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Labs
Mar 13, 2010 18:20:19 GMT -5
Post by tkrueger3 on Mar 13, 2010 18:20:19 GMT -5
This batch of labradorites has been through all the grits from 60 through polish 3 times. This time, I left them in each stage 2 weeks. They did 60/90, 120/220, 500, Lusterite II prepolish, then tin oxide. I'll give you before and after pics, from the end of the 2nd run, and from the end of this run. Here's how they looked after the previous run through the polishes:  And here's how they look after this final run through the stages:  Here's a closer look at what I think is the best one in the batch:  They all still have lots of fracturing and pitting, and I quit. I guess the only way I'll ever get a good lab will be if I can find a labradorite slab somewhere, and cab it with the wheels. Anyway, thanks for looking! Tom |
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Labs
Mar 13, 2010 18:55:10 GMT -5
Post by frane on Mar 13, 2010 18:55:10 GMT -5
All I can say Tom is that your batch turned out much, much better than mine did! I am going to have to try and cab some soon and see if they are any better that way. I love the stuff but just can't get it to tumble worth beans!
Fran
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Labs
Mar 13, 2010 19:52:24 GMT -5
Post by NatureNut on Mar 13, 2010 19:52:24 GMT -5
Tom, you can hand cab some of your tumbles. I've done it. These are beautiful stones.
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Labs
Mar 14, 2010 7:50:09 GMT -5
Post by rockrookie on Mar 14, 2010 7:50:09 GMT -5
those turned out much better . than the labs . that i did .
good job !!
--paul
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darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
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Labs
Mar 14, 2010 8:27:17 GMT -5
Post by darrad on Mar 14, 2010 8:27:17 GMT -5
That is just one of those rocks that will not tumble worth a hoot! Your's did turn out better than most though. I would take Naturenut's suggestion and see what you get.
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Labs
Mar 14, 2010 9:27:34 GMT -5
Post by carloscinco on Mar 14, 2010 9:27:34 GMT -5
A valiant effort. Way better than what I wound up with. Mine looked worse after the final polish than before I ever put them in the tumbler.
But we can't be like King Canute and think we can will some rocks to come out pretty in the tumbler. It just ain't in 'em.
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Labs
Mar 14, 2010 12:10:20 GMT -5
Post by Toad on Mar 14, 2010 12:10:20 GMT -5
Yep, just very prone to fracturing. My batch did not turn out well either. Most wore away to nothing - only had a small chip or two that made it into polish.
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Labs
Mar 14, 2010 14:13:20 GMT -5
Post by susand24224 on Mar 14, 2010 14:13:20 GMT -5
Thanks for posting this "failure," although I think they turned out pretty good. I just bought a large batch for tumbling; perhaps your sharing will keep me from beating my head again the wall!
Susan
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Labs
Mar 14, 2010 14:40:43 GMT -5
Post by tkrueger3 on Mar 14, 2010 14:40:43 GMT -5
Yep, I'm convinced that labs just will not tumble polish at all. I'm looking for 2 or 3 nice labradorite slabs that I can cab, and see if I can do better that way.
Meanwhile - onward and upward to more productive pursuits, right?
LOL!
Tom
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Labs
Mar 14, 2010 20:26:44 GMT -5
Post by susand24224 on Mar 14, 2010 20:26:44 GMT -5
I have some chunks--if you don't find your slabs I will look to see if any are big enough. I recall that they are too big to tumble, and will root them out of the garage to check.
Susan
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Labs
Mar 14, 2010 22:56:58 GMT -5
Post by tkrueger3 on Mar 14, 2010 22:56:58 GMT -5
OK, I found my labradorite stash - most of it is too big for tumbling, but will cut into slabettes quite nicely. That's what I'll work on next, probably.
Tom
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Labs
Mar 16, 2010 9:42:07 GMT -5
Post by Bejewelme on Mar 16, 2010 9:42:07 GMT -5
Tom it cabs beautifully, before you cut the rough wet it well and hold it in the light to find the flash, so that you orient the slicing properly. I cab mine and finish with tin oxide on leather and it gets super shiny. Tumbling is a bugger, I would slice some of these and try to cab them.
Amber
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