shady33shady
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2017
Posts: 2
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Post by shady33shady on Nov 21, 2017 15:45:50 GMT -5
Hi I'm new to all of this and I started with labradorite and I have been reading a lot on here but now I'm at a loss and not sure how to proceed my 2 best ones have cracked and I'm wondering if I should just continue the process or if I can fix them with a Dremel...i only have a pic of the one but I can take another pic of the other one but I don't know why this happened they were smooth no cracks and now 2 :/ I have attached a link to my picture. And will appreciate any advice. www.dropbox.com/s/1ert5x22swlu3d5/20171115_203954.jpg?dl=0
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Post by pauls on Nov 21, 2017 18:20:06 GMT -5
Hi Shady welcome from Australia
Labradorite is a type of Feldspar and has very pronounced cleavage, (as do all feldspars) it tends to easily split along those cleavage planes. There's not a lot you can do to stop it apart from being gentle with it. Having said that, here's hoping that someone has a secret method of handling the stuff that will blow my reply right out of the water.
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ubermenehune
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 293
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Post by ubermenehune on Nov 21, 2017 19:01:40 GMT -5
I'm not aware of any success stories with tumbling labradorite. It's right there with fluorite and apatite as soft material that's notoriously difficult, if not impossible, to tumble to the same luster as agate. I think they're best polished by hand.
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shady33shady
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2017
Posts: 2
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Post by shady33shady on Nov 22, 2017 0:16:47 GMT -5
I'm not aware of any success stories with tumbling labradorite. It's right there with fluorite and apatite as soft material that's notoriously difficult, if not impossible, to tumble to the same luster as agate. I think they're best polished by hand. I have seen a few good examples but nothing that was finished in the tumbler I'm open to do it by hand I can be very ridiculously patient with some things but if I could get it done better and faster by hand count me in lol I bought a Dremel and have previous experience with using one so I'm comfortable using it but still not quite sure on what the exact process would be for the best results...i made my first batch the worst ones I was sent cause I knew I'd run into issues having no experience lol at least I did that right haha
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Nov 22, 2017 3:08:15 GMT -5
Some how some way the overseas guys seem to be able to tumble it. Maybe they grind it to shape in the tumbler and finish it on a machine. Pretty sure they finish it in a vibratory.
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Nov 22, 2017 23:08:49 GMT -5
Oh, Lord, it has been a million years since I had a vibe, but yes... back in the day I could shape and orient the labradorite on the wheel and finish in the vibe, and it would take a great polish. I still have a few pieces somewhere with great polish like that so jamesp is probably correct about the process... Once I went over to rotary, I really haven't been able to do much with labradorite.
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