Need a little hint

tkrueger3
driving up their electric bill

Liquidating in HOT San Antonio, Texas!

Member since May 2009
Posts: 2,279

Need a little hint Dec 26, 2009 22:07:27 GMT -5

Quote

Post by tkrueger3 on Dec 26, 2009 22:07:27 GMT -5

These labs have been tumbling since August 13. (!!!!)

I finally decided to give up on the rotating tumble today. They have a really nice shine, but almost all of them have these weird spider-veins - some look cracked, even. No clue why. The load was over 2/3 filler - rubber tile spacers, plastic beads, and small ceramics. Anyway, I am considering throwing them into the monster vibe with about 5 pounds of ceramics and some 500 grit and see what happens. Maybe that'll be violent enough to go ahead and break whatever wants to break, and smooth out some of the wrinkles. Anybody ever vibe'd labradorite with any degree of success?

The batch:

Closeup showing the crackling veins or whatever it is:

Thanks, folks...

Tom

Tom

Sabre52
Cave Dweller

Me and my gal, Rosie

Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497

Need a little hint Dec 26, 2009 22:58:46 GMT -5

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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 26, 2009 22:58:46 GMT -5

Yeah, I've only tried a little of it and it just seems to me that a lot of the rough is full of fractures and defects before you even start the rough grind and mostly it doesn't improve much. Some feldspar group minerals are just kind of splintery I guess. I've seen nicely polished nuggets of the spectrolite variety from Finland but I'm thinking they might have been hand polished and not tumbled.....Mel

tkrueger3 driving up their electric bill Liquidating in HOT San Antonio, Texas! Member since May 2009 Posts: 2,279	Need a little hint Dec 27, 2009 11:50:26 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by tkrueger3 on Dec 27, 2009 11:50:26 GMT -5 Thanks, Mel - that's pretty much what I thought - likely the only way to get them nice is with wheels, not a tumbler. Oh, well. Tom
	Tom

Jack ( Yorkshire) has started giving rock gifts God created - I'M Investigating Member since November 2004 Posts: 3,076	Need a little hint Dec 28, 2009 2:57:37 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Dec 28, 2009 2:57:37 GMT -5 I Had the same problem I was wondering if there is veins of slightly softer material that gives the problem, I am going to have a go at cabbing to see if I can get them polished that way ? jack Yorkshire uk
	Never stop learning , I'm Trying to learn somthing new every day.

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rocknrob: That was one heck of a windstorm that thankfully missed me. I guess Seatac almost hit 60mph gusts. I bet those were some fun landings Nov 20, 2024 21:55:16 GMT -5

Post by tkrueger3 on Dec 26, 2009 22:07:27 GMT -5

Post by Sabre52 on Dec 26, 2009 22:58:46 GMT -5

Post by tkrueger3 on Dec 27, 2009 11:50:26 GMT -5

Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Dec 28, 2009 2:57:37 GMT -5

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