Hello all~
My name is Doug & I'm a confirmed opalholic. From California, however currently been living in Texas for the last 25 years. I am a non degreed engineer, both mechanical & electrical. Worked at Ames Research Center in my home town of Mountain View, CA. Looking to relocate in a couple years to Durango, Colorado. Wife is studying for her nursing degree. My hobbies are building anything that either rotates for rock cutting, casting or Amateur radio.
Love to build stuff. Currently fab'ing a 20" slab saw with the china CNC linear rails & sliders. I may start a thread for that, also a thread for Steam Casting. It's all DIY stuff over here. Being retired and on a fixed income, is not easy. So for the life of me, I try to do with what I have, if not, normally I can make something that will work better than anything I can find. With my shop & tools, life & the friends that come with it, a few rocks scattered along the path, and my "screaming yellow" 2007 Ford Ranger Level II, my off-road adventures are the pinnacle of my life. Feel free to join in!
I have been cutting since I was a kid, recruited by fellow rockhounds into many adventures. Lastly going out to west Texas for the agate lifestyle. However my background is with opal. I always buy the best rough I can find directly from the miners and their buyers. It's worth it for me. Even a piece in the China Geological Museum. If I remember correctly it is around 80 cts cut opal from Mintibe, Australia. Sold to me as part of a 1 kilo parcel from Mr. Tibor Shelley with 2 armed guards. This was when the mine was brand new and the quality was the best.
I've designed & made machines that are mini robots, cutting diamonds. Diy'ed my own facet machines. Just purchased an older Highland Park E-10 in great condition which will never replace my 40 year old "6" all-you-need flat lap. So having that up & running will be a sweet deal with some newer soldered diamond wheels.
Plan on going out again this spring to the agate fields. Hope to see you all soon perhaps. Looks like Tucson will have to wait again on me this year. So if you see that yellow mini pickup, give a wave. Used to work for USGS Tectonophysics, Menlo Park. Prototyping instruments. - Doug.
