Debbie, if you don't mind, I'm going to describe my understanding of how to carve something, and if you could, correct my method in terms of tools and technique for improvement?
This is how I did the one and only carving I have finished, a small opal 'seal'. And this was painful enough, as I ZINGED the piece across the room I don't know how many times:P. Thankfully, it was a TOUGH little welo and managed to stay intact:P. That said, under magnification it's still plenty lumpy, but I was satisfied because it was actually shiny in some spots!!! LOL!
1. rough shape the piece with a cheap diamond dremel bit wet (all done over a pan of water, dip, cut, dip, cut, no continuous overhead drip)
2. once shape is formed, start sanding with a felt tipped bob loaded with 220 grit mixed with olive oil (I think my grit is SiC). I also tried a rubber bob loaded with the same grits (this is the sprayer, but seems to work better than the bob)
3. change to 500 grit felt bob, run it all over the piece, then 1000, then 1500 same as #2
4. Zam polish until shiny.
I know the above method is completely flawed... but that's what I did.
Would you replace step 2, and the rest with your epoxy hardened bob?
How do you do final polish, assuming it was a stone like agate or jasper instead of something soft like opal?
Thanks a bunch:). The step by step helps me to visualize what I'm doing wrong or what I'm missing:).