Killer Cab Contest entries for February 19-29

[mehoose]

Ooo you guys are making for a tough round to choose.

[ScarlettoSara]

Calls up Gene Simmons and Dolly Parton and Ron Gibbs as the new judges for the Cab Contest
Gene Simmons cause he knows how to rock
Dolly cause she knows about heart and soul
Ron cause he can see colors and patterns and textures the rest of us cant:)

Beautiful entries, a little overwhelming on the quality and finish.
This will be a difficult one to decide.

[3rdRockFromTheFun]

Here's my entry - it's a moss agate I grabbed in a rush as I had to be elsewhere and needed to make a weight limit on rough to get into the next buying tier. In cases like this it's okay to grab anything (including the door stop) because the drop in price/lb makes it, and a bit more, free. I was shocked when I got home and put it in water - holy snappin' arsels!  "Scooooreee..."



The upper right corner had a fracture so I grabbed it and it snapped right off - and made me a preform. ("Scooooreee...")



I'm so sorry but I didn't think to snap a picture of the formed preform until the upper third of it snapped off while shaping. As you'll see by the finished photo's it's a bit!

Update: Explaination == I used an Ameritool lap I recently got - very portable - wasn't at my place while doing the form and pre-polish - oops...

Here's the obverse (note the USB plug - I left it in the photo for size ref)



And here's the reverse



Sorry about the reflection - I did, seriously, spend like an hour trying to get a photo of it without. And it's definitely no show-off polish as you can see it has a bit of what looks like orange peel. I experience this every time I try to work with any kind of moss agate - it begins right in the middle of the pre-polish phase and on very close inspection I can see it's the moss/impurity filaments themselves cutting at a different rate than the surrounding agate. Any advice - or is this just something you have to put up with when rounding moss agates? 

Thanks!

Update 2: Pics should be correct now... 

[3rdRockFromTheFun]

Wow Mick! I'm ashamed to say I would have tossed that rock back - boy do I have a lot to learn, look at the colors you got! 

[ScarlettoSara]

Frank it is a wonderful mossy rock:)
I can see some depth to the cab and I always love red rocks:)
Your enthusiasm makes me wanna compete:)

[asianfire]

Wonderful eye-candy, love th strong color and finish.

OK, now then Sara; is that a promise to see you at the next contest? 
Looking forward to it. 

[hulagrub]

Frank, I really like it! Sometimes, when I get that sort orange peel effect, I'll back up one grit, and then just lightly start working the cab again. I believe someone just mentioned hand sanding, starting with 600 wet/dry sand paper. Just make sure, you do it wet, potentially hazardous dust in every rock!

[tntmom]

Rodney, Very nice!
Don, Shinetastic!
Mike, Awesome Stone Canyon!
Mick, Pretty!  Wish I could find material like that on my property!
Frank, Beautiful moss!

Sooo many entries this time, I'm so excited!!!!

[3rdRockFromTheFun]

Hey thanks friends - yes, this is some amazing moss - browns, tans, reds, oranges, yellows, greens, banding and mixed in with wonderful blue agate that spouts a tiny fort here and there! That piece in the dish is a heel - about an inch thick in some parts!

Sara - I'm with the Kurt man, you should join in!

Dave - I did back up on the pre three times (even tried a 600grit diamond flat file) but I did not sandpaper - thanks, I'll give it a go next time I do moss!

And ya Krystee, I was thinking the same of Mick's piece - I'd love finding that in my yard!

[mehoose]

Waiting patiently to cast my vote. ;)

[asianfire]

Waiting patiently to cast my vote. ;)

What are you talking about???? 

We are still waiting for you to finally bring in YOUR entry! 

[mehoose]

LOL, it's the second over here and my fingers are itchin to choose one ;)

I'm not cutting at the mo so I won't say hold yer breath....maybe I should.. cos by the time I'm back into it you'll all have passed out and I'll win hands down! 

[hulagrub]

Am sorry to have not participated the last couple of contests. All the entries are so good!

[NuevoMundo]

Lol, alright, alright gents. I will get to posting the poll in a minute here. I will also post the new contest thread, of which Mehoose is duty-bound to be the first entrant