Lapidaryforum.net
Rock Art => Carvings and Sculptures => Topic started by: auscarver on October 24, 2016, 03:02:35 AM
-
My latest creation in malachite, only on 400 grit, had to share, would like to us cats eye stones for the eyes but it will need to be under 5 hardness as it may be my entry in a carving comp next year.
-
Now that's a carving!!! Wowser!
-
That is absolutely gorgeous! Please post a picture when you finish it. How big is that carving? :occasion14:
-
How about Ulexite for the eyes. Cut right will give catseye and definitely below 5 on scale. Beautiful piece as always. You and Asianfire always amaze me with your talents. If you don't have any Ulexite I have some from the Boron, CA U.S. Borax mine I could send.
-
I'm excited to see you working the malichite. The concept is exciting.
-
Apatite also can cut eye stones. It's 5 in hardness. Don't know where to find chatoyant rough though. Ulexite sounds like a great choice to me. Do the eyes have to be carved? Seed pearls would work if not.
Too bad you're restricted on hardness. I have some CE alexandrite rough in small pieces that might make great eyes.
-
Michael:
I really like the way that you oriented the malachite to fit the fish. Really nice!
Debbie K
-
Thanks for the great comments, thanks for the offer Irockhound but will look at a few different gems before I make a final decision on the eyes, this material was sent to me by Helene when the old forum was very active, I think its African Congo, its 55 mm long.
-
My little fish is making progress, on 1200 diamond, the eye is chatoyant malachite but its very crystaline, I have cut some bulls eye malachite that I hope will polish well, I could coat the chatoyant ones and polish but no glue coatings are allowed in the section I will enter this in. [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
-
I'll bet your wrasse you'll win whatever you decide to do about the eyes. I think the idea of bulls-eye malachite is perfect. Great carving.
-
Thanks Gemfella, my little fish finished, the top fin cracked, fluorite section to replace and mother off pearl eyes.
-
Looks perfect Michael, well done.
-
One of these days i will have a comfortable work area to carve.
doing everything on a wash machine with an injured spine isnt fun, its actually very painful.
-
It's beautiful, Michael! I love the mother of pearl eyes and the fluorite piece in the top fin gives it an interesting contract. I know you're going to win with this one. :Worthy:
-
Awesome. I am envious of you folks with artistic talents. Not saying us cabbers do not have talent, but ....
-
A totally great piece and fantastic save on the crack. One question, is the crossover section connected to each other?
-
Back in a November post of the fish carving there was a comment regarding no glue coatings allowed in a competition...how is a glue coating used as a finish? That's a new one to this newbie :icon_scratch:
-
Thanks for the reply,s, the cross over tail section is totally undercut, very challenging in a soft stone, but this piece is quite tough, glue coatings can be used to coat surfaces that have pits, or stone that will not polish to a high finish, both epoxys and supa glue work, Haxtel is one that is used, I have used supa glue on Australian Queensland fairy opal- sandstone opal with great sucess, epoxy works better under vacuum, as it can get into a porus stone.
-
Thanks auscarver, I can see why it's not allowed in some competitions!!