tom
having dreams about rocks
Member since March 2009
Posts: 50
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Post by tom on Mar 29, 2009 14:45:03 GMT -5
Been polishing for over a year, using the cheapest 4 pack polishing agents from The Rock Shed. All of our stones come out very nice. I received a few lbs. of Smokey quartz, labradorite, moonstone, and tiger eye. Have no clue on what treatment each of those can be polished in a rotary tumbler. I've searched the net with no luck, just general polishing tricks. I heard moonstone is only done with itself started on fine grind. Which we have some going now, but what about other stages and additional agents needed and the others mentioned above?  Thanks |
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Post by cpdad on Mar 29, 2009 15:48:53 GMT -5
howdy tom....i personally would not tumble the labradorite or moonstone with quartz or tiger eye. quartz and tiger eye share about the same hardness a 7....they will tumble fine together.....moonstone and labradorite about 6 i think...not a good combination with the quartz and tiger eye. i know labrodorite has a tendency to fracture somewhat...not sure about moonstone....heck the few pieces i tried to cut and cab of labradorite fractured on the rough wheel.  not sure of labradorite and moonstone together....i have not tried any moonstone so dont know how it acts.....others will pop in to help you out further.....kev. |
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tom
having dreams about rocks
Member since March 2009
Posts: 50
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Post by tom on Mar 29, 2009 16:57:19 GMT -5
Figured the tiger eye was really hard like pet wood. Tried to break a pieace the other day, it just splintered. Have done some amythist with pet wood and agate same time, all came out exceptional. I'm familar with Moth's scale, not the properties of each mineral or stone, such as labradorite and moonstone. Would like to tumble it, just need a little direction to get me started.
Thanks,
cpdad
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Mar 29, 2009 21:49:42 GMT -5
moonstone is often essentially the same as labradorite just white instead of black so I'd think they might tumble together OK, but as has been mentioned both tend to cleave or fracture more easily than a lot of other materials (and it's Mohs' scale not moth's) so be sure to have a good mix of sizes when you do go to tumble that stuff, and use plenty of pellets.
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tom
having dreams about rocks
Member since March 2009
Posts: 50
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Post by tom on Mar 30, 2009 17:59:42 GMT -5
Thank's Rallyrocks. We are about half way thru first stage, useing fine grind with only moonstone. We have plenty of plastic pellets on hand and ready for ousr next steps.
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tom
having dreams about rocks
Member since March 2009
Posts: 50
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Post by tom on Apr 5, 2009 15:39:27 GMT -5
Pictures of our moonstone, after first tumble will be here shorlty.
Thanks to all for your help.
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tom
having dreams about rocks
Member since March 2009
Posts: 50
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Post by tom on Apr 6, 2009 18:23:08 GMT -5
Here's our first batch of tumbled moonstone using second stage, 120 grit, for 200 hours. It lost half its mass, but they look OK. We decided to start them on pre-polish last night with a lot of plastic pellets, filling the barrel to 3/4 full with lots of with water We hope we are on the right track.  |
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