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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on May 22, 2009 9:29:20 GMT -5
Hi all, I have been experimenting with some opal here is the 3/4 finished results A closer view of a nice one I have tried to catch the fire in the opal but havent got it photoed and having real problem with forcusing This is the best 2 photos out of 25 Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr And even the sun hasent cooperated !! every time I got set up it went behind a cloud Any coment much appreciated and advice even better Thanks in advance Jack Yorkshire uk
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Post by Titania on May 22, 2009 9:54:19 GMT -5
Stunning, Jack. The fire is truly breathtaking! What are you using to front and back them?
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Post by NatureNut on May 22, 2009 9:57:32 GMT -5
Oh Jack, how pretty. There's lots of fire in them opals! Looks like your camera wanted to focus on the board and not the opals. In that case, you might have to take it off auto-focus and focus manually. You caught plenty of flash, though! Gorgeous! Jo
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Post by Bejewelme on May 22, 2009 10:07:18 GMT -5
Jack: Nothing like a fiery opal, especially a dozen of them!!! Those turned out lovely! We can see the fire in them, now what do you have planned for all those beauties?
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Post by mohs on May 22, 2009 10:24:55 GMT -5
whoa Jack ! you have some beautiful experimenting going on there good luck & happy fire shine ed
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Post by Tonyterner on May 22, 2009 13:30:36 GMT -5
Wowsers they have some flash! Like others I'd like to know what you are using for the back and front of these triplets.
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MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
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Post by MikeS on May 22, 2009 14:58:19 GMT -5
very nice! I love opals
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mossyrockhound
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2011
Posts: 1,278
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Post by mossyrockhound on May 22, 2009 17:21:57 GMT -5
Nice triplets Jack! They look great. I had plenty of problems (cracking the opal because I clamped too hard when gluing, bubbles in the glue, etc) with my first tripletts. I've only made about a dozen so far. It looks like you've already solved most of the problems I had. I used basinite for the backs and optical quartz for the domes. My triplets were made from Spencer, ID material and seeing yours makes me want to make some more! Garry
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Post by rockds on May 22, 2009 21:11:57 GMT -5
Nice job! I have used just about everything imaginable for the backs of mine, jet, jade, ebony but have lately been using solid black obsidian and the results have been as good if not better than the others. The solid black gives an electric blue color to the opal I'm using right now. I agree that optical quartz is probably the best to use as the dome but have tried a couple of rutilated quartz lately just to see what would happen. The rutile really pops with the opal underneath and the entire cab looks like nothing I have seen before.
Robert
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,777
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Post by adrian65 on May 22, 2009 21:20:51 GMT -5
Beautiful! Thay are so colorful, the fire is there but maybe hard to catch in the pic.
What materials did you use for the "sandwich"?
"The rutile really pops with the opal underneath and the entire cab looks like nothing I have seen before." Robert would you please show this to us? It sounds awesome.
Adrian
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on May 23, 2009 0:06:46 GMT -5
Hi All, Thanks for the comments
I use Rock crystal I got in the local Aquatic shop !! for the tops and Black Obsidion I got from Manchester Minerals ,
I got a bag of large tumble polished then cut them into small thin slabs 3 to 4 mm,
The clear glue is from B & Q a Repositonable glue (sets in one hour)
The opal was a lower grade opal and has a few chalky spots in it and is quite thin ,
I took these opals on the dop sticks to the silversmithing class I run last night and 7 have been" booked" already ,
I have been showing the ladies how these are made, I also put on a "Rough to Gem " exibition each term.
Jo Thanks for the details on focusing I will try with the auto focus off
Thanks all
Jack Yorkshire UK
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Post by BuiltonRock on May 23, 2009 1:10:48 GMT -5
Very nice Jack and the photos are not bad!
John
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Post by Tony W on May 23, 2009 8:44:19 GMT -5
Jack, I know the fun you are having with those!! Looks like the material is holding up nicely to the wheel, and there is some great fire! T
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Post by sitnwrap on May 23, 2009 20:41:28 GMT -5
Those are so pretty and the fire in each is coming right through.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on May 24, 2009 2:06:57 GMT -5
Hi Tony
I used wood glue on the dop sticks and it works well, But Now I have to get them off !!!
Wood glue works well and dosent need heat (Im afraid to use wax and heat with Opal)
Thanks all for the comments
Jack Yorkshire uk
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Post by connrock on May 24, 2009 8:46:16 GMT -5
Not bad for a limey Jack!!! lol
You are MUCH braver then I am!
I cringe every time I think of cutting opals!!
GREAT job Jack!
connrock
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on May 24, 2009 12:58:34 GMT -5
Great work so far, Jack. Regarding getting cabs from wooden dop sticks, without using dissolvent or heat, I use this method: saw off wooden sticks just beneath cab with jewelers saw or some similar saw. Then I just send the bottom of the cab to remove the leftovers of glue and stick. Since jewelers saw is very thin it very slightly reduces the length of wooden stick and you and you can use it for a long time. Hope this helps. Zoran
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Post by Tony W on May 25, 2009 23:38:58 GMT -5
Hey, Jack! If all else fails I can usually insinuate a razor blade between the glue and the back, then into water for a while, then into the freezer, and back to the razor to open up the glue a little more. Since I don't know how water and the freezer will do on your triplicate glue, I guess you just need to use the razor. Easy does it, but it will eventually let go. I always try to have the glue spread out from the nail or stick just so I can work in a razor if I need to. T P.S.-- watch the fingies
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on May 26, 2009 2:37:28 GMT -5
thanks Tom , Zoran & Tony,
I think I will try the jewelers saw or the dimond saw I have a fair bit of Obsidian to take of so I have room to do this
Thanks again
Jack Yorkshire UK
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