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Let's Rock => Opal => Topic started by: Neural on January 14, 2016, 12:30:24 PM

Title: Can this be saved?
Post by: Neural on January 14, 2016, 12:30:24 PM: Some of you may know the story with this stone. It was among some rough that I got from Robin a long time ago. It was cut back when I was new to opal, and frankly it may therefor be my own fault that it is cracked.

However, it has lots of fire play, and also shows the "Chinese Writing" fire pattern. As such, it is a rather rare gem, cracked or not.

Is there any way in which it can be stabilized so I can finish cutting it? Does anyone know of someone I can trust to do it right, if it is possible at all?

edit: for ref, it's 15mm on the longest side, and about 7mm thick
Title: Re: Can this be saved?
Post by: hummingbirdstones on January 14, 2016, 04:23:32 PM: Send it to me if you want and we'll see if we can't vacuum some Hxtal into the crack to seal it. What the heck, it can't hurt! :thumbsup: Vince and I have a pile of stuff that we want to try to stabilize, so we can have a go at it. I'll pm you our address if you want to send it.
Title: Re: Can this be saved?
Post by: Phishisgroovin on January 14, 2016, 06:05:30 PM: Quote from: hummingbirdstones on January 14, 2016, 04:23:32 PM
Send it to me if you want and we'll see if we can't vacuum some Hxtal into the crack to seal it. What the heck, it can't hurt! :thumbsup: Vince and I have a pile of stuff that we want to try to stabilize, so we can have a go at it. I'll pm you our address if you want to send it.

If you can thin it out with acetone or some other thinner, it will go into the crack better.
Windshield rock chip repair resin works also!
Then just set it in the sun or under a UV lamp to cure it.

I actually got one semi warm, not hot but really warm and used super glue once lol!
Title: Re: Can this be saved?
Post by: Neural on January 16, 2016, 04:01:34 PM: We'll see what can be done. I trust Robin to do her best on it. It is, after all, from rough that she sent me many years ago. My hope is that even with cracks, it will be stable enough to shape for a ring. Cracks are a blemish on the overall appearance, but the "Chinese writing" fire is rare enough that this may be the only stone I ever cut that has it. Besides, if I have it put into a ring, I clearly won't have to worry much about it cracking. LOL
Title: Re: Can this be saved?
Post by: ASO on September 14, 2017, 01:48:45 AM: A Lapidary in Colorado specializes in all kinds of opal repair. I cant think of his name or company but I have found him on google before.