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Post by Bluesky78987 on Apr 9, 2017 13:47:34 GMT -5
In jewelry class this last time I learned how to make hinges to attach bracelet links together. Made a really attractive Pinolith bracelet to wear to work. But now that I know how to do it, I want to make one with self-hounded stones from Lavic. It will probably take a couple of months so have patience, but I will post updates to this thread as I go. So you saw my thread Lavic was Lousy . . . with Moss from my trip with aDave to Lavic earlier this spring. I've spent about 7 hours cutting the best of those rocks (or what looks like the best from the outside, haha - about 2/3 of them end up in the trash after making the facing cut), and have enough preforms now for the bracelet. I need 7 finished cabs this size, so these 11 will allow for 4 not to turn out. If more than 4 turn out ugly, I'll have to cut more. I have lots more rocks to cut! Here they are (trying to show rough, slab and preform where I can). These are about 3/4" x 1" or so. The links will sit vertically quite close to each other (long ends joined by hinges). The idea is for each cab to be a bit different from the others so I can keep turning it around on my wrist gazing at it and remembering good times hounding whenever something annoys me at work (which is all the time!)  1.   2.    3. This one was from a prior Lavic trip - forgot to photo the rock or the slab.  4.   5.   6.    (here's the back of that last one, which will probably end up being the front once I grind the preform to shape:  7.  Preform pic is a little light, the slab pic is more true and even a little light itself.  8. What's a Lavic Bracelet without a classic striper:   9.   10.   11. This last one I'm not too sure about, but it's worth a try. That yellow is looking pitty and soft.   You've probably noticed the glaring omission: El Lavico Classico.  I only had a small slab (so far) from this rock and I screwed up the preform. After I get all the cabs done, I'll see how I feel about the omission. Just for amusement: Here's the tank of my little saw after I cut out these preforms - looks like somebody cut their finger off or something!  |
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 9, 2017 14:37:07 GMT -5
Gotta love Lavic, (except for the mess). That's gonna be a cool bracelet.
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 9, 2017 15:12:33 GMT -5
I've bookmarked this and can't wait to see the next installments! Thanks for doing this, it'll be fun.  How about a picture of the pinolith piece as a teaser? ETA- I've gone ahead and stickied this. I think we'll all enjoy following this project. |
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,494
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Post by Sabre52 on Apr 9, 2017 16:46:30 GMT -5
Great, fun concept, and what a variety of stones. Can't wait to see it finished. Lavic material is so amazing when you get a good one and those mossy ones are superb.
*L* "Whenever something annoys me at work." Yep been there experienced that. *L* I find horses much less annoying than people. Have some of my least annoying conversations with horses, and also dogs.
Now I just spent the day with my Covington saw. Man, talk about friggin mega annoying. Most our interaction involved a fifteen minute long string of swear words..... Mel
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Apr 9, 2017 20:01:17 GMT -5
Hi all. Hope you enjoy this.
So I spent the day on the grinding wheels, on and off. The verdict is that the following stones are now eliminated from the competition (can you tell I've been watching the Voice?):
#1 - (Buzzer sound) Too many little vugs and holes and druzy pockets and I didn't like the moss.
#2 - (Buzzer sound) The line disappeared in one area exactly where the top of the cab needed to be. It came back on the bottom of the cab of course. :/
#3 - (Buzzer sound) The yellow moss on the left side was too soft and opened up a freaking sand trap.
#5 - (Buzzer sound) Big honkin vug opened up right in the middle of the cab.
#8 - (Buzzer sound) I decided it's ugly. Too close to baby sh*t yellow.
#11 - (Double extra buzzer sound) - Came out looking dirty. And the yellow was pitting. Didn't make it past the second wheel.
Which means I only have 5 cabs (they're finished through the 1200 wheel). 5 is less than 7, dagnabbit! Went and looked through all my lavic slabs, hoping I had something good enough to make two more from. Nopers. Gonna have to go back to the shop next weekend and spend a couple more hours at the trim saw (have tons of rough). But, I will be able to hopefully get a slab of that red brekker at least.
Stay tuned.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Apr 9, 2017 20:03:11 GMT -5
I find horses much less annoying than people. Have some of my least annoying conversations with horses, and also dogs. Now I just spent the day with my Covington saw. Man, talk about friggin mega annoying. Most our interaction involved a fifteen minute long string of swear words..... Mel Me too! Animals are the best people! At least I didn't have any equipment malfunctions today. Nothing like equipment malfunctions to take the pep out of your step. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 9, 2017 20:04:11 GMT -5
Well damn.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Apr 9, 2017 20:08:32 GMT -5
How about a picture of the pinolith piece as a teaser? Sure. I only have iPhone pics, but you get the general idea.   The silver link is a hand made box clasp. I'll make it custom to the size it needs to make the bracelet the correct length. |
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Apr 9, 2017 20:09:27 GMT -5
Yeah. That Ms. Pacman dying noise - Wah wah wah. No worries though I'll find even prettier pieces in the bucket! Lavic is known for having a low success rate, I should have cut more, knowing that. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 9, 2017 20:10:27 GMT -5
OMG!!! That is awesome! Great job! I love the clasp, too.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Apr 9, 2017 20:19:40 GMT -5
Thanks! It went together surprisingly easily. Hoping this next one does too!
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Post by toiv0 on Apr 9, 2017 21:30:04 GMT -5
Very very nice bracelet. You do super nice work. I am waiting the final results on the Lavic...too cool.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,494
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Post by Sabre52 on Apr 9, 2017 21:30:38 GMT -5
Well dang. Two things you can always count on while grinding cabs 1. The best pattern always turns out to be on the bottom ( why did I not use the other side?) and 2. Ya always seem to find a dang hidden pit during the crowning stage or even worse during final grind. The other thing I often do, because I like big cabs and my Genie wheels are too close together, is bump the crown against the adjacent wheel cutting a big ole groove in the top of the crown. As you might guess, I'm kinda a klutz.
Guess that's why I like slabbing better than cabbing.
Arrrh! I had nothing but equipment malfunctions today. Actually had to finish one big cut by hand feeding. Plus, I cut at least three duds and I hates wasting diamond!!!....Mel
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Post by aDave on Apr 9, 2017 22:55:31 GMT -5
Hey Susan, Just got settled in after a long day. At the start of the thread, I was anxious to see the progress, but then I saw some of the promising pieces had issues. Sorry to see that. Didn't realize that working with this stuff could be so dicey. Hope it ends up working out for you. Now I'm curious to see how this stuff tumbles. I've got a fair amount running in coarse right now. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Dave |
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Apr 10, 2017 9:22:36 GMT -5
Hey Susan, Just got settled in after a long day. At the start of the thread, I was anxious to see the progress, but then I saw some of the promising pieces had issues. Sorry to see that. Didn't realize that working with this stuff could be so dicey. Hope it ends up working out for you. Now I'm curious to see how this stuff tumbles. I've got a fair amount running in coarse right now. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Dave Hi Dave. Yeah, getting the "fully baked" lavic is only part of it - the vugs are waiting inside. ;-) At least with cabbing, we can *mostly* see what's lurking. I expect you will get plenty of solid ones though. |
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Apr 10, 2017 9:24:23 GMT -5
Well dang. Two things you can always count on while grinding cabs 1. The best pattern always turns out to be on the bottom ( why did I not use the other side?) and 2. Ya always seem to find a dang hidden pit during the crowning stage or even worse during final grind. The other thing I often do, because I like big cabs and my Genie wheels are too close together, is bump the crown against the adjacent wheel cutting a big ole groove in the top of the crown. As you might guess, I'm kinda a klutz. Guess that's why I like slabbing better than cabbing. Arrrh! I had nothing but equipment malfunctions today. Actually had to finish one big cut by hand feeding. Plus, I cut at least three duds and I hates wasting diamond!!!....Mel Yeah, me too. It would be hilarious if everybody on RTH posted pics of all their duds alongside their keepers . . .lol would make for some boring pictures! I've also hit the next door wheel plenty of times, very annoying. My wheels don't seem to leave a big groove though, luckily. Just a scratch. |
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micellular
has rocks in the head
Rock fever is curable with more rocks.
Member since September 2015
Posts: 640
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Post by micellular on Apr 10, 2017 11:56:34 GMT -5
Well dang. Two things you can always count on while grinding cabs 1. The best pattern always turns out to be on the bottom ( why did I not use the other side?) and 2. Ya always seem to find a dang hidden pit during the crowning stage or even worse during final grind. The other thing I often do, because I like big cabs and my Genie wheels are too close together, is bump the crown against the adjacent wheel cutting a big ole groove in the top of the crown. As you might guess, I'm kinda a klutz. Guess that's why I like slabbing better than cabbing. Arrrh! I had nothing but equipment malfunctions today. Actually had to finish one big cut by hand feeding. Plus, I cut at least three duds and I hates wasting diamond!!!....Mel Yeah, me too. It would be hilarious if everybody on RTH posted pics of all their duds alongside their keepers . . .lol would make for some boring pictures! I've also hit the next door wheel plenty of times, very annoying. My wheels don't seem to leave a big groove though, luckily. Just a scratch. Wall of shame! |
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,981
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Post by Tommy on Apr 11, 2017 11:13:36 GMT -5
Susan - I'm on the edge of my seat to see your progress as it goes. Thank you for an awesome thread - takes us way outside of our hobby 'box' and gets a different line of thinking going. That pinolith bracelet is gorgeous!
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Apr 12, 2017 10:14:56 GMT -5
Glad y'all will enjoy. I'll post the reject cabs when I photograph the keepers. This morning I decided to try another cut off the rock with teh yellow line and the one with the green and pink plumey moss. And then try some new rocks. |
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059 
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Post by gemfeller on Apr 14, 2017 10:47:34 GMT -5
You have excellent smithing skills. Making hinges and box clasps is fairly advanced stuff and you've combined all that with great lapidary work and good taste. The pinolith bracelet is great and I'm hoping the rock gods are smiling on you with your next batch of Lavic. Looking forward to seeing the finished piece.
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How about a picture of the pinolith piece as a teaser? 
