Lapidaryforum.net
Let's Rock => Opal => Topic started by: wampidy on June 10, 2015, 02:52:06 PM
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Notice that I did not say the right way.
gingerkind @gingerkid was kind enough to send some Welo opals when she sent the odd machine. I have in the past stayed TOTALLY away from tiny rocks but I could not pass up trying to work these stones. Jan also sent info on how to work them by hand. I did not have all the stuff they used so like always I improvised and this is the result. I have only taken them to 5000 so I still have the polish step left to go. I used a diamond file, 400, 600, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000 and 5000 sand paper.
Some of these are where I started and where I finished and some are just the end result. Hope you like my new love affair.
Oval. Just about whatever color you want if you turn it the right way.
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/oval5.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/oval5.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/oval4.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/oval4.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/oval2.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/oval2.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/oval1.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/oval1.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/oval3.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/oval3.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/oval6.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/oval6.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/oval7.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/oval7.jpg.html)
Heart front and back rough.
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/heart1.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/heart1.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/heart2.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/heart2.jpg.html)
In the process
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/heart3.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/heart3.jpg.html)
End result
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/heart5.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/heart5.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/heart4.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/heart4.jpg.html)
Mountain range, kinda. Front and top are natural fractured stone.
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/mount2.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/mount2.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/mount1.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/mount1.jpg.html)
Top
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/munt3.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/munt3.jpg.html)
Front
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/mount4.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/mount4.jpg.html)
Back
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/mount5.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/mount5.jpg.html)
Grooved
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/P7310028.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/P7310028.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/P7310026.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/P7310026.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/P7310029.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/P7310029.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/P7310031.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/P7310031.jpg.html)
Boat???
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/boat1.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/boat1.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/boat4.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/boat4.jpg.html)
Random, some repeats and some other small ones.
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/P8080030.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/P8080030.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/P8080029.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/P8080029.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/P8080027.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/P8080027.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/P8080025.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/P8080025.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/P8080022.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/P8080022.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/P8080018.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/P8080018.jpg.html)
(http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h375/wampidy/Rocks/Opal/P8080016.jpg) (http://s1106.photobucket.com/user/wampidy/media/Rocks/Opal/P8080016.jpg.html)
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Looks like some incredible fire in those pieces! Very sweet!!
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Nicest opal I have seen in years , vivid.
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Wow, thanks guys. I have not been around opal at all so I wasn't sure.
Jim
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Great job on the Welo, Jim! Need more pictures when you're finished. :WEEEE:
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So, I gather you are cutting them dry? I have cut quite a few, but all wet. Some have recovered from the water, but several have not. I just have not had the interest in doing the rest dry. Very nice!
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So, I gather you are cutting them dry? I have cut quite a few, but all wet. Some have recovered from the water, but several have not. I just have not had the interest in doing the rest dry. Very nice!
Yes, I am cutting them dry. They came to me wet in a bottle and some of them were fractured in the water so I just pulled them apart. I had two develop fractures while I was working on them and I had to split them too. I have three really tiny ones that I am still working whenever the soreness goes out of my thumb and forefinger on my left hand enough to work on them. It has been a lot like carving to me which I have not done in a long time.
Do you have opals like this that you want to get rid of? I might be interested.
Jim
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Beautiful first time opals! I think you did great with these! :icon_sunny:
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I don't care what they say, the welo/African opal has some of the brightest and interesting colour I've seen in opal. You couldn't beat the price a few years ago also but I haven't bought any rough for a while so I don't know what it's like for price now but Jan sure sent you some pretty stuff.
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those are all really beautiful pieces of cheese there.
My absolute favorite, just dont have the proper tools to get them a proper polishing. :Worthy: :coffee1:
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Beautiful opals.
Just curious, why is the one dopped on the side of the stick as opposed to the end?
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Thanks for the compliment.
I dopped it on the side because I wanted to polish both ends then maybe mount it on something round. I have since cut it in two and made two almost identical opals. I also cut the piece that has kind of a knob on the top that I said looks like a mountain range. It is now a flat top half heart shape and a tiny knob.
I still have not finished any pieces that I can mount opals on. Way too many irons in the fire.
Jim
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Now you've done it, Jim...you've got me thinking about cutting opals :drool:
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I filed more skin and fingernail off cutting those little bastards than I ever do on my polisher. And you have to open up your bag of patience and stuff in a whole bunch more but I really like it because I can lean back in my easy chair and file away without my back pain kicking my butt.
Jim
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all the welo i have done was also a dry process or just above a gold pan with water in it.
While my wife was in the hospital, i shaped a small cab, got an empty ring that needed a stone and gave it to her at the hospital.
images are horrible, my phone at that time sucked lol!
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Hell yea, that is way cool. I did not use any water because I had received them in water then let them dry for a few weeks and did not want them sucking up water again.
Thank you very much for the idea. I may have a ring that I can use. Man hug. hahaha
JIm
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yeah, the only polishing mine got was with 4000 grit wet/dry in my palm, cupped and then a fast rub on my blue jeans.