New Hobby

[mdunc8]

I thought I'd spend some time playing with my rock collection that I accumulated during my 60-70 nights a year on the lower Yellowstone between 2008-13. I figured some of the folks from out in eastern Montana would appreciate them.

View attachment 66864







If you're questioning my manliness for delving into the world of jewelry making, the proceeds are being used to fund a trip up to Alaska. Also, I did this last week and didn't cry...

 

[nimrod1984]

At least the nail wasn't rusty!!! Awesome collection

 

[Big Slick]

Great idea!

 

[7mm08mo]

Neat stuff, I once shot my wife with a nail gun accidentally went all the way through her thumb to the head of the nail.

 

[RobG]

I just had a jeweler drill a moss agate for a present to my daughter. I would have gave the job to you if I had known. Do you shape and polish the stones too? or just tumble them.

 

[mdunc8]

I cut and shaped these before tossing them in a tumbler. I worked through a ton of rocks (I cut up everything but about a dozen of my favorites), so I didn't have time to polish them individually. I no longer have access to a rock saw or grinder, so my jewelry days will be over once I've worked through this batch. I probably won't ever collect enough to make it worth the effort or money to buy a saw and grinder. I can still drill holes through smaller pieces like the ones pictured here if you ever need some help. It's quick and easy, so I wouldn't ask for anything.

 

[mdunc8]

Neat stuff, I once shot my wife with a nail gun accidentally went all the way through her thumb to the head of the nail.

I'm guessing you still hear about that.

 

[LCH]

My oldest daughter is just getting into rock collecting and tumbling. I've found that it's a lot of fun.

 

[RUT JUNKEY]

Very nice. When I was younger my Mom and I spent countless hrs with the tumbler.

 

[JCS]

They look good. Nice job on the hand also.

 

[Nameless Range]

Those look great. Cool hobby.

 

[7mm08mo]

Yes more often than I'd like.

 

[Gut Shot]

I started off with a tumbler and a handful of gravel about 40 years ago. I do it full time now....be careful.

 

[mdunc8]

I started off with a tumbler and a handful of gravel about 40 years ago. I do it full time now....be careful.

Mind sharing some pictures of your stuff?

 

[Gut Shot]

Mind sharing some pictures of your stuff?

Sure,







Bunch more pics on my website, www.stilesjewelrydesign.com

 

[mdunc8]

Nice work! Can you cut garnets and sapphires?

 

[Gut Shot]

Nice work! Can you cut garnets and sapphires?

Can I? Yes. Do I want to? Not really.

I just don't have time to do lapidary work any more.

 

[Sytes]

Glad you added the picture of the nail otherwise... Haha!

Really cool items! One appears to have some form of a plant material within the rock (at the base)... That is pretty interesting!

 

[Gut Shot]

Glad you added the picture of the nail otherwise... Haha!

Really cool items! One appears to have some form of a plant material within the rock (at the base)... That is pretty interesting!

The stone is called Montana moss agate. The "plant material" is what gives it its name. Often people think that petrified plants were trapped in the quartz, but the "moss" in moss agate is actually an inclusion of dendritic feldspar. The feldspar crystallizes and the quartz agate grows around it.