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Post by jasoninsd on Apr 7, 2022 20:42:27 GMT -5
Well...maybe the only graffiti spot would be where I changed my mind on that one stencil spot! LOL - The "egg" orb is on the backside of the piece with all the other stencil spots. I had to beg, bribe, and coerce realrockhound outta this sweet piece.  I tried to pay attention to how the layers sloped when picking the preforms. That orb isn't very deep, so I'm going to have to work that one extra carefully. Still waiting on a new saw blade to show up before I cut the preforms... Thought y'all might enjoy seeing this slab...it is one slab that I carefully "popped" along the existing fracture lines.     |
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Post by MsAli on Apr 8, 2022 8:54:13 GMT -5
Isn't that stuff amazing? It constantly changes as you get through the layers. He did a good job getting it cleaned up. There is a lot of work involved getting the matrix cleaned off.
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 8, 2022 9:00:24 GMT -5
I'm paying attention.... |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 8, 2022 9:32:45 GMT -5
Me too.  |
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
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Post by Brian on Apr 8, 2022 10:36:15 GMT -5
13 hours after you posted the slabs and you still don’t have pictures of the finished cabs?!?
Seriously though I can’t wait to see how these turn out. It’s such a cool material!
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller 
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,459
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Post by realrockhound on Apr 8, 2022 12:14:28 GMT -5
The material can be quite the pain to process. Depending on the piece. There can be a thin layer of almost a pink chalk like layer on the top that is very soft and porous. So that needs to come off. Then the big kicker is examining the pice and paying super close attention to the way the layers run. I spent a good 20 min in the slab saw adjusting this piece until I felt the layers would cut symmetrical and change when cabbed. Lastly, making sure you get close enough to the matrix and cut it perfectly so you separate it from the host without losing too much material. I was actually able to get two nice big slabs out of this with varying degrees of colors and patterns. I was actually surprised when I cut this and saw orbs and how different the layers flowed compared to some of the other material I’ve processed.
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Post by jasoninsd on Apr 8, 2022 19:29:02 GMT -5
Isn't that stuff amazing? It constantly changes as you get through the layers. He did a good job getting it cleaned up. There is a lot of work involved getting the matrix cleaned off. I've worked exactly one other cab of this material...so I'm super stoked to work the rest of these. I'm super stoked at how he cut these pieces and the slope of the layers! I'm paying attention....  I figured you would be...and I know why! LOL Me too.  Don't pay too close attention...I'm shy!  13 hours after you posted the slabs and you still don’t have pictures of the finished cabs?!? Seriously though I can’t wait to see how these turn out. It’s such a cool material! LOL - This is absolutely killing me not to be able to work on these yet. I got ants in my pants, so I had to at least post pics of the slabs! LOL - The new saw blade should be here Monday...but the weather is turning to absolute crap for the next week...so I might not get to cut these preforms for another week! ARGHHH! The material can be quite the pain to process. Depending on the piece. There can be a thin layer of almost a pink chalk like layer on the top that is very soft and porous. So that needs to come off. Then the big kicker is examining the pice and paying super close attention to the way the layers run. I spent a good 20 min in the slab saw adjusting this piece until I felt the layers would cut symmetrical and change when cabbed. Lastly, making sure you get close enough to the matrix and cut it perfectly so you separate it from the host without losing too much material. I was actually able to get two nice big slabs out of this with varying degrees of colors and patterns. I was actually surprised when I cut this and saw orbs and how different the layers flowed compared to some of the other material I’ve processed. Well I'm glad someone processed it prior to me getting it! LOL I didn't post pics of the other slab...that'll be soon enough though!  |
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Post by tims on Apr 8, 2022 20:22:52 GMT -5
That is neat material, fun just daydreaming on the slabs.
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Post by jasoninsd on Apr 8, 2022 20:29:38 GMT -5
That is neat material, fun just daydreaming on the slabs. Thanks Tim!  I spent quite awhile picking out what I'm hoping is the right angle on the preforms in order to optimize the slope of the layers. Whether it works out or not is a BIG question! LOL |
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Post by Rockoonz on Apr 8, 2022 21:09:35 GMT -5
That is a premium slab, most of mine is nice but not like that. If you can find old threads from highplainsdrifter and search in his threads for bat cave you can see some pretty great inspiration for cabbing it. I grind a flat on the matrix or face and glue the rough up to a piece of wood to clamp in the vice when slabbing to get the angle of cut, makes it easier to line the blade up and get good slabs.
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Post by Rockoonz on Apr 8, 2022 21:16:24 GMT -5
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,459
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Post by realrockhound on Apr 8, 2022 21:29:42 GMT -5
You know what ever happened to that guy? Hasn’t been on for a while. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Apr 8, 2022 22:07:28 GMT -5
That is a premium slab, most of mine is nice but not like that. If you can find old threads from highplainsdrifter and search in his threads for bat cave you can see some pretty great inspiration for cabbing it. I grind a flat on the matrix or face and glue the rough up to a piece of wood to clamp in the vice when slabbing to get the angle of cut, makes it easier to line the blade up and get good slabs. I'm so looking forward to working these pieces! Thanks for bringing up highplainsdrifter...you're the second person to let me know I need to look up his posts on Batcave...so I know I will be looking those up. Lee, thanks for linking this one...HOLY CRAP! That one is beyond amazing!! I've seen two of his now (and will look up more) and both of them were beyond stunning - both the material and his workmanship on them! |
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Post by Rockoonz on Apr 9, 2022 1:05:31 GMT -5
You know what ever happened to that guy? Hasn’t been on for a while. He moved to NM with his job and after that his posts slowed down and stopped. Got to meet him at a Tualatin Valley club show shortly after I joined this forum. I hope he's still at it. |
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Post by MsAli on Apr 9, 2022 7:03:31 GMT -5
The material can be quite the pain to process. Depending on the piece. There can be a thin layer of almost a pink chalk like layer on the top that is very soft and porous. So that needs to come off. Then the big kicker is examining the pice and paying super close attention to the way the layers run. I spent a good 20 min in the slab saw adjusting this piece until I felt the layers would cut symmetrical and change when cabbed. Lastly, making sure you get close enough to the matrix and cut it perfectly so you separate it from the host without losing too much material. I was actually able to get two nice big slabs out of this with varying degrees of colors and patterns. I was actually surprised when I cut this and saw orbs and how different the layers flowed compared to some of the other material I’ve processed. We have 30lbs of rough that will probably end up being 10 by the time we remove all the matrix. I've basically set it to the side as I'm lazy and it's a lot of work  |
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Post by MsAli on Apr 9, 2022 7:04:19 GMT -5
You know what ever happened to that guy? Hasn’t been on for a while. He moved to NM with his job and after that his posts slowed down and stopped. Got to meet him at a Tualatin Valley club show shortly after I joined this forum. I hope he's still at it. He comes on every now and then. He is one of the reasons I fell in love with batcave |
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Post by Rockoonz on Apr 9, 2022 8:36:26 GMT -5
MsAli I have been trying to find my display case pics from the show I met him at, some really incredible stuff that looks like it never got on the forum.
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Post by jasoninsd on Apr 9, 2022 10:10:04 GMT -5
The material can be quite the pain to process. Depending on the piece. There can be a thin layer of almost a pink chalk like layer on the top that is very soft and porous. So that needs to come off. Then the big kicker is examining the pice and paying super close attention to the way the layers run. I spent a good 20 min in the slab saw adjusting this piece until I felt the layers would cut symmetrical and change when cabbed. Lastly, making sure you get close enough to the matrix and cut it perfectly so you separate it from the host without losing too much material. I was actually able to get two nice big slabs out of this with varying degrees of colors and patterns. I was actually surprised when I cut this and saw orbs and how different the layers flowed compared to some of the other material I’ve processed. We have 30lbs of rough that will probably end up being 10 by the time we remove all the matrix. I've basically set it to the side as I'm lazy and it's a lot of work  Since you now have "The BIG" rock, you can say you've got other priorities and obligations which take precedent...it sounds better! LOL He moved to NM with his job and after that his posts slowed down and stopped. Got to meet him at a Tualatin Valley club show shortly after I joined this forum. I hope he's still at it. He comes on every now and then. He is one of the reasons I fell in love with batcave After looking at some of his workmanship with it, it's very difficult NOT to fall in love with the material. Some (read that as ALL) of his pieces are off the charts amazing! MsAli I have been trying to find my display case pics from the show I met him at, some really incredible stuff that looks like it never got on the forum. Lee, if you find those pics, I'd love to see those. I could never tire of seeing his pieces! |
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Apr 10, 2022 8:18:01 GMT -5
That's a cool slab, nicely cut realrockhound! I've got to agree with y'all about highplainsdrifter. That man's cabs were amazing! Not only his technique but the material he cut as well. Would be nice to see more of his stuff again. Keep digging Lee, those pictures gotta be somewhere 🤣 |
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Post by jasoninsd on Apr 10, 2022 8:32:11 GMT -5
That's a cool slab, nicely cut realrockhound ! I've got to agree with y'all about @highplaimsdrifter. That man's cabs were amazing! Not only his technique but the material he cut as well. Would be nice to see more of his stuff again. Keep digging Lee, those pictures gotta be somewhere 🤣 Thanks for chiming in Nate. I totally agree with your assessment about highplainsdrifter! I spent some time yesterday going through some of his threads. His abilities really set a standard to try to reach...and I too was noticing the materials he seemed to have were always the cream of the crop! |
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