TByrd
fully equipped rock polisher
Have you performed your random act of kindness?
Member since December 2010
Posts: 1,350
|
Post by TByrd on Sept 5, 2012 9:26:48 GMT -5
Wow, am I lucky! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D I have a Family friend that has been in the rock jewelry business ever since he was a kid. Anyway, he called and asked me to come over to his place, we took him a couple of things that we had for him. And he gave me a box. inside this box where a bunch of small bottles, inside the small bottles are all kinds of OPALS, there must be hundreds of opals, some small; some large. Now I can learn to cab them and do doublets and triplets. Happy, happy, Tammy OK, Here you go, here are the photos the bunch some single jars, Fire in this jar WOW Last one of the better photos, there are 30 + jars. Enjoy
|
|
|
Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Sept 5, 2012 10:18:32 GMT -5
Way to go!
|
|
jason12x12
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 798
|
Post by jason12x12 on Sept 5, 2012 10:31:26 GMT -5
we all love PICS
|
|
|
Post by Tonyterner on Sept 5, 2012 14:50:00 GMT -5
For the small to tiny ones doublets are the way to go and they can be pretty easy. I grind both sides flat to see where the color is then epoxy the piece to a black backing. Since they are small I usually glue a bunch to one slab then cut them apart on the saw. Then I just grind them to shape like any other cab. The trick comes in grinding the top deep enough to expose the color but not so deep that you go through the opal. I've never done a triplet so I can't advise you on them.
|
|
|
Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Sept 5, 2012 15:20:26 GMT -5
you can do a mosaic style on the very small pieces too
|
|
|
Post by christopherl1234 on Sept 5, 2012 16:03:46 GMT -5
Lucky you Lady!!! Can hardly wait to see the photos!!
|
|
pporky
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2007
Posts: 1,932
|
Post by pporky on Sept 5, 2012 16:58:16 GMT -5
Goodonya Tammy can't wait to see pics
|
|
|
Post by Bikerrandy on Sept 5, 2012 18:20:03 GMT -5
Yeah, without pics this is just another teaser. lol
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Sept 5, 2012 19:45:34 GMT -5
Awesome!!!!!!
So happy for you!
|
|
TByrd
fully equipped rock polisher
Have you performed your random act of kindness?
Member since December 2010
Posts: 1,350
|
Post by TByrd on Sept 5, 2012 23:01:43 GMT -5
Yes, pics are on their way. Thanks Tony, what a great idea, I have a fairly large piece of white Jasper/Quarts that I was going to use as a backer I was worried about how small I would have to cut so small to epoxy them together so now I don't have to cut it into tiny pieces until I have them glued together. I will post photos in the morning. Tammy
|
|
TByrd
fully equipped rock polisher
Have you performed your random act of kindness?
Member since December 2010
Posts: 1,350
|
Post by TByrd on Sept 6, 2012 19:10:41 GMT -5
Photos added, take a look.
|
|
|
Post by talkingstones on Sept 6, 2012 19:40:58 GMT -5
Great gift! I have a question, though. Why are opals kept in jars of water?
Cathy
|
|
borock
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 225
|
Post by borock on Sept 6, 2012 21:20:46 GMT -5
Thats a fire of a deal ;D
sorry had to say it
|
|
hubrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2011
Posts: 1,563
|
Post by hubrocks on Sept 7, 2012 10:35:09 GMT -5
Good things happen to good people! nice find..........Hub
|
|
TByrd
fully equipped rock polisher
Have you performed your random act of kindness?
Member since December 2010
Posts: 1,350
|
Post by TByrd on Sept 7, 2012 11:55:27 GMT -5
Cathy, Opal are kept in water or I think I have heard of Mineral Oil, to keep them from drying out.
Tammy
|
|
|
Post by frane on Sept 7, 2012 21:12:07 GMT -5
Now, that is a good friend! Have fun! Fran
|
|
herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
|
Post by herchenx on Sept 7, 2012 21:43:00 GMT -5
Dang! Awesome
|
|
hand2mouthmining
spending too much on rocks
Purveyors of California Gem Rock
Member since September 2011
Posts: 495
|
Post by hand2mouthmining on Sept 8, 2012 1:03:16 GMT -5
WOW! What an incredible gift! A true friend indeed! We can't wait to see what you cut, Tammy. The white quartz or other backing will allow you to maximize, by glueing the opal to a larger slab, and grinding the edge to the opals shape. To expand on that idea, try combining other materials with the "crystal" type opals. You'll get a truly unique effect with something like crazy lace, and it only takes a thin slice of opal to make this type of doublet cap. After all, you do have a good amount of material to play with! ;D Enjoy! Kris
|
|
|
Post by Tony W on Sept 10, 2012 2:16:59 GMT -5
Wow, wow, great score! Get started right away, and by the time your through those bottles you'll be really good at opal. YOu have so much fun ahead of you. And remember to not be afraid. Heck, you have bottles of the stuff, and you can afford to lose some learning. And thats the way you learn it...get in and grind. Look a lot, grind a little. T
|
|
|
Post by gingerkid on Sept 11, 2012 12:12:12 GMT -5
Looks like you won the lottery!! I think you are going to enjoy giving the opals a makeover, TByrd!! Are most of the opals from OZ? Some look like Coober Pedy? Have fun!! Looking forward to seeing pics of them soon. Please don't forget to wear a mask when you work the opal.
|
|