new here rock picker upper from North Central Wyoming

[ScarlettoSara]

Great idea Jim and looking forward to seeing how your experiment works out:)

[DonniesTreasures]

Well then, here's a big hearty welcome to ya! 

[Helene]

Welcome to the forum Jim can't wait to see some of your rings.  Connie the workmanship and the labor you put in those rings is mind blowing.   You've got lots of patience and I'm sure you do too Jim.  Carving solid rings from stone looks like a challenge.

[Connie Liu]

Thanks all for the warm (hot actually) welcome. I am also wampidy on the RTH forum. Not hiding with the new name, just a little tired of wampidy. The ring tut is up somewhere on here. I am still trying to learn my way around.

connie liu - Those are some awesome rings. I have not found crystals with that much matrix on them. Are you gluing something to the bottom of the crystals before you make the rings? I am going to try gluing slabs of different materials together before I drill the rings to see what kind of effect I am going get. May even try gluing nephrite on both sides of agate or jasper so the nephrite will keep the hard stone from breaking so easy. I have also found that the really wide rings are very popular. Many women are stacking rings now so wide rings made from different materials may go over quite well.

Thanks again
Jim

Hi, Jim, for these nice amethyst drusy, it is very hard to get it.  It comes from amethyst geoge.  I can get 1 geoge suitable for these rings from 50 more geoges .  No, none is glued to the bottom during doing the rings.  Oh, glue nephrite on the both sides? In my brain, nephrite is a expensive stone, it is indeed not a economic way to glue nephrite on the bottom.  Acutally, hard bottom is not helpful to reduce the breakage at all.  It will make the breakage getting more often.  Please see my tips for drilling, try the tips and let me know if it is helpful for doing rings.  http://gemstone.smfforfree4.com/index.php/topic,10450.0.html

Meanwhile, what kind of wide rings do you mentioned?  Can you show some photos?  Thanks.

Welcome to the forum Jim can't wait to see some of your rings.  Connie the workmanship and the labor you put in those rings is mind blowing.   You've got lots of patience and I'm sure you do too Jim.  Carving solid rings from stone looks like a challenge.

Thanks, Helene, it is indeed need a good patience and peace heart to do the rings.  I chose the proper stone for rings, my partner Yang did the rings.  Only 1 people in our STUDIO old and smart enough to control the breakage in a low rate. 

[wyrock]

Thank you Connie but I did not have a problem with breakage when I was drilling. The people wearing the rings broke them in many ways. If they would hit the ring on something it would break very easily. That is why I changed to nephrite and jade. I pick the nephrite up off the ground so it is free. I have also traded with a few people for nephrite and jade.

I have started making rings that are 24mm to 32mm wide and the women like them very much. It is double drilling time but the nephrite drills quite easily. Much easier than agate or jasper and I have no breakage with them. I will take some photos and post them if I can get over being lazy. lol

Jim

[wyohikeit]

Howdy Neighbor  ---  Welcome here!


 These folks have alot to show us Wyoming guys. Since we live in Geologic wonderland we can show them some wonderful material too!

[39don]

Welcome Jim from South Carolina..................