peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Mar 17, 2011 18:59:24 GMT -5
I have a pound or so of this material. Sheesh, it's annoying. Has some kind of volcanic "cruft" on it. Should I be grinding each nugget individually by hand to find the color/orientation -- is this a project where each and every piece will be have to be done start to finish on the cabbing wheels? Highly tempted to toss it in the tumbler and see if some of the volcanic "cruft" gets tumbled off...but I'm afraid I'd lose the whole stone.
I already found out while grinding on my first nugget that it can shatter. Yikes! It's beautiful stuff and I don't want to spoil it but if there's a better way, I don't want to make a career of it either.
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Post by deb193redux on Mar 17, 2011 22:00:54 GMT -5
in the few pieces I worked, the crud was not always just on the surface. You have to be prepeared to cut out the good bits.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Mar 18, 2011 8:01:45 GMT -5
Pretty soft tumble if I remember (someone on the board YEARS ago worked it). Mohs 4.5 to 5. It is also light and heat sensitive (lossing its color). You would probably want to tumble it carefully and cusion the load (probably start with 120/220) Can you share some pictures, maybe we can get a better feel of the material you have.
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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 Mar 18, 2011 8:24:05 GMT -5
It's a beautiful semi-precious stone and makes great jewelry. It is soft. I would expect that your best bet is to grind the posh off the surface by hand and shape a bit and tumble with lots of pellets starting with medium grit. It any pieces look cab-able, I would consider that alternative.
charlie
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Mar 18, 2011 15:07:44 GMT -5
Yes, I can put a picture. The raw nugget is similar to what I started with. I hoped to get one large cab. Instead, the stone broke, and I got two smaller cabs. Good color/blue tortoise-shell markings on the larger of the two cabs. It is a lot of work to polish by hand because of all the volcanic brown pitty stuff that has to be removed. The little cab is still on a golf tee dop, which should give you an idea of the size. Obviously, I still have to remove that one from the dop, turn it over, and round the bottom better. It is a lot of work for a not very big stone, although the color is wonderful. I had hoped for something either bigger or less effortful.
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Post by tanyafrench on Mar 18, 2011 16:45:08 GMT -5
That is a beautiful stone. I guess with that beauty comes a price, lots of labor.
Tanya
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
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Post by Don on Mar 18, 2011 17:14:01 GMT -5
Tumbling larimar would be like tumbling turquoise I guess...I wouldn't want to do it.
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Mar 18, 2011 18:23:35 GMT -5
Well, Don, I think you're probably right. I don't recall Turquoise giving me so much angst though. I guess I'll find out soon, I just found some Tibetan Turquoise nuggets that I'll be cabbing in the not too awful distant future.
Anyway, I guess I won't tumble the Larimar. Awfully tempted to pick a few for cabs/beads and sell the rest.
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stefan
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Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Mar 18, 2011 20:10:00 GMT -5
If you have a trim saw with a real thin blade you could easily trim that stuff up into very cabbable stuff. There would be some waste but not much more than trying to grind the basalt off
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
|
Post by peachfront on Mar 18, 2011 20:21:17 GMT -5
The trim saw I'm using, the blade is a little too thick. Hubby has a variety of saws, I will ask him if he has anything thinner.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Mar 19, 2011 11:13:27 GMT -5
If you don't have a thin blade let me know. Maybe we can work our a deal
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