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[Asianfire]

A few months ago. I was gifted some opals for carving, and after cleaning up as far as I dared, I left them sit for a while. Last week, I started digging into a piece that seemed good for practice and dug out all the dirt I could get at.

Now, I'm left with what I call an Australian Swiss Cheese!


After some more cleaning up and basic polish, this is what I'm looking at:


And here once more, back and front and up-side down for good meassure


It turned out a crazy shape and needs some more actual cleaning after going maybe another round or two at polishing. Its chaotic, and fire covers most surfaces from one angle or another, plus comes in at 20ct. Like it, that one will surely remain mine!

Yipie, my first opal done! Finally!

Thanks for looking, Kurt

[iceopals]

Love the piece!   I have some swiss cheese, and some swiss cheese to be as well.   Just haven't managed to make myself go in there and work it out.

[vitzitziltecpatl]

I also love it, Kurt! Have never carved anything, but seeing your piece here makes me think I'll have to try it someday.

[hummingbirdstones]

Congratulations on your first opal carving!     I have cut many opals, but I have never actually sat down and tried to carve one yet.  I, too, have some swiss cheese pieces of LR opal that are waiting patiently for me to get the bug to actually try to carve something.

Excellent job on the carving, Kurt!  I like it A LOT!   

[Asianfire]

Thank you for the kind words.

Just like with Fire Agate, don't really see it as a carving.
All I did was, removing the loose muck and opening the view of the crystal really.
The resulting shape is entirely given by nature.

[Gergis]

WHAT?! THATS RAD!!!  how long did that take todo?

[Asianfire]

WHAT?! THATS RAD!!!  how long did that take todo?

  RAD? Whats that? 
All in all, I suppose about 3 hours on the machine and another 3 sanding and polish.

As that opal went reasonably well, but presents a huge challenge for setting or making it useful for wearing, I pretty much lost interest already, and its on to the next one.

This piece is stronger, and setting as well as carving are distinct possibilities. Just cleaned off the sand as far as I could and contemplating now what to carve. I somehow seem to see a mermaid sitting in there. That could combine the lower blue with the upper darker color, while fitting the cheesy sections around. :)


Best regards, Kurt

[Gergis]

you know them crazy kids these days haha rad radical dope dank sweet fresh=Cool ;-)

[Asianfire]

you know them crazy kids these days haha rad radical dope dank sweet fresh=Cool ;-)

Yeahh like the kids making trouble this week here in HK.

The second opal is basically done by now too, but I dont like the face. Looks like a pig (litterally) and needs a major facial makeover......

[wampidy]

Pigs can be cute too ya know, when they are little babies. You seem to be the rework king so I have no doubt that you will get it back to human again if that is what you are looking for.
Jim