Cabs in progress

[shivan]

Had a bit of a play on the grinder today and started playing with a bit of jasper and petrified wood i have found locally, as well as some tiger iron, rhodonite and burtite i was given
I was not sure how well my wheels would work as they are just silicon wheels at the moment, but after shaping on the 100 wheel things are looking good. Will smooth them out on the 280 wheel tomorrow and take them to the club to polish.

Wet them for the photo so they don't look dull, but the photo does not do the stones much justice.

[mushmouse]

These would look stunning on a necklace together.  One of a kind.

[Flying Scott]

I used to use cerium oxide for final polish on softer stones like quartz and agate
Flying Scott

[mac]

YOU ARE DOING VERY WELL WITH THE STONE GRINDING, SHIVAN, THEY LOOK GREAT AND YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY OF THEM IS EXCELLENT. I DID QUITE A BIT OF CABACHONING OF PETRIFIED WOOD AND AGATE ABOUT 40 YEARS AGO, IT WAS AN ABSORBING AND INTERESTING HOBBY.

ALSO DID A LOT OF OPAL CUTTING, INCLUDING SOLIDS, DOUBLETS AND TRIPLETS. ALL MY CUTTING AND SAWING GEAR HAS LONG SINCE GONE TO THAT LAPIDARY PLACE IN THE SKY, BUT I DO STILL HAVE A JAR FULL OF OPAL BITS AND AGATE TO REMINISCE OVER.

I ALWAYS FIND YOUR INPUT INTO THE FORUM TO BE INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE.

ON MY BUCKET LIST IS A TRIP TO OALLEN WHEN SOME OF THE GUYS ARE THERE. I WANT TO SEE A HIGH BANKER WORKING AND SEE WHAT POSSIBILITIES ARE THERE FOR AN OLD BLOKE THAT HAS NOT YET SHAKEN THE ADDICTION. IF YOU ARE HEADING THAT WAY ANY TIME I WOULD VERY

MUCH APPRECIATE A WHISTLE. MY WIFE AND I SPEND A FAIR BIT OF TIME AT THE COAST NEAR BATEMANS BAY AND HAVE DONE A BIT OF SCRATCHING ABOUT THERE BUT NOT TO MUCH AVAIL. ALWAYS GET A BIT OF FINE COLOUR AT WARRI ON THE KINGS HIGHWAY NEAR BRAIDWOOD

THOUGH, JUST TO KEEP THE FLAME ALIVE.

ALWAYS INTERESTED IN YOUR POSTS. KEEP THEM COMING. KIND REGARDS, MAC.

[shivan]

Thanks guys.

MM i hope a few will end up as pendants, but for now they will just go in my cab case or shiny shapes box

Flying Scott, i do have a bit of cerium oxide for the final polish, but need to take them back on a finer grit than 220, which is all i have available at the moment. I have ordered a few diamond sanding discs for the side polish/sander. Will have 330, 600 and 1200. Next month i will look at getting 14k and 50k, then i just need to refurbish my polishing buff.

Mac thank you very much. I think i could quiet happily spend all day playing on my saws and grinders. I love seeing what is inside some rocks and watching them being transformed from chunks of rock into pieces of art. I still need a lot of practice, but am getting better (well i think) slowly.
I love talking about rocks and lapidary, but do not have many people close by who are interested, so posting on the forums keeps me from driving my wife crazy with rocks
Mac you would be welcome out for a dig with us any time. If you let me know when you are heading this way next, i will try and organize a day out for a dig. Who knows we may be able to convince Jeff to pop out as well. If not i will try and let you know when we are headed out that way next.

[jeffu]

Love the stones Ian. Should look fantastic with the final polish.

I don't need to be convinced to venture out to Oallen
Been very busy over the last few months, haven't had the chance to do any highbanking.
About time I got back out there.
We'll have to find out when Mac is planning a visit and fix a day.

Jeff

[mac]

HEY, SHIVAN AND JEFF, THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ON A VISIT TO OALEN, I WOULD BE THRILLED TO PIECES TO JOIN YOU FOR A DIG AND TO MEET YOU BOTH.

MY WIFE AND I ARE HEADING DOWN TO THE BAY TOMORROW TO OVERSEE SOME ROOF WORK ON OUR CARAVAN AND SOME PAINTING THAT NEEDS COMPLETING TO FINISH OFF

MAJOR WORKS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. WE WILL BE RETURNING TO CANBERRA IN ABOUT 10 DAYS. AFTER THAT I WILL BE READY FOR AN ADVENTURE


TO OALEN ANY WEEKEND THAT SUITES YOUR PLANS. I JUST NEED A FEW DIRECTIONS TO GET THERE.


THANKS HEAPS. MAC
,

[jeffu]

Hi Mac.

What part of Canberra are you?
I live in Kambah, probably be easy if you followed me out there.

Saturday 17th will probably be my first chance to get out. Let me know if that suits you.

Jeff

[mac]

HELLO JEFF, AND THANK YOU. SUNDAY 17TH WOULD SUIT ME FINE. IT TURNS OUT WE DO NOT LIVE FAR APART, WE LIVE IN WESTON.
FOR ME TO FOLLOW YOU WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA, NO CHANCE OF ME GETTING LOST THAT WAY.

IF FOR ANY REASON IT TURNS OUT NOT TO BE SUITABLE FOR YOU ON THAT DATE, IT WILL NOT WORRY ME AS I WILL BE PRETTY FLEXIBLE TO CHANGE TO ANOTHER DATE.

THANK YOU AGAIN, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY.

BEST WISHES. MAC.

[shivan]

I will pencil in the 17th and hopefully see you blokes out there.

[mac]

HI, JEFFU, DID NOT GO TO THE BAY YESTERDAY BECAUSE OF RAIN, BUT GOING TODAY INSTEAD.

IN CASE YOU NEED TO GET IN TOUCH.....HOME NUMBER.... 62889306.........MOBILE [phone]......LAND LINE AT THE BAY....44787390.....MOBILE NOT MUTCH GOOD AT COAST BUT OK FOR TEXT.


BEST WISHES MAC

[jeffu]

OOOOPs, my mistake, Saturday is the 16th. Can't make it Sunday.

[mac]

SATURDAY 16TH PRESENTS NO PROBLEM FOR ME, JEFFU.

THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW. REGARDS, MAC.

[shivan]

Mums birthday today so i knocked this up.
Seeing a few pits in the photos that i didn't see before, i hope she didn't notice

[nuggethill]

Nice piece Ian the pits are typical for bolder opal very forgivable again nice work