cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Apr 1, 2016 21:29:50 GMT -5
well I finally got some time in the shop after not working stones for 3 weeks. Man I was having some withdrawals. I finished up the bead preforms from jamesp 's tumbled quartzite. Made 60+ in total, not planning to shape them further. They are taking a ride in the vibe tumbler now
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Apr 1, 2016 21:23:20 GMT -5
This is made from a piece of red and tan jasper that I hounded from the Willamette river.
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Mar 19, 2016 0:14:51 GMT -5
thanks Glen, and thank you all.
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Mar 14, 2016 21:32:07 GMT -5
looking good
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Mar 6, 2016 19:10:27 GMT -5
did some cutting today. This rough was given to me. Not like mooka I ave seen before, really purple.
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Mar 4, 2016 0:59:34 GMT -5
i was expecting egg shapes for easter
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Feb 29, 2016 12:21:39 GMT -5
Cool concept with the amethyst center. I like it
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Feb 29, 2016 11:16:35 GMT -5
Love your moss agate slabs. Pretty as can be. Picked em' up at a garage sale, eh? Nice. urban rockhounding! I have found some nice rough that way.
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Feb 28, 2016 21:43:26 GMT -5
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Feb 28, 2016 20:07:45 GMT -5
I never realized that garnets have inclusions like that. Thanks for the lesson. didn't know either until I polished this one
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Feb 28, 2016 19:23:40 GMT -5
here is my entry, a piece of garnet that I got from an estate sale. here is the rough here is the slablette the preform, I had to grind this really thin to get some color to come out The finished heart, not perfect, tough challenge thanks for looking
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Feb 22, 2016 14:26:58 GMT -5
Just put in for the time off. Next question is vehicles...4WD necessary?
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Feb 22, 2016 11:43:01 GMT -5
glad it got there in one piece
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Feb 19, 2016 23:03:08 GMT -5
really nice shape on that coquina. it has a great flow
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Feb 16, 2016 23:42:51 GMT -5
very true
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Feb 16, 2016 21:24:50 GMT -5
Thanks all, was a good day, sucks getting older
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Feb 11, 2016 14:48:27 GMT -5
thanks for the tip, just sent in an order. I was going to get some at the local farm supply this weekend. This was way cheaper.
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Feb 11, 2016 14:45:05 GMT -5
My method of bead makin' isn't for profit, that's for sure. Modern bead factories use automated machines and sets of cams to make the shapes, tumble finish. Lapidary is only an artistic outlet for me today, but I am always thinking about ways to automate, and maybe someday have a profit driven shop when my day job doesn't eat all my available time. Its all experiments between now and then. I like to see your thought process, very interesting.
I wonder if you could hot-form the metal around the stone if they were both heated together. Would require a lot less pressure, maybe even a stiff foam or dry sand could be the support during the process
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Feb 11, 2016 12:28:15 GMT -5
there is a press that takes metal tubing (that you cut to length) and creates a flange on both sides around the bead. I looked into it a long time ago will have to see if I can find that. The lampwork glass folks use it.
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cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
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Post by cobbledstones on Feb 11, 2016 12:23:06 GMT -5
Interesting thoughts, do you think that, through automation, you can get costs low enough to compete with international imports? What about electro forming/plating for 7? I have also thought about a photo-table + automated software + laser cutter = tab wrap combo, but all of that would be expensive
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