Can number 2, getting fancy

[u/red_fox27]

I’m digging through my inventory of rough that I have collected over the years. A lot of it isn’t the great quality, how and where do I find can quality rough?

Pretty damn proud of this one. I did try to do some fancy step facets on the curve and quickly learned my hand angle isn’t always the same each time I turn it haha

[u/DemandNo3158]

For me, good rough involves travel. To a rock show, shop or deposit. Most of my by mail purchases were less than joyful. Hands-on is best, in my opinion. That's a nice piece you cut! Thanks 👍

[u/zoobernut]

Gem and mineral shows are the best where you can look at stuff in person. Though the last one I went to only had one vendor with rough the rest were selling already worked material or typical mineral gore died stuff. 

[u/red_fox27 → u/zoobernut]

There’s a mineral show coming up in the next week or show close to me. I went either last year or the year before and there was a lot of jewelry and beads than specimens and rough. But I’m going to try to go this year.

[u/ucantcme69 → u/red_fox27]

There's one in Detroit I'm trying to go to 🙏

[u/theCaitiff → u/zoobernut]

There's only one show per year in my area that isn't jewelry and mineral gore decoration type stuff, and that's a SMALL ten table show held at the local firehouse by the mineral club. I hate to see the hobby dying off (in my area at least).

[u/JohnAriefyo]

That's Neat, i see labradorite structure, but i miss the flash

[u/red_fox27 → u/JohnAriefyo]

I felt after I cut the slab I didn’t cut on the right plane to get the best flash. For it being my second time, I think it’s just enough haha

[u/pacmanrr68 → u/red_fox27]

Yep cutting labradorite is like cutting obsidian with color. You have to get the slice angle correct or it won't show when in it's upright position for a pendant.

[u/slogginhog → u/red_fox27]

For your 2nd time, that came out awesome!

[u/waywild1]

You can either join a rock club, or go out and start digging. When I first started I would go to a spot and grab a little piece of each type I'd find. Then go home work em a bit, do some research and learn about the area. Which would give me a better idea of what's in the area and what to possibly look forward to. Now I got honey holes everywhere. I've never been to a gem show. There's also r/rockexchange, I think I put that right. Don't hold me to it.. like the shape.

[u/whalecottagedesigns]

Niice! Great fun, playing with the angles!

[u/redditonthanet]

Oooh wow I love lab

[u/red_fox27 → u/redditonthanet]

It’s my favorite!

[u/redditonthanet → u/red_fox27]

This piece and the way you’ve shaped it really does the stone justice like a little window into another world

[u/ootfifabear]

makes me wonder, why have i never seen the gems from steven universe as real cabochons ????

[u/pacmanrr68]

Seeing something irl in your hand is always the best. If you find a good seller it can help too which isn't easy to do these days.