unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Aug 10, 2014 22:22:29 GMT -5
My mother in law wanted me to make a cab to give as a gift to her sister in law. She wanted something in light blue. So having always wanted to try Larimar I purchased a couple of slabs on Ebay. The material appeared to be hard when I sliced it on the trim saw, however my first cab attempt started to fall apart when grinding. I was able to grind my next attempt by bypassing the 80 grit wheel. However the darn thing stated to fall apart while I was on the polishing wheel. Is there any special prep that needs to be done before you cab Larimar? The other slab that I have is for my wife and she will kill me if I messed up her slab. LOL Thanks Stu
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 10, 2014 22:39:17 GMT -5
I have very little experience with Larimar. I had a small piece and was carefully trying to remove the matrix. If you are only looking for light blue, I'm sure you can find something easier to work with. How do you polish? What you got might not be Larimar or it is poor quality.
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Post by rockjunquie on Aug 10, 2014 23:41:03 GMT -5
I've tried to work it before, too- it just chipped away big chunks until it was unworkable. There must be a way to do it. Others do. I just don't know how.
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Post by Rockoonz on Aug 10, 2014 23:47:46 GMT -5
christopherl1234 Christopher Anthony mines a nice blue material that is more like agate, I like it better than Larimar. I had a member of our rock club show up at the club shop for her first cabochon cutting instruction with a piece of larimar insisting that she cut her first cab from it. I was a newby myself, had perhaps cut a dozen cabs. Try as I might to dissuade her from her plan, even offering a choice of some nice slabs I had brought, she insisted. I gave her instruction the best I could considering I had no idea how to cut it either, it fell apart, and she still is none too fond of me.
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Aug 11, 2014 0:41:52 GMT -5
I've tried to work it before, too- it just chipped away big chunks until it was unworkable. There must be a way to do it. Others do. I just don't know how. Yup that is exactly what happened with me. I really thought that I would be home free after I had it nicely shaped and domed. I never had a cab start to come apart on the sanding wheels. I guess if she wants light blue I will get some Blue Lace Agate. Stu
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Post by MrP on Aug 11, 2014 4:48:35 GMT -5
I have cut it thick and glued optical quartz to each side then split it...........MrP
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Post by christopherl1234 on Aug 11, 2014 5:12:02 GMT -5
larimar can be difficult to work. I have always found that if I was easy on the metal bond wheels I usually was okay after that. Thanks for the endorsement Lee. I think we have a few slabs up on Facebook. If not we have more
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Deb/nyllynn
spending too much on rocks
Deb & Jim
Member since April 2009
Posts: 348
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Post by Deb/nyllynn on Aug 11, 2014 8:45:18 GMT -5
Hi all, I've cabbed a couple of larimar pieces. And the first one crumbled. I was told to submerge it in water for three days before you start cabbing it. I don't know if that is what really helped, but I did get some nice cabs eventually. Good luck on this as it is a hard one to cab. Deb
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,881
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Post by Tommy on Aug 11, 2014 13:24:27 GMT -5
I guess if she wants light blue I will get some Blue Lace Agate. Stu How about Ocean Picture Rock? Nice light blue similar to larimar. This is shameful but I know a guy who has a bunch of cabs available on Etsy heehee.
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Post by orrum on Aug 13, 2014 9:21:04 GMT -5
I soak my turqoiuse like Deb does the Larimar to help keep it from breaking up. I have some Larimar that was tumbled to shape before I got it. It needs finalbpolish but I havent tried any of it yet. Its supposed to be notorius for crumbling.
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Post by roy on Aug 13, 2014 9:32:11 GMT -5
it will break apart on you i would cut it thin and back it with a stronger slab
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