nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on May 4, 2014 10:53:52 GMT -5
Thank you, I love this board, the more I read, the more I learn, the more I want to try new things
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on May 4, 2014 1:05:55 GMT -5
WOW, that is nice, I would display that one on the top shelf
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on May 4, 2014 1:01:10 GMT -5
Nice wrapping , I just did my first piece of wrapping, lol, mine looks like kindergarten and yours are college level at least.
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on May 4, 2014 0:54:29 GMT -5
I posted my fist attempt at wire wrapping in the creation thread, "My first" , AND let me say "I bow before yalls great talent" , I have a long ways to go
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on May 4, 2014 0:47:25 GMT -5
Let me start my presentation by first thanking everyone on here for getting me motivated to make my own items. I am truly blown away by how much talent and skill ALLLLL of you have. I bow before each and everyone on here. I had an easier time building a faceting machine than I did trying ( and I do mean TRYING ) to wire wrap. The piece I made is my attempt at combining two first for me, faceting my first gem ( an Apache Tear) and wire wrapping a pedant. Feel free to giggle, to me, half the fun of this is to bring smiles to others, be by awe or just you remembering back to when you where just as green as Kermit the frog (right now, I am about as green as they come).
1. I picked this gem, an Apache Tear that had a neat coloration inside half of it.
2. I split the stone in two, keeping most of the dark streaks in one piece. I got the bright idea to turn each piece into "eyes", since they were already Tears. Then I tried to figure out a way to use them.
3. And after an evening scratching my head, staring at the wall, and another 20 mins REfaceting the gems (darn little things kept jumping out of my hands and got chipped up) I wound up with my interpretation of an alien head, more commonly know as "A Grey".
I know it kind of delicate and not very practical. I think I will hang it in my display case, like people hang their first dollar they made.
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on May 3, 2014 19:54:12 GMT -5
Ha Ha Ha, funny commentary, very nice light too
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on May 3, 2014 9:32:07 GMT -5
Thank you, used it last night and it performed very well
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on May 2, 2014 9:31:14 GMT -5
Personally I like your Salanther, he's the nemesis to Geico and SoBe
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on May 1, 2014 22:06:55 GMT -5
That is a very nice piece, great eye in spotting it hidden in the rock
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on May 1, 2014 21:49:57 GMT -5
Verry very nice!!
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on May 1, 2014 18:30:33 GMT -5
Thanks, now if I can be just as handy USING it, I think I have some Apache Tears around here somewhere, I will see what I can do with those
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on Apr 30, 2014 6:48:37 GMT -5
Thank you all for the kind words
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on Apr 29, 2014 15:23:50 GMT -5
Thank you
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on Apr 29, 2014 0:49:57 GMT -5
I just came across this, hope yall are still around. Nice stuff
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on Apr 28, 2014 21:55:15 GMT -5
That's a great set up.
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on Apr 28, 2014 21:38:40 GMT -5
Ok, got the upload all done, let me know what you think for a noob build
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on Apr 28, 2014 21:33:18 GMT -5
Part 3 Here's the finish project. Water speed set too high, turn of the knob, and fixed
It was a little dark with the doors shut, so I hung two dual light overhead
I grabbed a piece of green sandstone ( I believe that's what it is) and tried it out, smooth sides now
I used this box also so in the future I could put a mast and faceting head to cut gems. The box already has rails and slots that the guard fence and attachments connected at.
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on Apr 28, 2014 20:47:20 GMT -5
Part Two
1. Since this was in the garage and I needed a delivery system for the water, I used a 1/4" line tap from the hose spicket
2. I ran the line up the side of the garage, though the overhang and into the garage. Used bailing wire twisted and nailed to the rafter to make a moveable delivery arm that I attached the water line to. I live in the desert, so I don't need to worry about the line freezing . I knew when I get busy on stones, I would be at it for hours and didn't want to have to keep stopping to refill a jug.
3.Had to test the tub for water tight seal
4. After two days, no lose of water, no leaks, yeeeaaahhh. Installed a drain line, black hose is actually a piece of mechs shrink wrap I attached to drain port.
Part 3 will have a picture of the whole set up. Sorry for being so picture heavy, but I am more visual and thought it would be fun to story book it.
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on Apr 28, 2014 20:31:21 GMT -5
I decided to build my own Faceting/Cabbing machine. Yes, I am a noob, so I will most likely use the wrong terms here and there. I grew up always hearing " Don't buy what you can't afford" . Well I decided a long time ago , if I can't afford something, either buy it broke and fix it or build it from scratch. I only bring that up because I have seen it posted a few times that you should "always" and "only" spend your money on Name Brand items built by a factory. Anyways, on to the build: I knew I wanted something capable of bringing out the beauty of a rough stone, slab, or even precious stones. It had to be capable of handling itty bitty to decent size, and work wet or dry. This is what I came up with, hope yall like it.
1. Started with a box. It started off as an old portable router table my brother gave me years ago (router was trashed but the box is sturdy)
2. Inside the box
3.Another view inside the box, originally I was going just to mount the motor to the side of the box, but it would have been too off center
4.Here's a motor I got at a yard sell 20 years ago. Fully tested, spins the correct direction, all external wiring replaced and runs like a champ.
5. Motor specs
6. Motor and box and some old bed rails. Using rails to make a motor mount that will center motor inside box.
7. I left the legs pieces on, it was the exact spacing need from the rear of the box.
8. Drilled holes and bolted two pieces for each support for each side. The motor will mount to these rails.
9. Next I added the rails that attach to box to the motor rails
10. Motor placement
11.Checking motor placement
12.Getting placement of motor inside box
13. Motor mounted
14.Now for the Cutting tub. Wal-mart was all out of oil drain pans, but I did find this nice doggy food dish made out of recycled tires
15. I needed (wanted) an arbor extender with 1/2" thread and allen head set screw to mount disk onto motor. To ensure a even spin, after it was mounted on motor I used a wide flat file and worked the exterior of extender and backing plate beneath the nut to ensure a level and true spin
16. Aluminum backing plate, tested to ensure flatness and even weight
17. Diamond 6" disk (for when it's done)
15. Needed a water guard for inside bucket. Decided on a two piece screw together set up. Tighter fit, won't budge and cemented in just for good measure.
16. Top view
18. Bottom view
19. Extender on motor
20. Oops, water guard to large for opening
21. No problem, put dashed lines on insert, remove insert
22. Make inert hole a little bigger
23. Then found out the shield sat too high inside bowl, so it was trimmed down a bit
24. This is a view under backing plate after trimming the water shield, had to use the camera to check and make sure enough clearance. (my head wouldn't fit, and yep, I tried, lol)
25. And here's the top view
Continued in next post
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nvkermit1512
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2014
Posts: 143
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Post by nvkermit1512 on Apr 28, 2014 18:39:54 GMT -5
Thanks, actually I am presently worming my way though posting my faceting / cabbing machine build right now, lol, don't know how long it will take me.
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