Lapidaryforum.net
Rockin' Jewelry => Show and Tell!!!! => Topic started by: vitzitziltecpatl on January 22, 2019, 05:28:32 PM
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Robin said it's okay to post a photo of the pendant she just finished.
Thanks to one of the generous sphere-masters here, Robin got some great rough, and I got to help by cutting the cab.
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Beautiful!
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That's spectacular! I really like the design and the intricate silver beading. The granulation beading on the setting is outstanding. Wish I had the patience to do that...
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Thank you! The setting was actually one I was making for someone and I managed to mess it up. So I salvaged the non-wrecked part and the granulation look popped into my head, so I had to do it. It was a bit tedious, but I really like it a lot (it's for me) and I actually did do the granulation on the bail. May have over torched it a bit, but it was the first time I have tried it.
Thanks to Jhon for letting me buy some of his sphere off-cuts of the lepidolite! It's super high grade and gemmy and I love it. Plus, it's purple. :icon_sunny:
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Very pretty indeed! Both the stone and the setting!
Any tips on working lepidolite? I have some lepidolite rough that is waiting, and would like to know how to best handle the flaky mica material it's made from.... (Thank you!)
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Stunning piece. The stone has almost a fire within it. Very pretty
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Thanks, guys!
Rosemary - Vince cut the stone, but I believe he skipped the 80 grit wheel and started on his 220, which is really well worn and then went up the wheels. Light touch because it's on the soft side. He finished it on a felt lap with 50,000 so he wouldn't pull any those mica bits out. If he did something else different, I'm sure he'll let you know.
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Ah, yes - flaky stone but cutter was flaky enough to make it come out okay. My 220 Galaxy is so well broken in that it probably cuts more like a new 600, and all the Novas are also "well-worn".
I think next Lepidolite I cut will be on the flat lap, so I can slow the speed down a little. Will also use Eastwind resin discs with foam backers. The Eastwinds are smoother right out of the box, so there should be less issues with the flakes.
Had two slight depressions in the surface from flakes exiting the program, but 50K diamond on felt with fresh extender fluid worked for the polish. The felt had dried out since last used, so I added extender fluid. Felt at medium speeds on the flat lap got down into the depressions nicely. Can't even see them unless you get a light reflection directly on them.
This was first Lepidolite I'd ever cut, and I was stressin' on it since it was for Robin's pendant... .
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Thanks for the tips, Robin and Vince! I have to bookmark this page for when I can work on my lepi....
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That is a very nice piece. It cuts well if you avoid very coarse grinding. Lepidolite does not like ultraviolet rays , it will turn brown , so keep the rough indoors.
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Hmph. Brown, huh? That's disappointing, and I did not know that. Thanks for the tip.
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That is a very nice piece. It cuts well if you avoid very coarse grinding. Lepidolite does not like ultraviolet rays , it will turn brown , so keep the rough indoors.
So... "keep the rough indoors." Does that mean the polish helps block the UV on a finished piece?
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I would not store your finished lepidolite piece on a windowsill but other than that wearing it all you want is fine . Your skin can take less uv than lepidolite can take.
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This is one of the most beautiful designs and stone that I have seen in a while. Well thought out and so very proportional. Thank you for sharing!
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Glad you are happy with it. I didn’t have any problems cabbing it. I found that if you cut the stone thicker it will retain more of the color.
Beautiful design, fits the stone perfectly.
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It would be impossible to not like this Lepidolite. Robin always wanted some nice material. Now that quest is over. I don't think we'll ever see any better than this.
Robin will probably let me cut her another one since this one survived the process okay. We'll make it thicker.