unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Jun 23, 2011 9:47:28 GMT -5
Peachfront- Thank you for the kind critique. Regarding eye-ups, mine are plated silver and gold from The Rock Shed ,10 for $2.25 . I could be wrong, but couldn't one make their own eye-ups from precious metal wire? Might need to be soldered, but at least save on materials and shipping. I may try this once I save up for the real deal. Maybe one of our metalsmiths could chime in here... The drilling pain in the neck was literal, as I have cervical stenosis and extended drilling posture becomes excruciating. I cut the grooves at eye level w/ a face shield, so I can really see well, and am not uncomfortable.
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Jun 23, 2011 9:29:23 GMT -5
Nice job Greg! Time to get it dirty now that the photos are done.
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Jun 23, 2011 9:11:01 GMT -5
Fran- Thanks for the ID help. Yes on the Obsidians- Silver sheen I believe on 2 wraps and a mahogany for sure. Donnie: Thanks for that link, I'm gonna check them out. I like the idea of colored square and 1/2 round, didn't know it existed. BTW, I intentionally am leaving the twisted wire high in the groove, I like the look (kinda like a bezel) and I think it helps cushion the stone from side impacts, but what do I know, just a newb with soaking wet feet, sloshing along in my sandals...
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Jun 22, 2011 23:52:47 GMT -5
I did get some 20 ga. square, and some 16 ga. 1/2 round copper wire from Rio Grande, and I used it in some early practice wraps that were all given away to friends and neighbors before I could get photos. For some strange reason, I enjoy twisting the contrasting wires together (w/ my cordless drill), trying different combinations, never knowing quite how it will look until matched to the perfect stone. Kinda like dressing the stone...
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
|
Post by unclesoska on Jun 22, 2011 21:50:17 GMT -5
Thanks for the encouragement y'all! Donnie- Drilling is a bugger. Until I can afford the rig that shoots H2O THROUGH a core drill, I'll probably only drill if hell freezes over. Even underwater (always!) with gentle pulsing, 1 count in, 2 count out, it just seems to take forever on the harder stones. Tanya- I think the gold & silver wire are beyond my reach and abilities at this time, so I figured I'd try twisting different color combos of wire, always looking to enhance the stone. It's been positively a blast so far, people I've shown them to comment on the nice filligree, so I hope I'm on to something.
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
|
Post by unclesoska on Jun 22, 2011 18:38:05 GMT -5
Howdy Folks- I haven't posted much of my stuff yet, I've been so busy trying out different techniques and processes. Early on it was suggested that I focus on 1 area and master that, prior to moving on to something else. good advice but that never happened, though I think I may have narrowed it down a bit. LMAO. First off, I only did some of the cabs myself that follow, as I traded some mining gear for some cools rocks, that included some nice finished cabs. It gave me a jump start on wrapping, so what the hey. BTW, the cabs I did do myself, I sliced from various size pebbles on a 9" saw, lapped for saw marks and shaped on my inland grinder/lap and and then finished in a TV5 vibe tumbler. Please, I value all your input and suggestions, so let 'em rip...LOL! For starters, I inherited some glue on bails from my Mom, she did beading and other crafty stuff. All these finished in the tumbler. Did some drilling... using both a dremel & dremel drill press, and also tried a larger drill press w/ a Jacob's chuck. a pain in the neck, and a pain in the pocketbook for diamond drill bits. A couple of poor attempts at wire wrapping... nerve trouble with fingers made this very difficult. Being a glutton for punishment, more drilling for some eye-ups... Then, with my 1.0mm groove bit on the Inland, I got groovy on about 70 cabs, and went to work with the groove wrap... This is a favorite, more drilling, but antler is softer than stone so... And then, a problem child. I cracked the top of the stone while cinching up the bail, and fortunately had not trimmed the bail wires on the back yet. Over the top, a little swirl action, and viola! The Uncle Soska Fusion Wrap... Enjoy, and please, don't hold back on the comments. I'm at a crossroads... Oh, and I almost forgot. I really, really need ID help with most everything. I've include my quesses in the tittles, if they show up. Thanks again everybody, especially for all the help and great tutorials on this site. Rock On!!!
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
|
Post by unclesoska on Jun 22, 2011 9:55:23 GMT -5
Who'd a thunk it? Awesome concept. Great workmanship, as usual!
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Jun 22, 2011 9:20:30 GMT -5
Thanks for the Howdy and welcome back!
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Jun 21, 2011 11:01:25 GMT -5
Sorry Susan, I misunderstood your question. I thought you were referring to wire STRANDS, those things sticking out everywhere that look like spaghetti when you 1st start wrapping... my bad... Great replies though, I need to make some of these myself.
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
|
Post by unclesoska on Jun 19, 2011 22:26:18 GMT -5
Have you checked out the wire wrapping tutorial from Bikerrandy in the cabachon section?
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Jun 13, 2011 1:41:13 GMT -5
Welcome back. I too am a nube, and will have my 1st sales op on July 4. The fridge magnets are a fantastic idea! Thanks for sharing and looking forward to those pix. Mike.
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
|
Post by unclesoska on Jun 13, 2011 1:11:13 GMT -5
Amazing piece! Looks like the head of a staff belonging to an Egyptian Pharaoh. Kinda curious as to how long it took?
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Jun 13, 2011 1:03:48 GMT -5
Awesome piece!
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
|
Post by unclesoska on Jun 12, 2011 18:55:06 GMT -5
Never heard of a Viking wrap before, but yours is quite beautiful and uniqueLove the agate too, though for me, the sterling competes with the stone too much. Could just be the photo... Nice work!
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
|
Post by unclesoska on Jun 11, 2011 19:55:17 GMT -5
I thought I saw Nixon with horns, in the 1st pic.
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Jun 8, 2011 10:20:36 GMT -5
Hi Greg- I'm in the process of upgrading my prehistoric Highland Park E-4 9" saw. I found a transparent fruit and vegetable drawer from an old refrigerator and it fits almost perfect. I'm adding a screw/weight feed that I found some plans for in an old lapidary book. I'll post pix soon, I'm waiting to have a nut welded on the assembly.
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
|
Post by unclesoska on Jun 6, 2011 21:41:58 GMT -5
WOW! Out of this world!!!
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
|
Post by unclesoska on Jun 2, 2011 19:54:46 GMT -5
Diane- Unfortunately, the color in the photo is deceptive, not intentionally. It's actually more cream or ivory colored, not so much pink. I hope this helps with identification. I could have photoshopped it for closer to reality, but it looked so pretty the way the photo came out. Sorry if it was misleading...
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on May 30, 2011 22:46:29 GMT -5
#1 is stunning! Nice work, all of it!
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
|
Post by unclesoska on May 30, 2011 22:15:24 GMT -5
The piece shown was mixed in with a big lot of Chalcedony roses, but the roses were all white or translucent, maybe some with a pink tinge. I'm such a newb that I can't tell if it's in it's natural state, or been carved on. Thanks everyone for all the input.
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