Here is a sphere that a friend of mine had made from fused quartz. It is 18-1/2" in diameter and weighs about 275 lbs. We were working on having it to display at our show last week but we couldn't get anyone to insure it.
Bob
 

This is a very useful and valuable tool set for jewelry making especially the anvil/bench pin and ring mandrel holder. It is an older two piece unit. Newer versions have the anvil and ring holder as a single unit. These newer ones are about $30 without the bracelet mandrel. We are going to buy a bunch of these for our classroom because they are so universal and useful. A company called Coffey used to make them but it is out of business. They can be found at Seattle Findings.
Bob

It could be Belvadee aka Belvade aka Belvadere Jasper from the colors shown.
Bob

The Mother Lode Mineral Society is having our 50th annual show this upcoming weekend in Turlock, California. We have dinosaur lectures, fluorescent displays, multiple children's activities, geode cutting, rock sale, wheels of fortune, over 40 dealers, a megalodon jaws display, bracelet making, soapstone carving, 20 demonstrators including faceting, lapidary, fused glass, sphere making and bead stringing. The show is one of the best in California with our attendance including  about 3200 children and 4500 adults. It's a great show! Hope to see you there!
Bob
 

And Renaissance wax is expensive! I use it on a brass goblet to keep finger prints from corroding the metal.
Bob

And this one was labeled Starburst Obsidian
Bob

I searched through my slab pile and found this one. It was labeled Starburst Jasper.
Bob

 

I go to a local plastics store and get a small plastic box with a black base. I then put the opal in the bottom and cover it with water. As I take the photo I make sure that the lighting doesn't reflect off the surface of the water.
Bob

I've seen it called "Starburst Jasper".
Bob

You might want to try not using anything and just have a bright light over the machine and look at the reflection to see where it needs more sanding. That is how I do it.
Bob

I'm not sure. I'm going to the shop on Friday and I will check. It may not be marked.
Bob

Here is a photo that I took recently with my standard setup. The plastic device I mentiuned in addition to tilting the cab toward the camera lens it lifts up from the background so it looks like it is floating in mid air.
Bob
 http://s151.photobucket.com/user/Rocksbob/media/New%20Photos/Brazilain%2056_zpsxz4aopnt.jpg.html

I always thought Tiger Eye was made of tigers with the black stripes being softer than the yellow ones, or am I wrong?
Bob

The throttle valve has to be opened and closed for each slab. As the carriage is cranked back the valve has to be open and in order to hold the carriage in the back position the valve needs to be closed. The cross feed is turned to move the rock over for the new cut and the throttle valve is opened slightly to slowly bring the rock against the blade. After it makes contact the valve is opened further to control the speed. This all has to occur because the weight is constantly hanging on the carriage thus the throttle valve is constantly being operated and I suspect that the needle has a groove worn on it where it makes contact with the valve seat thus distorting the even flow of oil through it. The hydraulic cylinder moves very smoothly so I don't suspect that it is binding or such.
Bob

I don't use a macro lens. I have a small table setup with two 100 watt photoflood lights. I made a small plastic device that has a small flat surface tilting forward to hold the cab facing the lens. I hand hold the camera about 8" to 10" away and let the camera do the focusing, speed and aperture settings take the photo. Turn off the flash so you don't get a hot spot on the cab. I download the photos to Windows Live Photo Gallery and use the crop feature to bring it up close. I also print out a photo gradient to use a a background that doesn't compete with the cab image. I can post some photos of my setup if you want. I use a Canon EOS  Rebel XT.
Bob