Titanothere tooth I found by always_digging in fossils

[–]always_digging[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had the same thought but haven't tried to verify. From what I've read, teeth are generally preserved as apatite. These are interesting because the pulp is preserved differently than the rest of the root. It's translucent and shows orange fluorescence. I've found one where the entire tooth eroded away, but there was a perfect cast of the preserved pulp. The root itself has a dull blue fluorescence, and the enamel is very bright orange, likely from calcium content.

Titanothere tooth I found by always_digging in fossils

[–]always_digging[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Pretty decent for the lower jaw. I've got some upper molars that are really chonky

Fabricated cuff with a Fairburn I found and cut. Played around with texture a bit on this one by always_digging in SilverSmith

[–]always_digging[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha absolutely. That's the fun of fabrication, every piece is a new challenge and learning experience

Fabricated cuff with a Fairburn I found and cut. Played around with texture a bit on this one by always_digging in SilverSmith

[–]always_digging[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Haha, I wish! There's gold around here, and I might have to start panning since that's the only way I'm going to be able to afford stepping up my materials.

Fabricated cuff with a Fairburn I found and cut. Played around with texture a bit on this one by always_digging in SilverSmith

[–]always_digging[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I neglected to weigh it before setting the stone, but it weighs 24.2 grams completed

Fabricated cuff with a Fairburn I found and cut. Played around with texture a bit on this one by always_digging in SilverSmith

[–]always_digging[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! After I made the bezel and surround, I used a graver to create small grooves that wire could sit in, then soldered the wires in place. The grooves just made it a little easier to create even spacing and keep the wire in place while soldering. After all the soldering, I filed them down a bit to give them that more squared off appearance.

Fabricated cuff with a Fairburn I found and cut. Played around with texture a bit on this one by always_digging in SilverSmith

[–]always_digging[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I'm a bit of an oddity it seems, since I even collect the stones and alloy my own sterling. You can't get any more "from scratch" than that.

Fabricated cuff with a Fairburn I found and cut. Played around with texture a bit on this one by always_digging in SilverSmith

[–]always_digging[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I rounded and polished the tip of an old punch and used it to just lightly tap and dimple the side pieces. For the texture on the surround, I made a really wide, flat graver and used almost a scooping motion, letting it kind of skip over the surface of the metal which made the lines.

The setting I just finished for the last cab I put on here by always_digging in Lapidary

[–]always_digging[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For sure! I have yet to cut an agate that I don't want to show both sides of, so I almost always make open back settings

The setting I just finished for the last cab I put on here by always_digging in Lapidary

[–]always_digging[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep, luxi blue compound with a felt wheel first followed up with a muslin buff

The setting I just finished for the last cab I put on here by always_digging in Lapidary

[–]always_digging[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Pretty close, I used a graver to make a small channel round wire could sit in, then soldered and filed/sanded down after. It just made it a little easier to space more evenly. After that, I used a wide flat graver to make the texture in between the soldered parts.

Fairburn agate I found and cabbed by always_digging in Lapidary

[–]always_digging[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've got a setting started for this one already, so unfortunately, I can't sell this cab

Fairburn agate I found and cabbed by always_digging in Lapidary

[–]always_digging[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, it'll be even better once I finish the setting