timloco
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2012
Posts: 545
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Post by timloco on May 24, 2018 15:07:09 GMT -5
Sigh... didn't turn out quite the way I wanted, some bubbles in the bottom of both and one has a fracture that I didn't notice until after I glued it. But, I didn't spend a lot on this lot of opal so it was more a learning experience than anything. The before picture, I used the two stones on the right: And here's the stones after: It really made the flash pop having that dark background!
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Post by MsAli on May 24, 2018 15:08:35 GMT -5
Pretty!
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Post by orrum on May 24, 2018 16:22:33 GMT -5
Hey I think that's pretty darn good!#!
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Post by fernwood on May 24, 2018 16:32:03 GMT -5
Great looking opals.
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Post by rockjunquie on May 24, 2018 18:54:09 GMT -5
Looks good to me. I think for your first time, they are fine.
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Post by opalpyrexia on May 24, 2018 22:11:30 GMT -5
Very nice, Tim. Thanks!
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timloco
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2012
Posts: 545
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Post by timloco on May 25, 2018 13:45:45 GMT -5
Thanks for the comments! Yea they're ok, I think I can make them look good in some jewelry.
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on May 25, 2018 13:51:41 GMT -5
Nice. What are you using for the backing? Lynn
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timloco
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2012
Posts: 545
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Post by timloco on May 25, 2018 15:07:51 GMT -5
Nice. What are you using for the backing? Lynn I'm using some basenite donated by gemfeller with a 303 epoxy that I mixed with some Mars Black pigment donated by opalpyrexia (thanks guys) Love the community here!
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Post by mohs on May 25, 2018 15:35:08 GMT -5
cool cut pair project on !
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,796
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Post by gemfeller on May 25, 2018 20:18:38 GMT -5
Good job timloco . A suggestion for preventing bubbles showing in doublets: mix the epoxy very slowly to avoid creating as many bubbles as possible, then heat it a minute or so under an incandescent light bulb to make it runnier. When the opal's in place on the basanite use a clean pencil eraser to push down on the opal to squeeze out any remaining bubbles. The eraser helps prevent slipping on the slick opal surface. Works for me.
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timloco
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2012
Posts: 545
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Post by timloco on May 26, 2018 12:19:48 GMT -5
Good job timloco . A suggestion for preventing bubbles showing in doublets: mix the epoxy very slowly to avoid creating as many bubbles as possible, then heat it a minute or so under an incandescent light bulb to make it runnier. When the opal's in place on the basanite use a clean pencil eraser to push down on the opal to squeeze out any remaining bubbles. The eraser helps prevent slipping on the slick opal surface. Works for me. Great advice! I noticed it did slip a little when I pushed down on them. The next ones will be better for sure now that I made my mistakes and learned from them :-)
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Post by Rockoonz on May 26, 2018 23:05:20 GMT -5
I mix my 303 slowly, never lifting the mixing stick out of it, and wave a butane torch across the epoxy to pull the bubbles out. My experience so far has been entirely with Spencer ID opal so mine are triplets with quartz caps.
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