Post subject: Re: Off the dop - post YOUR latest creation
Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2022 6:39 am
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Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2015 8:31 pm Posts: 276
The weather has cleared up a bit here, so I'm getting to facet for at least 2 hours every day if the wind isn't particularly strong.
Here's my first attempt at a checkerboard on my new machine, it was nothing but trouble and ended up being the test run for 100K PCD, so scratching happened, but I'm doing checkerboard reflectors crown-first next time, the large facets are just bad to keep flat and to centerpoint...
A little blue tourmaline square, 2nd attempt with the PCD and performed excellently, but the stone is filled with little veils and has this iridescence that runs parallel with the C axis.
And finally I decided to break out another piece of Guerrero topaz from my parcel to try out Arya's "Reality" design. This ended up at 4.8cts and cut very pleasantly, definitely a nice design. The C axis is aligned with the long ends making it almost look like madeira citrine, and occasionally I'll see red sparks come from the "crunched" area. It's off to spend some time in the sun to see if the orange sticks next month.
Post subject: Re: Off the dop - post YOUR latest creation
Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2022 8:33 am
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Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2015 8:31 pm Posts: 276
A Darkside with aluminium backing, they seem a lot noiser than the older plastic-backed ones? The scratching is almost solely because of issues getting a film of slurry going.
Post subject: Re: Off the dop - post YOUR latest creation
Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2022 12:18 pm
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Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2016 7:58 pm Posts: 1424 Location: San Marcos, CA
Dominatrix, 60k Pcd and a spritz of water more dry than wet at a slow speed almost to where you will stop the rotation when it grabs. Just a suggestion, and what is the gem on the CB?
Post subject: Re: Off the dop - post YOUR latest creation
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2022 11:12 pm
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Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2015 8:31 pm Posts: 276
glhays wrote:
Dominatrix, 60k Pcd and a spritz of water more dry than wet at a slow speed almost to where you will stop the rotation when it grabs. Just a suggestion, and what is the gem on the CB?
That's more or less how I have been using the PCD after the first stone, it's an ametrine. Can't say I like the material much, but the common stuff isn't as rich as synthetic.
Here's a quick barion I did this week to test how synthetic sapphire handled, I can't say I like having to use my 3k copper when it's needing a resurface, but the single scratch it left doesn't show up in the photo. I wasn't expecting the directional toughness this is said to have to be twisted relative to the boule! I think the head shadow of my phone camera is a bit large to show the pattern, but it's rather dispersive.
Post subject: Re: Off the dop - post YOUR latest creation
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 11:26 pm
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Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:06 pm Posts: 2267 Location: Chapel Hill, NC / Toronto, ON
Those of you who know me, know that I love weird synthetics. So here's a recent run of some fun synthetics! The first is a piece of synthetic alexandrite (Cr-doped chrysoberyl) that was grown by the HDSM method, instead of the Czochralski method. The second is a piece of typical flame-fusion sapphire, but a colour that isn't typically produced (No. 85). The last is a piece of synthetic rutile, but grown via the skull-melt process! It's doped to 5% with Zr, both to increase its hardness and to allow it to be grown via skull-melting.
Post subject: Re: Off the dop - post YOUR latest creation
Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2022 4:45 am
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Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2015 8:31 pm Posts: 276
Is that the Etude #3 in that alexandrite Arya? Probably good to update it's wiki entry given it doesn't have a cut stone yet. And the rutile rough rusgems made always looked too prismatic to come from a boule...
I was going to have more to show before I posted again, but the weather has taken a change for the worse - we're looking at blackouts and squalls for the next week, right when I have more spare time. Here's the rosy garnet I faceted in Jeff Graham's Shtick before it started raining, photos are a bit fuzzy, but it also has a light spattering of black silk through it.
Thought I'd pop by and bring some bling for Barbra's Birthday. Don't forget to tell her she rocks!
2.18ct Montana Sapphire, Heated, cut by Dan O'Neil. NO zoning in this one, which is rare for the burners.
An excellent Gem Silica from the Ray Mine in Arizona, 4.something carrots. Superb cut and polish by Ryan Quantz.
Another one of those *killer* Madagascar Rose Quartz, this one I stole for myself. Amazing cutting by Troy @excessdesign. I ordered some of the crown facets frosted, but I'm not sure it made any difference?
And a 1.5ct Unheated Umba Sapphire, notable for its clarity, also cut by Daniel O'Neil.
Post subject: Re: Off the dop - post YOUR latest creation
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2022 5:41 pm
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Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2015 8:31 pm Posts: 276
I can see a little patchy blue from rutile in the montana at least, that's definitely only going to show up on camera with these. It's always nice to have chalcedony you can read through too.
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