Juniper
starting to shine!
Rock hound
Member since March 2003
Posts: 40
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Post by Juniper on Jan 21, 2005 22:24:32 GMT -5
Has anybody tumbled emerald in matrix or labordite? Or is it a bad idea I have a pound of each. Any input would be help a lot. Juniper
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jan 22, 2005 0:02:04 GMT -5
I have tumbled emerald in it's matrix and was very pleased with the result. I tumbled it in a mixed batch and would eventually like to tumble a full batch of emerald only. Every now and again, with the emerald you can buy commercialy, you get a piece that's really pretty. I got a diamond shaped stone that came out nice enough to give my mother in law for Christmas and she loved it! For MOHS hardness equation, it is cosidered a Beryl, about a 6.5 I think. Good Luck!
cookie
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Post by puppie96 on Jan 22, 2005 0:53:25 GMT -5
I've done bunches of emerald and it comes out great. Depending on how much matrix there is, it works fine for a while with mixed loads for rough grinding, then in the later stages I'd separate it out.
Labradorite may be a problem. I'd suggest emailing Shawn at the RockShed -- last summer he was showing me some really great rock and expressing frustration that it wouldn't polish for him -- I'm 95% sure it was labradorite.
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Post by sandsman1 on Jan 22, 2005 1:19:59 GMT -5
i think Labradorite is better hand sanded on a grinder and hand polished on a wheel--because the flash is not allways through the rock most times its in layers and you can grind right past it ---i did acouple pieces on the grinder it looks ok it was my first try so its not the greatest i think this pic was the rough grind
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Juniper
starting to shine!
Rock hound
Member since March 2003
Posts: 40
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Post by Juniper on Jan 22, 2005 13:04:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. I will go for with the emeralds I need to save some $$ and invest in saws and grinders etc. I love tumbling but rocks are so addicting, I want to learn all ways. But need $$. I will post pictures of emeralds as they come along. Sandman1 Your peices in the pictures are great !!Thanks again. Juniper
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Post by Toad on Jan 22, 2005 22:25:24 GMT -5
Beryl has a hardness of 7.5 to 8.
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Post by docone31 on Jan 23, 2005 21:58:44 GMT -5
Sands, those are Labrodorite? That is some real fire! I haven't seen them done that way. I want some. Tell me how much and send them. As for emerald in a tumbler. They tumble real well. Hard stones. The matrix comes right off. The individual crystals fall out. I have tumbled about 15lbs of mine run emeralds, and have found quite a few real facetable pieces. One was over 100cts. I have found, tumbling is a good way to pick out the good stones. Mine run is stones that got put as dunnage from the mines and take work that is not cost in at the mine. For the individual who will take the time, they are a real find. Most are just neat to see, but there are some batches that house real winners.
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jan 23, 2005 23:18:49 GMT -5
I was gifted with some beautiful Labadorite slabs. I attempted to tumble them, but they must be very soft. They gouged and cut. I was heart broken! I wll eventually make good on these pieces, they are so beautiful. But, I agree, grinding very gentely is probably the way to go.
cookie
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Post by sandsman1 on Jan 23, 2005 23:48:02 GMT -5
doc i got those pieces from kim i think thats what it is there realy cool lookin but you only get the flash two ways when you turn it the other two ways its a black rock but still cool lookin ---when kim sees this she will let us know what they are for sure
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Post by docone31 on Jan 24, 2005 1:00:04 GMT -5
Sands, my wife is really impressed. She says you have an unique style. She really likes your work. She is like Mikey, she hates everything. She refuses to indulge in wearing tinfoil hats to keep the electricals from reading her mind. So,..... I think you should consider yourself seriously complimented. If I can only teach you how to solder silver and make real pendants. Someday. Maybe, I will start a tutorial on silver soldering. Maybe you can try it. Actually, I have written several, nobody noticed.
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Post by sandsman1 on Jan 24, 2005 1:27:19 GMT -5
doc ---just for you and your wife to say you like what im doin puts a smile on my face ---i havent been doin much latly i got alot on my mind and when i sit at the grinder it just dont feel right so i stop,, i had like five ready for polish and i started to do them and i broke three hahaha so i said well its just not the right time to be doin this,, so i stoped i think im gonna stop till after i get done with court maybe i will feel better if things go my way and it will be fun again
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Post by docone31 on Jan 24, 2005 9:33:50 GMT -5
Sands. It is called a plateau in the art world. It is natural. One day, we turn crap into beauty, we can do no wrong, it all works out. Next day, everything we touch, could do before, turns into absolute garbage! We query, did we lose it? Was it a zephyr? Was it luck? No what you do is not luck. You have a touch, and because you have a touch, it will be touchy. When you set it aside for a time, it will feel like a relief then the thoughts will come. Then the deterination. Then the next level. Gotta give yourself time. What you do, you will not lose by getting rest. WHen I was in Key West, I was top in my field. I made jewelery for Madonna, Gloria Estefan, Rhue Paul, David Gilmore, Annie Lennox. I came home from the shop on the last day of our lease and my house was empty! No curtains, no gold, no gems, no tools, no vehicle, no furniture. All our money was gone. My last ex-wife left and took everything. She even hardballed me with my vendors. The next day, the sheriff came and put an forclosure on the home. I saved enough for bus fare to Portland Oregon. I made money singing Karoake. I met my wife Jenne. Five years later, I am making jewelery for Johnny Depp, Billy Idol and his band. It came back and more. I am doing more, making more, creating what I never created before. Yesterday, I set tow .75 diamonds, and two 5X7 Peacock Topaz in two earrings that were impossible. It seems like a path that once we are on it, it does wave in and out. Give yourself a rest, it will grow without you even working on it.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 24, 2005 11:09:53 GMT -5
Nice work there- I do have a question on the tinfoil hats?
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