stoneme
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2008
Posts: 17
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Post by stoneme on May 26, 2008 23:09:25 GMT -5
Hi y'all,
greetings from Tucson. I've been checking out this site for a while an finally decided to join in.
Anyway, I purchased a good sized hunk of AZ tiger eye today(15 lbs for $5.00 ;D). I plan on making some cabs, but was wondering if anyone had tried tumbling this stuff. I would like to tumble a batch, but I'm thinking I'll just end up with a barrel full of mushy fibers. If anyone has some expience with this stuff, let me know what you think, thanx
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AGATEGRRRL
spending too much on rocks
AGATEGRRRL
Member since October 2007
Posts: 466
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Post by AGATEGRRRL on May 26, 2008 23:20:52 GMT -5
Hi & welcome! I've been collecting in AZ for many years & have never seen anything called AZ Tigereye. Where does it come from? Does it seem pretty solid? You could always try tumbling just a few pieces with something of a similar hardness to see if it holds up or not. Either way, you've come to a great forum where you can get lots of help from lots of very knowledgeable people. Post some pics if you can...  Patti |
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stoneme
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2008
Posts: 17
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Post by stoneme on May 27, 2008 6:04:12 GMT -5
AZ tiger eye is found in the globe area. I believe its a type of chrysotile. It's relatively soft and fiberous, almost more like wood than stone.
Mike
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Post by akansan on May 27, 2008 7:10:25 GMT -5
I've cabbed some and I don't think I would throw it in the tumbler. The mixed hardnesses would disappear unevenly. I had enough problems cabbing the stuff!  It's pretty stuff, but I think best suited for cabbing. |
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chassroc
Cave Dweller 
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on May 27, 2008 11:55:39 GMT -5
Greetings Stoneme...welcome to RTH,
Wow...15# for $5 is quite the bargain for Tigerseye.
You can definitely tumble Tigers Eye. Of course the higher the grade, the better the finished product. If I remember, it is quite hard, but as mentioned, extremely fibrous. I think it is related to asbestos.
I have tumbled it in the past and it took me forever to remove a clay-like coating on the rock. Hope for your sake, that your specimen is different. Tigers Eye takes a wonderful shine but needs to be oriented correctly to shine at its best.
You must use pellets (i used plastic ) after shaping in coarse grit to reduce loose fiber splintering. Low grade Tigers Eye has dark voids and inclusions that affect the finished quality.
csroc
OOPS...I just noticed you calling it Arizona Tigers Eye (a soft rock) so ignore my post
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stoneme
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2008
Posts: 17
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Post by stoneme on May 28, 2008 22:31:06 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies guys. After working with this stuff a little more, I fully agree with akansan, it just isn't made for tumbling (I'll try a few pieces anyway). Since I'm not real big into cabbing, this is way more material than I need. So when I'm done playing with it, I think I'll divide it up into ~1lb pieces and put a post on the cabbing board offering it to whoever wants it, just pay the shipping.
P.S. I'll put up some pics when I get a chance. I'll need a photobucket acount for that right?
-Mike
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Post by akansan on May 29, 2008 18:55:11 GMT -5
Yeah - Photobucket or someplace like it. Photobucket seems to be preferred as it's easy and free. And I think we all understand being stubborn enough to try something anyway. |
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