|
Post by beefjello on Jan 30, 2010 18:19:36 GMT -5
Last weekend out at Desert Gardens Jamie turned me on to a French vendor selling killer Labradorite rough for an amazing price. Today after studying one of the chunks I bought, I felt I had the right orientation to cut, and slabbed the end cut and then the next little slab. Looking at it dead on it shows some greenish flash However turned a bit it reveals the killer blue flash My question, should the killer blue flash show when looking dead on at the slab? I've never cabbed this stuff, but I'm thinking once you start doming and rounding it, the flash from that angle will be there, so should I leave it alone and keep slabbing as is, or try and re-vise the rock to show the blue head on? I hesitate to do that, however I'd hate to cut mediocre slabs from such an amazing material. Thanks for your input!
|
|
Gem'n I
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2008
Posts: 980
|
Post by Gem'n I on Jan 30, 2010 20:26:46 GMT -5
Brian, Its been my experience when working labradorite, the brightest flash dictates the plane of the cab/slab looking dead on. If there is a lot of color your cut or orientation would be horizontal to the brightest flash looking dead on...not the easiest to orient and it is relatively soft....I have some old stuff that is deep blue and gold that would knock some socks off but was very lucky when I cut it!!
Larry
|
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
|
Post by NDK on Jan 30, 2010 23:30:36 GMT -5
I've read you want to orientate it at 15 degrees off plane. That way if it's a pendant worn around the neck, the flash is visible form slightly above as you're looking at it hanging on the wearer's neck. I would think any where near dead on would work too, as long as you can see it. Here's a cab I made. You can see the flash is visible from just slightly above. Nate
|
|
|
Post by Woodyrock on Jan 31, 2010 2:54:50 GMT -5
Like Nate said......get the flash going for they way the cab will be seen. The first ones I did look great lying flat, and flat ass dull haging around a neck. I think God made this stone to drive lapidaries crazy. Woody
|
|
elementary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,077
|
Post by elementary on Jan 31, 2010 4:10:13 GMT -5
Woody, Were lapidaries ever sane?
beef Great piece of shiny stuff you got there! Good luck with your project!
Lowell
|
|
|
Post by frane on Jan 31, 2010 8:57:46 GMT -5
That stone is really pretty and you have wonderful flash! I have not figured out the correct angel but early on I did some really pretty ones that I got from TonyW. I had it easy because he had already worked them or had them in preform stage so I just finished them. Love that stuff! Fran
|
|
|
Post by beefjello on Jan 31, 2010 11:39:38 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice folks! I'm gonna reposition the rock to chase the blue. I'll post the results.
|
|
|
Post by catmandewe on Feb 2, 2010 9:40:19 GMT -5
I have been cutting some of that while I was in Quartzsite and I have found that the flash plane moves around, so you may get a few slabs with excellent flash, then the next one will have almost nothing in it. Good luck with it...............Tony
|
|