Lapidaryforum.net

General Category => Welcome! => Topic started by: northcanadian on March 17, 2017, 08:16:01 PM

Title: Hi folks
Post by: northcanadian on March 17, 2017, 08:16:01 PM: Hi all...newbie here from the Great White North. I'm up in the Precambrian Shield where over the years there has been and continues to be lots of geological exploration. I have been experimenting making different items out of the drill core (15/8" diameter)...such as slices for pendants ...also I built a sphere machine...some of the colors are quite nice when 'sphered' and polished.
Hoping some of you could advise me on making 'eggs' from the drill core(?)

I just got into this about a year or so ago and really enjoy the hobby...looking forward to learning from all of you

Cheers

Roger
Title: Re: Hi folks
Post by: peruano on March 18, 2017, 05:00:57 AM: Wow, drill cores give you a preview before you start the real show. I can see endless possibilities as long as your shop is heated better than mine. Welcome.
Title: Re: Hi folks
Post by: Jhon P on March 18, 2017, 02:08:25 PM: Post some pictures. I love spheres.
Title: Re: Hi folks
Post by: Stonemon on March 18, 2017, 03:16:40 PM: Welcome from the west slope of the Cascades, McKenzie River, OR
Bill
Title: Re: Hi folks
Post by: lithicbeads on March 19, 2017, 12:05:33 PM: Hi and welcome from Washington state.
Title: Re: Hi folks
Post by: hummingbirdstones on March 19, 2017, 03:55:51 PM: Welcome to the forum, from Northern Arizona! :hello:
Title: Re: Hi folks
Post by: irockhound on March 21, 2017, 06:15:44 PM: Welcome from California. Being born in Alaska I can commiserate with the Great White North.
Title: Re: Hi folks
Post by: northcanadian on March 22, 2017, 04:55:46 AM: Thank you ....it's great to be here!
Title: Re: Hi folks
Post by: fossilman on March 22, 2017, 08:42:55 AM: Welcome Roger........................I have lots of family in Canada,always like road tripping up there,when I lived in northern North Dakota..
Title: Re: Hi folks
Post by: rockherder on March 23, 2017, 11:25:30 AM: Welcome Roger!
Title: Re: Hi folks
Post by: Sandsave on March 23, 2017, 05:17:38 PM: Welcome from northern Utah. There are only two sphere makers in the forum that I know of, please post your spheres. Then Jhon and I will vote if can join our elite club! LOL
Title: Re: Hi folks
Post by: northcanadian on March 24, 2017, 02:22:01 PM: Hi again all:

Here are a couple of pics of spheres made from drill core on my home-made machine. I had made polishing cups from cut up polishing pads...the finest was 1000 grit...should I make some 3000 grit and higher?

Cheers

Roger
Title: Re: Hi folks
Post by: Jhon P on March 24, 2017, 04:54:13 PM: 14,000 will give you the best polish on most rocks
I go to 1,500 then 3,000 than 14,000 for polish
Title: Re: Hi folks
Post by: northcanadian on March 24, 2017, 07:54:36 PM: Thanks Jhon P......I can get the polishing pads up to 3000 .....just wondering....does anyone do final polish on spheres in a vibratory tumbler or would that not work?
Title: Re: Hi folks
Post by: Jhon P on March 25, 2017, 07:59:17 AM: eBay order the buffs. They are the 14000 grit
I use the wet grinder pads for most of my sphere making except for the first grind
Title: Re: Hi folks
Post by: Jhon P on March 25, 2017, 08:03:19 AM: The tumbler may work? I have never tried it but most of my spheres are 3" to 6" diameter.
For final polish only? I would load it with enough plastic pellets so the spheres are padded and don't bag into Each other. Give it a try and let us know how it works
How hard is the stone? I haven't had good success with soft rock in a tumbler.
Title: Re: Hi folks
Post by: Sandsave on March 25, 2017, 06:32:29 PM: I usually go to 4K ,but Jhon and I use different techniques.

What say ye Jhon? They are round! aye or nay I vote aye!
Title: Re: Hi folks
Post by: Enchantra on April 10, 2017, 02:57:06 PM: Welcome from Central AZ! :icon_sunny:
Title: Re: Hi folks
Post by: ChristopherAnthony on April 11, 2017, 07:38:58 AM: Welcome!