Fordite - Bell, I think you'll appreciate this

[thentavius]

As a jeweler, I'm sure you'll appreciate this. It's so hard to find good images of Fordite (and these guys even sell cabs!).

http://fordite.com/index.htm

Sidenote for other folks: Fordite, also called Detroitite, was a clever idea that popped up in the 70's. In the car paint booths at the major car production factories, layers of hardened, colorful car enamel would get scraped off from time to time. The resulting chunks were multi-layered and beautiful. Some clever dude got the idea to "cab" them (turn them into jewelry cabs), and there's nothing quite like them anywhere (although Rainbow Calsilica resembles them).

From what I understand, the type of paint and the modern painting process doesn't produce the same type of chunks, so Fordite is long gone.

[BellisimaJ.]

Wow, those are so cool, Thentavius. They look almost like exotic rocks-------gorgeous.

I wonder if I could get a similiar effect by casting opague enamels (in a mold, of course) and firing them?

Thanks for pointing the Fordite out to me!

[thentavius]

I bet you can achieve a very similar look!

You might also be able to simulate that effect by casting enamel chunks, then cutting across the grain. Do you do any cabbing?

Have you played around with Rainbow Calsilica at all?
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=rainbow+calsilica

http://cgi.ebay.com/RAINBOW-CALSILICA-FO...dZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/RAINBOW-CALSILICA-SI...dZViewItem

When Rainbow Calsilica first hit the Tucson Gem & Mineral show a few years back, the man who brought it up from a Mexico "mine" claimed it was natural, and formed by the runoffs of various factories (scary).

Since then, Rocks & Gems magazine and numerous mineralogists have tested the stuff and determined it's not that unlike Fordite (obvious from the images, too).

It turns out the stuff is a combination of natural stone & natural minerals, with resin as a "glue." The bright colors come from pure pigments. It's essentially Fordite with stone.

I'm sure you've seen it before, but if you haven't, it's a lot of fun to work with. If others haven't seen it before, you guys will probably enjoy this, too. It's been my experience that even thought it's somewhat "rainbowy," most men who buy turquoise also like calsilica, so it's unisex for the general populace.

[BellisimaJ.]

Do you do any cabbing?

No. I've thought about taking a cabbing or faceting class, but never have.

No.Wasn't even aware of it or Fordite.

It does look a lot like Fordite. I may have to buy a piece or two (except I refuse to buy on ebay).

[thentavius]

[quote author=BellisimaJ. link=topic=6907.msg41716#msg41716 date=1170200541]

It does look a lot like Fordite. I may have to buy a piece or two (except I refuse to buy on ebay).


[/quote]

Of course!  ;D 

There are lots of places out there. I just used eBay 'cause I was sure they'd have a ton of listings for it. LOL.