unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Jun 5, 2011 11:42:05 GMT -5
Hi everyone, This is a piece of boulder opal. It as you can see has heavy pitting. What would be the best method to stabilize this piece before I attempt to cab it. I have a can of Opticam as well as various viscosities of super glue. Also are there any special precautions that i need to follow as I have never worked with Boulder Opal before. I have only cabbed the harder minerals such as agate and jaspar. Thanks Stu
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Post by Tony W on Jun 5, 2011 12:00:00 GMT -5
Well, you can't cut it out. I'd dome it and see how many pits remain. It probably won't be crumbly, so I'd say opticon is over kill. But I'm not a big opticon fan, so take the word of those that are, over mine. I'd just fill the pits with super glue, or epoxy 30, or whatever, after I've domed it, and have a bit of a polish on it, were it my stone. What does the flip side look like? T
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Post by gr on Jun 5, 2011 13:50:24 GMT -5
Good practice piece Stu , And what TW said! gr
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Post by mohs on Jun 5, 2011 13:57:29 GMT -5
pretty stone, light grind, highlight fine happy figuring it out !
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horsinaround
spending too much on rocks
If you don't lick rocks...you ain't cool
Member since November 2006
Posts: 315
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Post by horsinaround on Jun 5, 2011 17:22:08 GMT -5
I am a great fan of the B.O. looks like a very nice piece though....good luck on it Steve
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bob64
starting to shine!
Member since January 2010
Posts: 35
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Post by bob64 on Jun 8, 2011 8:16:33 GMT -5
Hey Stu,
I'm in the same boat as you. I've got several pieces I'd like to work on but I've got some pits like you and one or two pieces have some soft areas. Last week, I took one and ground the soft stuff off and smoothed it out to highlight the patterns and flash. It was a very non-standard stone (looked more tumbled than cabbed) but it was something my wife loved and wants to wrap. I think I'll shape and dome, then whip out the super glue. I've always hated the thought of putting glue on stones. I can't help but think that it can't be too good for the belts. Good luck with your stone.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jun 9, 2011 1:14:13 GMT -5
Hi
I saw a man in Admoka (nr Lightening Ridge Australia ) 18 months ago with simular material and lower grade BO, he showed me how he dipped them in what he called "Liquid Glass" (which he got from USA ) after he had shapped them
He gave them 2 or 3 coats they looked ok
I dont like the Idea of coating the stone but this is the way this man did it and turned out a good selection of jewellery
Jack Yorkshire uk
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Jun 9, 2011 2:28:22 GMT -5
Hi Jack,
Thanks for the reply. Funny you should mention liquid glass as I had just saw a listing for it on Ebay. I made a thread about it and it seems as though there has been a lot written about Liquid Glass on the forum.
Stu
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lisatech
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2011
Posts: 140
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Post by lisatech on Jun 9, 2011 9:41:14 GMT -5
For purchasing, try a local pottery supply place.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Jun 10, 2011 0:55:47 GMT -5
Hi Stu Can you give me a link to the thread you have on "Liquid Glass "
Thanks Jack Yorkshire uk
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