GOTTA LOVE DEM BLUES

[rockyraccoon]

john i don't know how i missed it until now but i just now saw the slabs of the blue jasper - very nice!

kim

[sandsman1]

i just put them up yesterday i think there cool lookin the white that runs through them is allmost see through and they seem stable no cracks and tuff maybe they will be easyer to work with seeya ---- john

[bwalters]

Those rocks are beautiful, the slabs are incredible, and I think that the cross is perfect. How did you do that cross? Are you going to tumble it?
Barbara

[sandsman1]

yea barb i think im gonna have to tumble them im not set up for polish on the grinder i was thinkin bout gettin an expanding drum for one side so i can change grits and stick a leather belt on when i wanna polish dont know exactly what to do yet so im just thinkin for now---seeya ---john

anybody got any sugestions yell um out hahaha

[llanago]

John, ya' did a great job on cutting that cross!

I can draw really good (hmmmm, I think my nose is growing!) ;D Just ask Barbara. I drew (or tried to) a star amd she nearly fell out of her chair laughing at my artwork.

So, how did you do that? Did you cut it out with the saw and, if so, how did you know when to stop and start going the other way? Know what I mean? Or did you just grind the slab into the shape of the cross?

Inquiring minds want to know!

llana

PS I love that blue jasper!

[sandsman1]

i started with just takin a piece and sawin into a rough cross shape and then grinding it till it got to what you see it was hard that way everytime ya think ya got it when ya look one side is wierd and when ya hit that it makes something else wierd hahaha so it took awile to get to that shape now i use it for a rough trace for new ones its atleast close when i saw one now i try and stop short bout 1/8 every cut if not the saw leaves a groove to far into the work on the back of the piece and ya hafta try and make the whole thing smaller to get rid of it so if ya cut some, cut short in the corners or try this take a piece of a slab and draw a line lay it on the saw and cut to that line turnit over and on the bottom you went way past the line on top this will give ya an idea how far the blade cuts on the bottom more the the top
ok seeya---john

[deepsouth]

Hi John,
Could you change the position of the rock you are cutting to get a more even cut instead of under or overcutting?
Do you use a diamond grinding wheel?
I am in need of a grinder , but need to get my finances on track like everybody. Hope to do that soon haha.
Is that used at low speed or high speed , I am still very new at the grinding bit.

Thanks John

Jack
PS I love your blue jasper , great rocks

[sandsman1]

jack i thought about it like cutting a wedge like you would use for a door stop to put it on a dif angle but as i go on its easyer to just under cut and use the grinder to clean it up--i cant afford a diamond wheel right now so i been useing a green lapidary wheel some time you get some chatter and chip the piece but maybe ill get better at it hahaha,, i just started about a month or so ago so im learning everyday how not to mess stuff up hahaha,, i just leave the grinder on the small pulley thats the fastest one i dont know if thats right or not maybe if doc reads this he might know i could be running to fast for grinding ,, how i did it i got a piece here and a piece there till i got what i needed to set up the grinder, i couldent afford to just go buy one all set up, im on disabilty and cant remeber times ever being this tuff hahaha, but i still get to buy some toys but it just takes longer---yea i love that blue jasper did ya see page one some nice sodalite and this in chunks i cant helpit i love blue rocks hahaha --seeya---john

[cookie3rocks]

I've got a little pyramid of sodalite that my husband wanted to make into a ring and the jewler told us it was too soft, it would crack off if he bumped it on something

cookie

[sandsman1]

yea cookie it is soft i think thats why its so tuff to get it from 60/90 through polish in good shape when i get this drum im gonna give it a try on that see if it works alittle better hand polishing it,, i think it will be better that way no banging it around in the tumbler

[thewiz]

hey john if it was red it could past for sliced proscuitto