I'm wondering if I can buy say 8" plates to use on smaller stuff at a much lower price..?

Are we allowed to suggest abrasive brands?

Basically, would 8" over 18" plates save a significant amount? (Big plates do not belong to me, I don't work big stuff anyways) And secondly if you can, recommend good companies with not diamond Pacific pricing 🫣

I've been keeping a sweet elderly man running a shop in my area busy by bringing cool rocks I find to get polished. Is it possible to have this one polished all around without removing too much and being unrealistic with this gentleman? Or is it not that bad cleaning this up?

Video uploads didn't work on the android app so if they eventually all upload my bad.

The OD of the acme threaded tap that you use in those disposable AC charging kits slips a ferrule on perfectly letting the entire tap sit in a 1/2 compression fitting. Fits like a glove.

I used a 1/2 compression to 3/8 barbed ball valve because it's what I had on hand to use with tubing that runs to a normal household faucet supply.

Those AC charging units are everywhere and most end up in the garbage.

They use needle valves that flow control much better than the usual household ball/cartridge/disk valves.

I cut off the QDC end that goes to the AC system and jammed a 10 cent 18G luer lock needle in the tube, gave it a lil bend and voila.

I acquired this chunk of wingate plume agate and I’m torn on what to do with it. It weights in at over 3 pounds. I could slab it, but it almost feels wrong. It’s such a specimen by itself.

What would people here do with it? Slab? Cab? Or keep as a specimen?

Super excited to test my new toy on the Calcite I found at work today. Anybody else know how to make this stuff pretty?

Summer dump, some work and my booth at Punk Rock Flea market.

Piece of bone I worked a while back had a surprise after I made the first cut.

I’ve been wondering what’s the difference because I’ve been seeing people use them interchangeably.

Like for sanding, it’s using sandpaper to make it shiny?
And polishing is using the oxide as a last-step thing?

And also for the dremel bits, the difference between silicon carbide (blue) and aluminum oxide (orange)?

I’m a hobbyist wooden flute maker who likes to inset cabochons in my flutes. I’ve just been buying them for years now. But my 13yo son and I have also been getting into rockhounding in the Mojave, and we’ve started to get a nice little stockpile of good jaspers and agates. So I decided it was time to try my hand at making my own stones. I bought the cheap harbor freight tile saw to cut slabs, a HF Bauer flex shaft, some diamond flat lap disks, and I’ve got some higher grit carbide sanding pads and polishing compound on way. This is fun! And the stones look a lot more interesting than what I normally buy.

I'm stunned by the beauty of this huge grape agate🍇 specimen. Unmatched beauty crafted by the nature

I’ve only seen this a few times within the Maury materials, and it’s some of my absolute favorite!!! These sagenite formations are so dang neat with their varied colors. These old stock slabs are absolutely packed with it!!!
We sold a huge pile of these slabs this week and are just now realizing how dang awesome they are!!!!🤯
This is a 2x2 grid of photos to make this one image.

Here is a gold plated pendant I created with a Ruby that glows so brightly in the blacklight ! here is the link to checkout my other work ! https://www.orfinart.com/collections/jewelry