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Post by socalagatehound on Oct 5, 2014 19:51:55 GMT -5
Outstanding!!! Very nice displays!!
You have great cabs and the display cases make them really pop. After a while using the cases as they come, I started experimenting with colored backgrounds by removing the white filler and gluing in colored felt, then mounting the cabs with double stick tape. Then you have to think about where to show them off, and the lighting, and ....lololol.
Craig
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Post by socalagatehound on Sept 22, 2014 18:08:35 GMT -5
Beautiful work!!
That mystery one might also be Denio Dendritic agate. Its the yellow/tan part of Amethyst Sage. Could be Feather Jasper, too. They're very similar. The full slab/rough would probably give it away.
craig
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Post by socalagatehound on Sept 7, 2014 0:53:56 GMT -5
Hi Rob For resin wheels I would recommend Johnson Brothers Super Nova Wheels. They are about 60% the price of Novas and they last about 85-90% as long. Better value for the money. And they stand behind them. Just got a 50000 grit replaced for free that went bad. Novas are top of the line, but $$$. Avoid the thin Chinese wheels that are way underpriced. I just reconditioned an 8" Highland Park Unit from the 1960s. Paid $50 for it. So here's what I did. Remove most of the rust with naval jelly before you brush. Be sure to paint with a rust inhibitor paint like Rustoleum. If you have weak spots in the metal, a couple of coats of spray on sealant (works like the spray on bed liner for a truck bed) really helps. Seals up the seams, too. Just don't get it on anything that you don't want plugged...lol. Available at Wal Mart in the spray paint cabinet. You just paint over it. I'd drill holes in the top and use a drip system with tubing and needle valves....eliminates cross contamination.
Other than the wheels I put on my machine (my third one) I invested another $60 or so in parts. Holds 4 8" wheels (my 3000, 8000, 14000, and 50000 wheels that I used to change out)and works great. Just some thoughts. Craig
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Post by socalagatehound on Aug 22, 2014 14:41:42 GMT -5
Congrats! I had a 360 soft wheel made for me by Johnson Bros. to use between the 220 hard and 600 soft. Cut the time removing scratches in half. I have resin wheels up to 50000 and love them. I just bought a used 8 inch Highland Park unit I'm restoring to mount my 3000, 8000, 14000 and 50000 on so I won't have to change out wheels. Got it cheap so what the heck!
I see lots of fun in your future...lol.
Craig
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Post by socalagatehound on Aug 7, 2014 12:19:48 GMT -5
If memory serves me right, "The Lords Mine" was in Eastern San Diego County at In-ko-pah Gorge. Many years ago, before the mine owner claimed it, we used to go out there to collect quartz crystals, mica books and feldspar crystals. I drive by there all the time on the way to Arizona. The mine is visible from the Highway 8. Last time I passed through, there was the same old camp trailer that has been there for a number of years, but you rarely see anyone around. To me, the area was not very productive if you planned on making money, and it sits right in the path of many illegal immigrants coming north. Despite the heavy Border Patrol presence, we were advised by a CHP officer who stopped by at the site to be sure we were armed and vigilant. I remember seeing some advertising by the owners for "Star Quartz", but nothing recent...
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Post by socalagatehound on Jul 30, 2014 14:32:13 GMT -5
Very nice!!
Shadow box idea is perfect. Keep it behind glass. It's certainly one-of-a-kind.
Craig
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Post by socalagatehound on Jul 5, 2014 20:15:27 GMT -5
SAW...WHEET!!!!
Love Lace, Crazy like me!!
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Post by socalagatehound on Jun 21, 2014 1:07:27 GMT -5
That is a really cool find. Love jasp-agates that are complicated and colorful!!! Great Cab!!!
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Post by socalagatehound on Jun 1, 2014 1:05:36 GMT -5
You are the master of fire agate!!!
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Post by socalagatehound on May 22, 2014 0:38:52 GMT -5
If you look at the bertrandite, you can see that every rock on the ground has a blue shade to it....usually a result of adjusting the saturation and shading in the photo program.
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Post by socalagatehound on Apr 23, 2014 0:36:29 GMT -5
SWEET!!!!
You picked great materials and put a great finish on them!!!
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Post by socalagatehound on Apr 3, 2014 20:46:30 GMT -5
The Vista spring show is also one of my favorites. Last year I met Christopher for the first time as well as many others. Unfortunately, I'm iffy for next weekend as I'm just a week out of the hospital for my total knee replacement. Might still be too tender to walk that far from the car. We'll see. If I don't make it, be sure to post pictures of all the goodies I missed...lol!!!
Craig
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Post by socalagatehound on Mar 14, 2014 22:56:57 GMT -5
Unknowns look like chrysocolla with cuprite. Messy sounds right.
Very nice work!!! He rocks!!!
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Post by socalagatehound on Mar 4, 2014 13:13:24 GMT -5
Gorgeous rox! Unknown #2 is La Rivera Plume Agate. Super nice stuff that polishes better than most plume/moss aggies, imo. A mystery it doesn't get much attention. C-ya, Rick Hey Rick
Agree with your ID, but is that name La Rivera or Riviera Plume? I bought a few beautiful slabs from Zippy Rocks in Quartzsite. He also had some that looked like Unknown #1 labeled the same way in the same tray. The clear stuff seemed very vuggy...
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Weird
Mar 4, 2014 13:04:46 GMT -5
Post by socalagatehound on Mar 4, 2014 13:04:46 GMT -5
I forgot to mention that they used to clad wooden ships with copper to keep barnacles from attaching. Up until recently they used to use paint with copper in it for the same reason. Chuck Okay, I'm suing the government for making all those pennies I've been pinching out of copper
And I'm ripping all the copper pipe out of my house asap...
On the serious side, I think we have to take care when grinding and polishing but I would think the cabs and jewelry are safe to wear.
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Post by socalagatehound on Mar 2, 2014 22:53:32 GMT -5
Hi Scott
Hard to describe what iron smells like except to say that it smells like blood. Copper is similar, but different. Rub an old penny between your fingers and then smell them.
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Post by socalagatehound on Mar 1, 2014 22:33:44 GMT -5
That's not the Virgin Mary, it's Japanese anime....lol.
Those slabs are making me crave some lavic!!!
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Weird
Mar 1, 2014 22:31:08 GMT -5
Post by socalagatehound on Mar 1, 2014 22:31:08 GMT -5
More on nickel: Nickel is found alloyed to iron in nature. Nickel streak test is dark gray.
Did your hands smell like copper or iron after grinding?
Craig
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Weird
Mar 1, 2014 22:24:03 GMT -5
Post by socalagatehound on Mar 1, 2014 22:24:03 GMT -5
Looks like a combination of shattuckite, chyrsocolla, cuprite and maybe some other copper based stuff. Could contain nickel, which causes itchy reactions. It made a nice cab!!!
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Post by socalagatehound on Feb 24, 2014 22:46:55 GMT -5
Beautiful Shine!!!
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