Rough eggs on the outside Jeremy.

But the inside well and truly makes up for that.

Agree with Debbie.

I live in the state of Queensland ( 3 X as big as Texas) with a number of mineral rich provinces.

About to spend 2 weeks collecting in an iconic location, not all have that access. 

As an old bloke something has slowly sunk in. Nature can be beautiful.

Looks much like the brown Rain Forest Jasper from Mt Hay Queensland.

Actually Spherulitic Rhyolite which is associated with thunder eggs.   

Chysoprase has a uncomplicated clean feel about it, great to work with.

Lovely presentation.

Thanks for staying out of the KK comp, with your imagination the rest of us would have problems.

What you do is just too much for me.

Great cab Stonemon, we have our contest on the way.

Someone has to be first.

Talusmans challenge was too much of a temptation.

I selected 5 slabs sitting on my bench and got to work, one cab was a stand-out.
The others I will show latter.

The slab is one of two cut off the heel of a Moroccan agate that has been sitting around for a couple of years.

Preform.

The finished cab sitting on the mother agate.

And finally another of the cab size 35 x 45 mm.

Thanks for looking folks.
   

How about Agate Creek, North Queensland.

Just need the temperatures to drop as well as the water level in the Robertson river and Mecca will be accessible. 

Welcome Brian.

From just across the ditch in Cairns.

Sounds like we may have things to learn from you as well.

Rei, different brand and bottles, but it looks to be the same epoxy.

1 Gallon will do heaps. My kit is a quart and lasts some time.

Yellowing is not a problem indoors, I have a big specimen on a verandah in full sun that yellowed a little.

Hardness, No figure, but it is used for tables and bench tops.

Best of luck.   

I have only used the glass on flat services. It goes on liquid and if not level tends to run off the other side.

Part of the process is giving the surface a lick with a flame like a small gas torch. That breaks and gas bubbles.

Took this pic in the back yard this morning. Three slices of thunder egg from Agate Creek, have got felt on the back so they can be used as coasters.

Rei it might be time to look outside the normal square.

They say there is more than one way to skin a cat. I use a product known as liquid glass, a 2 pack epoxy.

It is used on bench tops and has a durable high gloss, glass like finish.

Only draw back so far is if left in the sun over time it may yellow a little.

Check out the local hardware store.

Polishing slabs can be boring work.

Got It.

The vertical line is curved the same as the blade.

Hope you have a grooving good time this new year. 

Allen.

The second picture shows the stone against the wood and the blade.
 
The groove is being cut but the stone can only be pushed onto the blade until it hits the step now protruding on the wooden guide. Depth of cut is set by the adjustment screws.
Just place the stone against the blade and gently turn.

I expect a sintered or smooth blade would give a better result than those that are notched.

Some material is better than others, but yesterday I did some bolder opal (congealed mud) for good results.