ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
|
Post by ingawh on Apr 21, 2022 21:12:04 GMT -5
ingawh said to use 1 tsp of sugarfree Metamucil and 1 tsp bleach (to stop the gas) to create a gel. I have put my rocks in filled the water to the level I will need it took just the rocks out added the grit Metamucil and bleach and tumbled it for a bit to get the gel going then put the rocks in. The gel hasn't allowed the grit get under the layers or cracks. Has worked so far so good. Used the Metamucil in pre polish and polish fine polish so it doesn't slip in and stay in. I would love to see how this works for you on the labradorite. I'm afraid, even with the Metamucil, labradorite remains a challenge for me, and I would not say I'm satisfied with my efforts to tumble-polish it. The slurry washes away cleanly, but the surface just seems to be prone to the look of those tiny cracks and scratches. Best wishes
|
|
lparsons
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 276
|
Post by lparsons on Apr 23, 2022 20:33:56 GMT -5
I’m also working on a batch of labradorite right now. They look pretty good up till the final AO polish in the vibe. I put them back in the 500 (which is of course gray) and they look soooo much better. So I’m wondering that since the AO polish is white it’s actually just getting down inside the cracks and fractures and highlighting all the cracks whereas the 500 is about the same color as the labradorite so it doesn’t really stand out like the white? Just a thought🤣
|
|
Cackling Chick
starting to spend too much on rocks
I LOVE ROCKS! 😁👍🏻🪨⛏️
Member since March 2022
Posts: 101
|
Post by Cackling Chick on Apr 23, 2022 21:03:46 GMT -5
lparsons makes sense why the white cracks start showing!
|
|
|
Post by broseph82 on Oct 12, 2022 23:32:41 GMT -5
I’m also working on a batch of labradorite right now. They look pretty good up till the final AO polish in the vibe. I put them back in the 500 (which is of course gray) and they look soooo much better. So I’m wondering that since the AO polish is white it’s actually just getting down inside the cracks and fractures and highlighting all the cracks whereas the 500 is about the same color as the labradorite so it doesn’t really stand out like the white? Just a thought🤣 A little late to reply, but not always. A lot of the times the prepolish and polish will create those cracks in lab. If you have a whole vibe barrel full of lab for your 220 stage and they look good, cut them into two batches for your 500g+ stages and you'll do much much better. I watch enough Chinese sellers online that sell tumbled lab pieces and they're always tumbling less pieces with way more ceramics. Also, maybe look into a dry polish. I think the rockshed or Kingsley used to have a recipe for lab and I believe the polish was a dry polish at the very end. Hope this helps
|
|
lapidarycentral
starting to spend too much on rocks
(Brian Rhode) LapidaryCentral.com - Fueling your Lapidary Addiction.
Member since August 2021
Posts: 209
|
Post by lapidarycentral on Oct 12, 2022 23:57:06 GMT -5
Just a question, do you think this is just because of the nature of how labradorite is mined (cut or blasted into large chunks and later broken up)? Perhaps the fractures were always there, as said before, and it just highlights them, and they need a proper cleaning.
I know I've cut labradorite, and it seems to depend on the mining batch, as some are super fractured and some are near perfect. I'm trying some labradorite in the tumbler now, but it'll be a while before they are finished as I have multiple batches ahead of them for the vibes.
|
|