julietom
having dreams about rocks
Member since October 2009
Posts: 57
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Post by julietom on Oct 30, 2009 20:30:56 GMT -5
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Post by tkrueger3 on Oct 30, 2009 20:54:47 GMT -5
Ummmm - which of those perfectly shaped, totally shiny ones are you calling "preforms"? They all look better than any of my finished cabs!
Tom
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Post by NatureNut on Oct 30, 2009 21:11:59 GMT -5
They look great! Can you show the backs of the wraps? Jo
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Post by MyNewHobby on Oct 30, 2009 21:15:06 GMT -5
I would faint dead away ... but I couldn't type anything ...
Geessshhhhhhhhh .......... OMG what great pieces!!!!!!
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Post by superioragates on Oct 30, 2009 21:15:34 GMT -5
2nd pic down, far bottom right corner....what is that multi colored stone? That is so cool lookin'!!! Marie
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Post by Bikerrandy on Oct 30, 2009 21:15:47 GMT -5
The opals are amazing, especially the first one!!
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Post by fishenman on Oct 30, 2009 21:33:33 GMT -5
Wow, really great cabs. The last poppy jasper is a cool pattern.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Oct 30, 2009 22:40:47 GMT -5
Beautiful opals! Nice preforms too. Thanks for sharing.
Nate
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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 Oct 30, 2009 23:49:53 GMT -5
I like the big oval Montana in the first picture. The first opal and the first wrapped opal are my opal favorites. I suppose you don't tumble or vibe polish the opals, don't you?
Adrian
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aunuts
fully equipped rock polisher
Some days are gold, some are rocks. Either is cool.
Member since March 2006
Posts: 1,110
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Post by aunuts on Oct 31, 2009 0:56:40 GMT -5
The only thing I can say is "Oh my God!!!" Those take my breath away. Jo
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julietom
having dreams about rocks
Member since October 2009
Posts: 57
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Post by julietom on Oct 31, 2009 1:52:52 GMT -5
Thanks for all the wonderful comments! The preforms look good because they were photographed wet. I dome them out on an old frantom combo fitted out with an 80hex and a 220 galaxy diamond wheels; just something to pass the time while Im babysitting the big slab saws.. That gorgeous looking poppy jasper cab in the bottom corner of the second picture is a rare old piece of Pope Creek Poppy jasper, from the napa valley, collected back in the 50s.
I will try to get those opals out of the safe and shoot some pics of the back, but the backs look very similar to the fronts, all swirly and pretty looking. I form the bail first and then all the wrapping is done free hand with no pliers or anything. I just weave the ends of the wires back into the design, using the tension of the curves to retain the stone in place. About 1 in 10 wraps works out, and the rest of the time the wires just go back to the scrap pile... lol. That big blue opal is a 53ct black nobby from lightning ridge.. the pic with the 3 opals, are shown with them still on the dop sticks, as they still are, just sitting in the safe. Im waiting to see what shape I will need for the piece of jewelery that I create for them to fit in. I have an old homemade 8in flat lap that I cut most of my opals on. alternately I have a set of nearly worn out genie wheels that I like to use when Im cutting and shaping precious opal rough. I polish them on smooth elkhide, a little 6 inch attachment on the end of the genie. I did a cabbing tutorial around one of those montana agates, maybe it was that one or another piece off that same cobble. It is about 34 pictures long covering all the usual steps in cabbing on a genie. If anybody was really interested, I could post a link to the tutorial. I think its up on several rockhound yahoo groups that I belong to. I will go try to round up a link to it.
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julietom
having dreams about rocks
Member since October 2009
Posts: 57
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Post by julietom on Oct 31, 2009 2:01:12 GMT -5
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Post by frane on Oct 31, 2009 6:52:28 GMT -5
Those are all beautiful! In your preforms, are the green ones kind of soft? I would be worried they may not make it with the harder ones in the vibe. The Opals are just amazing and you do a wonderful job on them! Thanks for sharing! Fran
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Oct 31, 2009 8:20:09 GMT -5
Great looking opals and preforms. I can hardly wait till 3D TV comes out. The wraps looks really nice as well.
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karock
has rocks in the head
Member since November 2007
Posts: 667
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Post by karock on Oct 31, 2009 9:13:15 GMT -5
This is a great post, wonderful variety, love the first opal Karock
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MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
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Post by MikeS on Oct 31, 2009 13:34:14 GMT -5
those opals are awesome
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Post by Toad on Oct 31, 2009 13:42:51 GMT -5
Really like the blue opal in the gold wrap.
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Post by Tony W on Oct 31, 2009 22:27:36 GMT -5
Love the opals!! All great, all the time. The first one stands out, but the 4 below are amazing as well. Nice to have material like that to work with T
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Post by montanamuskrat on Oct 31, 2009 22:44:17 GMT -5
Beautiful opals. Debby and Tom
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Post by Bejewelme on Nov 1, 2009 10:27:27 GMT -5
WOW, those opals are just amazing!!! That blue opal is to die for!!!! Man I would be scared to stick them in the vibe, but I still have not mastered the vibe, heck I still cant tumble anything! Thanks for sharing! Amber
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