lostintheforest
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2013
Posts: 19
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Post by lostintheforest on Feb 27, 2013 15:08:56 GMT -5
Hi all,
First time posting on here, just looking for some advice from you more seasoned tumblers. After wanting a tumbler for most of my childhood, i finally decided to purchase the Thumler Ar-2 to tumble some stones from my collection. I recently ordered some Labradorite rough from Madagascar and am wondering what to do with it. The pieces are all about the size of a half dollar and a couple of them have flat edges (must have been cut at some point). I'm wondering if I can tumble this material in general (to showcase the fire) and if so what methods have worked best for others. I really love the light that is inside of these stones, and would like to turn these rough jagged stones into smooth shiny treasures and am wondering if that is more of a pipe dream or not with this type of material. Thank in advance!
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Post by Toad on Feb 27, 2013 15:46:40 GMT -5
Don't do it. Especially as a noob. Very difficult material.
A lot depends on the quality of the labradorite, the rest on your skill/patience. A very few people have had success with it here - I was not one of them...
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Feb 27, 2013 16:15:41 GMT -5
I'm with toad on that! Quite a few times I see first time tumblers attempt the most difficult stones to tumble.And Labradorite is one of them.I've still got some Lab and apatite somewhere unfinished! Start off with agates and jaspers is my recommendation.Would hate to see anyone give up after an unsuccessful first time.
snuffy
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carleton
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2012
Posts: 277
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Post by carleton on Feb 27, 2013 16:28:47 GMT -5
Were working on a how to as we speak, but some quick tips we find helpful... if your set on giving it a go.
If your rough is not too sharp, skip the first stage.
Don't follow the typical space suggestions, fill it up to the max your tumbler will handle any extra space, fill with shot. When the stages reduce the size, use plastic shot to fill the space.
After your 3rd (or 500 grit if you skipped the first cycle) cycle, remove anything that has deep cleaves or large surface inclusions, most will just disappoint, use your best judgment and save them for your next tumble placing them in the cycle that you think will remove enough material to get rid of the defects.
For the polish cycle just make sure your batch is full. Add water until all the stones are covered. Then add polish grit, and the remaining space is filled with plastic shot, we have "maybe" an inch of space left.
Everything always seemed to run great until the polish and that is when things got ugly. We are still playing with ideas ourselves, but so far that has worked the best. We also skip the soap burnish as for now.
Hope that helps a bit. Would love to hear others opnions and tips too.
Carleton
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Geoff
spending too much on rocks
Please add 1074 to my post number.
Member since December 2012
Posts: 446
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Post by Geoff on Feb 27, 2013 16:46:26 GMT -5
I accidentally put two pounds of spectrolite in with a 10 pound load of agate. Came out pretty good. Finished it in a smaller load of eudialyte.
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lostintheforest
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2013
Posts: 19
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Post by lostintheforest on Feb 27, 2013 18:15:20 GMT -5
Thank you all for your quick replies! I had a feeling labradorite would be one of the more difficult materials to work with. seems to have a lot of fine lines and does have some dark (almost metallic looking) inclusions. I'm just so fascinated with the beauty of this stone that I couldn't resist the urge to buy some rough! I'm currently tumbling my first batch of stones (assorted beach stones from central california). They're at day 5 of tumbling with fine (500) grit...I can't wait to see how things are progressing in a couple of days. Thanks Toad and snuffy for your advice and warnings. I will def need to try some easier stones first in order to get a feel for the process and to experience any setbacks (lessons) i need to before I move on to the more difficult stuff! Carleton- I really appreciate your experience based advice on tumbling labradorite. It sounds like you guys are certainly on the right track and I look forward to keeping up with your progress! Please keep me in mind if you make any more discoveries/improvements in your methods!! for the time being i'm happy just admiring the hidden beauty in the rough, but am certainly still considering sending a few pieces through the tumbler once i've got a better feel for the process. I will take your advice carleton when I decide to try it for myself. Thanks again everyone who replied, I look forward to being a part of this online community of fellow rock lovers.
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Jasper-hound
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 208
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Post by Jasper-hound on Mar 1, 2013 22:55:10 GMT -5
My experience has taught me this about labradorite: don't. Just don't. Same goes for amethyst. Don't. Hope that helps. ~Hound
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Post by susand24224 on Mar 2, 2013 1:51:36 GMT -5
I've been tumbling more than 30 years and there are two things I haven't conquered--one is labradorite. I've tried on several occasions and I third the notion that it looks great until polish. I've tried barrels and the Lot-O. My results have been pathetic. Pure stubbornness will cause me to try again. I will say, though, that more of my batch is looking decent, not good, but decent, probably less than 10%.
I can give you a long list of what not to do. Maybe Carlton will hae a major breakthrough.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
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Post by tkvancil on Mar 3, 2013 10:39:17 GMT -5
I got 5 lbs. of labrdorite for X-mas and am going to give it try when it gets warm enough to cut the rough.
What is it that goes wrong in polish? Just won't take a shine? Contamination?
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Post by susand24224 on Mar 3, 2013 19:31:26 GMT -5
For me, it takes a polish, but cracks and fissures develop, or at least become visible. Lots of them. If you are cutting it yourself, make sure that the cuts are in a fashion that shows the "labradoresence" (not sure that is the right word), otherwise you will have a lot of boring greyish rocks with cracks and fissures.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
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Post by tkvancil on Mar 3, 2013 19:51:13 GMT -5
For me, it takes a polish, but cracks and fissures develop, or at least become visible. Lots of them. If you are cutting it yourself, make sure that the cuts are in a fashion that shows the "labradoresence" (not sure that is the right word), otherwise you will have a lot of boring greyish rocks with cracks and fissures. Thanks for the tip. I have some Moonstone in AO1000 right now that I cut. Some show flash and some don't. I had that lesson in mind for the Lab.
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