Lapidary Without Lapidary Tools // The Maker's Challenge 5

I'm thrilled with how this came out!
It was also quite the learning experience for me and a challenging project to do without any lapidary tools, which made it enjoyable, and I had to do some problem-solving with it.
Thanks for watching!
Be sure to check out the other channels participating in this year's Makers Challenge.
@KatyDidRocks
@RockHoundingAdventures
@RufotrisRootedRockhound
@QuestForDetails
@WorldofRockhounds
@OzoneFineArtVentures
@RockhoundingLife
@MarlainaAtkins
@MichiganRocks
@sticksstones639
Be sure to check out my website at currentlyrockhounding.com for tons of additional rockhounding resources and much more!
Did you enjoy this video and find it to be informative? You can help ensure that more videos just like this get made by supporting the project on Patreon. / currentlyrockhounding
#CurrentlyRockhounding #makerschallenge5 #Lapidary

[@kellyharper367]

Old disabled house bound dusty rusty rockhound here: Yeah🎉 The Super Bowl for us KZbin rockhounds!!!! Let's see you "walk the dog " with that one!!!!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Hahaha I think I need to get better with a plastic yo-yo before I start doing tricks.

[@aidankeller1717]

Do you ever not start your sentences on YT comments that way? I'm curious, b/c to me, it would become redundant after the 10th time using it. But you do you I guess.

[@leezardo9324]

So original and creative. I love it! Using no lapidary equipment was brilliant. Very well done. Thank you for participating in the Maker's Challenge!

[@charlesfosterrocks]

As a yoyo person also, your yoyo is awesome 😎

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I hope to see you make a stone yoyo someday!

[@Rockin_in_Kentucky]

Sweet Maker's challenge project. I like the yo-yo, very cool!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it.

[@TheoKellison]

You had me at yoyo 🤣 little known fact about Theo Kellison, he was OBSESSED with yoyos when he was a kid😂 that is so freaking cool! Absolutely love the way that came out, and also really appreciate the fact that it's a project that requires no lapidary tools. I'm a HUGE fan of soapstone as well! It is so fantastic for shaping and carving and looks so good with a shine! Absolutely love the video and thank you so much for being a part of the challenge!😄

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you for putting this thing together every year and I look forward to seeing your project.

[@aidankeller1717]

Does Montana have any soapstone localities?

[@kzookid2051]

The yo-yo came out great. Try starting with your hand palm up and kind of throw the yo-yo with a downward motion so that it rolls off your middle finger, then flip your hand back over to catch it when it comes up. This was a really good answer to the challenge!

[@KatyDidRocks]

What a lot of work! Fun to see - nice job, Jared.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

It was a lot of work, but now I have a fun project to go in my display case of things I have made!

[@2HighNoon]

🏆😅 My Fireball is a glow in the dark. 🙃

[@bhutjolokia6990]

Awesome Jared, very unique idea!!👍😎👻🌶

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you! It was fun to do.

[@zefwoodelf]

Great project Jared! I like how you challenged yourself to take it back to basics by using no lapidary tools and by using a material that you are not that familiar with AND the project itslef something that you have never made. A true Makers Challenge. 👏 👏 👏

[@laurafolsom2048]

I agree it was a lot of work! Very fun to watch.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I'm glad you liked it.

[@UncleBildo]

Very cool project, looked like a lot of work!

[@RockhoundingLife]

I was terrible at yoyoing as a kid. But if I were good at it I would have loved to have this yoyo. Great idea and great execution!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

It's never too late for you to pick one up! I look forward to seeing your project this year.

[@JohnTheHam]

Great job Jared. You really have mastered the “ups and downs” of the makers challenge.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Ha!

[@MrTurtleMontana]

Jared, I really enjoyed watching you make this Yo-Yo! What a great idea for the Maker's Challenge! I especially like how you did it all without using any of your lapidary equipment. Many of us don't have any of those tools, so it's nice to see how to create something using the tools we do have. I cool follow up video would be a remake using all of your tools.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Did you enjoy this video and find it to be informative? You can help ensure that more videos just like this get made by supporting the project on Patreon. www.patreon.com/currentlyrockhounding

[@j.ericswede7084]

The winner in the "Child Toy Category" of #MakersChallenge. Nicely done!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Ha! Thank you! Watch the next person make a fully functioning Mouse Trap board game or something.

[@michellestenton6430]

Oh my rocks! What an awesome project Jared. The polish on the stone turned out beautifully. Now go rest those hands, forearms and shoulders. Well done!!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@tinadelaluz3197]

You nailed it! I love the way the yo-yo turned out. Great job!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you! It was fun project.

[@slssoulenchantedjewelry4126]

Nice job!!! I agree all the tools are expensive to get into. For the last year all my extra spending money has gone into them. If it wasn't for so many you tubers teaching me alternative ways I would not be where I am today in the rock hobby. ♡

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

The price is for sure a barrier with this hobby.

[@manisteerocks7092]

Wow!..cool!!!..it functions..kind of..lol..I love it!..great job!..and you proved beyond a doubt that lapidary tools are NOT required!..that's the most amazing thing about it!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thanks man, I was hoping you would see this video and give me your thoughts on it.

[@christineg8151]

For hand-polishing super-soft stones like amber or soapstone, my favorite things to use are denim scraps or pieces of crumpled kraft paper. If you want a bit of grit, you can use toothpaste with the denim, but even just the fabric by itself does a great job. I really like working soapstone by hand. It's soft enough you can literally carve it with a butter knife, and it actually feels really nice in the hand. It's a great stone to work with if you want something kind of meditative to work on while watching TV or something.

[@coffee19837]

Very cool Jared very creative way to use the soap stones. Can’t wait to see what you come up with next.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@coffee19837]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding You’re welcome

[@amberandrews6842]

That was excellent!! It turned out beautifully. I think you need a stronger strong. If you find the right string I bet that would work perfectly!! It's really really beautiful!!

[@charlenecastaldo3602]

What a fun idea Jared! Great job.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@AllNAll-lg9ce]

Great Work Jared! As a beginner rock hounder, I am still learning loads and this channel is teaching me a lot. I have gathered quite a bit of material, but don't yet have all the lapidary tools I need to "turn" them into a polished piece. Thank you for sharing some tricks of the trade.

[@mikehorrocks2909]

Beautiful yo-yo! I had an idea for your diy power sander: take a fan motor (mine is a small blower fan), remove the housing, attached a plastic disc, glue some Velcro to the disc then put some sanding discs on the Velcro. Mount to table and there you go! Hope this helps.🤪

[@brianholcomb940]

Awesome yoyo! I think it turned out great, even has a good polish! Thanks for sharing!

[@QuestForDetails]

this is perfect, seems simple at first but then the complications of balance and uniformity... really get to use your technical skill ! and... I love yo yo's !! different strings and waxing always make performance change, in my opinion, its top shelf ! happy makers Challenge 2024 !

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. I think some playing around with different strings is in order.

[@OzoneFineArtVentures]

Absolutely love this answer to the challenge. How often do you get asked 'how do I get into the lapidary, I don't have the tools!'. The Yo-yo turned out great, you've got mad skillz, and your videos are always both informative and entertaining. Thanks for sharing!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you very much! It was fun to make.

[@soul_adventurist]

Enjoyed the video. Thanks for showing us how to make a yo-yo. My favorite one was one I hand painted at summer camp the year I was a group leader, but they were already assembled. Nice job, Jared.

[@JnVrockhounding]

Nice Jared. Turned out good.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you very much!

[@kaleyfantastic]

I love the idea of using filing box for sand paper. I'm going to steal that

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

It's the best way to keep it!

[@largent45]

That looks like an awesome project! Sorry I missed the premier! I'm at the Dr and will have to watch when I get home! Congrats on a fantastic #MakersChallenge5 project Jared!🎉

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Don't worry, the video will be here forever.

[@largent45]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding I just got the chance to watch the video and it was fantastic! That soap stone yo-yo was nice! I know that polishing soapstone wasn't easy, but it was worth every bit of time, it took! This turned out amazing!!! What a neat project! I love #makers challenge week! Everyone has an awesome project! Can't wait for everyone's time makers challenge projects. #MakersChallenge 5

[@karlahall9058]

I love soap stone!!! Thank you, I had a bast!! The yo-yo is awesome!!! It turned out perfect 👌. 😊🎉

[@malinda8668]

The soapstone you collected is so pretty. Wow, what a laborious project you chose this year. It looks so good. Well done.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you very much!

[@connifilteau2678]

Nice work cutting perfect circles by hand. The soapstone came out so beautiful when polished. Happy Yo-Yo.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you.

[@NickAcker2019]

Yessir! Way to make us tradesmen proud. The art of manual labor is a beautiful thing. Amazing job with less than ideal conditions. Super cool Jared!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you! I do my very best with these project.

[@patriciamckean4186]

Really enjoyed the manual labor. Remember hand polishing a petoskey. Your project was another step up in difficulty. WTG Jared!

[@melindakeith4103]

Wow! The yo-yo is Awsome. Thank you for taking us back in time!

[@JerryPaulTreeCreations]

Beautiful work! Your hands must have been pretty sore by the time it was all done. I admire your patience and persistence. Admittedly, I can't say I'd have the patience to do all of that, and my arthritis would probably stop me pretty quickly, but your video did get me thinking... If you were to take a threaded rod, the same size of the hole in the yo-yo, you could tighten the two sides together with nuts and washers. Leaving one end of the rod protruding, you could then mount it into your drill press, and use the rasps and files to shape the yo-yo and keep it centered as you go. You could even do your finish sanding and polishing in the same way. Cool project! Cheers!

[@joang.cavanna2046]

That was pretty awesome. Nice job. Thanks for sharing.

[@outdooradventureswithfayde6832]

Wow, Jared! That turned out really good 👍 I liked your choice of material and all the planning and effort that went into your project. Great execution. I always look forward to your creations. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you very much!

[@deniseview4253]

It works!! ❤ I did not know soap stone shined up that shiny. Very nice job.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I also didn't know it could look like this.

[@sonyaalgosaibi5840]

Commendable! I am in awe of your perseverance! Well done Jared! I can just follow 😅

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you.

[@jennifershipp2599]

Jared, you did awesome 👌. Thank you ❤😊❤

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you.

[@jonathanrood3548]

I love the 80's montage music! @4:15

[@RufotrisRootedRockhound]

Really nice job! Very fun and nostalgic idea 🤘

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thanks man!

[@spetkovsek57]

Challenge is the correct term for doing this project. That's quite the task you picked out for yourself. When I want to make a matching pair of stones, I glue them together with a light amount of water soluble wood glue, then soak them in water to release the glue. Separating them with a razor blade helps as well. You did a great job. Thanks for sharing.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I'm in favor of sticking the two sides together for the matching pair, but I was concerned about dealing with the glue on something this soft. I guess it would have been smart to test it first to see how it would work, but I opted for this instead.

[@spetkovsek57]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding Being that Soapstone is only a 1 hardness, you probably chose the better option as I imagine the stone would have absorbed some of the glue making it really difficult to separate later.

[@pamelasplace7429]

This is a fantastic project! Your patience is amazing!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

It was slow going.

[@phylxguy5547]

Absolutely fantastic job my friend kudos on your diligence & I'm no expert but I believe the weight of it effects it's travel so you'll have to be more forceful or aggressive to keep it working correctly, regardless your new toy surely did turn out sweet looks awesome 👍

[@Mike-br8vb]

You did an awesome job on your project, considering the archaic tools used.🙂👍🏻🍻

[@2HighNoon]

Great job, I dig it. 🏆✌️

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@dimat-jn3bu]

Really nice project!Enjoy your channel too!Thanks!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you very much.

[@janehelbert7551]

It works - mainly!

[@WorldofRockhounds]

That turned out really cool! Nice job!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@TalRohan]

great stuff although I think because of the weight it needs a beginner fastening to the axle so it goes straight up and down instead of having some spin...Soapstone is really beautiful stuff and you did a fantastic job on the polishing and balancing. Thankyou for sharing

[@sandmaker]

Totaly unexpected. The yo-yo and not using lapidary tools. Thanks for a most intersting presentation.😊

[@craniumrex4614]

New to rock things (like, this week!) and stumbled on the Maker’s Challenge and am watching them all. Love your presentation skills (among your other skills!). Very engaging. I may have whooped a bit at the first yo-yo run - you tapped into my memories for sure. It’s a functional piece of art!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Welcome to the greatest hobby in the world! I'm glad you liked my project. What's peaking your interest in the rock world?

[@craniumrex4614]

Thanks for taking the time to reply! I honestly don’t know enough about to say what’s the most interesting. I like all creative processes - one of Michigan Rocks shorts ended up in my feed and I branched out from there to this extraordinary Maker’s Challenge. What an awesome and friendly community rockhounds are!

[@chaireincoughtry2728]

Sweet project! I enjoyed watching you work with tools other than lapidary tools.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you.

[@deemushroomguy]

I'd be tempted to automate the process with a homemade windmill... 😂

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Ha!

[@MarlainaAtkins]

Nice one Jared. Pretty cool idea. Turned out pretty awesome.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you! I look forward to seeing your project.

[@offyarocka]

That was a lot of fun to watch and a very cool project indeed 😎😎😎

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@phild8095]

Elegant, functional, excellent use of tools. I may make one of granite using my lapidary equipment. You are quite an artist. Do you still have any knives that you made? Perhaps you could show them off sometime.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you! I'm most likely going to make more out of these with some harder rock and use all my machines to do so, which will be enjoyable. I have many of the knives I use to make, and I would be happy to show them sometime.

[@seananderson5850]

You could use CA glue to adhere the two halfs flush to each while on the spindle and then put them in your drill- press. This is a poor-man's lathe. It should be okay with low RPM. You could use the rasp/sand paper to get them to shape. Heat will separate the glue afterward.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

There are a number of reasons I didn't do that, such as the large amount of dust and mess it would produce, I don't think it would be very accurate, and I'm not sure gluing two soft rocks together would work the same as hard rocks.

[@Mrjoshuasjourneyzzz10420]

Cool project!!!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@garnettoll9317]

That was an awesome project!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it.

[@robc9562]

I think you did a great job! It looks really nice too!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you very much!

[@406findings]

Great idea yo! 🔥

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@bobs-rocks]

nice project looks cool

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@patriciamckean4186]

Yo yo!!! What an awesome project!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@mirkatu3249]

It turned out beautiful!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@angiewright692]

Great job, I know I wouldn't have stuck that one out. One of these days, can we talk about the safety of working with soapstone? It is essentially compressed talc, so it does contain asbestos.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

That is accurate, but it's also in its natural state, which is not as bad for you, and it's not like It's something I do for a living, so the risks are very low.

[@angiewright692]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding good to know, thanks for the response. 🙂

[@odacent]

This is an awesome idea. Thank you Jared. I never miss your videos! I wonder if a hole saw on a drill press would be easier to get uniform halves. I might have to make one myself!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I did test the hole saw idea and it's just not very good idea as the plug you cut out gets messed up and it requires more work in the long run

[@odacent]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding good to know thank you!

[@Jay-dr9co]

Lapidary is more about Planning, Patience and Time than money spent. You have exhibited an abundance of all three. Good work!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Well said.

[@aidankeller1717]

Idk... the couple thousand dollar equipment says otherwise. Thankfully I have someone across town that let's club members use his saws, arbors, faceting machines, etc.

[@Jay-dr9co]

@@aidankeller1717 You're very fortunate. I have 8 saws from 10" to 6' various wet sanders, grinders,polishers,sphere machines and tumblers as well as heavy equipment and access to dig Jasper and agate. The one thing I don't have is enough time. LOL

[@aidankeller1717]

@@Jay-dr9co that always seems to be the case. 24 hours is not enough. We need 24 hours of daylight...if only.

[@jaydurtsche2569]

Pretty neat project

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@Mrjoshuasjourneyzzz10420]

Sweet!!!

[@tott3457]

Very creative Jared ❤

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@MichiganRocks]

Nicely done, Jared. I’m impressed that you do the whole project with woodworking tools. Do you know what effect soapstone had on the sharpness of your saws and drill bit? I have never worked with soapstone before and I’m surprised at how shiny a rock that soft got.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you very much, it was an enjoy project. I didn't notice any dulling of the power tool blades or bits, however when we were collecting it in the field with the hand saw it did get dull but since it's a vintage hand saw the geometry of the teeth on it are such that you can just resharpen them with a sawyer file. Before starting this project, I never knew that most soapstone got its luster from oil or wax that is buffed into it. Only one source I found suggested dry buffing with blue shop towels, and I'm happy with the results, as I really didn't want to oil it or anything like that.

[@MichiganRocks]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding I don't like coating my rocks with anything either, but I do oil Lake Superior agates and leave them unfinished otherwise. I cringe when people talk about spraying rocks with lacquer or something, but oil doesn't bother me as much for some reason. I really like the finish you got though.

[@miketufts9765]

Thats a wood saw!I hope you redeem yourself by the end of this video..lol btw the Duncan butterfly was goat back in my day,wow awesome yo-yo,now apologize to the "wood" hand saw

[@mom42boys]

That turned out great!! ❤❤❤

[@philstover2422]

Love it! Nice job!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you, it was a fun project.

[@francoiselandriault8164]

Amazing work! I love it.

[@valsummers5330]

Don’t blame your yo-yo. I think the string seems wimpy. Not a heavy enough twist If the cord is too stretchy you lose the energy I think your yo-yo is super cool

[@notinmanitou]

Wonderful!!

[@jeanettestefanik5854]

This was cool.

[@user-oz3hs9nh4z]

I have watched you freeze your behind off for a couple of years now. Have you thought about attaching closed cell foam board to the outside of your container? You can paint it with house paint to match your house. Great project! Thanks.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I am not convinced that would preform very well in a place that gets lots of ice and snow. Exposed foam to the elements doesn't sound like it would last very long.

[@user-oz3hs9nh4z]

I believe it would. I have seen homes on the Alaskan peninsula covered with spray foam. I had large building numbers made of foam and painted. They lasted 25 years. Easy enough to find out. Buy a small panel. paint it and put it up to see how it fares. That is a nice rock shop. Thanks for your videos. Learn lots from them. @@CurrentlyRockhounding

[@gator83261]

Fun!

[@roydoucet7697]

Well done sir !!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you.

[@DeeDeeDIY]

How cool!

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you.

[@Algoldprospecting]

Nice one

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you.

[@donaldduck9493]

Wonder if you could have used some tapered wood shoved into the center hole, and chucked that into a hand drill or whatever and spun them and used the rasp or sanding tool.

[@ICutRocks]

How does one get in on this challenge? Because I'm right in the middle of redoing my floor with all the slabs I've cut, and the video is already in the works, so the timing would be perfect...

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

This is something that Theo Kellison puts together each year and organizes. You should reach out to him about participating next year.

[@ICutRocks]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding sweet, thanks for the tip!

[@rosemaryspringer4239]

I like your project. Maybe rhyolite would be lighter weight and better for actual yo-yoing.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I feel like for actual yo-yoing plastic is really the best.

[@user-mx9xb8cj4f]

I would have used a hole saw. center hole and out side dia all at once.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I thought about that, and I tested my hole saws as an option, but the issue is that the soapstone is so soft that the hole saw mangles the plug you're trying to get out of the slab.

[@kaleyfantastic]

I do 90% of my lapidary work with a tile saw, a Dremel, and a power drill

[@kaleyfantastic]

Including the petrified wood with your logo on it.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

And it looks wonderful!

[@markattardo]

Awesome (labor intensive) little project! Seeing you cut it just looks so wrong to me😂 Do you think a holesaw would work on soapstone?

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I did test the hole saw idea and it's just not very good idea as the plug you cut out gets messed up and it requires more work in the long run.

[@markattardo]

@@CurrentlyRockhoundingI forgot about the plugs getting deformed. Thanks for responding!👍👍

[@Theranthrope]

It's too late now, but you probably should have roughed-up the ends of the axle a bit with a file to promote better epoxy adhesion and if I were to attempt to try making one myself, I would make blind holes instead of going straight-through for the axle with the drill-press. That said, all your hand polishing looks handsome and really brought out the color of the soapstone nicely.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I disagree, for something like this, roughing up the ends will not matter much and the reason for the not drilling a blind hole in it for the axle is that when you put epoxy in and place the pin on the second side, there is no room to clean up what will squirt out, and now you have a little blob of epoxy in there that the sting will catch on.

[@Theranthrope]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding Ah, okay.

[@pernykvist3442]

Wonder if you can do ballberings in stone?

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I'm sure you could.

[@kastah]