39don
starting to spend too much on rocks
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DonsLapidaryArts
Member since February 2012
Posts: 225 
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Post by 39don on Jan 24, 2015 11:51:01 GMT -5
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droseraguy
Cave Dweller 
Member since April 2012
Posts: 426
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Post by droseraguy on Jan 24, 2015 14:11:15 GMT -5
I think your on to something. Just a little more practice and you can make some matching earrings. I've been looking at a couple pounds on the workbench for a while. Did you use a stove burner or torch to melt it?
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Post by captbob on Jan 24, 2015 15:46:09 GMT -5
Those are very cool - a great winter project!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,600
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Post by jamesp on Jan 24, 2015 17:32:37 GMT -5
Can you mess anything up Don ? Those are sensational. Did you do those in that furnace ?? Do tell how. What was the wizardry ??
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39don
starting to spend too much on rocks
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DonsLapidaryArts
Member since February 2012
Posts: 225
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Post by 39don on Jan 24, 2015 21:34:50 GMT -5
I think your on to something. Just a little more practice and you can make some matching earrings. I've been looking at a couple pounds on the workbench for a while. Did you use a stove burner or torch to melt it? I used a propane torch to melt it. Yes I have the pendant now all I need is a pair to make earrings. I doubt they will be matching very close to the pendant but they could each other if I can get both on same cool down cycle. Thanks for looking, 39don |
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39don
starting to spend too much on rocks
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DonsLapidaryArts
Member since February 2012
Posts: 225
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Post by 39don on Jan 24, 2015 21:57:17 GMT -5
Can you mess anything up Don ? Those are sensational. Did you do those in that furnace ?? Do tell how. What was the wizardry ?? Heck yea I can mess most anything up. I wasted a week but learned a lot. I could not get any color, iridescence, at all. All of my crystals were silver and they looked good too but I wanted the color most of all. I finally found out I was not getting the bismuth hot enough plus I was only dragging the slag off the pool surface only once. I had my 14 year old grandson taking notes for me so it made for some quick turn around's. We finally figured out we needed to drag the slag 3 times to make sure we got good color. We also discovered, by luck, how to get different colors, trade secret, send me a pm. We used a propane torch to melt the bismuth not the furnace. I had the wrong element so it had a melt down. I'm in the process of rebuilding and installing a new element. I made contact with a great guy in Tacoma, Wa who knew what I needed so I got him to make me one. By the way I'm not a wizard. It's luck by the seat of my pants. The old saying "If it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all" that's meeeeeeeeeee. 39don |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,600
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Post by jamesp on Jan 24, 2015 22:25:23 GMT -5
Can you mess anything up Don ? Those are sensational. Did you do those in that furnace ?? Do tell how. What was the wizardry ?? Heck yea I can mess most anything up. I wasted a week but learned a lot. I could not get any color, iridescence, at all. All of my crystals were silver and they looked good too but I wanted the color most of all. I finally found out I was not getting the bismuth hot enough plus I was only dragging the slag off the pool surface only once. I had my 14 year old grandson taking notes for me so it made for some quick turn around's. We finally figured out we needed to drag the slag 3 times to make sure we got good color. We also discovered, by luck, how to get different colors, trade secret, send me a pm. We used a propane torch to melt the bismuth not the furnace. I had the wrong element so it had a melt down. I'm in the process of rebuilding and installing a new element. I made contact with a great guy in Tacoma, Wa who knew what I needed so I got him to make me one. By the way I'm not a wizard. It's luck by the seat of my pants. The old saying "If it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all" that's meeeeeeeeeee. 39don Looks like you nailed plenty of color. it get's better ?? Gotta look up bismuth, no knowledge of that one. Furnaces are tricky biz. Heating element and heat buildup first, and then the thermocouple for feedback has to be just right. Had issues w/purchased ones, much less making one. I think it is a job left to knowledgeable people. |
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bcrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 418
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Post by bcrockhound on Jan 24, 2015 23:14:15 GMT -5
Those are really cool. I'm a big fan of bismuth crystals. They sell for a lot in the local rock and gem store too. Nice work!
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,359
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Post by quartz on Jan 24, 2015 23:48:27 GMT -5
Those are certainly the nicest looking and most colorful home made crystals I've ever seen, thanks for the show.
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Post by connrock on Jan 25, 2015 10:05:13 GMT -5
Those are soooooooooooooo cool!
Amazing!
connrock
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Post by gingerkid on Jan 25, 2015 10:45:55 GMT -5
Those are some hoppin' homegrown bismuth hoppers, 39don. One of them looks like a heart-shaped geode. Neat to see the bottom of one when you pull it. Thanks for sharing! Guess these cannot be done with a butane torch? |
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Post by snowmom on Jan 29, 2015 7:02:16 GMT -5
those are like snowflakes (and I loooove snowflakes) I had no idea this could be done. Looks like it
could be very addicting! Beautiful stuff!
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Post by fantastic5 on Jan 29, 2015 9:05:38 GMT -5
Can you mess anything up Don ? Those are sensational. Did you do those in that furnace ?? Do tell how. What was the wizardry ?? Heck yea I can mess most anything up. I wasted a week but learned a lot. I could not get any color, iridescence, at all. All of my crystals were silver and they looked good too but I wanted the color most of all. I finally found out I was not getting the bismuth hot enough plus I was only dragging the slag off the pool surface only once. I had my 14 year old grandson taking notes for me so it made for some quick turn around's. We finally figured out we needed to drag the slag 3 times to make sure we got good color. We also discovered, by luck, how to get different colors, trade secret, send me a pm. We used a propane torch to melt the bismuth not the furnace. I had the wrong element so it had a melt down. I'm in the process of rebuilding and installing a new element. I made contact with a great guy in Tacoma, Wa who knew what I needed so I got him to make me one. By the way I'm not a wizard. It's luck by the seat of my pants. The old saying "If it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all" that's meeeeeeeeeee. 39don Sure would love it if you could post a tutorial, sans the trade secret of course! I have some bismuth on the workbench too, but got frustrated with a few bad runs and put it up until I could learn from someone who was successful. I was melting in an old pot on my camp stove, only dragging slag once and trying to create 3D crystals by suspending a piece of bismuth from a wire into the molten metal. I think my whole operation was cooling too quickly to allow for a nice crystal formation. Inquiring minds sure would love to know! |
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