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 8, 2024 19:57:52 GMT -5
LOVES me some Picture Jasper! Nice cabs!
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on Apr 8, 2024 19:54:35 GMT -5
These rock quarries, like the Graves Mountain site, in the southeast are not easy for the feeble or those not physically fit...especially in the summertime. North Carolina is about the mineral capital in the southeast. Franklin, NC being a big gathering spot of vendors, close to a lot of sources of minerals and mineral museums, mineral clubs and such... might be a spot to consider. Not sure what you may have in mind... For what it's worth, Thomas Yes, the Franklin shows are pretty good as far as eastern U.S. shows go. I've been there many times for both the May and the July shows and know the area well. Three shows simultaneously in early May, and four shows in late July. Weather is usually nice in May but on the hot side in July. The motels in Franklin often fill-up during the show dates but there are usually plenty of rooms available about 20 minutes south, just across the border in and around Clayton, Georgia. Franklin is still on the GWL wholesale show circuit in both May and July. And the USFG's Franklin Faceters Frolic is held there in July. There are cabin rentals and decent camping in the area including one very nice Georgia State run Camp Ground named Black Rock Mountain State Park in Mountain City, Georgia. xpopress.com/showcase/shows/3/franklin-gem-mineral-showcaseFFF site hasn't been updated for 2024 yet: usfacetersguild.org/events/franklin-faceting-symposium/
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