RocKingRuralMo
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2022
Posts: 108
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Post by RocKingRuralMo on Oct 16, 2022 9:54:58 GMT -5
Consider myself SUPER lucky! My husband bought me a giant chunk of Australian Tiger Iron that I'd coveted, but not been willing to pay for. He's definitely not a rock guy, but knew I wanted it (and he paid way more than I would have for it.)
I absolutely love the look of tiger iron, but have never worked with it. What should I know? Is it directional like obsidian, tiger eye, and labradorite? I have a slab saw, trim saw, tile saw, flat lap, rotary tool, and vibratory and rotary tumblers. What would you do? Anything I should know before I bust into it? I'd hate to ruin it. But don't want to make a pet out of it either. (Already did that with a 17lb chunk of Lapis I've never brought myself to cut up.)
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 16, 2022 10:21:45 GMT -5
I wouldn't say Tiger Iron is directional, per se, but you definitely want to slab it across the layers. Take a slice off one side and then turn it 90 degrees and take another slice. Compare them and see which one you like better and slab it from that side. I'd love to see a picture of it!
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hummingbirdstones2
fully equipped rock polisher
Vince A., 1958-2023
Member since August 2018
Posts: 1,461
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Oct 16, 2022 11:34:07 GMT -5
You might also want to consider how the finished stone would be oriented if used in jewelry.
A pendant stone would be angled a few degrees more one way or another compared to a ring stone to account for the light hitting it from above.
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,622
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Post by QuailRiver on Oct 16, 2022 13:50:27 GMT -5
I cut a good bit of Tiger Iron back in the 80's. As best as I recall I got my best polishes on it using Raybrite (aluminum oxide) on suede leather. Its messy to saw and cab due to the hematite in it but I've always been a big fan the finished cabs.
All of mine I sliced across the bands. Don't recall ever noticing any difference in the cross banding direction appearance. I did used to know a guy who would slice Tiger Iron parallel to the bands and only where the chatoyant material was. He would only get one or two good slabs out of a chuck this way but it made for some interesting cabs.
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RocKingRuralMo
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2022
Posts: 108
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Post by RocKingRuralMo on Oct 16, 2022 18:15:06 GMT -5
victor1941 those are absolutely stunning! I hope my come out as well! hummingbirdstones , here's a pic. I can't wait to play with it. (hoping one or the other of these attempts at including a pic works out.)
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 16, 2022 18:20:43 GMT -5
That's a beautiful piece! You'll get really nice cabs from it. Looking forward to seeing it cut!
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hummingbirdstones2
fully equipped rock polisher
Vince A., 1958-2023
Member since August 2018
Posts: 1,461
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Oct 16, 2022 23:05:26 GMT -5
Any chatoyant fibrous stone will display that charactaristic according to the orientation of the internal structure.
Slabbing the rough is where orientation is most important. If the rough was slabbed well there won't be any appreciable difference in the brightness of the tiger eye. If it was slabbed a few degrees off one way or another the tiger eye stripes will be brighter when viewed from certain angles.
Your slab looks great. To "investigate" it, hold it vertically with mid-day sun behind you. Rotate one side away from you, then the other. Then do the same for the vertical axis - moving the top away, then the bottom. Turn the slab 90 degrees, so the top is now at 9 or 3 o'clock, and repeat the "rocking" process. If you're going to be cutting ring stones, then start by holding your slab flatter - as it might be viewed in a ring - instead of vertically in front of you for pendant stones.
An old friend (and founding rock club member) brought me his best tiger eye rough (even some variegated) to slab for him. He had cut loads of it in the past, but had seen me cut mine and liked by how it came out. He was so happy he gave me some really nice rough for slabbing his.
That method works for any "phenomenon" stone rough. Get good sunlight over your shoulder and rock it back and forth in all directions.
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 17, 2022 17:35:46 GMT -5
RocKingRuralMo - Congrats on the "present"! That's a gorgeous chunk! victor1941 - Thanks for posting pics of those cabs. I was working a piece of Tiger Iron the other day and I wasn't sure about the finish...but it's exactly like yours!
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RocKingRuralMo
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2022
Posts: 108
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Post by RocKingRuralMo on Oct 18, 2022 11:24:01 GMT -5
RocKingRuralMo - Congrats on the "present"! That's a gorgeous chunk! victor1941 - Thanks for posting pics of those cabs. I was working a piece of Tiger Iron the other day and I wasn't sure about the finish...but it's exactly like yours! jasoninsd, I'd love to see pics! It's always super helpful to see what more skilled lapidaries have done!
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