r/Lapidary

New carving!

Here is a before and after! I tumbled it first, but then decided to experiment. Any tips for beginners?

Found a 10lb chunk of Chetco Jasper on the Oregon coast in Brookings a few months back. First real big project I've done with it. First time leaving a bit of the tang exposed outside the rock, and I love how it looks!

I have a couple of questions. First, can I replace this leather buff wheel with cotton? Second how do I do it? Is it just glued on, and if so what type of adhesive do I use, and will I still need the soft rubber backing?

Thanks for your help, the machine is an old eight inch 421 Covington combo unit.

Eh, ehhh? Can't edit videos well on a phone but you get the idea.

Gave the brush a bris, drilled a hole through the handle into the foam itself, dipped the wood in penetrating lubricant, shoved the sawed-off brush up the water pipe.

Fresh water supplied one stop wet wiping.

Gonna buy a buncha plastic handled units for longevity.

2Kg

5+1 vugs, or crystal pockets or whatever. 5 bigger ones circling the sides of the stone, then a small one fulla spheres.

Never seen a rock like this around here. Lots of agate, and this one looks agatey, but it also is all over the place.

Used some mineral oil to get past the grinding scratches for photos.

Until I can locate its next of kin on Mindat I am just gonna call this unit a dingleberry, it is a space rock from Uranus. Cause it stinks a bit, sulfur maybe.

All of these are self-collected, I’ve had a few claims in the Dead Camel Mountains, NV, and I cut some rocks today that looked good for lapidary so I thought I’d share! Forgive the terrible cuts, I blame the saw 🤓 Any standouts?

Help! I was tumbling indigo gabbro for the first time, lots of cushion etc and it was going great until the polish load.😬 They totally undercut and are less smooth than before the polish! So frustrating. Any advice is appreciated!