Thread: Dans Primitive Cut Arkansas 14"x4"

And now...back to you Aaron

Glass bead that sucker in a piece of wood. Or just just use some gorilla glue, it expands and fills in all things plus don’t let go.

Did you deal any with Dan or just the son,? I’m curious if he’s still alive, last time I was there was over 6 years ago, interesting man, will talk your head off

Plus in the yard he had a big old translucent rock that would make my f250 squat

I just dealt with the son Steve-he runs things now if I understand correctly.

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Thanks, Marty-The guys at Dan's flattened it far beyond what I could ever hope to do. As for finishing, on this one only, I went up the grits with sandpaper starting at 600 in a vibrating sander on a wet surface, which worked far better than I anticipated. The key was just to keep it moving around fast, cover all areas evenly, and work the radiuses some more.

I'm probably gonna burnish it a bit with some hard chef's knives today before I put more razors on it. Still thinking about my propping up/stabilizing options. I even thought about making some kind of form, filling it with an appropriate depth of some kind of silicone if I could find some kind thin enough, then slice away excess when it's set, then paint it black.

Set it face down on a level surface, wrap it with tape, you want the tape wide enough to make the proper depth you want the base to be.
Run a light coat of Crisco, or something similar around the exposed inside of the tape form with your finger, and pour in a 2 part epoxy.
The Epoxy will finds its own level. Voila, nice level base.
All you need to do after it’s set is trim the edges with a bastard file, if that.
Because of the large area. You shouldn’t use a five minute epoxy. It will start heating up and set up too quick. You want to give yourself enough time to properly mix the epoxy, and pour it. A 30 minutes set time should be OK, but you will still have to work quick. Larger and thicker amounts of epoxy set quicker than a thin layer.
Good luck with the project whatever you decide.

Originally Posted by Sl8r

Set it face down on a level surface, wrap it with tape, you want the tape wide enough to make the proper depth you want the base to be.
Run a light coat of Crisco, or something similar around the exposed inside of the tape form with your finger, and pour in a 2 part epoxy.
The Epoxy will finds its own level. Voila, nice level base.
All you need to do after it’s set is trim the edges with a bastard file, if that.
Because of the large area. You shouldn’t use a five minute epoxy. It will start heating up and set up too quick. You want to give yourself enough time to properly mix the epoxy, and pour it. A 30 minutes set time should be OK, but you will still have to work quick. Larger and thicker amounts of epoxy set quicker than a thin layer.
Good luck with the project whatever you decide.

I prefer the custom fit wooden box idea but this is a good one also.

I think a box would be cool also. You could cut the bottom at a corresponding angle to the stone if it is straight and even in that plain. I've always liked the stones made into a box with a lid. You could even make a tag to go on one end or on the top with information about the stone. I'm sure you'll think of something fitting though whatever it is. Love that great big thing.

Originally Posted by 32t

I prefer the custom fit wooden box idea but this is a good one also.

^^^
I like the idea of a custom box too, but you still want the stone to be level. I don't mind my beautiful translucent amber base being under a killer stone in a lovely wooden box.
And it would make it easier to build the box.

Making boxes for Arks, Summer 2019. Scale in feet.

Dan is in his eighties. He still works long days as mining engineer, black powder (not destructive dynamite) explosives officer (for quarry rock), heavy equipment operator, family peacemaker ... and steps in to operate and repair anything.
Steve, like Michelangelo, is the artist who releases the beauty of the stone from the raw rock. He has a real talent. He also fires novaculite and is an expert flint knapper.
Sterlin runs the finishing department and drives everyone crazy because of his high standards for square, flat and parallel.
Kim patiently and politely deals with our picky demands.
Shipping the right products, safely, is another important department, run by Dan's daughter.
All the employees are treated like family members, so they have been there a long time.

What is, firing novaculite?