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Let's Rock => Opal => Topic started by: Pusscat on December 10, 2017, 06:22:56 AM

Title: Opal doublets a final rainbow!
Post by: Pusscat on December 10, 2017, 06:22:56 AM

And finally a nice bit of crystal that I love the colours of!  Shame it's such a small piece and it has a small inclusion on one side but it really makes my heart sing when i see this close up in sunlight!

The doublets took me some time and the dop wax wouldn't melt properly due to the cold and they kept popping off, but i'm secretly quite proud of them as a first attempt!

(http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/gallery/8/medium_54491-041217064850-87361902.jpeg) (http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=8737)

(http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/gallery/8/medium_54491-041217064852-8737120.jpeg) (http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=8738)

(http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/gallery/8/medium_54491-041217064853-8738633.jpeg) (http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=8739)

(http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/gallery/8/medium_54491-041217064854-87391309.jpeg) (http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=8740)

Title: Re: Opal doublets a final rainbow!
Post by: ileney on December 10, 2017, 12:43:10 PM

Wow! What color!

Title: Re: Opal doublets a final rainbow!
Post by: vitzitziltecpatl on December 10, 2017, 04:13:35 PM

All your doublets are really nice. You have some wonderful color there.

Title: Re: Opal doublets a final rainbow!
Post by: Pusscat on December 10, 2017, 10:49:28 PM

Thanks!

I knew this one would have some colour but not like this! It was a layer of crystal over what looked like a sandstone. The colour did flash but was weak over that base. It was cracked into three so it was a no brainer as a candidate for a small doublet.

I was very excited when the colours really came alive with the polishing.

I’m using a natural light led lamp at about 4500 and an old Nikon D90 with maco lens. You have to experiment with exposure and I try to get it looking like my eye sees it.

Title: Re: Opal doublets a final rainbow!
Post by: Bluetangclan on December 11, 2017, 08:17:28 AM

Call me biased but I am not normally a doublet fan(not the least because I naturally want to call them "doublays") but wow this and your other doublets you posted are really nice with some good color. I have quite a bit of doublet material in a jar that I am saving for a boring rainy day and I hope mine will be close to this level.

As to your wax issue, have you tried superglueing instead? You are going to grind down the backing after the fact anyway.

Title: Re: Opal doublets a final rainbow!
Post by: Pusscat on December 11, 2017, 12:44:41 PM

Hi, never tried superglueing! What I have done invest in some shellac flakes and I have son 99.9% isopropyl alcohol coming. Will try the old trick of a thin film before 5he was to act as a primer!

Title: Re: Opal doublets a final rainbow!
Post by: Asianfire on December 11, 2017, 02:46:54 PM

Super nice colours, and very elegant workmanship.

Title: Re: Opal doublets a final rainbow!
Post by: ILMSteve on December 11, 2017, 04:01:16 PM

The colors are excellent! Great job bringing them out!

Title: Re: Opal doublets a final rainbow!
Post by: hummingbirdstones on December 11, 2017, 07:20:09 PM

I use shellac dissolved in denatured alcohol to paint my stones before I wax dop.  Never had one come off the dop yet.  Sometimes even after they've been in the freezer for a while, I'll still have to work at getting them off.

It's a great trick that works a treat!

Title: Re: Opal doublets a final rainbow!
Post by: Amylynn on December 15, 2017, 04:58:06 AM

Beautiful! Good job!

 It doesn't even look like a typical doublet.