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[wampidy]

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.








Heart front and back rough.


In the process

End result



Mountain range, kinda. Front and top are natural fractured stone.


Top

Front

Back


Grooved





Boat???



Random, some repeats and some other small ones.

[Gergis]

Looks like some incredible fire in those pieces! Very sweet!!

[lithicbeads]

Nicest opal I have seen in years , vivid.

[wampidy]

Wow, thanks guys. I have not been around opal at all so I wasn't sure.
Jim

[hummingbirdstones]

Great job on the Welo, Jim!  Need more pictures when you're finished.   

[iceopals]

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!

[wampidy]

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

[Enchantra]

Beautiful first time opals!  I think you did great with these!   

[Itsandbits]

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.

[Phishisgroovin]

those are all really beautiful pieces of cheese there.
My absolute favorite, just dont have the proper tools to get them a proper polishing.

[Neural]

Beautiful opals. 

Just curious, why is the one dopped on the side of the stick as opposed to the end?

[wampidy]

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

[sealdaddy]

Now you've done it, Jim...you've got me thinking about cutting opals 

[wampidy]

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

[Phishisgroovin]

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!