Composite Cabs (domed intarsia)

[Taogem]

I picked up 3 or 4 "seconds" while in Tucson this year for about $25 each.

Would you be willing to sell one of the three?

[theimage1]

Although I use an old faceting machine's flat lap, I don't use the mast. I prefer the look and freedom of freeform. It's not that difficult to eye-ball the lines around the center stone, and the marble cuts like butter. I started doing the other designs as I needed something to do with scrap material. You end up with lots of little pieces from time to time.

Scrap Mookaite ...


Scrap mookaite centers (serpentine on left too) and the frame on the right is orange aventurine.


It's hard to find the good serpentine anymore, most is too dark or highly mottled, the lighter green really makes nice backing for the pyrite. It is a bit tricky to cut with the jade outside as it is much softer and disappears really easily. I have not seen any on the market for about 2 years. I've even looked at buying Peruvian spheres or hearts and using them for rough, but they too tend to be too dark.

[Taogem]

I have a line on some green Serpentine from up around here.

Not sure if it would be what your looking for.

Serpentine

Serpentine 2

The image of the slab is not all that great.

If by looking at the finished cab it looks like something you can use, I can take a better pic of the slab for you.

[theimage1]

Nice looking material but not what I am after. I want more of the stuff with the golden pyrite cubes in it.
Here are the last couple of slabs I still have.


(Notice the pyrite cubes)

Also (somehow related to your images) I thought some ask about me having trouble polishing it. No problem with polishing it, but I have to be careful once it is in a harder frame material as it cuts away much faster than the frame and often leaves flats.


I have already used one of the extra diamond disks and only have two left. So I am not willing to part with one. I go trough abut 2 or 3 year. You can often find them on e-bay for about the same price or even a bit less. This link will eventually break but try it to see ...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Crystalite-8-100-grit-diamond-flat-lap_W0QQitemZ350034852125QQihZ022QQcategoryZ34087QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247