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Post by Tonyterner on Sept 5, 2007 14:35:16 GMT -5
I went to the local rock shop the other day and noticed they got in some labradorite. Being a sucker for anything green and shiny I went through the bin and found this piece which had a nice window of color. Top surface is the colorful side in this pic I wanted to make some slices on the saw so I cut parallel to the window and voila, no color. Or should I say just a touch of color at one corner. Decided I had already screwed it up so I'd try one more cut in the same plane. No color at all this time. Based on this did I cut it wrong or does some of this material just not have color? Is it possible that the plane with the color warps through the piece (rock appears to be "layered")? If I did screw up the cut angle will it still turn out fairly well if I tumble it? TIA
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Post by larrywyland3 on Sept 5, 2007 16:02:56 GMT -5
I have cut it parallel to the windowed color; mine was from madagascar.
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Sept 5, 2007 17:50:01 GMT -5
I have some labradorite also and am finding it challenging to cut. I want to make necklace pendants out of it and have had to get an assistant to hold the stone up like it will be when worn as a necklace to determine the correct angle to cut, I hope I got it right. I hope that with a very high dome it will have a good flash. good luck on your cutting I think I will need it too
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firewalker45
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since August 2006
Posts: 929
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Post by firewalker45 on Sept 5, 2007 18:43:26 GMT -5
I can not speak from experience. I have only bought Labradorite in small pieces or slabs. Costs more but know what I am getting. From what I have read, you cut it right. Like some other rock it is like shooting craps. No way of knowing until you cut it. Daniel
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Sept 5, 2007 22:52:48 GMT -5
Tony...I've, of course, have never cut ANYTHING! But I did notice a bucket at a rockshop that had Lab in it. Sitting on the very top was a hunk of yuck. It sat in a box that someone had written on...How Not To Cut Labradorite.
I took that to mean...cut it right or ya get crrrrrraaaapppp! Man...that stuffs not cheap you poor man!
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Post by johnjsgems on Sept 6, 2007 8:21:53 GMT -5
You're in luck, I'm am expert on labradorite. A couple of years ago I was at Richardson's Rock Ranch in Oregon. It was too hot to dig thundereggs so I shopped at the rock shop. They had a huge pile of Labradorite that practically glowed when watered down. It had spots of color on all sides so I slabbed it from various directions and ended up with spots of color (if I turned the slabs just right in the direct sunlight). I was so disappointed I sold the whole pan of slabs to someone for practically nothing. My expert advice? Buy a really nice slab already cut so you can see what you are getting. I wondered at the time if the thickness of the rock made it look better than when slabbed.
John at JS GEMS
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Sept 6, 2007 9:25:27 GMT -5
Sounds like you cut it correctly- but Lab is a tricky little animal- I have some of the massive form (used in countertops and such) and it is a bugger to get just right- As for tumbling the stuff- well being a feldspar it does have a good hardness- but being a fedspar it also will cleave (break) on a plane (basically break in a straight line) so it has to be tumbled alone- with lots of pellets- and lots of luck!!!!! Just work carefully and pay close attention to it and keep your fingers (and toes if you think it will help) crossed!
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Post by Tonyterner on Sept 6, 2007 9:48:07 GMT -5
Thanks all for the advise. The labradorite was $10 a pound, which is way more than I have ever spent on a rock before. I at least have the top slab that has a lot of color so its not a complete loss. My wife has already claimed a cab for herself eventhough I haven't gotten anywhere near cabbing it yet. I'll try the rest in the tumbler and see what gives.
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mirkaba
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2006
Posts: 321
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Post by mirkaba on Sept 6, 2007 11:53:16 GMT -5
Howdy.....I am by no means expert when it comes to labradorite but when I slab I try to keep the saw in the darker material so far I come out all right....Bob Rough face First cut
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fatrichie
has rocks in the head
Member since July 2004
Posts: 651
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Post by fatrichie on Sept 8, 2007 12:32:52 GMT -5
Howdy.....I am by no means expert when it comes to labradorite but when I slab I try to keep the saw in the darker material so far I come out all right....Bob Rough face Exactly! I've cut and cabbed quite a bit of Lab and I have also learned that cutting in the darker areas helps greatly. It's like some of the color (the good blues, purples and greens) resides on or close to the surface of the dark stuff. I have also found that the color in stone bought at some rock shops and shows are not always the greatest. Their color looks great but is too close to the surface, so it goes away when cut, cabbed or polished. I try to find pieces with lots of colorful "heels", elbows etc.. sticking out. I cut those off and make many of my cabs from them. Saw blade also matters, I use a .012 gem blade to cut the lab, it is less abrasive. The coarser blades seem to cause surface fractures, pitting and such. That makes removal of more material necessary to get a good polish, which can result in loss of color. Also, I use water and very little Lube Cool, for cutting Labradorite. Oils and coolants can soak into the stone and give the appearance of color loss. I guess I went over my two cents worth, hope that helps. Fatty
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Post by connrock on Sept 10, 2007 6:57:35 GMT -5
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Post by Tonyterner on Sept 10, 2007 14:54:09 GMT -5
Thanks all. Tom, after reading the link you provided I believe my piece and crystals going everywhich way in most of the rock. I got the first face OK so I should be about 3 or 4 cabs total. Not too bad.
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