Rockwerks Lapidary Forum

Here is the pix.











Let's see yours!!

Dan

So how do you etch something? lasers? acid? hmmmmmm
And yes that rose looks awsome.

Hi Jesse,
Etching is actually very easy, you just tape a stencil onto the rock, and they sell these aerosol cans that have a nozzle that holds tumbling grit, and you just spray the grit onto the surface for about 5 seconds, less if you want lighter, more if you want heavier. Same with grit size. That's it, wash the rock up. They sell beginning sand etching kits. I can look up the kits if you want one. It is a lot of fun and pretty easy, you can etch windows, cups, mirrors, etc.
KOR
Dan

Here is a knife that Tony (Nephrite) started and the blade broke while he was roughing it out so he gave it to me. I have worked on it for quite a while. I resurfaced, reglued and reshaped the blade. I cut and polished a piece of Siberian Jade to reinforce the broken juncture. I still have a lot of work to complete it, though.

Bob

Hi Bob,
I like the shape, how long is it? Can't wait to see it finished. I have a few knives I am still working on myself.
Thanks for the picture,
KOR
Dan

Dan, is that Larvikite on the bottom knife picture?

Bob, that knife is looking great.

I want to try one, my stepson has recently begun collecting weird knives. I stall at deciding which materials to use... Don't think I'd start with obsidian for the first one.

Hi Jody,
Yes that is Larvikite, someone gave it to me, it looked like it was left over from a bathroom, or kitchen counter project. I have seen tiles made from it, already "slabbed" lol.
Dan

My knife is about 7" long. Tony gave me another unfinished knife that has a black jade blade and a turquoise handle. I'm still working on it too.
Bob

Dan I like your spheres. I find the shape of spheres to be the most intriguing. I have turned about 150 out of wood. Its one of my pet projects, trying to make a turned sphere out of every species of wood I can find. I have about 275 species at this point. I have never made one from rock though. How did you do these?

Hi Tony,
I have a bead mill that makes rounds up to 3/4" It is a plate that fits into a bowl, and the bowl spins, twirling the stones until round, and then reducing grit size like tumbling. It's about 4-6 hours for the first grit, then 2-3 there after. The wood spheres sound great, feel free to post pictures of them if you want.
KOR
Dan

I'll post a pic of some of them. I have way too many to post all of them. LOL Could you post a pic of the bead mill. I don't think I've ever seen one.

I tony,
Here is a picture of the bead mill, it pretty simple, but noisy as all get out until the rocks smooth out.



Dan

The pic is pretty small. Is it made by Covington?

Yes Covington, it is about the size of a microwave. They require a lot of prep work, not really commercially cost effective, but good for rare beads, marbles.
Dan

Dan,

So.....how goes it on those dino bone beads LOL It seemed like you were working on those forevvvvver.

Shannon