Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 28, 2024 0:01:45 GMT -5
dibs
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 27, 2024 20:03:00 GMT -5
I cut the chunk I busted off today. Seems really hard and the colors are quite subdued. Too overcast today to take pics. Maybe tomorrow.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 27, 2024 19:56:08 GMT -5
Looks like iron stained quartz to me.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 27, 2024 19:53:51 GMT -5
Must have been working with bumblebee jasper.
Turnabout is fair play for the clearly departed.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 26, 2024 9:07:56 GMT -5
I cut mine around 8mm. That is 9 turns on my 18" Frantom. People have told me that they really like that my slabs are a little thicker than the others because it gives them more room to wiggle and more options for the slab. If they want it thinner, they just thin down the cut off preform to the thickness they like. They still have the options for the remainder of the slab.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 25, 2024 18:13:35 GMT -5
Probably should hold off on the turquoise until you get some experience. Too expensive to start on. Get some agate and jasper to learn the ropes.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 24, 2024 19:19:20 GMT -5
Where in MN? I am in Faribault.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 24, 2024 18:28:57 GMT -5
I stabilized it using the acetone and superglue method and it took the 7 inch wheel like a champ. Now it is on the rough cups and it is running beautifully. I had it almost perfectly round with flat spots before it hit the cups.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 22, 2024 21:58:40 GMT -5
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 21, 2024 18:39:33 GMT -5
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 20, 2024 17:14:38 GMT -5
I bet it would make wonderful spheres.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 20, 2024 17:10:51 GMT -5
The preform is done. I need to clean it up good and run it through the dishwasher to get all of the oil out. Then it will sit aside until I build my stabilization set up.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 19, 2024 22:39:21 GMT -5
One little spot chipped off in the cutting. Turn #3 would have removed it any way, but I will have to be careful with this one when I rough it out. May have to use the 30 grit pads to rough it out and hit the high spots with the grinder as I go until it is round. May stabilize it with cyanoacrylate too.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 19, 2024 16:46:18 GMT -5
If it is, I have a hell of an expensive rock I am cutting into little pieces. That cut is 4 inches across and the finished sphere will be about the same.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 19, 2024 16:41:47 GMT -5
I am cutting it on the saw. The inside seems to be harder than woodpecker lips.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 19, 2024 15:57:44 GMT -5
It is currently in the process of becoming a sphere.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 18, 2024 20:07:01 GMT -5
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 17, 2024 21:06:42 GMT -5
I have taken AZ pet wood and put it straight into the tumbler with NOTHING in with it except water and let it go for a few weeks and they came out shiny as heck. No shaping at all, but shiny. You could try it if you have the time. I did at the time because I was not tumbling anything else at the time. Results may vary.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 17, 2024 21:02:12 GMT -5
The site emails you when you have PMs?
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Apr 15, 2024 18:33:24 GMT -5
Looks like bloody basin
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