Semiprecious gemstone cabochons and bezel type settings made using silversmithing and silver solder techniques

Gosh…. Been a while since have added a blog post… Been a bit of a blogging slacker !

Thought might share a bit about a flat lap set up I picked up.. Purchased this with the intent of starting to try my luck with intarsia type cabbing. That and wanted to give some 8″ padded diamond mesh discs a wirl. Thought they might work as well if not better than mesh type belts. Plus they will last much longer.. Decided to start out with just the 1000, 2500, and 5000 mesh. I know folks do go much finer, but just to experiment.. , started with these to see how working up to just a 5000 worked out.

Also picked up both a 100 and 360 grit flat laps for making nice flat surfaces for intarsias.

The entire set up revolved around the choice of a magnetic base. All of these adhere to that..

10″ Magnetic base

Lap discs

Diamond mesh pads

Ok.. Then for the unit itself.. At first I mounted the motor upright.. Then changed it because the motor bearings were starting to sound wrong. Now that it is set up it became apparent that the lap unit itself needs a new bearing. Vibrates just a bit.

Have not tried any intarsias yet.. Will share any success with them later ! The padded mesh discs are working excellent. They are my first experience with diamond mesh. I am sure there must be some additional polishing improvements with the use of even more fine a mesh. Even upwards of a 50,000. Yet just with working up through the 5000, the end result is outstanding. A huge difference from just coming off a 600 grit silicon carbide paper. 600 grit silicon carbide really has always done a great job for the most part. But I have noticed a huge difference on certain minerals with the diamond, and improvement on the basic Jaspers and Agates in the final polishishing.

Thanks for stopping by !

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Just for fun want to show off this recent Mexican Crazy Lace Agate pendant. Sorta patting myself on the back just a little as it is my best silver solder project yet !

We decided to have a jewelry design contest for existing forum members.  Actually, it is still ongoing as of this blog entry..

Not being a very good artist as free hand drawing goes, it took almost an entire notebook to come up with the final sketch !

Wanted to see if I could actually design a piece using a similar set of stones as the many matching multi stone groups that I offer in my store. So started with that in mind.

One of the my favorite minerals that truly offer outstanding patterns that are ideal for this matching patterned multi stone groups is the Mexican Crazy Lace Agate.  It is easier to loose the flow of the pattern across the setting because the grains change rapidly as I grind and shape the top of the cab. The three three pieces across the top of this one kept the flow of the pattern pretty well.

Cut out and roughly shaped the backing for both pieces. Then cut and shaped the preforms to match the backing. Leaving plenty of room for soldering the bezel tape.

Shaped and finished up the cabs and soldered up the bezels to match.. It was a bit tricky for me to solder all three of the top settings to the same backing at once. I knew how important it was going to be to be able and heat this larger than normal piece evenly. As a result, it was the first time using the largest of torch tips I have. The much larger flame worked like a charm !

Pieced it all together..

Used both a tumbler as well as some 3M type discs for cleaning everything up.

Not having any experience with creating a nice beaded or maybe braded type neclace to go with it, not exactly sure how or if will create something to match this..

One thing I did learn too is that should have filed down the corners of the bezels just a bit so as when I pushed the tape up against the upper stones, there would not be the little gaps that are showing.  Next time …. !

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Recently received several slabs of what I believe to be a dendritic Moss opal.  Not entirely sure if it is an opal, opalized, or a opalite. I have read that opalite is an opalized volcanic ash than can occur with common opal and agate. It can be dendritic.

Opalite is very hard and can have a wet appearance upon breaking creating the illusion of an opal. I don’t really see this wet appearance in the darker, and not at all in the white.

Common opal fractures into tiny pieces/crumbs upon hitting, and opalite does not. This seems to better fit the description. When I break a slab with a hammer the white (softer) does not really break into very small pieces, where as the darker (harder) areas do.

Here is as best a couple of pics of the breaks on each. I am guessing the white areas to be about a 5 and the dark to be 6 or better.

It is not uncommon for common opal to be associated with moss and even plume agate. It can be found in white, tan, brown, green and peach.

Here are a couple of slab pics.

Then a couple of cab pics.

The harder dark material took a great polish using tin oxide. The softer white colored material did not.  At the time of this writing have not yet tried another polish. Thinking some Holy Cow. Other than that, I am not familiar with a better polish. Prior to polishing these came off a worn 600 silicon carbide belt.

One thing I noticed while cutting preforms was that as I got towards the end of the cut, maybe an inch or sometimes even two, the slab would break. Not because of any fractures. It would consistently break in line with the direction of the remaining cut. I had to cut very slowly as I moved towards the end of the cuts. Can’t say I have ever experienced this with any other material before. Just sort of odd…

The material comes from Northwestern Missouri. I have read of an Ogallala Formation through that area. The Ogallala opal can be of these same colors as well as colorless, and cherty. Some of it is called moss opal because it contains a manganese oxide impurity that forms these dark, branching deposits that look like small mosses in the opal.

Comments ?

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Brand new Spokane area Social Networking Community for crafts, lapidary, jewelry, and all other related artists.

This community was started as a means to simply bring a variety of local niche artists from the Spokane area together in hopes of creating interesting and unique opportunities for all members.

Members are not limited to the few arts categories within the site title. All area artists are encouraged join up, and benefit from networking within the Community.

When we think of Artists, our minds can travel to any number of artistic niches. An attempt to categorize or list us all could be never ending.

My little artistic niche is lapidary. More specific, semiprecious gemstone cabochons that are used in custom jewelry design.

It is interesting that many arts related events, shows, festivals, fairs, etc., comfortably combine an endless mix of all imaginable artistic related niches.

Aside from selling our wares at these events, there are also golden networking opportunities between vendors and visitors. Any number of business building possibilities. Unique, often surprising, and totally unexpected opportunities can present themselves.

These events let us network face to face. Both with other vendors, and of course any local artists walking in to attend.

These “face to face” networking opportunities can turn out to be much more valuable in the long term than any single sale as a vendor at these events.

That is the goal of this community. Except, to provide an “online” social network that can potentially let these same interesting, unique, surprising, and totally unexpected opportunities unfold between area artists. Did not have any particular agenda in mind when I created this. Just sorta thought would let opportunities unfold spontaneously between members within the community.

Hey, maybe even make a friend or two while there ! If your in the Spokane or surrounding area communities, then come on over and join in !

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It will be held on the grounds of a Victorian Tea House and a lovely home just across the lane.

Admission is free, and there are 70+ vendors. Vendors will cover everything from antiques, collectibles, vintage goods, primitives and arts and crafts, jewelry, and of course my gemstones.. Both homes will have vendors set up… with the one across the lane featuring more artists. Seventy plus vendors with an expected 2500 people attending.

Another great thing is that the Tea House will be open for tea on both Saturday and Sunday for $10 per person, no reservations necessary. The hostesses will also be serving us vendors lunch those days as well, so very sweet.

Of course I will be sharing all about it once it is over (along with all sorts of pictures).

Treasures on Foxwood is located between Newport and Diamond Lake (Washington) just off Highway 2, between mile markers 328 and 329. There is a billboard right at Foxwood Drive (the road is just past the billboard if you are traveling from Newport and just before if you are traveling from Diamond Lake.

If you are in the area then stop on by and say hi and check all the vendors out. Great opportunity to see some nice gemstones up close !

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Recently I did a little poll on my forum asking other lapidaries how their online sales have been doing. There were a couple of comments that stood out. First, although the number of folks utilizing the poll were few, online gemstone and jewelry sales seem to be in decline past few months. The month of July stood out the most for myself.

One comment that really stood out was how it is local artists, various shows, and events that a great deal of sales as well as new business opportunities are coming from. I do know from experience not related to lapidary how successful attending local shows  can be. Both from sales and equally important… Networking ! Meeting local artists and lapidaries ! Online social networking can be very successful towards these. A comment was made on another forum about the importance of utilizing “local” online social networking from a “networking” perspective.. Not to focus on “local” online social networking for sales, but concentrate on using it as a local networking tool..

What do some of these thoughts and experiences have to do with the title of this blog entry? For myself it is obvious the importance of getting involved socially on a local level.

If we think about it, not everyone has access to computers, or many that do, are not using them to introduce themselves to national and international online businesses related to their artistic niche. A couple of months ago I had a sale from someone local.. The very first in three years of selling various items online. I am sure there are a whole lot more than just this one who share common interests with me !

Yes, we are certainly in a recession/depression.. No question. It has hit home for myself, family and friends in many significant ways unrelated to my online business.

“When things are tough, the tough get going” ! In other words… Get out there and socially meet some folks from my community !

I think there is kind of a separation for many online business owners like myself. Many are solely selling online as compared to a storefront on Main street. We maintain and operate our online businesses.  A store on Main street operates with many of the same promotional/marketing trials and tribulations except one is online and the other is on Main street. Many brick and mortar type stores utilize online sales right along with their store. Then again, many do not.. An ideal way to close the gap on that separation as an online business owner would be to combine online social networking with selling at local niche events / shows.

I think you get where I am going. Most likely your already well aware. Maybe much like myself we realize what we need to do, and just need to get out there and become locally active within the arts community.

I hear a lot of successful events/shows cheers from many online jewelry designers, and artists after completing their shows.

There are some things that I started to do a couple days ago, and perhaps you can do if your interested in learning how to become more active locally.

Searching online for as many local crafts type events as I could find. Some are “juried” events. Meaning a business license and State tax number are required. Plus we have to be voted or somehow accepted into these juried events. Fees are required just like a non juried event.

I used key search words/phrases like, “Spokane Washington gemstone jewelry shows”, “Spokane crafts hobbies shows”, “Spokane arts festivals shows”, etc…

I found many ! From little events at various jewelry and bead shops, park events, and larger shows at fairgrounds. Both local and in near by communities.

So for myself, I feel it is important to get busy. Get out there and start socializing locally. Network with other lapidaries, jewelry designers and other gemstone related artists who may be interested in my business just as I am in theirs. Trading, and bartering are possible outcomes. Business building and networking possibilities are another and will likely present themselves quickly. Any number of things can happen when business owners who share interests within a common niche network, share new ideas, products, and services.

I decided to take the advice of another CST forum member and am in the process of creating a Spokane area social community within the Ning network. It is brand new and much work to do yet, but it’s a start ! A Ning site that will be completely devoted to, and focuses upon various related and common interest niches for Spokane, and surrounding communities.

So…,  the purpose of this blog entry is sort of both a kick in the butt for myself and of course create some discussion and feedback from other online gemstone and jewelry designers/artists who are presently, or may be considering the same things.  How to bring some of those local artists who visit the areas community stores into our online world.. Consider local community social networking to compensate for declines in our online businesses.

Forgive much of the repetitive rambling. Thanks too for stopping in and reading through.

Don’t be shy.. ! Please reply with any suggestions, comments, feedback, personal experiences,  info about shows and events in the Spokane area, etc… !

Have a great day !

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The application that Gnoksin uses to forward these blog entries did not bring the video clips along for this blog entry..

To see the full blog post with video clips you can visit TaoGem.com.

In the meantime will try to get them added here.

After uploading the videos, realized that the audio on most did not pick up my voice. So will type out as best I can a description of what is going on in each video. I can hear them much better using my headphones.

As always, what works best for me can be different for someone else. So please critique, add too, point out, or anything else that you find works for you so it can be added here for others to take in.

A lot of this really applies to most any cabbing.

One of the first things I like to take the rough edge off the perimeter of the preform.. I take it down through the 400 diamond bonded wheel. I don’t want to be grinding on it later after I have my doming complete because it will result in changing the girdle height. So all I really want to have to do is touch it up with the silicon carbide stages.

Ok here we go…. ! Smiley

This first clip shows the grinding down of a bevel. Not a finish bevel. A bevel that will determine the girdle height and also the outside/lowest part of the low dome. Depending on the size of the cab or rather the surface area will depend on how little you will need to bevel. You can get away with a lot less of a bevel because no need for as much doming. A larger surface area will require more.. Make sense ??

No need to actually go though any additional beveling steps for the corners. The bevel from doing the sides will join nicely at the corners.

Here are a couple of pics showing the results. I leave the corners sharp cornered until the very end of the cabbing. Then I will round them off. If for some reason I want the cab to wind up with sharp corners, then I have to pay extra close attention to them as shown a bit later.

This next clip try’s to show how to begin getting the contour of the dome uniform across the entire surface.

A while back someone mentioned how they listened to the grinding. As what ever grit your working progressively removes bumps and ridges the grinding sound will subside into a smooth almost quiet grinding action. Meaning the surface is uniform so to speak with the flat surface of the grinding wheel. So I work each wheel until I can go around the entire surface of the stone to the point where there is really no grinding going on. Hard to explain. Just think about it while your working the surface of the cab. It will come to you !

I noticed that it appears in the clip that I am pressing harder than I actually am.. I am hardly pressing at all and the wheels are running a lot faster than these videos depict.. Just a video thing I guess..

I have come off the initial 80 grit and this step is on the 220, then moving on to a somewhat worn 220.

Again, mostly working the outer part of the surface of the cab and spending little time hitting the inner part or highest part of the dome. Don’t want to grind down what little dome we are working to have in the end. Although I do have to spend a bit of time on the center just so as to include it in the grit processes. Most of the grinding is needed around the outer part of the cab. That is where the ridges were left which is covered more in the clip just following this next one below.

I notice too that my camera crew did not do a great job of showing a lot of the cabbing action.. Hopefully you will get the idea.

This next clip starts out going through the same process except on a 400 grit. Again, listening to the sound of the grinding.. Just like any other progressive grinding or sanding steps.. Need to work it until the previous abrasives grit marks are removed. Pressing fairly lightly.The pic below shows a close up of the problem I run into on the corners.. The accidental excess grinding on them.

This next one shows how sometimes I have to go back over the girdle so as to keep it uniform. Sometimes as a result of going through the grinding process the girdle will become thicker in the center and have to re-bevel and then smooth out the surface a bit. Again.. A bit hard to explain.. Sorry. !

Next I move on to some silicon carbide papers. I start off on the 80 with this agate. Running up through the 220, 400, 600 and finally a worn 600 just like any other hard mineral cab. Other softer minerals, I may skip the 80 and start off with the 220.I listen to the sanding just like I do the grinding..

You can see I have not tried Old Hickory’s belt slipping trick yet.. !

This next one shows rounding the corners.

Finally…, Lets try beveling ! Something commonly seen on a flat or very low domed cab.

After going through all the silicon carbide grits for the bevel and girdle, here are the results !

Be sure to add any suggestions for me here or visit the forum thread and share with us there.

Thanks for stopping in and reading this blog entry !

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Chrysocolla is right up there among my most favorite minerals for cutting cabs from. Most all Chrysocolla makes for some stunning jewelry. Then there are some that are truly a bit more unique than others.

We have been sharing a whole lot of different Chrysocolla varieties on my forum.

I especially like a Chrysocolla with Hematite, Tenorite, Silver, Copper, and even Gold.. I love a beautiful metallic finish that these offer.

Then when we start talking about a druzy Chrysocolla…….. Well, ya gotta love a neat druzy cab !

I don’t really want to post pictures of all the different Chrysocolla that has been shared on the forum here. Would rather each member who shared have the same opportunity for you to see them as they were posted by each member. Plus if your as excited about Chrysocolla as we all are, you may well like to join in the conversation and share some of your own pics as well !

One of the members did send me a slab of some with Gold in it.. Can’t hardly add a blog entry without at least one image ! Never knew Chrysocolla even had Gold in it..

Thanks for stopping by !

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I have blogged before about “Advantages for Gemstone Jewelry Designer who Develop Relationship with Lapidary Shop”. Much of the same really does apply when considering a reputable gemstone jewelry designer/silversmith. Your extremely lucky to find not only a reputable and qualified designer, but a designer who’s unique ability to work with precious metals place them well above what can be found within our own communities.

I know of one such designer. He is a valued member of my Lapidary forum. Extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of jewelry design.
Michael Johnson of Cosmic Folklore Studios goes well above and beyond run of the mill jewelry designers.

Just like when a designer takes the time to work with a lapidary on a regular basis for unique and unusual gemstones, folks who are truly shopping for interesting and unique jewelry designs also know the importance of looking beyond their immediate community. It is the only way we can own the most interesting of handmade jewelry.

Michael teaches and has a large following of students who attend his valued silversmithing / metalsmithing classes at his studio in Helena Alabama.

I watch Michael’s store several times a week in anticipation of seeing newly added designs within Cosmic Folklore Studios. He enjoys creating pendants, necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets, and many other interesting pieces.

Michael will tell that it is the Lapidary/gemstone cutter who contributes so much to beautiful jewelry designs. Yes, we do our part, but in the end it is the designer who brings everything together. That is what I like so much about Michael’s jewelry designs. His ability to take unique gemstones and match them up with a variety of metalsmith and silversmithing mediums that result in absolutely stunning pieces.

Maybe you already have a unique gemstone and have a design idea for a piece of jewelry. Or maybe you have an idea for both a type of gemstone mineral and jewelry design, then contact Michael….

I am going to borrow a statement that Michael made about Lapidaries in a recent blog post. As it applies exactly the same when choosing a jewelry designer as well.

“Yes, it may cost more, but it is funny how some people strive to buy the cheapest for the ingredients for their art, when they would never just buy the cheapest car on the lot, the cheapest house in the neighborhood, or the cheapest shoes on the rack.  Some things are just worth the extra it takes to get quality and uniqueness”.

Let me tease you just a bit with a couple of his recent pieces..

Need I say more !

 

As always, thank you for stopping in and letting me share..

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