Check out what I have been working on.
Im enjoying making these so much, Im going to add them to the Miners Market.
Not bad mom, but wont those be a bit stiff if you try to use them?
No, all joking aside, they are REALLY neat!
I might have to try one out with dads guitar when I get home.
Actually, I heard that once you try a stone pick, you wont want to go back to those flimsy cheap plastic ones.
So far all I have done are the standard sized picks.
Here's a picture of the same ones, just flipped over.
WOW Sis those are way cool picks good job!!!!!
Gat.
Very nice gal. I think I know some folks that will be getting these for xmas. Thanks for the idea. Joe
Thanks guys!
I'll put a link here to the Market when I add them.
Here is a pic of a few more I did. The one on the left is fossilized dinosaur dung (Coprolite), and the one on the right is Del Norte Colorado Agate.
those are really neat! i wish i could play a guitar! genuine D&D stone guitar picks! what a fashion trend you could be on to!
you ought to send a set of them to the rolling stones! man what great advertising that would be!
Good Idea Russ, but The Rolling Stones are on a world tour right now. I think in London at the moment....hehe
These Arizona Petrified Wood ones blew me away when I was done,
they turned out great! The colors and the honey comb patterns in them are very cool, and If you hold them up to the light you can see the pattern through them.
Very strong picks and from what Im hearing, the stone picks actually makes them sound better.
Im going to be working on more petrified wood ones but way different patterns.
I cant wait to see how they turn out.
These pick's are pretty good, I just tryed one out.
Obviously they're pretty stiff, and from what I've seen I dont think they wear out as fast as a regular plastic pick.
I seen on the world news tonite that the Stones are in Minnesota. They are doing an OUTSIDE concert there. It is also snowing to beat the band there tonite. hehe Joe
Now ya got me hooked!... I'd really like to try them out... how much to send me one of each?...
Thanks,
geno
They are cool, arent they Geno.
By, "how much to send me one of each?".........are you meaning styles?
This is a different style pick I have been working on.
I put one of the classic (27mm wide x 32mm long)sized picks in the middle I made to show the size of the tear drop (18mm wide x 25mm long) shaped ones.
Most of the picks I have made so far vary in thickness from 1.5mm-3.0mm.
What style/thickness do you prefer to use?
I prefer the triangular shapes rather than the teardrop... (1.5-2mm). I just bought a carton of smokes and a new set of strings so I'm ready for another week of convalesence.
shes talking in millimeters......is that our official measurement system? hehehe
Thay are definitely beautiful and unique Denise!
Most seem to prefer that style Geno.
Hehehe Fanatic, thanks. I put alot of work into them.
Here is another set of petrified wood ones.
A way different look from the red ones arent they?
The shape looks off on the side ones, but they arent. Its just the angle I took the shot.
I need to try to be right over them when I take pics I guess.
Lets try this picture.
This picture is a bit dark, but you can still see the colors.
They look like cloud patterns.
Just beautiful!
I need to branch out and get a better rockhounding education! Wish I'd have paid more attention in Earth Science class. But there was this girl.......
Heres a pic of mom shaping a guitar pick. See how close her fingers are to the diamond wheel?
Thats why she's got short nails on those fingers!
She told me this particular pick is 1.8 millimeters thick.
the hands of a artistic mom! cant get any better than that!
denise id like to buy two of your triangle picks for two of my friends. geno and matt mattson. thisll give geno something else todo while hes recouping from surgury. let me know the cost/shipping and ill get it to you! russ
Denise, I got the pick yesterday and have been playing with it... I like it, but it takes some getting used to as it is quite a bit stiffer than the picks I have been using. It is a thing of beauty though, no doubt about that!
Thank You!
geno
Glad to hear you like it Geno.
How does it sound? I hear it changes the tone for the better.
Im still working on listing them in the Market.
I will be listing them all individually so you will be able to choose the guitar pick your looking at.
I haven't noticed a difference in tone, except perhaps for a slight "scratchy" sound when I have the guitar amplified. I play a Fender Stratacoustic.
I would love to hear you play Geno! Maybe you can bring it to the RMMR 2007'.
I listed the guitar picks in the market yesterday. Here is the link to them.
http://coloradoprospector.com/MinersMarket/FolkArt/StoneGuitarPicks.html
This is the moss agate pick I was working on in the picture posted above.
Nice work babe!
Thought I would post about a non-slip pro-grip some folks use to hold onto highly polished picks while playing.
Since these are polished to a glass like surface.........
I used to use this stuff as a league bowler years and years ago and as it turns out, we found an instrument site that sells it for pick gription. Stuff works great!
You can purchase some at http://www.elderly.com/also/accessories/items/G17.htm if needed.
Sweet picks made by my sweetheart!
CP
Thanks Dan.
Cool link, they have some pretty neat stuff.
Your pics inspired me to try one. Pretty thin at 1.28mm, but the next one I think I can get under 1mm. It's for my son-in law
Fantastic guitar pic El Dorado! You did a great job. That banded agate sure is pretty. You know the location where that piece came from?
I sure do, it came from a box in my garage! When I got my first saw and cabber, they came with 2 boxes full of materials........
Here is a picture of a few more I have recently made. The crazy lace ones sure turned out cool! Sorry for the fuzzy picture.
Here is one I made for my personal collection. Its made from a piece
of a moss agate Thunderegg. Sure is cool stuff!
Its hard to see the detail though in this picture.
if you use your imagination that last pick looks kinda like the west coast shore line w/Alaksa
Deffently a keeper Denise. Russ is Captain Morgan visiting you again? hehe Joe
heck he never left from the last time 25 years ago!
Hey folks,
If you haven't checked out the new picks lately we have added "ultra thins" and also dinosaur bone picks are on the way next.
The ultra's are way cool.....all 1.25mm or less.
All hand made by my lovely better half. Denise polishes these babys out and they are absolutely spectacular!
Stop by the http://coloradoprospector.com/MinersMarket/minersmarket.html soon to see all the new stuff.
CP
Don't know where else to put this, so here goes!
Well, I got one recently. And if you don't have one, get one. These picks are great. I am having a ball and will upload another one of my noisey videos (and maybe a tony carrie song or two) in the near future. Like I said, if you don't have one, get one. Here:
http://coloradoprospector.com/MinersMarket/FolkArt/StoneGuitarPicks.html
Very glad you like it Todd!
Im looking forward to hearing your next "noisey" video.
Thanks for the compliments!
Hi all,
A couple more new guitar pics fresh out of the lap shop!
These ones are pretty amazing, Denise does an awesome job finishing them off!
Rutilated quartz is a neat stone to work with.
Both of these are awesome!
This is a petrified wood from Eden vally Wyoming most likely....beautiful patterns cut cross grained and just blow you away grain patterns when cut length wise with the grain.
This one is cut with the grain! WOW!!
Thanks Dan! Those did turn out good.
Here are a few more Im working on listing in the Miners Market.
I had more dino bone ones, but those were the best seller at the BV show.
Those Dino ones have amazing patterns...and so do these!!
3 more Coprolite ones that also turned out very well. Think it was a meat eater?
COOL beans i mean picks
As usual denise you have produced some really beautiful work.And the dino do is purty too. Jim
Nice picks, I like the rutilated quartz the best. I bet the dino bone ones would be the best overall though, I play guitar and something durable is always good.
Thanks Dude, those ones did turn out good.
Here is another picture of the dinosaur bone pick shown from the last page (bottom left). This pic shows Dan holding it, so you can see how its translucent is several spots.
There have been alot of people suggesting we drill holes in some of the
http://coloradoprospector.com/MinersMarket/FolkArt/StoneGuitarPicks.html for using as necklaces.
This is something we would really rather not do to them, because it may weaken the pick and makes it not as easily accessable for use when playing.
Guess what Dan just made today.........
He's sooooo smart and creative! Now the guitar pick can be easily removed, and placed back in the wire wrap when not in use. Makes an amazing looking necklace, and the pick doesnt have to be drilled. Won't loose it this way either!
Thanks Dan, great idea!
Here is a recent guitar pick that http://www.coloradoprospector.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2117 inspired me to make.
Triangle guitar picks seem to work for him!
Its made from a Del Norte Colorado Agate, and is only 1.3 mm thin.
That Del Norte agate sure is some classy looking stuff!
Here are instructions Dan put together on how the guitar pick slips work.
http://www.coloradoprospector.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2144
Im working on adding them to the Miners Market.......They will make a great addition!
BTW......Nice looking guitar pick you have there CP!
Dan and Denise them are really really cool....they are so cool i thought i would give one a try.... .....didn't turn out exact and isn't as cool as yours but i thought it was worth a try......you D's are a inspiration
Cool Scott. Nice pick BTW!
We just added a few extremely nice collector guitar picks in the CP Miners Market today everyone.....stop by to check them all out soon!
This one is a petrified wood from Eden Valley Wyoming.
Another petrified wood.
1 more for eye candy today.....Arizona petrified wood.
Enjoy.
FINE job on those! More kudos to the CP's!
That first pet wood pick looks like picture jasper from the "scene" in it.
Thanks Faaus! That wood sure is pretty stuff.
You like that last piece of wood from Eden Valley, you are really going to like these!
Hard to see the great shine I got from them, but the color sure shows in the pic.
Cut from the same piece as you can see, I made a guitar pick from one
and the cabochon from the other. The part thats cloudy white is translucent when you hold it up to the light. Fantastic piece of petrified wood! Dan did a great job as always slabbing these for me.
Im not sure what Im going to do with these......
Maybe save for a contest.
Thats really pretty,
Its funny i have just packed the one you sent me to send to a friend in scotland.
I am sure that he will love it.
Very cool CW! We would love to hear what your friend thinks of the pick sometime too.
Here is one that kinda "fell" into my personal collection.
Must be a slabbers fee!
Your so spoiled Dan. But you can slab them better than anyone I know.
For those who would also like to have one fall into their collection,
you can order yours at the http://coloradoprospector.com/MinersMarket/FolkArt/StoneGuitarPicks.html.
This guitar pick is made from Sow Belly agate from here in Colorado.
Some may even be able to get their own this way.
http://www.coloradoprospector.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2097
Oooohhh...the one at the top of the page has to be the coolest I've ever seen!
Now, if anybody wants to "kinda" hear what they sound like, go over to the "Jam Sessions" catagory and follow the thread. I did a Joe Satriani song with this pick. It is great!!!!!!
Thanks D&D!
TY Todd and for those interested......here's the direct link to Todd's recording using a ColoradoProspector.com stone pick if you would like to listen.
http://thoam.com/index.php?automodule=gallery&req=si&img=547
Careful.......it's HOT!!
CP
Sounds awesome Todd!!
Here are a few I was able to get from a cool piece of Fire Agate from a friend.
They are not perfect as you can see by the small cracks at the top of them, but they sure turned out great! All the spots that have brown have flashy fire in it. You can see the fire on both side on the one pick on the left. Both are very thin.
The plume with this stuff is amazing! Its white with pink and red swirled together.
Very hard to see any detail from this picture, but I think they sure look cool held up to the light. Sure is pretty stuff and was fun to work!
Dan added this picture to the Rockin' For Mining thread, but I want to put it here also since this is from Fire Agate we mined ourselves from the Opal Hill mine.
I catch myself playing with the little orange ball flame in the pick to the top....hehe
The fire in that bubble is orange and then green if you hold it right.
This stuff has the most amazing fire bubbles!
Even the crystal areas have color flashes like blue, green, orange, and red.
Here is one Im keeping for myself from a slice of blue ThunderEgg,
with great shadow bands in it.
Its slabbed so thin, its hard to see its blue when held up to the light,
but put it on a white piece of paper and you can definately tell its blue.
Here is one from a purple piece of Chalcedony with dendritic inclusions.
This one is also for my personal collection.
The white plume in it is very pretty, and mixed with the dendritic looks like a butterfly in the upper top left.
Does the stone look familiar bigcats?
You wanted to know what a guitar pick would look like from it, so here it is.
It turned out beautiful!!
these pics are just great! is there anyone else making picks like you are doing? maybe you have cornered the market on these! have you sent out(free) to any bands/artists to use these and maybe get some free advertising around the country? wouldnt this be so cooooooool, having a big band/artist saying "I only use D&D stone picks!"
Uhoh...Looks like Russ missed a few posts.......hehe
Read the second post I made in this thread (page5).
2 of the people on the list are even friends of yours I believe, that received a free guitar pick I made from material we found prospecting. (Rockin' For Mining!)
As for being the only one making these......No way!....hehe
Stone has to be some of the oldest medium used for picks.
Here are a few I made from matterial Jim slabbed thin for picks and gave to us at the Spring Fling.
You wanted to see, so here they are Jim.
Thanks again for the material, sure is cool stuff!!
This one is a triangle guitar pick style made from black moss Agate.
This one is from Botswana Agate......Each little dark dot is translucent when held up to the light...Almost looks like little eyes..hehe
Both of these are going into my personal collection also.
WOW........thems way cool. that batswana is unreal. the plume aint bad either.
Too cool! Man, you guys go!
I used to make some out of silver. Loved those picks. And these!
T.
Scott.......You were saying last night in chat that you wanted to use your Miners Market gift certificate you won on a stone guitar pick for your mom, but didnt see a blue one listed in the Market.
Let me know If you want the blue ThunderEgg one I posted above.
Its a piece from the ThunderEgg Dan made a wrapped necklace for Goldie-NS with.
I will pull It from my personal collection for you to give your mom.
Just let me know, and its yours.
Scotts mom picked a different one. One that looked like a sunset she said...hehe
It so happened that the kid down the roads favorite color is also blue, so his dad bought that blue thunderegg one for him.
He said when he handed it to his 12 year old son to have, he looked at him like this
and said..."I can play with this??"... Then dissapeared into his room for over an hour to practice. His dad said that when he finally came out of his room he had tears in his eyes and said he loved it! Dad said it also brought tears to his eyes. Since getting the guitar pick, he has been practicing playing more his dad says.
Hearing that was music to my ears!
That wont be our only Thunderegg guitar pick.
Here are a few Im working on right now. These are a must see in hand.
The shadow bands and colors are amazing!
These are not done yet, but you get the picture. So far I have only worked the shape into them...Lots of work to go!
Here are a few slabs from this Thunderegg, that will make some great guitar picks......All will be thins.
I usually finger play the guitar, but when I do use a pick, I prefer a triangle shape. (1 1/2 x 1 1/2 inch)
Here is a traingle shape I made out of moss agate.
Looks like a satalite image, looking down into the eye of a tornado.
Dan is working on a wrap that will release the triangle pick so it can be worn or played. Have I told you how awesome you are yet today Dan?
I will soon be adding some triangle guitar picks to the http://coloradoprospector.com/MinersMarket/FolkArt/StoneGuitarPicks.html section of the Miners Market, so keep a look out for them.
wow, your pick production has really turned into some beautiful work. mother nature has done some nice stuff too.
Dan wrapped my traingle guitar pick so I can wear it and play with it now.
I'll add a picture of it later. Thanks Dan, you did a great job on it!
Here is one that came from the Moss Thunderegg slabs above.
Kind of looks like a classy tuxedo to me...hehe
wow your doing some nice work!looks like it maybe a bit of fun for you also!
Thanks Russ, we do enjoy working with the different stones since they are all so individually unique. Ma' natures tiny treasures within!
Denise does a really nice job on all the hand work to shape/polish them out too! Good work honey.
Thanks Dan....Its a team work kind of thing though...hehe
Here is my guitar pick that Dan wrapped (is removable from its wrap)......Sorry, I wasnt willing to take it off for the picture. But am willing to share a picture of it.
Here is another one that went with the two in pic/post #2 this page........when I first cut this last summer and saw the pattern I instantly thought of SL9 striking Jupiter.... What can I say, my imagination wandered!
Denise says it's Thunderegg yolks in there....
What do you see?
Unfortunately this one fell into my personal collection as I'm rather fond of it......but one of the first two in the pic above will be listed in the Miners Market soon. Along with many more new and very colorful guitar picks....several in shades of thundereggs.
CP
Here is another one, probably from the Priday ranch in Oregon too.
Very pretty moss, purple hues with a green slash and a few clear pockets.
Nice shine on this one as you can see too. Wow honey excellent job!
Ok, Ok...... I won't keep this one for the collection. Boy it's a nice un' tho'!
We decided that purple plume one in the last post should be added to the CP treasure chest.
Also, we just updated the Miners Market with over a dozen new stone guitar picks......more coming soon of course too. We've both been busy working so hard on lapidary projects and web work lately that the pic taking / listing has slacked a bit. Got to get that cloning machine up and running soon!!
All picks in stock (currently over 50) have been very carefully checked for fractures. If we find any with fractures during production they are immediately culled out.
Stop in to browse all the new picks soon. Here's a few to wet the whistle on the way over to that page.
This one is a really cool shadow banded Baker thunderegg pick. It's even got a spiffy druzy pocket......oooo sparkles.
Here is an actual "South Park" petrified wood. Very nice color in this wood and from Colorado!
And this one is a pretty neat fire agate with awesome banding and even has a bit of "fire" flashing in the upper right corner.
Ok, just one more but this one hasn't yet been listed. Just had to share this one though........Man these T-eggs sure can be neat!!
Good job Denise!! whew!
And just wait till' ya' see the next batch.......oooooo boy!
Cya's soon
CP
Boy, the T-eggs sure can produce some nifty colors and patterns!
Here's another recently completed from a Baker pit Thunderegg. Nice n' thin too at only 1.75 mm and is very smooth in hand! Good job once again Denise!
This is one cut from fire agate and not showing the "fire" much, but you can definately see how fire agate formation occurs in the banding blended with bubbles or boytroidal.....WOWSER! Clear, white, and the copper inclusion reds. It does show hints of "fire" near the edges in hand and the mix of clear with red areas has rainbow colored twinkles due to the crystal type form that tried to blend......maybe the blender wasn't on high enough though.
DROOOL...........WOW
Sure is pretty fire agate!!!
WOW! I guess that pretty much says it all! You have really made some beautififul artwork guitar picks. I still have the one you made for me and when I play acoustically, thats the one I use or for a "special " sound on the electric. Awesome stuff guys!
geno
Thank you all for the very nice compliments.
Awesome Geno, very cool to hear you favor the stone pick, we would all love to hear a sound shot sometime too.
For those of you reading but haven't seen these in the online store yet, you can check them all out on the http://coloradoprospector.com/MinersMarket/FolkArt/StoneGuitarPicks.html Stop in soon and check back often, new guitar picks are added frequently, ranging in thickness from under 1mm to 3mm and up.
CP
Now......If you are talking about making picks as part of your lapidary hobby that is one thing. On the other hand if you are talking about mass produceing it's another. I make my picks on my 6'' flat lap. I first slice my stone on my 10'' stone saw to the thickness that I want. Then mark the slabs using a regular plastic pick for a template. I'll then go back to the saw and trim to get rid of excess but leaveing the mark well visable. I start by using my 120 grit lap to shape to the mark. i'll also start a bevel around both sides. I'll then go to 400 grit and finish shapeing and refineing the outer edge. Then to polish.
This is roughly the process that I go through to make a pick but, it is not the same with everyone. Dan and Denise use thier genie to do thier picks and I am sure thier procedure differs from mine alot. I guess what I'm trying to say is that we all do things differently. No one taught me to do picks.I just had the desire to give it a try.
As far as mass produceing picks go it's bound to be done by machines.I see no other way to get them exactly the same every time. No two picks that I make are the exact same. They are made individually and differ from one to the next. In my opinion that fact makes them better.Theres not a machine made that can put its heart into what it makes nor take pride in it's production. I do both!
By the way I have posted some of my picks in the forum if you want to take a look. Jim
I condensed my explaination quite a bit. Feel free to post more questions if you like.
Hello ZerOne and welcome to the ColoradoProspector website/formus. Make yourself right at home browsing the entire website.
Cool Brazilian agate pick in the pic too.
For our production we go through normal lapidary processes using mostly diamond carbide saws and cabbers (grinders) working each one by hand and continuosly culling out any fractured or flawed pieces so that only the highest quality finished picks are listed.
There are at least three visits to one of the 3 rock saws through the steps in our shop, begining with slicing or slabbing as it's called the rough material that we know is hard enough to not wear out on steel strings. Thickness on the picks is consistent all the way across ranging from very thick 3mm and over to our extremely rare ultra thins which are under 1mm.
Once slabbed and trimmed, each pick is then worked free hand on the cabbing machine which has five steps from rough to polish with grits ranging from 100 through 14,000. Both sides must be worked to match as well as all edges rounded over to create a smooth playing surface free of any catches or divots etc.
We've had requests for large quantities at lower prices but we just won't as the picks are not as good finished out in mass (tumbled) rather than hand worked. Like Jim said, no machine can put the care and attention in needed to achieve high quality.
Thanks for posting up the question ZerOne and sorry for the delayed response too. We are still in move mode but we are always happy to answer everyones questions. Believe me, there have been literally hundreds of q's about how we make the picks. That's one of the coolest things about the internet, everyone can interact and learn from each other about the best techniques. I know alot of folks gave us tips and advice when we were first starting out which we've always been happy to share with everyone around the CP website.
Hope I've answered your question and feel free to post more up if not.
CP
Hi Zer0ne and welcome to the forums. Nice Brazilian Agate with grips. I have considered adding grip spots to the picks I make before like that, but Im worried it would weaken the pick so I havent yet. Was also the reason Dan decided to make http://coloradoprospector.com/MinersMarket/FolkArt/StoneGuitarPickWrap.html to be removed and played with instead of drilling holes in them. However, I have used natural grip spots in the stones to double as such, like the NM Baker Thunderegg with shadow bands. (also pictured on the previous page of this thread)
Enjoy the site.
Here is another example of how I use natural grip spots.
This is one from my collection that I carry around with me in my pocket....hehe
Very strong, and I made sure there was no pockets close to the tip of the pick for playing.
After all, it is a tool and has to function as such.
Plus.....You cant beat American mined and made products.
.....makes me wish i had gear to cut my own picks, cause your not going to find anything like this for sale on the market. nice cut!
If i were to blend the variety of:
http://www.erockshop.com/Stone_Guitar_Picks_s/18.htm
with the innovative cut designs of:
http://www.picksandstones.com/combo.php
and the creative thinking in:
http://www.coloradoprospector.com/
Add gold trim with inlaid gems and we would have one hell of a product..hello http://www.tiffany.com of guitar picks
--Now if i can just get that meteor to fall to earth
Hi ZerOne,
Thank you for the kind compliments. That material will yet produce a few more picks, hopefully some thins like that one was.
Not a problem at all mentioning other sites, thanks for the links. I've seen the picksandstones site and they do have some nice shapes in their options.
Maybe someday we can work on some together as a custom project with you. Let us know if you see something you might like to try that with.
We've just uploaded some new thin picks today in the Miners Market too.....Here's a couple added today.
This one cut from an Oregon ThunderEgg
And this one is Coprolite or dino dung
Stop by soon to see all the rest of the new added picks everyone. http://coloradoprospector.com/MinersMarket/minersmarket.html
Thanks for the kind compliments. Great ideas ZerOne!
From what you have mentioned so far, all sounds possible to me.
I do all the work by hand, so polishing just the edges and the tip is possible.
Sorry you had problems with Picksandstones, thats a bummer! Some days life is just a live and learn.
I love the idea of shapes like the Star Trek symbol (as long as the pick remains playable)
I have thought of making a "Pick of destiny" replica out of green Jade, or a green agate.
Carved top with a perfect playing tip. Sounds like a fun challenge to me.
Were you looking for a deeper grip? Or?
We would be happy to try to help with custom lapidary services if possible. Always feel free to contact us.
We keep in close contact all the way through each process on special orders to assure customer satisfaction.
Including pictures during the steps.
Denise
Here is a cool "specimen set" we are just introducing. The sets being a usable or wearable lapidary piece along with it's parent polished specimen.
This one is an Oregon double thunderegg and a matching guitar pick cut from it's juicy inards with killer druzy pockets!
Keep your eyes on the CP miners market for this to be added over the next few days.
So if one person likes the rocks and the other in the house likes "to rock".......everyone wins!
CP
http://www.myspace.com/robertkreider1
Maybe even cut a slot that the pick can sit in around the top mid brown area.
Might be interesting to use http://home.comcast.net/~jtozour/ rocks if they are practical, they would at least make interesting website peices to show their glows...market them as Alien Picks . Father and i used to goto quarries and dig Dinosaur footprints and such, i remember these rocks from his mining ventures, he would literally go down on very long thick ropes.
Sounds like some great adventures with your father.
Im all for using fluorescent rocks as long as they are hard enough. Most that were pictured would be too soft for picks though.
Here is one for all those who like Arizona Agate and Arizona Gold. See the nice little surprise revealed when Dan sliced this one?
I was amazed I didnt work out the gold while making it.
The gold in it wasnt what caught my eye though...It was the fantastic look it has when held up to the light.
Here is a picture of it held up and flipped to the other side.
Fantastic cut Dan! Your the man.
That's pretty dam hot
Thanks ZerOne, that one is pretty hot! We still have some of that rock left to cut up.
Will be fun to see how much more gold is hiding in it. I have a template for a Reuleaux triangle
guitar pick, so Im going to make a few of those as well. I love the shape.
Im really liking this shape. Here is one I made the other day from a Priday moss ThunderEgg (1.3 mm).
Wow!! Those are really neat.
Thanks Jack. I really enjoy making them, and even more hearing them being played with.
Here is a Coprolite (dino dung) that turned out kind of crappy..... Pun intended.
Who said you cant polish a turd?
A darn spiffy polished turd it is too!! Does it still smell funny? Nice job Denise!
Here is a new guitar pick and necklace set that we just finished, made from Eden valley Wyoming petrified wood with a natural "cross" shape inside.
Matching consecutive slabs make this a very rare and unique set. Wrapped in a solid sterling silver square wire with sterling silver necklace.
This set will be listed on the http://coloradoprospector.com/MinersMarket/FolkArt/CollectorStoneGuitarPicks.html page within the next couple of days.
Thanks Dan! Fantastic wire wrap! Here is a specimen set, that will come with both guitar picks. I wasnt sure what pick to use in the set, so I decided both would work. If your a camoflauge fan like we are, you will really like this set made from Coprolite. The guitar pick on the left is very translucent when held up.
Here is a beautiful blue guitar pick that I made to go with its http://coloradoprospector.com/MinersMarket/Specimens/Sets.html.
Fantastic patterns with a great Iris effect.
The best reviews for how it sounds, comes from this little beauty here.
They say the Jade has a crisp clean sound, especially thin.
Its 1.3 mm in thickness and made from Wyoming Black Jade. Believe it or not, this pick is translucent when held to a light.
Im going to have to make more of these it seems.
Here is the half of a beautiful blue New Mexico Thunderegg, and a slab thats going to make a matching guitar pick.
and here is it after the guitar pick was made.
Here is a picture of the other side of the guitar pick........Is it me, or is that formation in the stone kind of strange looking?
Looks like it has arms, legs and an eye to me, but Im strange.
I love working with petrified wood, so here is one made from Palm Wood.
Incredable work as usual Denise. That t-egg pick is beautiful.
Thanks Jim! That sepecimen set did turn out incredible!
We work really hard at making sure we have nice items listed in the Miners Market for everyone.
Remember, most of these picks are for sale in the Miners Market and sales help keep the site open for everyone to learn and enjoy. So If you know of someone who wants a stone guitar pick, you know where to send them.
Thanks for all your support.
Here is a really cool Arizona agate guitar pick that measures at 1.48 mm.(thin)
While working this one, a bit of gold appeared on the right side of it.
Shame though, by the time I finished working it the gold was gone.
Either way, this one turned out nice! I love the patterns in it!
Here is another Arizona agate, but this one is a bit different looking. It measures 1.37mm(thin)
It also has a nice little druzy hole that goes all the way through it.
Thanks for looking.
Nice one's Denise! Love the deep rich golden colors in both the last two pictured. Getting a really nice polish on those too, WOW!
Here's another pick she recently completed from a very thin slice of green Wyoming jade. The slice was cut at 0.95 mm and after she was finished working it through to polish, it now measure 0.85 mm. Excellent work honey! That is a very rare "ultra thin" stone guitar pick.
This pick isn't quite as thin but is still only about 1.4 mm and is a very nice thin range pick. Also green jade from Wyoming.
Check out the http://coloradoprospector.com/MinersMarket/minersmarket.html for the newest listed stone guitar picks in all the thickness ranges.
Thanks Dan. You make it possible with the nice thin slabing you do.
The Jade is fantastic stuff to work with, and I love the sound the picks make.
We make a fantastic team!
Here was a little experiment I did with a thin piece of Colorado bytroidal Agate that had a bit of matrix with it.
Amazing how cool an agate can look with even the simplest of inclusions. This one measures about 2.9 mm.
Let me know what you think. I can always use the feedback.
really nice
I especially like the translucent 'clouds/cottony/pillow' effect toward the bottom. If you could do a whole pic with that I might have to learn guitar.
Thanks alot Chris. Funny you should say that, because Dan happens to be working on cutting more that will have that very thing. Better start guitar shopping now!
I made one for myself on page 4 or 5 of this thread, that also looked like that due to the bytroidal. Very nice dark brown agate, with moving shadows in the bubbles when you turn it. Hard stuff to get pics of!
Speaking of such.......Dan picknapped my latest guitar pick for himself and is trying to get pics of it right now. Iris Agate that when sliced thin will display all the colors of the spectrum, and this one sure does.
Good luck CP, guess thats the price you have to pay for keeping that sweet pick!
Come on Dan We all want to see pictures of those rainbows dont we?
WOW!!! That rainbow effect is killer. Great job on the pick too.
Great pick AND pic!
Good job Dan! Those pictures turned out great.
Too funny Swizz! Depending on who smashed it, it might be worth leaving as is.
Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles .........Love those bubbles.
You can see shadows in them when held up to the light and moved. Almost looks like water flowing around in the pick when held up and moved. These picks are some of my favorite, and comes from Colorado. I almost thought I wasnt going to get a pick from the small slab it was. It also had a spot where the bubbles met causing bubble clevage in the slice. Usually not a good thing when making a guitar pick, but I used my creativity to get it done. I decided to make it my version of a heart stone guitar pick, with the natural bubble clevage (only on the one side) being placed just right to make the heart. I think it turned out pretty darn nice myself. If turned upside down, the cleavage looks like a whales tail underwater. Ok, somedays Im using my creativity way to much right?
Here are two pictures showing the heart shape and the bubbles inside. Pick is 1.5 mm.
In the upper left corner of the second picture, you can almost see how the bubbles were really tiny.
I finished another of the bubbly agate picks with shadows, but I havent took a picture of it yet. Here is a really nice Wyoming Jade (green) pick. It measures 1.4 mm. in thickness.
This is a really cool one. It seems to be a very hard piece of brownish orange Chalcedony. It measures 2.1 mm. in thickness.
Here is a picture of it held up to the sunlight.
Almost looks like a man passing a woman in a big dress some flowers.
Thanks Chris! I definately see the face.....hehe......Red Skelton. One of the BEST comedians ever.
Here is another shadow bubbly agate pick. I love the way the shadows in the bubbles dance around when you move the pick.
Almost looks like clouds contained in the pick because of the taper on the edges of it.
Get that guitar fixed yet Chris?
Ok, now THAT is the most beautiful pick I've ever seen. Incredible 3D effect!
Thanks Chris! Those are definately some of my favorite to make. If you like the way it looks all motionless for the picture, you would definately like the way the shadows in the bubbles dance in hand.
Wow denise I must agree with Swiz. I't a beauty. Is it Colorado agate?
Yep Jim that is a piece of Colorado "thunderegg" agate.
Very clear agate and when cut the oppisite direction it has banding like this one does with some minor inclusions (dendritic) near the center vortex.
This pick was cut from the same piece of rock as the previous guitar pick was. Gotta' love mother nature's inner beauties.
I like it better the other way. That boytroidal sends me.
Agreed, that cloud dancin' effect is just cool when moved in hand.
Here's another one cut for the bytroidal cloud dances and although not shown in the picture, you can also see banding at an angle in hand. Bubbles and bands and more bubbles. 1.6 mm thick
I love making stone guitar picks, and the more challenging the better.
Since I started making them in 06', I have always wanted to make an Opal one.......I know, it would be WAY too soft to play with but sure will make a beautiful pick I thought. Talk about a challenge when Im use to making them out of Agate. Keeping the propper shape and taper was the most challenging, but they turned out great! Lots of color flash in hand. I was able to make a Reuleaux triangle and a traditional shape. The Reuleaux triangle is 2 mm in thickness and weighs 4.2 grams. The traditional shaped one is also 2 mm thick and weighs 3.3 grams.
No fractures and the matrix is very strong and polished out great. They are so thin that I have been scared to even pull them out into the sunlight to show all the different colors of flash for some pictures. The side of the Reuleaux where the Opal is clear flashes pink and purple, with blue and green flashes through the veins in both of the picks. I love the way the matrix almost looks like its floating away in the Opal.
Here are pictures of both sides of the picks.
Dems some killers denise. Too bad the flash isnt showing up in the pics.
Thanks Jim. Taking pictures of Opal flash is difficult, but a bit of the blue and green flash did show in those pics. The images can be clicked for the larger photo in a new browser. The flash is different depending on what angle you hold them. I was more trying to just get clear pictures of the picks.
I did however get a picture of how the Opal veins are transparent when held up to the light.
Check out the amazing wire wrap Dan did on this Iris agate pick! As all of Dans original guitar pick wraps, this pick can easily be removed from the wrap and placed back in when needed. This is a different Iris agate guitar pick than pictured above, but also has that amazing rainbow of colors. I love the way he varies each of the wraps from his original design, making each one a one of a kind!
It turned out great Dan!
And we "Rock On!"
Here is a sweet traditional shaped dinosaur bone guitar pick measuring in at 2.3 mm thick.
Some musician is going to make sweet music with this one. The lighter colored spots are translucent when held up to the light.
Here is another sweet Iris agate pick. This is a picture more showing the shadow bands.......WOW! Those things sure can dance when the pick is moved!
Im still really enjoying those Australian Boulder Opal ones though!
That one looks really nice, has a kind of soft 'satin' look to it.
Yep Swizz, it does look kind of satin finished, too bad we can't show the "dancing bands" in one picture. Here is another shot of the same guitar pick with bright sunlight back lighting it.....only shows about 1/5 th of the actual color rainbows seen in hand.
I obviously need to practice the photography some more. Grrr! Back to the photography frustration, er' I mean practice.
Here is a sweet one made from an amazing piece of moss agate Thunderegg from Mexico. (Slabs pictured on page 6 of this thread) It measures 2.3 mm thick.
Almost looks like a spider web in a tree.
Denise,
It does look like a spider web. I'm looking for the spider!
This would be a great pick for a guitarist playing in a band with someone like Alice Cooper
The visual depth that is very often displayed in your picks is great!
Chris
Do you ever tumble guitar picks instead of polishing them on the wheels? After drawing out the pick shape on an already thinly sliced slab, could you trim out the rough pick, shape it, bevel it and then polish it by using a tumbler?
The obvious is that working a pick by hand gives you complete control over shaping. What other negative things would/could happen that make it a disadvantage to use a tumbler in the pick making process?
Chris
Thanks Chris. The visual depth is also one of the things I like about making stone guitar picks. One would never know what is hidden within the stone till it is sliced thin.
I have tumbeled some picks before, but I wasnt happy with the polish in the end. Tumbeling can also undercut any inclusion the stone may have leaving the polish uneven in those spots. It is possible though. I strive for perfection, so I was forced to go back to the diamond wheels (starting on the second wheel) and re work the entire pick to get the results I wanted. Tumbeling also takes a week on each grit stage (4 weeks or more total). I prefer to crank up the music, turn the diamond wheels on and jam out a stone guitar pick in a few hours.
Denise,
Your attention to detail does show! It is quite impressive!
At what point in the cubing, slabbing or slicing do you know you are going to make guitar picks out of a piece of stone?
I wondered how you decide whether a larger piece of stone would make a good pendant, cabochon, pair of earings, guitar pick or remain a specimen set. Obviously smaller and thinner pieces give you fewer choices of what you can choose make. When making a pick do you first make thin sliced slabs from a piece of stone until you get a slice you want to work with? Or do you make many thin slices and then just start working them?
Chris
Dan,
Thanks! Your reply could be part of a "Stone Cutting 101" course! Awesome explanation and even though this is all new to me I easily followed you. It sounds like your expertise and creativity guide you throughout the cutting process and allow you to make decisions about what you want the stone to become and look like.
P.S. I recognize that stubby shape!
Chris
Here's my first one!
Good job! Love the black Jade.
Thanks! Nice job spotting the Australian black jade!
Jim here on CP cut the slab so I knew it had pick potential, lol!
Jade makes really nice picks and giving them a great sound also. Keep up the good work!
Here is a Brazilian agate (not dyed) one I recently did. This one will probably become a future prize giveaway. It sure has some fantastic patterns. Even has a blood red playing tip.
Denise that is very cool looking.
I like the red just at the tip and the different patterns converging. Great eye for catching everything in your pick layout!
Thanks GuitarC for the kind compliments. We do try very hard on placement of the stones to be cut and many times we'll move a marked piece several times before we find the placement that works best for the fractures involved as well as the stones patterns overall.
Good thing we mark with pencil because getting off an aluminum scribe mark doesn't work with a pencil eraser.
CP
Thanks GuitarC, it helps to love what your doing.
Here is a really nice one with a natural druzy grip that I havent posted yet. It just sold in the Miners Market with a silver slip wrap added.
Its a fantastic Arizona Agate pick, and looks amazing in hand and held up to the light!
The second picture is of the reverse side of how I had it listed in the Market. Almost looks like an alien to the left of the druzy pocket I think.
Decisions decisions.......... Dan showed me this end cut piece to the Mexico thunderegg which I made this guitar pick (thin) from. As you can see, the pick was made from the kissing slab that was next to the end cut. He thinks it would make a great matching heart, so I layed out the pattern. I was going to try to get a little heart from the corner, but as you can see there is a small fracture.
Here are a couple of dinosaur bone guitar picks I did recently. They turned out great I think!
Here is a beautiful thick teardrop shaped pick from an Oregon thunderegg. When working this one, a small play of color appeared in the side of the tip, almost like Iris agate. It just appears light blue in this picture though. Very hard to photograph but a sweet little surprise.
these are some very special pics for sure!very neat item!! i wish i played it!
Thank you for the feedback Russ, maybe someday you will play the guitar.
Both Dino bone and the T-egg tear drop pick are going to the same person with one of our original silver slip wraps custom made to the pick.
This slip wrap has a very nice tight fit, lays right nicely on both sides of the stone. It actually holds onto both dino bone picks but since it was designed/made around the thicker one, the medium is a bit loose but still holds in it. I thought this one turned out nicely with it's own uniqueness.
Hopefully the owner likes them upon arrival too.
Thanks Russ! I love makin them! Here is a thin I made from Arizona plume agate. It has tiny little druzy pockets for grip, but the playing tip is clean.
Nice work Denise, I really like that Az. agate, sometimes we can catch a speck of gold on some cuts.
Here's a pic showing the profile view of another thin cut from Wyoming green jade. Thin's we cut range from 1.3 - 2.0 mm. and as you can see are consistent thickness through the center of the stone, this jade pick is a beauty at 1.5 mm. Denise just finished this one the other day so we'll have to add an update pic showing the stone/pick itself when we get one.
The Wyoming jade takes a sweet polish, and cut this thin shows a nice translucence too when backlit.
Here is a picture of the green Jade pick. It was a challenge to keep the lint particles off of it for the picture.
A couple of the teenage boys (good friends sons) in our neighborhood received stone guitar picks for Christmas to go with their new guitars....They loved them!
It was fantastic to see their faces light up when they saw them.
Here is a cool thin one I made from Del Norte Colorado agate. The bubbles in this piece are big and almost making a picket fence pattern.
I will be adding this one to the http://coloradoprospector.com/MinersMarket/FolkArt/StoneGuitarPicks.html soon.
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