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Let's Rock => Opal => Topic started by: auscarver on January 12, 2018, 03:02:49 AM
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This little lightning Ridge opal carving is still my favorite, it was damaged a few years back, cracked, I have repaired quite a few gems in recent years, I used epoxy 330 and acetone mix in a vacuum, removed around 80 %, seems to be getting better every day as the acetone evaporates, the crack runs through the right side of the black potch at the top, polished on 100 k diamond, may try cerium as it may be even better, very happy with the outcome , my new camera shows the true color much better than my old picture.
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Thanks for posting this repair. Robin is testing some epoxies and mix percentages on some old cracked opals now. None as cool as your carving, but one is a really nice large Mintabie cab with a small crack on one edge.
So far we're finding cracks in crystal opal remain visible, but look better when filled with the epoxy. They don't have the same light reflection from the internal fracture face, but still look like a cotton or potch line. At least they won't fall apart.
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Very impressive carving...must have taken you some time to complete.
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This little lightning Ridge opal carving is still my favorite, it was damaged a few years back, cracked, I have repaired quite a few gems in recent years, I used epoxy 330 and acetone mix in a vacuum, removed around 80 %, seems to be getting better every day as the acetone evaporates, the crack runs through the right side of the black potch at the top, polished on 100 k diamond, may try cerium as it may be even better, very happy with the outcome , my new camera shows the true color much better than my old picture.
This is beautiful!! Do you use a micromotor or a flex shaft for carving?