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Post by fernwood on Apr 11, 2019 12:01:25 GMT -5
Only posting one that is going into final polish. Sorry, it is a little blurred. Low light conditions here due to the storm. Has anyone ever seen a piece of Labro that displayed all the colors of the rainbow? This one is heavy on pinks/purples. The others have individual colors of greens/blues and oranges/yellows. I love this piece. A bonus is that it is the best one in the batch. A flat back, perfectly smooth. Should end up as a great, high dome cab, which I can wrap. Thanks
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Post by greig on Apr 11, 2019 13:36:54 GMT -5
I will tell you at the end of the summer. I hope to be headed to Newfoundland to collect some in Aug. ;-)
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Apr 11, 2019 15:20:11 GMT -5
Blurry picture or not, that is really amazing looking natural rock. I would be afraid to put it in a tumbler. I think I would try to come up with some way to hand polish it maybe. Thanks for sharing. It should look unbelievable when its done.
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Post by fernwood on Apr 12, 2019 5:53:06 GMT -5
Blurry picture or not, that is really amazing looking natural rock. I would be afraid to put it in a tumbler. I think I would try to come up with some way to hand polish it maybe. Thanks for sharing. It should look unbelievable when its done. I plan on doing some hand polishing on it after it is done in polish. If it made it this far, doubt any damage will be done to it in tumbler. More and more colors showed throughout the process.
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Post by miket on Apr 12, 2019 9:44:11 GMT -5
That one is a beauty. Love the colors!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 12, 2019 9:52:03 GMT -5
I have seen that pinky color in labradorite, but not often. That's gonna be a stunner when you're finished with it!
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Post by fernwood on Apr 12, 2019 10:05:14 GMT -5
Thanks. Taking things very carefully.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Apr 12, 2019 10:51:19 GMT -5
fernwood not trying to rain on your parade but ... I have tried tumble polishing Lab, rotary once and vibe twice, and all 3 times it looked fine until polish cycle. It tends to chip/crack/frost along the edges of the layered minerals that make up the stone. Some pieces more than others. Check often and pull as soon as it's shined well enough for your taste is what I'd suggest. best of luck and rock on...
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 12, 2019 10:57:34 GMT -5
I have seen those colors, but it is more common in spectrolite than in labradorite. I think you are being brave. I wouldn't tumble it. All of my experiences with labs have been bad. LOL! I wouldn't risk it. I think hand polishing would be the safest bet. It's too gorgeous- and unusual- to risk.
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Post by fernwood on Apr 12, 2019 20:54:35 GMT -5
Thanks for the input. It is still in the Borax. Will take it out and examine more tomorrow before deciding whether to move on or just save for Dremel polish. Winter storm prevented me from doing the clean out today before work. I had to stay late at work today and it was almost dark when I got home.
I have about another lb. of this material. Do not know of any of the rest will have these colors. Might move the rest of this barrel on to polish, but remove this one.
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Post by fernwood on Apr 13, 2019 10:46:33 GMT -5
Cleaned out the Borax tumble this AM. I had used enough Borax to make what would be called a slurry after 7 days of tumbling. There was about 50% final polish tumbling pellets and 50% rocks in the 1 lb. barrel. Took some photos, but the sun is not shining, so most do not show the colors correctly. The Borax "caused" some more undercutting. Everything is in a bag with water now, as I have to go to work today. More brilliant colors appeared on some. Am thinking that most of these will stay in the water bag until I can get a saw. Almost all would yield at least two, nice cabs, if I can cut them with a trim saw. A couple I will use the Dremel on to tend to the undercutting and do final polish. A few pics below. Unfortunately the lack of sun caused a lack of colors coming through on the example I posted above. Also posting a pic of what went in the tumbler to start. At start. This includes the MM that were also in there. Later, I will add the very nontraditional process I used for these at the begining.
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Post by fernwood on Apr 13, 2019 10:51:20 GMT -5
Since my ugly thumbnail is in some photos, need to explain that one. A fairly large piece of wood landed on it. Fortunately, the part of the wood that had glowing embers did not hit my nail. Only the part of thumb to side of and below nail. That one hurt badly. Happened a couple months ago.
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Post by miket on Apr 13, 2019 12:12:40 GMT -5
What thumbnail? All I saw were some great stones with fabulous colors! 😀
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Post by RickB on Apr 13, 2019 14:13:08 GMT -5
Nice labradorite, try touching up the thumbnail with the dremel polisher.
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Apr 14, 2019 14:51:32 GMT -5
This is really interesting. I would have never thought that from this rough, such great tumbles could be created. And that one is really special looking! I would try to do something like wire wrap it or something creating to show it off. Maybe make a broach or pin using it.
Thank you for sharing!
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Post by fernwood on Apr 15, 2019 3:53:40 GMT -5
Nice labradorite, try touching up the thumbnail with the dremel polisher. Ha, Ha. Thanks for the suggestion.
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Post by fernwood on Apr 15, 2019 3:55:43 GMT -5
This is really interesting. I would have never thought that from this rough, such great tumbles could be created. And that one is really special looking! I would try to do something like wire wrap it or something creating to show it off. Maybe make a broach or pin using it. Thank you for sharing! There was only a little of flash in the rough. Amazing how many colors appeared throughout the process. This was my first time trying Labro, so I am pleased. I was thinking about a pin, as a wrap would hide too many of the colors.
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Apr 15, 2019 8:20:58 GMT -5
I have another idea that could also show these beauties off. Refrigerator magnets.
Unless you have stainless steel appliances of course. But then you could give them away as a gift. Everyone can use refrigerator magnets. Plus you get to see them every day!
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Post by fernwood on Apr 15, 2019 11:57:48 GMT -5
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Post by miket on Apr 15, 2019 14:12:48 GMT -5
Wonderful colors. Glad you've got some sunshine!
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