How would YOU do it?

[wildhare]

Quartz crystals are a natural occuring thing. We mined them in Arkansas. They were anywhere from pencil thin size up to about 1 1/2 inch across.

Ithink it is one of the few mines open to the public. I will try to find the info on exactly where if interest.

Legend is that quartz helps direct electrical fields, that is why they were once used in watches.

We found the mine and the store quite interesting. They had all kinds of already mined and cleaned crystals. And all kinds of books on what people use crystals for. I have a chunck about eight inches across loaded with all kinds of quartz crystals.
Wanda

[Kelley]

I don't know what one of those russian crystals looks like, but I carved a staff top out of walnut with a round glass ball in it. I split the walnut and carved a hole out the size of the ball -- then glued it back together and carved out four dragon claws holding the ball - it worked fine but I should have wrapped the ball in a layer of tape before gluing the walnut back together so I could be a little more careless while carving it back out.

Kelley

[Marvin Little]

I have made several sticks with 8-balls for handles. I coat the 8-ball with paste floor wax before I epoxy it to the handle. That way any epoxy that runs down over the ball will flake off when I wipe the floor wax off.

Marvin

[scooter]

Originally Posted by TreeWizard

I'd carve a basket to hold it, make the staves thin enough to soak in water and let them flex. After you insert the crystal you can bend the flexable staves back into position.

This was my first thought on this, as well.

Not unlike the golfball-in-the-cage arrangement I see at shows now and again...

S~

[LMiller]

Thanks again for the help! I very much appreciate those who have been down this road reaching back to help me along!

[LMiller]

Originally Posted by Kelley

I don't know what one of those russian crystals looks like, but I carved a staff top out of walnut with a round glass ball in it. I split the walnut and carved a hole out the size of the ball -- then glued it back together and carved out four dragon claws holding the ball - it worked fine but I should have wrapped the ball in a layer of tape before gluing the walnut back together so I could be a little more careless while carving it back out.

Kelley

Sorry. Here is a link to one on eBay: 30mm Swarovski Light Violet Crystal Ball Prisms-Logo! - eBay (item 350249769643 end time Sep-14-09 04:34:16 PDT)

[Kelley]

Thanks for the information -- it is pretty. I think this would be as easy as the ball. Just remember to wrap it in tape before gluing the wood back together - it makes it easier to carve later.

Kelley