Pinnacle Drip Tips

[Katdarling]

The fuchsite is fascinating! It has small rubies inside of it? Woah..... I am intriguied. I know this is one you prolly won't make due to it fragility, but it is gorgeous.


Looking (VERY) forward to the pics of the jade, agate, and the lapis lazuli! So very pretty!

 

[whokrz]

I can't wait to see the lapis either. I hope it looks as nice in person.

Yes the rubies are inside the other rock. I am not sure how it was all formed, I am still a newbie.

Here is how the petrified wood is coming along. At this stage there is a little bit more turning to finish. Next it will be sanding and polishing.

Dry

Wet

 

[LordDavon]

Wow. Those look awesome! That petrified wood is coming out really nicely. I can't believe these take so long! I thought my 3D printer took a long time to print. This makes it look like a speed demon!

 

[whokrz]

Thanks
Yes it takes a long time turn one down. I am sure the more I learn the faster I will get, but they will always take more time. Here is how I left it last weekend. It is dry in the picture.

The rest of my supplies to finish it should arrive on Friday.

 

[LordDavon]

Very nice! I can't wait to see all the pieces finished. Just amazing work, my friend.

 

[Katdarling]

Wow, even dry, it looks glistening, Lewis! Very lovely work there.


The tortoise wins.

 

[whokrz]

Tortoise is moving a bit fast for this tip
Today I received a delivery. With it I was able to remove the tool marks and make the surface smooth. I can't wait to see it with a polish.

 

[tearose50]

So wonderful to see you working with the lovely "rocks" . Little ruby bits in fuchsite, petrified wood and lapis next, what,s not to like.

 

[Katdarling]

Tortoise is moving a bit fast for this tip
Today I received a delivery. With it I was able to remove the tool marks and make the surface smooth. I can't wait to see it with a polish.

It almost DOES look polished. I can't wait to see the final creation, too, Lewis. GREAT JOB!

 

[aikanae1]

Mega cool.

Idk about this stuff but I was under the impression gem stones were too brittle for lathe work, I assumed that's why there were faucets or carbachons. I wonder if gemology sites would have some sort of scale, like hardness, for lathe work? I know there's a small group on ECF that dabble in gemstone cutting.

Regardless, you've taken drip tips to a whole new level. Screw the atty, I want to wear it on a chain around my neck. Awesome.

Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk

 

[whokrz]

Thanks everyone

So far I am getting way with turning hard stone and have only had issues with stone that was to soft. Turning soft stone on a wood lathe like alabaster is pretty common. They use tool steel and carbide scrapers to turn with. Turning hard stone on a lathe is rare. The tool steel and carbide doesn't do much good, but diamond cuts it slowly.

The gemology sites list the hardness of the stone, but nothing I have found for a lathe. I have been trying to find a scale for the polished surface, but I can't find any information. I am going to attempt polishing to .25micron/100,000 grit, but have no idea what that type of a polish is called.

 

[Katdarling]

I have no klue what you just said, but yaaay! I think.

 

[whokrz]

Mainly that diamond cuts it and I don't know what to call it other than shiny

Sorry, I forgot the yaaay part. The lapis showed up today.

 

[LordDavon]

Nice! We sell a Blue&White Porcelain colored istick that those would pair nicely with.

 

[aikanae1]

Mainly that diamond cuts it and I don't know what to call it other than shiny

Sorry, I forgot the yaaay part. The lapis showed up today.

Interesting. FT carries a "jade" tip that looks similar. I think they use the word jade very generically. reviews have said they had a rough texture. I got my assessment that stone couldn't be worked on a lathe from the TruStone website which is probably biased.

Shek is one who cuts his own gemstones. I have no idea if he's got anything to add. Looks like your doing good on your own.

I can't wait to see what's next.



Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk

 

[whokrz]

Thats to bad that FT didn't polish the tips and sent them out rough.
The trustone website is correct, a wood lathe and tools are not designed for cutting stone. Trustone has stone dust mixed with resin or acrylic which allows standard tools to cut it.
No doubt I am abusing my wood lathe and drill press. The stone dust can find its way into the bearings and the hard stone will quickly dull and chip tools. Water can also ruin chucks, tools, bearings and cause everything to rust. I understand that what I am doing will shorten the life of the tools, but for me it is worth it. I keep everything well oiled to slow the corrosion, but in time parts will need replaced.

 

[whokrz]

I finished polishing this morning and parted off the tip. This tip took 18-20 hours to create. About half of this time was spent repeating steps that I did not do correctly the first time.

 

[whokrz]

The lapis is starting to take shape.

 

[whokrz]

Finished polishing the lapis.

 

[tmcase]

They are all gorgeous. Excellent job.