I know this is an older video but I recently rediscovered rocks again. I live in Texas and in between 2 creeks. I love to go down to the creek and just walk. My boyfriend noticed shards of petrified wood everywhere. Next thing you know we have buckets. I then started noticing all the cool rocks. Now I have the saw and dremel and want to get more stuff. But I don’t want to jump a head of myself. It’s nice to see what you can do with some elbow grease. I like how you show everything and really appreciate all the videos you make. I watched one recently where you where cutting agates for people. I thought that was great. I ready loved how you saw the beauty in all of them and just make it a great experience for everyone watching and involved. I find it fun. I love learning, I love nature, I love art. Life gets hard and crazy and I enjoy just getting out side. And remembering to look at what’s all around us and see the beauty in it. It helps me appreciate everything and it’s therapeutic to me. I work so much and can’t be on my phone at work due to my responsibilities associated with my job. When I do get a chance to learn I seen to always come back to your videos. So thank you for all you do. Thank you for helping others and sharing so much. I’m glad I came across you, you inspire me to do better, learn more and forget about being a protectionist all they time. Just see the beauty in it all and have fun more then anything. Thank you again
Hello Taylor! My name's Jim. (introduction) I usually don't comment, as I'm an obscure, semi-recent addition to the geology enthusiast community, but haven't posted any of my own videos yet. I've just started looking for the majestic Lake Superior Agate as of late 2018, but didn't find anything more than odd looking beach rocks until mid 2019. I just wanted to let you know that I'm watching your videos regularly, but unfortunately I am not yet a subscriber to anyone's channel. However, I do appreciate your uploads, and very much enjoy your dedication to the art of finding and exposing these semi-precious stones! So far, between you, Mncat, and the Michigan Rocks guy, I can't wait until the Spring thaw, so I can get back out looking for them again! Thanks and good luck in 2020!
Oh thank you so much Jim! I appreciate you watching and commenting, glad to have the chance to talk with you! Well you have more experience than me, I started in mid 2019! It's been such an amazing journey through all of this, glad I can share it with you good folks! I cant wait for the thaw too, admittedly, I cant stop hounding haha my last hunt i went on (thursdays video) was 6F out! 🥶 finding ways to keep going helps winter fly by!
@@AgateDad You've convinced me! I'm officially addicted to agates now. :P And your 849th subscriber! You'll hit 1k soon! (The brown one's my favorite of the three) And your intro's funny! lol
@@Perfectionseeker1967 I'm glad you can be apart of the agate addiction club, meetings are once a week on thursday morning lol bring a friend! Thanks for subbing, really appreciate it Jim!
@@AgateDad With little to find outside due to all the recent snow, I've decided to try to post my own video! Please take a look and tell me what you think. "Dane County, WI. (chert?) #1". (Please enable CC as I didn't talk, I typed my commentary.) It was my 1st real attempt at making a video! Thanks again for all your insight and help in finding LSAs! I'll be making my own video/s on those sometime soon!
I carved and polished a 1st place AGTA spectrum award winning piece in the carbon category in 2011 with a dremel, harbor freight diamond bits and mounted wood points and diamond compound I made myself. People need to know this can be done. Good post.
Thanks Kate! It has worked out really well...pun not intended lol appreciate you watching! You upload too often by the way (not really lol) I can't keep up!!!
@@AgateDad I am a bit obsessive about it, I think - I try to film a bunch to have one "in the can," but every time I finish it I have to post it! So yeah - there's that. But the temps are supposed to drop to -15 here this week, so I definitely won't be out wading. Keep up the good work!
They are all beautiful. Use some thin ca for the crack. You can polish out the excess and use a thick ca for the divits. I use star bond. There are some videos on how to do it. You did a great job. Remember you can use a dop stick on small stones to hold it better. Put your cerium on, put it in the jar, start it up and the excess stays in the jar. Keep the fun coming! 😷⚒
@@MariaWalker-qo3vi cerum is cerium oxide a fine powder you mix with a touch of water as a final polish. CA is cyanoacrylate or super glue. You can fill cracks with it and it will polish. A dop stick you use to glue a small dowel or metal rod or nail to a stone. It gives you something to hang on to while you work the stone. You can also use wax called dop wax to affix the stone to a handle also. Hope this helps.🤗
I love the last one. The 3D depth of those bands, come on... Taylor these are beauties all! Thank you so much for sharing them with us! Can't wait to see the next adventure!
I didn’t have as much time as I usually like to spend on new videos new creators. I only had a chance to quickly watch this video and wanted to say thank you because I learn more in 20 minutes then I learned in 2 weeks so thank you- creators whose name I don’t even know yet!!!
Taylor, your progress has been fun to watch. Another great video! I'm undecided regarding my favorite. Have you considered putting a drop of warm clear mineral oil on a Q-tip and applying it to the fracture on the face of the brown one? Just touch the fracture with the oiled Q-tip, then a quick wipe up and set the agate down so that gravity can the bleed the oil into the fracture, then check and repeat if needed. The oil coats the crack between the rock and the chip and the fracture almost completely vanishes. I've done this with LSA's before and have gotten great results consistently. Good Luck, Have Fun and Keep on Houndin' Steve
Wow what a difference that makes! I used to go to the beach when I was younger and find agates and think they were dull but i really passed up some treasures. Now that I'm getting into rockhounding I really want to try this. Thanks so much for showing all the stages, makes me really appreciate it more.
I know this vid is pretty much 2 years old now, so I have no idea if you've tried this or not yet, but a good method for the cerium oxide is make your slurry in a little container you can seal tight, it stores well if it doesn't dry out, and paint it on to the surface you are doing and just dampen your buffing wheel and go. Fun to watch, thanks for making it.
Hey Taylor!! Your videos are so much fun to watch. Thanks for being an inspiration and creating such cool content! Agate hunting certainly becomes an obsession quite quickly lol. Would you be willing to do a video or share with us the steps and tools you use with the dremel for polishing small finds? Your process turns out so beautifully.
Hi.! I'm from NORTHUMBERLAND (SE) in the UK. I've always been interested in subjects like Astronomy and Geology, especially rocks, crystals, minerals. A couple of years ago I found myself in a position where I could devote more time to them. Therefore i feel I can give you this advice on your polishing....I wouldn't even put a towel down on your board. It's better to have a flat, hard surface to place your wet n dry paper to get an even plain. I can't afford any rotary tools just yet so I've been faceting and polishing by hand. The end result is worth the effort, regardless of the type of stone. They are all beautiful...Ha! my family think I'm weird when they see me lick a rock. I've tried to show them the fundamental beauty, especially the dendritic/moss. Anyhoo! I enjoy your uploads. Nice work.
Haha you are saying exactly what my thoughts were, I started working with the towel and then realized with those flat surfaces, I didn't need it, my last polished stone had curves so the towel helped out a lot, but I didnt need it with these! And I can relate with people not understanding the passion with these hobbies lol I'm just glad we can share in its beauty together!
🤝👍👍👍 My friend, You are making great progress. Soon you will understand what you will need to apply in the technique. We in Russia say so "in work you will reach"! All three stones turned out very well. The ones where the cracks are visible should have been removed more. Well, it's not terrible, the cracks can be healed.
Thanks for watching, and the practice on these helped out very much, I think next time, I should limit to one stone, then I can take more time on it and work out any fractures!
@@AgateDad 🤝 You're already good at grinding. A simple way to heal a crack in the rock. You need to heat the stone so that it does not burn your hand, then anoint the cracks with wax.Then wipe with a tissue.
I live in Phoenix and enjoyed the Fire Agate video. I was out there a couple of weeks ago in 110º temperatures and even though I have lived here for 35 years it was really hot. 2 gals of water for 3 hours. If anyone goes out there on purpose during the Summer they need to have a strong constitution and three times as much water as they think they do.
I’ve never met an Agate I didn’t like. That being conveyed, the “brown” agate has excellent contrast. Great work Agate Dad! On that note, my girlfriend and I hunt agates in the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan and since the agates in this region are already “water-washed,” the banding and colors already pop.
Wow, so beautiful. Those bandings are gorgeous! Thank you for taking us through all the stages of sanding and polishing. You are such an effective teacher, and you inspire me to move beyond my insane rock collecting, and to start cutting and polishing! Thank you! :) LeeAnn
For final polish I use the dust which comes off my cutting wheel to polish. I separate the different grit sizes by putting them in water and fractionally siphoning them off as they fall out. This is free polishing grit that works rather well all things considered. Not exactly Cerium oxide but effective none the least.
Fantastic Taylor, you will go far. The depth of the banding on the brown one is just so beautiful. All are very nic, you did a great job.Keep up the good work.
helpful tip: 1. Take an ensure lid punch hole in center. attach sandpaper with carpet tape. use disk shaft 2 attach 2 flex shaft and wirks like mini flat lap .ce carpet tape to the sanding flat disk then attach sandpaper
very nice set up nice idea and very safe working conditions. would you recommend using light gloves? I would like to ask you is that a dremel accessory part? I want to start cutting quartz and agates just like you have it set up i love it. But i have not bought the dremel yet, i am still sanding by hand. how long does the diamond bit last , how many stones can you polish with that one bit? also would you recommend the diamond wheel cutting tool for cutting and does that last long? the dremel bits are quite expensive especially the diamond. that is why i am asking because i see some cheap alternatives, much cheaper and i dont want to buy cheap stuff if it is a waste of money in the long run. by the way why dont you use the dremel sanding bit or wrap the sanding paper round the bit to do the final sanding polish maybe much quicker or not? thanks man.
Thanks Larry! It's so hard to choose, my eyes go to the brown one first, but the white has so much depth to it, and the red one is just so unique! That would be crazy if it got that high! Cant even imagine it happening haha
when working on the sandpaper on a flat surface work in a figure 8. Also if you got some diamond cut off wheels it would help keep the windowed portions you are working on more flat I would think since you are playing with small agates.
I’m from Northern MN and have a HUGE agate the size of a baseball maybe bigger. I’m just starting out with agates and my dremel so I could really, really use some pointers and advice. Thank you!
I'll keep that in mind if I make another dremel polishing video! The kind of attachments I use are on my amazon storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/agatedad
I seriously need to learn closeup photography from you. Great video brother! Not sure I can pick amongst them as they are all really nice. Love the way you walked us through it 👍
I'd agree with some others comments...your set tub, grinder area is very ingenious, bravo on that one. Might copy it, if you haven't got a patent, haha
My favorite is the brown. Is there some way I can post to you pics of the 2 Lake Superior States I took out of my tumbler yesterday after polish? Except for removing the "skin"and deeper flaws first, I do a 4 stage tumble with 80, 220, 600, and 1000 grit, then tumble with tin oxide. Love your videos. Keep up the good work!
Haha I love the idea of the tumbler, and what it produces is mind blowing 🤯 its just the time it takes to produce, I think down the road that would be something i would get though!
Definitely think he needs a good tumbler, for the material he's finding I think either a 1 x 3lb or 2 x 3lb barrels would be perfect. TBH, it's been so many years since a tumbler wasn't running somewhere in my house, I think I wouldn't be able to sleep at night without the sound of the rocks rolling around in the barrel. Doh! 🤦♂️ Also, tumbling recommendation if I may....If you get a larger specimen and would like to tumble but not cut, try putting 1 big chunk in with a bunch of very small stuff of similar hardness that's borderline quality, if done right, it'll turn the one big one into rock candy!!! 😜🎁 Also, along the lines of new equipment youtube videos etc....am a Big believer in crowd sourcing, its the new age barn raising of days old. Folks used to gather as a whole community and pitch in materials and labor in a day or two put up a neighbors whole barn. Now through crowdfunding etc, we can accomplish similar feats with folks spread farther apart yet still part of a shared community! To watch folks like AD and Rookie's channels grow I think it'd be cool to help in that process by sending them to places far and wide to hunt cool stuff with other nerdy tubers who for one reason or another cannot travel by plane. (like that show Anthony Bourdain RIP used to have Parts Unknown) Then get dual video posts on RUclips of the hunt or lapidary work etc and see multiple perspectives of our shared passion for cool places, people and beautiful magical pieces of earth material to enjoy!
@@AgateDad If you're game, I'd gladly do a collab with you. You could collect agates and rough shape them with your Dremel. Mail them to me. I'll tumble them, and mail them back. It would be cool to see how they come out. My email is on my channel info if you're interested. Might be fun!
That box! Safety and mess containment! Did you make that? Plastic with a hinge? The opening credits are still on, I'll maybe see my questions answered when I watch the whole thing
That was fun to watch. Enjoyed much. Your agates turned out very nice. So nice of you to offer a jar of agates for when you reach 1000 subs ! Should be there soon, great videos :)
unfortunately, probably not. Up on the north shore of Superior, the last glaciers bulldozed to/through the agate-bearing basalt, exposing it nicely to begin weathering the agates out onto the beaches. Where those glaciers terminated (close to where Agate Dad is), you find agates in the rivers and beaches (and eskers and moraines particularly). But down there where you are, it was the Champlain Sea, so you ended up accumulating thick lacustrine/marine sediments, which would have buried any agate bearing basalt (if it's even there, which I'm not sure).
Great video! I love that you have posted videos while you learn. It helps me remember that learning is a process and you don't have to be an absolute expert straight away. I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos as I learn how to polish stones without a lap machine. Also, I have limited space and would love to learn how you created your setup. Do you have a video that goes over that? Thank you again!
My favorite one is definitely the one u called brown! U r inspiring me to start exploring w polishing. I have been affraid to waste my beautiful rocks! LOL
Hi Agate Dad; l recommend that you ditch the dremel and make yourself a flat lap . The flat lap will save thousands of hours of hard labor over the years and is worth every penny. The agates are so beautiful. l enjoy all your videos.
Yeah im definitely going to be doing something to change my polishing ways, the dremel was a good intro into lapidary, ill still use it down the road though.
Aw man! Do I have to choose a favorite? I might hurt their feelings. I mean...the white one is just mwah👌 but I truly love them all!😍 You're doing a great job Taylor.😎🐾
Hey AD, thanks for the content post sir! Really appreciate the hard work you are putting into creating, editing and posting fresh video for us nerdy rock hungry tubers to peruse in our free time! 👍 I myself find the process to be very cathartic and relaxing but as time has gone on find that I can get pretty critical of the finished product sometimes and grind, then re-grind and sometimes grind again before am satisfied with the next step. Your passion for not only the hunt, but exposing the inner beauty (heart) of the stone is obvious and hope you find many years of joy pursuing this wonderful hobby. 😎 Also, boy sure do love colorful banded agates you find up around the lakes up there, beautiful stuff my friend. PS..ime small and large circles/semicircles seem to work best so grooves aren't created making removing them in the next stage harder. Also, if you can adhere the stone to a longer implement than your fingers, it'll make the process easier. (think dop stick's and wax) And for polish, a super wise man told me a long time ago that a very little polish goes a long, long way. He is 4th generation owner of a few mines and has literally found, cut and polished millions of tons of rock and really knows his stuff, he's kinda the SME I choose to ask the serious rock questions of. Sorry haven't responded much lately, been dealing with some health issues but am hopeful I've turned a corner and it's all good things going forward. ✔ Look forward to your next post, have an awesome week!
Thanks so much for watching man! Hope all is truly on the mend with the health, and that it's not too serious! Appreciate the great feedback and tips on polishing, I'm finding I spend more time on each stone so that it is better than the last! So much fun being able to turn these rough pieces into beautiful specimens!
Rob from Michigan Rocks sent me. I almost had to leave, no bachelor for me either. Haha. Make her some pretty things. Okay off to watch the vlog and learn things.
Taylor now this is something I would do. But unfortunately, I live in an apartment and don't have access to a garage or a lapidary cave....lol but fortunately next year my husband and I are purchasing a new house.
Howdy and thanks for sharing these great videos. I’ve recently taken up rockhounding after retiring in Idaho. “Target rich environment.” I’ve been out with a local club a few times recently and done some solo trips. I just got a Dremel and am trying to figure out how to use it to cut and polish my finds. One question I had was how to dovetail tumbling in with the Dremel and sandpaper. Wouldn’t it be easier after a certain point of shaping and polishing to transition to tumbling? Just trying to understand options. And thanks again!
I am so jealous of you! Congrats on retirement, that's something I really look forward to! And I didn't have a tumbler at this point, only only dremel.
Its home made, look for the video with the picture/thumbnail that says "UNDER $100" and then check out mt amazon storefront www.amazon.com/shop/agatedad - and all the supplies should be on there 👍👍 let me know if you have any questions
Lol, funny intro. Sweet sink with a water drip. Did you make that? That's nice, gives me good ideas, instead of spraying my face. Good tips, nice agates. Thank you!
Thanks for watching! Don't forget to subscribe to suppour the channel ruclips.net/user/agatedad
Favorites??!! That's why my shop is full of rocks, they all are favorites... Hahaha Thumbs up.. Enjoy your videos..
This would be a great video to share on my site on F/B.. It would help a lot of hounders out with teaching.... Thumbs up
@@michaelvandyke haha that's how it's getting for me! Gotta give some away!!
How do you do the first part with the Dremel what tools what bits do you use
I know this is an older video but I recently rediscovered rocks again. I live in Texas and in between 2 creeks. I love to go down to the creek and just walk. My boyfriend noticed shards of petrified wood everywhere. Next thing you know we have buckets. I then started noticing all the cool rocks.
Now I have the saw and dremel and want to get more stuff. But I don’t want to jump a head of myself. It’s nice to see what you can do with some elbow grease.
I like how you show everything and really appreciate all the videos you make. I watched one recently where you where cutting agates for people.
I thought that was great. I ready loved how you saw the beauty in all of them and just make it a great experience for everyone watching and involved.
I find it fun. I love learning, I love nature, I love art. Life gets hard and crazy and I enjoy just getting out side.
And remembering to look at what’s all around us and see the beauty in it. It helps me appreciate everything and it’s therapeutic to me.
I work so much and can’t be on my phone at work due to my responsibilities associated with my job. When I do get a chance to learn I seen to always come back to your videos.
So thank you for all you do. Thank you for helping others and sharing so much.
I’m glad I came across you, you inspire me to do better, learn more and forget about being a protectionist all they time. Just see the beauty in it all and have fun more then anything.
Thank you again
Oh your sink blast cabinet idea is AWESOME! Damn I've built a few but this is Brilliant
Thank you!
Would love to see a video where you chat about your Dremel station shown in the video. Looks great.
Already wanna know if you have a video on how to make that sanding chamber; love it and you have such great lighting imo...
Hello Taylor! My name's Jim. (introduction) I usually don't comment, as I'm an obscure, semi-recent addition to the geology enthusiast community, but haven't posted any of my own videos yet. I've just started looking for the majestic Lake Superior Agate as of late 2018, but didn't find anything more than odd looking beach rocks until mid 2019. I just wanted to let you know that I'm watching your videos regularly, but unfortunately I am not yet a subscriber to anyone's channel. However, I do appreciate your uploads, and very much enjoy your dedication to the art of finding and exposing these semi-precious stones! So far, between you, Mncat, and the Michigan Rocks guy, I can't wait until the Spring thaw, so I can get back out looking for them again! Thanks and good luck in 2020!
Oh thank you so much Jim! I appreciate you watching and commenting, glad to have the chance to talk with you! Well you have more experience than me, I started in mid 2019! It's been such an amazing journey through all of this, glad I can share it with you good folks! I cant wait for the thaw too, admittedly, I cant stop hounding haha my last hunt i went on (thursdays video) was 6F out! 🥶 finding ways to keep going helps winter fly by!
@@AgateDad You've convinced me! I'm officially addicted to agates now. :P And your 849th subscriber! You'll hit 1k soon! (The brown one's my favorite of the three) And your intro's funny! lol
@@Perfectionseeker1967 I'm glad you can be apart of the agate addiction club, meetings are once a week on thursday morning lol bring a friend! Thanks for subbing, really appreciate it Jim!
@@Perfectionseeker1967 glad you liked the intro too! We had a laugh at it lol
@@AgateDad With little to find outside due to all the recent snow, I've decided to try to post my own video! Please take a look and tell me what you think. "Dane County, WI. (chert?) #1". (Please enable CC as I didn't talk, I typed my commentary.) It was my 1st real attempt at making a video! Thanks again for all your insight and help in finding LSAs! I'll be making my own video/s on those sometime soon!
I carved and polished a 1st place AGTA spectrum award winning piece in the carbon category in 2011 with a dremel, harbor freight diamond bits and mounted wood points and diamond compound I made myself. People need to know this can be done. Good post.
Those turned out way better than your first one. You'll be a pro in no time. I agree with you that the brown one is the best.
Thanks Rob 👍👍 hopefully, practice makes perfect!
Wow, AD, beautiful stuff! I really like your indoor filming setup - so bright and clear. Nice job. :)
Thanks Kate! It has worked out really well...pun not intended lol appreciate you watching! You upload too often by the way (not really lol) I can't keep up!!!
@@AgateDad I am a bit obsessive about it, I think - I try to film a bunch to have one "in the can," but every time I finish it I have to post it! So yeah - there's that. But the temps are supposed to drop to -15 here this week, so I definitely won't be out wading. Keep up the good work!
@@KatyDidRocks oof that sounds rough! I'm just hoping it stays above 10.. makes things more difficult but manageable.
Loved the brown one. Especially loved the details that became enhanced as u went up in the grit on the sandpaper. Awesome.
It's really fun seeing the subtle changes first hand, it's fun seeing the before and after too, such a big change! Thanks so much for watching!
They are all beautiful. Use some thin ca for the crack. You can polish out the excess and use a thick ca for the divits. I use star bond. There are some videos on how to do it. You did a great job. Remember you can use a dop stick on small stones to hold it better. Put your cerium on, put it in the jar, start it up and the excess stays in the jar. Keep the fun coming! 😷⚒
Total newbie here. Like brand spanking newbie. What’s cerium? What’s ca? What do you glue the rock to the door stick with?
@@MariaWalker-qo3vi cerum is cerium oxide a fine powder you mix with a touch of water as a final polish. CA is cyanoacrylate or super glue. You can fill cracks with it and it will polish. A dop stick you use to glue a small dowel or metal rod or nail to a stone. It gives you something to hang on to while you work the stone. You can also use wax called dop wax to affix the stone to a handle also. Hope this helps.🤗
Excellent! The banding on the third one looks like a flame. Sooo sick!!!
It does doesn't it!
I love the last one. The 3D depth of those bands, come on... Taylor these are beauties all! Thank you so much for sharing them with us! Can't wait to see the next adventure!
I called it the 3rd on but I guess it would be the brown one! Its breathtaking!
I think the brown ones my favorite too, thanks so much for watching 😁👍 cant wait to share it with you all!
I didn’t have as much time as I usually like to spend on new videos new creators. I only had a chance to quickly watch this video and wanted to say thank you because I learn more in 20 minutes then I learned in 2 weeks so thank you- creators whose name I don’t even know yet!!!
Taylor, your progress has been fun to watch. Another great video! I'm undecided regarding my favorite.
Have you considered putting a drop of warm clear mineral oil on a Q-tip and applying it to the fracture on the face of the brown one? Just touch the fracture with the oiled Q-tip, then a quick wipe up and set the agate down so that gravity can the bleed the oil into the fracture, then check and repeat if needed. The oil coats the crack between the rock and the chip and the fracture almost completely vanishes. I've done this with LSA's before and have gotten great results consistently.
Good Luck, Have Fun and Keep on Houndin'
Steve
I am going to try that, I have mineral oil and q tips, so I'm set haha thank you so much for that awesome tip!!!
Cool tip! I have a couple of small labradorite hexagons that have small fractures. I'm going to try this. Thanks!
Wow what a difference that makes! I used to go to the beach when I was younger and find agates and think they were dull but i really passed up some treasures. Now that I'm getting into rockhounding I really want to try this. Thanks so much for showing all the stages, makes me really appreciate it more.
I believe I have had the same scenario lately lol I've found a few big ones and look back and think..crap! Cant wait for this summer though!
I am a beginner but now I know what I am going to do with that old dump sink in my basement, What a great idea!
The brown one is STUNNING. 😍
I agree 👍 turned out and had the biggest transforming
I know this vid is pretty much 2 years old now, so I have no idea if you've tried this or not yet, but a good method for the cerium oxide is make your slurry in a little container you can seal tight, it stores well if it doesn't dry out, and paint it on to the surface you are doing and just dampen your buffing wheel and go. Fun to watch, thanks for making it.
Hey Taylor!! Your videos are so much fun to watch. Thanks for being an inspiration and creating such cool content! Agate hunting certainly becomes an obsession quite quickly lol. Would you be willing to do a video or share with us the steps and tools you use with the dremel for polishing small finds? Your process turns out so beautifully.
Hi.! I'm from NORTHUMBERLAND (SE) in the UK. I've always been interested in subjects like Astronomy and Geology, especially rocks, crystals, minerals. A couple of years ago I found myself in a position where I could devote more time to them. Therefore i feel I can give you this advice on your polishing....I wouldn't even put a towel down on your board. It's better to have a flat, hard surface to place your wet n dry paper to get an even plain. I can't afford any rotary tools just yet so I've been faceting and polishing by hand. The end result is worth the effort, regardless of the type of stone. They are all beautiful...Ha! my family think I'm weird when they see me lick a rock. I've tried to show them the fundamental beauty, especially the dendritic/moss. Anyhoo! I enjoy your uploads. Nice work.
Haha you are saying exactly what my thoughts were, I started working with the towel and then realized with those flat surfaces, I didn't need it, my last polished stone had curves so the towel helped out a lot, but I didnt need it with these! And I can relate with people not understanding the passion with these hobbies lol I'm just glad we can share in its beauty together!
🤝👍👍👍 My friend, You are making great progress. Soon you will understand what you will need to apply in the technique. We in Russia say so "in work you will reach"! All three stones turned out very well. The ones where the cracks are visible should have been removed more. Well, it's not terrible, the cracks can be healed.
Thanks for watching, and the practice on these helped out very much, I think next time, I should limit to one stone, then I can take more time on it and work out any fractures!
@@AgateDad 🤝 You're already good at grinding. A simple way to heal a crack in the rock. You need to heat the stone so that it does not burn your hand, then anoint the cracks with wax.Then wipe with a tissue.
@@v7i5k2t5o7r another great idea on fixing the fractures!!
I live in Phoenix and enjoyed the Fire Agate video. I was out there a couple of weeks ago in 110º temperatures and even though I have lived here for 35 years it was really hot. 2 gals of water for 3 hours. If anyone goes out there on purpose during the Summer they need to have a strong constitution and three times as much water as they think they do.
I cannot imagine that heat! I’d for sure pass out!
Yo I just moved out here, looking for some spots. Got any advice in northern Phoenix?
They are all very beautiful I love the banding in the brown one. I enjoy your videos very much.
Thanks Cindy! I really appreciate it 👍👍😀
Definitely the darker one with the white bands, so gorgeous!
Truly beautiful!
Good morning my friend! Great video...
Morning! Thanks for watching 😁 appreciate it
I’ve never met an Agate I didn’t like. That being conveyed, the “brown” agate has excellent contrast. Great work Agate Dad! On that note, my girlfriend and I hunt agates in the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan and since the agates in this region are already “water-washed,” the banding and colors already pop.
Water washed agates are so amazing! Just found one this weekend that has water washed water level banding 🤤
Spoiled!!😁
Wow, so beautiful. Those bandings are gorgeous! Thank you for taking us through all the stages of sanding and polishing. You are such an effective teacher, and you inspire me to move beyond my insane rock collecting, and to start cutting and polishing! Thank you! :) LeeAnn
Glad I can help! Still learning myself :)
Awesome video! Thank you for talking through it so well and mention the small things, like using the white behind it to see the edges clearly. Cheers!
Love the before and after pics! My favorite is #3 :)
Thanks! It's crazy to see how much its changed! Appreciate you checking it out!
Awesome and educational, good job
Appreciate it!!
For final polish I use the dust which comes off my cutting wheel to polish. I separate the different grit sizes by putting them in water and fractionally siphoning them off as they fall out. This is free polishing grit that works rather well all things considered. Not exactly Cerium oxide but effective none the least.
No idea how to do this process. Is there a headliner to put into RUclips search bar to find this process?
Fantastic Taylor, you will go far. The depth of the banding on the brown one is just so beautiful. All are very nic, you did a great job.Keep up the good work.
Thanks so much! I agree, wish I could show everyone the depth of it, even that red one had some crazy depth and is breathtaking.
I love them all bt the brow one looks fantastic xx another gr8 vid xx
Thanks Klaire! Appreciate you watching, that brown one is pretty spectacular 😀👍
Definitely the brown one, just love the banding
Another youtuber, gravel bar hopper, said it looks like flames, and I agree, those bands are amazing!
helpful tip: 1. Take an ensure lid punch hole in center. attach sandpaper with carpet tape. use disk shaft 2 attach 2 flex shaft and wirks like mini flat lap .ce carpet tape to the sanding flat disk then attach sandpaper
Great stuff Taylor!!!
Thanks so much!
very nice set up nice idea and very safe working conditions. would you recommend using light gloves? I would like to ask you is that a dremel accessory part? I want to start cutting quartz and agates just like you have it set up i love it. But i have not bought the dremel yet, i am still sanding by hand. how long does the diamond bit last , how many stones can you polish with that one bit? also would you recommend the diamond wheel cutting tool for cutting and does that last long? the dremel bits are quite expensive especially the diamond. that is why i am asking because i see some cheap alternatives, much cheaper and i dont want to buy cheap stuff if it is a waste of money in the long run. by the way why dont you use the dremel sanding bit or wrap the sanding paper round the bit to do the final sanding polish maybe much quicker or not? thanks man.
Excellent video Taylor !*!*! those turned out amazing. The white one is my fav :) All three have great banding. Hope you hit 10,000 soon my friend.
Thanks Larry! It's so hard to choose, my eyes go to the brown one first, but the white has so much depth to it, and the red one is just so unique! That would be crazy if it got that high! Cant even imagine it happening haha
@@AgateDad you will! 😄🐾
Love the brown one. I need to try the Dremel.
I can't choose from the stones....they are beautiful
Great video! The washtub is very interesting. Did you do a video when you made it? If you did, please link it. Thanks!
when working on the sandpaper on a flat surface work in a figure 8. Also if you got some diamond cut off wheels it would help keep the windowed portions you are working on more flat I would think since you are playing with small agates.
Brown, that would make a awesome little cab for a ring or pendant.
That's a good idea with the diamond cut off wheels! And thanks for the tip.om the figure 8, I'll try that on my next stone 👍👍
I’m from Northern MN and have a HUGE agate the size of a baseball maybe bigger. I’m just starting out with agates and my dremel so I could really, really use some pointers and advice. Thank you!
Ahhh. Know I see what that table you are using/in is all about lol. Very clever l.. lol
Thanks!!
All three are stunning, but there is something about the white one that I really love most!
It really does have a quality that makes it a very beautiful piece! Thanks for watching 🙂👍👍
I like the brown banded agate. The bands look like a cathedral. I too am starting out with my 1st dremmel. Thats what took me to your video.
I can see that, good luck!
What a cool setup!
Wow. They turned out amazing!
Thanks!! They really did, such a fun hobby!
Thanks, very encouraging. I learn somethin every time.
I would love to have just a couple of the superior agates💕 hope you reach your goal, #thefinders 👍👍👍
Haha I'll have to do some more giveaways! Thanks 😀
i like the setup of your workstation
Looken good. Each are unique. Thanks for sharing. 🙂👍☕
Thanks for watching 😁 that's what I love about agates, each is unique!
Would love if you do a video saying what kind of attachments you use and for what. Just bought a dremel. This was helpful to start. Thanks!
I'll keep that in mind if I make another dremel polishing video! The kind of attachments I use are on my amazon storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/agatedad
@@AgateDad thanks!
White one is my favorite
It really is amazing!
I seriously need to learn closeup photography from you. Great video brother! Not sure I can pick amongst them as they are all really nice. Love the way you walked us through it 👍
Oh it's nothing special lol thanks though, appreciate it!
Hahahaha! The beginning was hilarious! 😆
😊
Logan says brown is her favorite and looks like Elsa’s castle! My favorite is the same. :)
It does! Thats funny! If only it what white or blue
Red one is my favorite. Really been enjoying your videos.
That's awesome! Thanks so much Lisa!
I'd agree with some others comments...your set tub, grinder area is very ingenious, bravo on that one. Might copy it, if you haven't got a patent, haha
No patent, it’s a laundry tub lol
Excellent first try with Dremel. I found it takes a bunch of practice. Keep it up and Havagudun! BTW Brown one.
Practice makes perfect! Its been a really fun time working with the dremel! Have a good one!
What a great set up!!!
Where did you get the diamond burs in those grits you used? I like all the agates!
My favorite is the brown. Is there some way I can post to you pics of the 2 Lake Superior States I took out of my tumbler yesterday after polish? Except for removing the "skin"and deeper flaws first, I do a 4 stage tumble with 80, 220, 600, and 1000 grit, then tumble with tin oxide. Love your videos. Keep up the good work!
I think i have le to agree with you, you can email me, agatedad@gmail.com - thanks so much, I will keep trying, it's been such a fun hobby to pick it!
Now we need to get you a rock tumbler, my friend. You have access to such great rough.
After that would be a cabbing machine.... :)
Haha I love the idea of the tumbler, and what it produces is mind blowing 🤯 its just the time it takes to produce, I think down the road that would be something i would get though!
Definitely think he needs a good tumbler, for the material he's finding I think either a 1 x 3lb or 2 x 3lb barrels would be perfect. TBH, it's been so many years since a tumbler wasn't running somewhere in my house, I think I wouldn't be able to sleep at night without the sound of the rocks rolling around in the barrel. Doh! 🤦♂️ Also, tumbling recommendation if I may....If you get a larger specimen and would like to tumble but not cut, try putting 1 big chunk in with a bunch of very small stuff of similar hardness that's borderline quality, if done right, it'll turn the one big one into rock candy!!! 😜🎁
Also, along the lines of new equipment youtube videos etc....am a Big believer in crowd sourcing, its the new age barn raising of days old. Folks used to gather as a whole community and pitch in materials and labor in a day or two put up a neighbors whole barn. Now through crowdfunding etc, we can accomplish similar feats with folks spread farther apart yet still part of a shared community! To watch folks like AD and Rookie's channels grow I think it'd be cool to help in that process by sending them to places far and wide to hunt cool stuff with other nerdy tubers who for one reason or another cannot travel by plane. (like that show Anthony Bourdain RIP used to have Parts Unknown) Then get dual video posts on RUclips of the hunt or lapidary work etc and see multiple perspectives of our shared passion for cool places, people and beautiful magical pieces of earth material to enjoy!
@@BackcountrywithShaughn love that idea haha would be great to travel to different parts and hunt with fellow hounds!!
@@BackcountrywithShaughn I have a 3 x 1.5lb Lortone (and I bought the 2x 3lb barrels that also fit). Mine runs non stop.
@@AgateDad If you're game, I'd gladly do a collab with you. You could collect agates and rough shape them with your Dremel. Mail them to me. I'll tumble them, and mail them back. It would be cool to see how they come out.
My email is on my channel info if you're interested. Might be fun!
That box! Safety and mess containment! Did you make that? Plastic with a hinge? The opening credits are still on, I'll maybe see my questions answered when I watch the whole thing
I just set a palm sander in my lap. Makes light work
Nice! I use a flat lap now
That was fun to watch. Enjoyed much. Your agates turned out very nice. So nice of you to offer a jar of agates for when you reach 1000 subs ! Should be there soon, great videos :)
Thanks! I'm glad to give them away, it'll be a fun contest!
I like that set up, pretty inventive..... Great video, as always..
Thanks! Could use a few minor tweaks, but has been very solid!
I just found my first Lake Superior agate! So excited! It's tiny too. ;-)
love this. May sound silly but would they have these at Lake Ontario too?
unfortunately, probably not. Up on the north shore of Superior, the last glaciers bulldozed to/through the agate-bearing basalt, exposing it nicely to begin weathering the agates out onto the beaches. Where those glaciers terminated (close to where Agate Dad is), you find agates in the rivers and beaches (and eskers and moraines particularly). But down there where you are, it was the Champlain Sea, so you ended up accumulating thick lacustrine/marine sediments, which would have buried any agate bearing basalt (if it's even there, which I'm not sure).
@Symon Sheppard Lol!
@Symon Sheppard indeed! Just picturing trying to bike in this snow and ice! Never mind trying to dig frozen mud!
Well sounds like these gents helped you out lol!
@Symon Sheppard thirst truly is a resource for knowledge! Hes got all the info!
Your ideas have helped me so very much!! I'm so happy I found your channel! I'm so looking forward to seeing 👀 more!! Thank you so much 💓!!!
Brown is awesome
I agree Bert!
i liked the brown one to
They are all amazing. Really nice work. I think I would go with the white one.
Great video! I love that you have posted videos while you learn. It helps me remember that learning is a process and you don't have to be an absolute expert straight away. I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos as I learn how to polish stones without a lap machine. Also, I have limited space and would love to learn how you created your setup. Do you have a video that goes over that? Thank you again!
You did a great job! They look amazing 👍🥰💎
Thanks so much! I had a fun time working on these!
My favorite one is definitely the one u called brown! U r inspiring me to start exploring w polishing. I have been affraid to waste my beautiful rocks! LOL
Nothing wasted when you're growing and learning, and you can always get more:)
Love your setup very cool.👍🇨🇦
Thanks bud!
Lol well thanks for my next fun idea for this spring! 😂❤🎉
So I just got a dremel tool; "I'm going to be VERY choosy" but are the bits and techniques about the same for jasper and chert?
I’ve never worked jasper or chert with my dremel but Id they’re of the same hardness.. I’d say so
Hi Agate Dad;
l recommend that you ditch the dremel and make yourself a flat lap . The flat lap will save thousands of hours of hard labor over the years and is worth every penny. The agates are so beautiful. l enjoy all your videos.
Yeah im definitely going to be doing something to change my polishing ways, the dremel was a good intro into lapidary, ill still use it down the road though.
Yes you are right the dremel does have use l would not get rid of it all together but the flat lap will eliminate all those pesky ridges.
Someday!
Aw man! Do I have to choose a favorite? I might hurt their feelings. I mean...the white one is just mwah👌 but I truly love them all!😍 You're doing a great job Taylor.😎🐾
Haha no you dont! I agree though, each one is so different but hold so much beauty! Thanks Marlaina 😁👍👍
Wow, super job.
Hey AD, thanks for the content post sir! Really appreciate the hard work you are putting into creating, editing and posting fresh video for us nerdy rock hungry tubers to peruse in our free time! 👍 I myself find the process to be very cathartic and relaxing but as time has gone on find that I can get pretty critical of the finished product sometimes and grind, then re-grind and sometimes grind again before am satisfied with the next step. Your passion for not only the hunt, but exposing the inner beauty (heart) of the stone is obvious and hope you find many years of joy pursuing this wonderful hobby. 😎 Also, boy sure do love colorful banded agates you find up around the lakes up there, beautiful stuff my friend. PS..ime small and large circles/semicircles seem to work best so grooves aren't created making removing them in the next stage harder. Also, if you can adhere the stone to a longer implement than your fingers, it'll make the process easier. (think dop stick's and wax) And for polish, a super wise man told me a long time ago that a very little polish goes a long, long way. He is 4th generation owner of a few mines and has literally found, cut and polished millions of tons of rock and really knows his stuff, he's kinda the SME I choose to ask the serious rock questions of. Sorry haven't responded much lately, been dealing with some health issues but am hopeful I've turned a corner and it's all good things going forward. ✔ Look forward to your next post, have an awesome week!
Thanks so much for watching man! Hope all is truly on the mend with the health, and that it's not too serious! Appreciate the great feedback and tips on polishing, I'm finding I spend more time on each stone so that it is better than the last! So much fun being able to turn these rough pieces into beautiful specimens!
dremel have a drill press stand that you can use as a hands free table grinder =) pretty sure the the flexy shaft will fit
I have a flat lap and cabbing machine now
@@AgateDad workshop upgrade wooot!!!😁😁😁
I like the brown one 👍
But all are good finds👍
Doing some agate hunting in Arizona and great place to be if Ur a Hound 🤙 Keep looking down 🤙
Thanks and you too 🤘
Rob from Michigan Rocks sent me. I almost had to leave, no bachelor for me either. Haha. Make her some pretty things. Okay off to watch the vlog and learn things.
Taylor now this is something I would do. But unfortunately, I live in an apartment and don't have access to a garage or a lapidary cave....lol but fortunately next year my husband and I are purchasing a new house.
Get a dremel and lapidary well, its not too loud!
What a very cool video my friend big like buddy 👍👍
Thanks John!
Howdy and thanks for sharing these great videos. I’ve recently taken up rockhounding after retiring in Idaho. “Target rich environment.” I’ve been out with a local club a few times recently and done some solo trips. I just got a Dremel and am trying to figure out how to use it to cut and polish my finds. One question I had was how to dovetail tumbling in with the Dremel and sandpaper. Wouldn’t it be easier after a certain point of shaping and polishing to transition to tumbling? Just trying to understand options. And thanks again!
I am so jealous of you! Congrats on retirement, that's something I really look forward to!
And I didn't have a tumbler at this point, only only dremel.
@@AgateDad Aha, thank you!
You're welcome 😊
18,000 away from a chance at the jar of rocks. 😦😔 So sad for me but so Happy 😁 for you! My favorite is the first of the three. The lightest one.
That ‘tub’ your using to do the polishing is that homemade ? Or can you provide a link or info about it? Thanks I’m a newbie to this hobby.
Its home made, look for the video with the picture/thumbnail that says "UNDER $100" and then check out mt amazon storefront www.amazon.com/shop/agatedad - and all the supplies should be on there 👍👍 let me know if you have any questions
Thanks.
You're welcome 👍
💡 Draw level lines inside the tub for guidance or add a piece of tape 🙂 Nice work 🎉
Where did you get the bits? I found the 600 grit. I haven’t found the others. Is there a combo pack or?
Thanks!!
That will be a nice giveaway right there!
Thanks!
Do you have a video on making the "safe" protected space while filing in the first step?
I did make a video on making the well and how I went about it :)
ruclips.net/video/gSxPJtdLJT4/видео.html
Your awesome. Thank you for that!
Anytime!!! And thanks 😊 your awesome too!
Lol, funny intro. Sweet sink with a water drip. Did you make that? That's nice, gives me good ideas, instead of spraying my face. Good tips, nice agates. Thank you!
Have you ever considered slicing some of your smaller agates? I really like the brown one.
I have, just need to get a saw or diamond discs!
This was an intriguing, informative video. About how long did each stage take you for a single rock?