oregonrockdude
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2008
Posts: 4
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Post by oregonrockdude on Aug 12, 2008 23:10:08 GMT -5
I've got about a pound of Oregon Sunstone (Feldspar) which is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. Want to tumble it. Anyone with experience with Sunstone tumbling? Good additional tumbling stones/gems to throw in the barrrell?
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Aug 13, 2008 0:02:26 GMT -5
ORD. 6.0 - 6.5 ..... menacing, When i wrote this i did`t put the ODOT name to the Black Ford
You should Feldspar never more then 6.6
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Post by akansan on Aug 13, 2008 6:35:16 GMT -5
I would think any other feldspar would definitely work - moonstone, labradorite, amazonite, etc. Sodalite would be another thing you could use - it's soft and a "known" quantity when tumbling.
The only thing you really need to watch for when tumbling any feldspar is the cleavage plane. It tends to still split on plane throughout the process...so you have to be sure to remove the chipped pieces to avoid scratches. I'd definitely recommend pellets after coarse.
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darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
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Post by darrad on Aug 13, 2008 19:51:10 GMT -5
In my opinion Arkansan is right on. The Sunstone should take on a great shine with her advise.
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oregonrockdude
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2008
Posts: 4
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Post by oregonrockdude on Aug 14, 2008 22:25:41 GMT -5
Thanks for the feedback. Am taking your suggestions and figure I'll do my first batch or two with beach agates and such before I tackle the sunstones. They took some work to get and I'd hate to mess them up.
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