1

No Stone

Unturned

KEN TIM

Above: Robbie, finding sapphires

Read his report inside.

Camping styles 1

AUGUST 2019

with clear quartz

G

F

2

0

1

9

A

Festival

of

Smiles

2 CONTACT INFORMATION:

Phone: 0450 185 250

Email: cairnsmlc@gmail.com

Postal Address: PO Box 389, Westcourt. 4870. NQ

129 Mulgrave Road (in the Youth Centre Grounds)

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

President: Michael Hardcastle

Vice-president: Tammi Saal

Secretary: Damian De Sabatta

Treasurer: Joe Venables

Assistant Secretary: vacant

Assistant Treasurer: Marit Willemsen

Extra Members MC: Jan Saal

OTHER PERSONNEL:

Purchasing Officers: Jan Saal

Specimen Curator: David Croft

Specimen Tester: David Croft

Cabochon Instructor: Jodi Sawyer,

Michael Hardcastlke

Faceting Instructors: Jim Lidstone, Joe Ferk

Silver Instructors: Sylvia Rose, Jan Saal

Machinery Curators: David Croft,

Gem Testing: Vic Lahtinen

Librarian: David Croft

Facebook Admin: Tammi Saal

Webpage Admin: Nicky Redgen

QLACCA Delegate: position vacant

Youth Centre Rep: Bill Reece

Field Trip Advisor: Allan Gale

Special Events: Management Committee

Auditor: Carey Accountancy

Safety Officers positions vacant

Club Banking details for anyone wishing to pay

membership fees electronically:

Bendigo Bank BSB: 633 000

Gem Festival

WE WISH TO THANK THE FEDERAL

MEMBER FOR LEICHHARDT, HON.

WARREN ENSTCH, FOR FACILITATING THE

COPYING OF THIS MAGAZINE.

CLUB HOURS:

Monday 4:00pm to 9:30 pm

Wednesday *8:30am to 12:30

*1:00pm to 4:00pm

Saturday *9:00am to 1:00

*12:00pm to 4:00pm

Workroom fees are $4 per session or part there-

of and must be paid before session begins.

The Club provides tuition in cabbing, faceting,

silver-smithing and lost wax casting

Note: The Club is closed for gazetted holidays

only and open on other club days

GENERAL MEETINGS:

General meetings are held on the 1st Saturday of

each month. When this is a public holiday, the

meeting is deferred until the following Saturday.

Note: Your Attendance at General Meetings

ensures that your voice will be heard when it

comes to making decisions concerning the

running of the club.

CLUB PURCHASING POLICY:

If you wish to purchase something on behalf of the

club, please notify a purchasing officer, Jan or

Michael

Magazine Editor and Publisher: Jeanne Mora

The Editor reserves the right to choose and edit all

material featured in this magazine.

Although all care is taken to ensure the

accuracy of the material herein, the Editor

does not accept responsibility for any

inaccuracies which may inadvertently occur.

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AROUND

THE

CLUB

AUGUST BIRTHDAY BEST WISHES TO

all members born the month of July including these

that we know about:-

Daniel Benni, Kaiden Patrick, Rita Biscaretti, Lois

Cross, Ryan Davidson, Cassandra Goodwin, Audra

Jones, Les Kenny, Nicki Lee, Justine Smith, Kevin

Smith, David & Charlie Sykes, Joe Venables, Dale

Beal, Wayne Davis, David Fuller, Allan Gale, Mami

Osada, Karen Whitworth

Have a memorable day and year.

A WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS ;-

Kyle Turner, June Fisher, Dorylle Sorensen, Mari-

anne & Alex Pinchbeck

Please be sure to include them in all activities and

discussions so they feel at home.

FESTIVAL WINNERS

Peg a Claim (Sunday) …..Lisa Christensen

Gold Rush Ethen Wagstaff

DATES TO REMEMBER

AUGUST

3 QLACCA Management Meeting, Caboolture

Gemfest

3 Caboolture Gemfest, Caboolture Historical

Village, Beerburrum Rd, Caboolture

3 Innisfail Club Gem Show, Clubrooms, 6

River Drive

4 Atherton Show, Clubhouse, Racecourse

Rd, Tolga

3 Club Monthly General Meeting 12:00

followed by BBQ

11 Sunday Slog

12 Management Committee Meeting, 5:00pm

17:18 Rockhampton Gen Expo, Showgrounds

18 Waterloo Bay Gem Show Hammant

Community Hall, Brand & Ramsay Sts

September

7 Cairns Mineral & Lapidary Club, AGM

(election of office bearers)

8 Ipswich & Dist Lap Club Show, Silkstone

State School, Prospect St.

7:8 AFG Seminar, Casino

14 QLACCA AGM Bribie Island Gem Festival,

191 Community Arts Centre, Banksia

Beach, Bribie Island

8 Fathers Day

14 QLACCA AGM, Bribie Island Gem Festival

14:15 Bribie Island Gem Festival 191 Community

Arts Centre, Banksia Beach, Bribie Island

15 Management Committee Meeting 5:00pm

15 Sunday Slog

21 Caloundra Gem Show, Caloundra Club

Rooms, 9 Caloundra St

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Gem Festival Raffle

Tickets just $1.00 each Drawn at the Gem Festival on Sunday 28th July

PLEASE SUPPORT THOSE BUSINESSES WHO SUPPORTED

PRIZE DONATED BY WON BY

1 Doublet Opal Pendant Gary Wilkie Faye Lovekin

2 .8 ct sapphire, set in sterling silver Robyn Sandra Lawardorn

3 Silver and created ruby mermaid

pendant & earring set

Trevor Orapin

4 10g fine silver ingot pendant Trevor Hannam Andy Viki

5 Pink agate & silver pendant Michael Hardcastle Kim Button

6 Rite-edge pen knife Cairns Shooters Club Joe Venables

7 Silver bangle ($100) Sylvia Rose Lucy Gale

8 Picnic rug & Cushion ($50) anon Betty Reece

9 Citrine ring Trevor J Collins

10 Handcrafted wooden jewellery box Joe Venables P Bryant

11 Pro gold premium panning kit anon Janet Aspin

12 Opal & topaz ($147 combined value) anon G Tresise

13 Silver barbed wire bracelet ($75) Brenda Gale Post Office Hotel,

Chillagoe

14 $50 voucher to Mondo Restaurant Hilton Cairns Carina

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Open Round Chain.

This pattern is a little tricky to start off but is so beautiful when

completed

This chain has an Aspect Ratio of 4.0. This means the smallest Inside

Diameter for this project in 1mm is 4.0mm ID. You can go larger in-

side diameter.

The project as shown uses (150) 1mm 4.0mm ID Jump rings.

Secure with a catch of your choice.

STEP 1: The Starter

The easiest way to assemble this chain is to make a starter. You need a dowel

(3/16" diameter) a piece of masking tape and (3) 1mm ID Jump Rings.

Close the three jump rings.

STEP 2: Stick 'Em

Press the 3 closed jump rings into the sticky side of the masking tape. Make sure

at least half of the jump ring is visible above the tape.

STEP 3: The Roll

Attach the dowel to the edge of the tape. Make the end of the dowel equal with the

tape, and roll the dowel so that the tape and jump rings are packed inside.

STEP 4: Looks Like This...

Press the tape firmly against the dowel and jump rings to secure them. Your fin-

ished starter should allow you to add jump rings to the starter jump rings.

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STEP 5: The Triangle

The jump rings on the starter should form a triangle. You will be adding

new jump rings, one each, the the corners of the triangle where the jump

rings meet.

STEP 6: Starter Complete

Optional: Hang the starter from your work lamp or third hand to give you

access to the chain.

STEP 7: Pair #1 - first new ring

Locate the point where two rings on the starter are touching. Open a jump

ring and attach it to that pair.

STEP 8: Pair #2 - second new ring

Rotate the work to the next point where two rings from the starter touch.

Add a new jump ring.

STEP 9: Pair #3 - last new ring

Turn your work and find the point where the rings from the starter touch

and add a new jump ring.

Row Complete!

STEP 10: Add a new row - new ring #1

You are going to repeat the steps 7, 8 & 9. But lets continue following the

chain to reinforce what it should look like

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STEP 11: Then ring #2, then ring #3

Find the point the the rings touch and add a new ring. Each row requires 3

new rings.

Note: The first several rows can be tricky. Make sure that your new ring

only connect two rings and does not grab the previous row.

STEP 12: Continue the Chain

As you chain progresses in length, it will stabilize and you will no longer

need the dowel. I find it easier to keep track of the chain by making small

piles of three ring

STEP 13: Add the clasp

Adding the clasp is a little tricky in that you need to reduce the chain from

three rings, to two, then to one. There sill be a side of the chain that will be

left out, but it should not be very visible.

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DID YOU KNOW?

(The following information is taken from Ganoskin and is thoroughly backed by research data. )

Lapidary work is a unique, beautiful art with some serious health risks that mustn't be overlooked. …

HAZARDS

Stone dusts as well as organic material dusts can be vey hazardous, even deadly, particularly christobalite quartz used in

investment powder. Tver and Anderson note silicosis and silicotuberculosis are noted as occupational disorders for people who

cut and polish stones. Oils, lubricants, water, and soaps can foster dermatitis. The water in lapidary cutting systems often sits for

periods of time and can grow fungus and moulds. Lapidaries have even gotten Legionnaires’ disease from this. Diamond-saw

cutting of rough material can produce oil mists and chemical exposures. Oil mists from cutting gemstones can form aerosols that

are breathed in and can cause severe lung injuries

CHEMICAL

Oils used for cutting saws. They may contain nitrosamines, which McCann notes cause cancer in animals (AB! 447). Rocks are

chemicals and some materials are dangerous, especially as cutting residues. “Cutting fluids may also cause dermatitis” Do not

use antifreeze as a lubricant or coolant-it is dangerous

PHYSICAL

Silicosis. McCann lists the following stones as containing the free silica that causes silicosis: quartz (which is silica), granite,

sandstone, brownstone, slate, jasper, opal, onyx, amethyst and soapstone. There may also be silica in diabase and serpentine.

In addition, “soapstone, serpentine, and greenstone often contain asbestos as a contaminant. Inhalation of asbestos can cause

lung cancer, mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the chest and abdominal cavity), and asbestosis” Dusts. Flying chips can

damage the eyes. “Electric tools produce large amounts of dust” but “hand tools can slip” Electrocution is a danger. Rossol

notes the occurrence of “white fingers” disease or “vibration syndrome,” caused by continued use of electric tools, which cuts off

the blood supply to the hands (and possibly to the feet)

12 ERGONOMIC

Set up working heights carefully, change position and/or working height during the work day. Choose a chair carefully; if you

are sitting a lot you want the best. Fire: See “Fire Safety Rules” and “Fire Safety.” Electrical fires can happen. Oils and cutting

fluids

may be flammable. McCann observes that “organic oils slowly oxidize in air and release heat. Rags and paper towels soaked

with these oils can spontaneously catch fire if the heat cannot dissipate” He suggests storing such rags in “approved oily

waste cans that allow air to circulate around the can to dissipate heat” and which you empty daily. You can also hang them up

separately, or keep them in water.

EXPOSURE ROUTES

Inhalation, skin contact, eyes.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TO USE.

Know the dangers of your materials and tools. Get MSDS sheets for products and look up the dangers of the stuff you are

cutting. Hobbyists who carve stones while working wet sometimes use Dremel tools. They should purchase the flexible shaft

attachment in order to get the Dremel tool itself away from water splashes, as there is an electrocution hazard if the tool gets

wet. Get a ground fault interrupter for the wiring to your equipment. Wear work clothing and if it gets contaminated with oils,

change it immediately and have it dry cleaned.

Rossol says: “Purchase electric tools with low vibrations amplitude and comfortable hand grips. Do not grip tools too tightly,

take frequent work breaks, and do not work in cold environments to reduce risk from vibration syndrome” (253). Wear hearing

protection if necessary. Wear eye protection. Use cutting oils that don’t contain amines or nitrates. “Other precautions should

include wearing impervious clothing, washing exposed areas with soap and water, frequent showering, and use of nonamine

barrier creams”. Change water frequently to prevent bacteria and mould build-up. Keep a tidy workshop. Wet- wipe surfaces

(especially floors) where dust might form. Be especially careful of silicosis-causing dusts. Tver and Anderson recommend rou-

tine chest X-rays for lapidaries

SUBSTITUTION OPTIONS TO REDUCE RISKS

Outsource. Buy ready-made. Note: Ron Arney writes of someone who came up with a way for preparing abalone shell for in-

lay. “A few months later, as I recall the tale, 3 of the 7 people he employed were dead. They went into the hospital and were

treated for pneumonia, and as the problem was pus sacks in the lugs, and not pneumonia, it killed them. Simple as that” (Ron

Arney, Orchid list, Jan 4, 98).

Footnotes: (Publications which supplied this data)

• Crumley, Oran. “Shop Safety.” Lapidary Journal April 1990:

• McCann, Michael. Artist Beware! Rev. ed. New York: Lyons and Burford, 1992.

• Health Hazards Manual for Artists. 4th rev. ed. New York: Lyons and Burford, 1994.

• Rossol, Monona. The Artist’s Complete Health and Safety Guide. 2nd ed. New York: Allworth Press, 1994.

Tver, David, and Kenneth Anderson. Industrial Medicine Desk Reference. New York: Chapman and Hall, 1986.

To view the complete article go to https://www.ganoksin.com/article/lapidary-work-safety-precautions/

Others may advise but, as always, the primary person responsible for your safety is

YOU.

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