Lapidaryforum.net

Rock Art => Cabochons, Intarsias, Cameos => Topic started by: 55fossil on January 14, 2022, 04:56:36 PM

Title: Plume Agate with Druzy cabochon
Post by: 55fossil on January 14, 2022, 04:56:36 PM
Thank goodness for some bad weather, sort of. Anyway, finally sat down and started cutting again. This is a cabochon I dug on my claim Fantasy Plume claim years ago. Huge central pocket of druzy agate. Only wish I was a better photographer.
Title: Re: Plume Agate with Druzy cabochon
Post by: Stonemon on January 14, 2022, 05:31:01 PM
That is a beauty Neal!
Title: Re: Plume Agate with Druzy cabochon
Post by: vitzitziltecpatl on January 15, 2022, 06:47:55 AM
With material and cutting like that, your photo looks plenty good. 

Must be a great feeling to know you brought it out into the light, and then did the cutting to really let it shine!
Title: Re: Plume Agate with Druzy cabochon
Post by: irockhound on January 15, 2022, 01:29:45 PM
That's a real beauty!
Title: Re: Plume Agate with Druzy cabochon
Post by: victor1941 on February 07, 2022, 10:00:46 AM
That is a great cab!
Title: Re: Plume Agate with Druzy cabochon
Post by: R.U. Sirius on February 07, 2022, 11:35:35 PM
Interesting material, well cut!  It would be nice to also see it from a different angle, where girdle is visible.
Title: Re: Plume Agate with Druzy cabochon
Post by: 55fossil on February 11, 2022, 04:44:20 PM
Sirius:   Yep, more pics is better.
     I have started to cut more cabochons with flat tops. WHY:   Well, I am afraid to lose any of the picture by doming the top. In this case with the Druzy I was concerned with the integrity and strength of the cabochon. So here is a couple pictures.
   I am also going to post some cabochons I am working on now that will have flat tops. My personal preference is for domed tops with hand cut and hand polished work, no tumbling....
Title: Re: Plume Agate with Druzy cabochon
Post by: vitzitziltecpatl on February 11, 2022, 08:46:22 PM
I like this one. It's a top notch piece.
Title: Re: Plume Agate with Druzy cabochon
Post by: R.U. Sirius on February 11, 2022, 09:34:20 PM
Even more impressive now that we see the profile! Cleaning the polishing paste out of those pockets would be quite a challenge, so I assume you used bonded diamond all the way...?
Title: Re: Plume Agate with Druzy cabochon
Post by: 55fossil on February 13, 2022, 04:10:16 PM
No polishing paste!!!  Okay, I hate to say how I get my finish but it is not a secret. But many people will say I am a bit ... well you know... wrong would be the polite word.

   I do my final polish on some stones with a very old, very worn, 12,000 grit NOVA Diamond Wheel. At most a quick spray of water if there is any heat. It is usually not as good as what I get on a Richardson's Wheel polisher but sometimes it is even better.

Did I mention JADE:   I also do a final polish on Nephrite Jade with a dry 12,000 Nova Wheel. Blistering finish with no dimples. Sorry Michael, not even a little spit, but I will not argue with your technique getting great results.