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Post by Bejewelme on Nov 10, 2008 22:34:36 GMT -5
Well here are the posts from last week's cabbing disaster, disappoinment all around. I wanted to have a great post of various opal and each one got progressively worse. Opals are so alluring and yet so heart breaking. Here is the first boulder opal, if you were standing 10 feet from the sun with a jewlers loop you will see a pin head sized flash of green, this yielded mud on my manicure and face, and no flash. I think someone gave be bad BO. The next is peruvian pink opal, this looked like it had potential, but it was soft and I ground it to nothing in seconds, it does have a nice lustre, like a seashell, it looks faded in the photo. This was my favorite, again it was suppose to be peruvian pink opal, but it is much harder, than the previous. Tony thinks it is something else, well it vibrated off the cab machine, hit the floor and cracked, bummer, because I really liked this one. And I was grinding away forever on this thing. The last one was the best, a piece of butterffly wing jasper I got at the rock show for $1.00. Tony broke it in half because it was fractured, he said I actually had a good dome on this one, so I gave this to him.
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Post by beefjello on Nov 10, 2008 23:01:19 GMT -5
I can see the pin head sized flash of green! ;D Don't feel bad, opals can be pretty tough. I think your cabs look great, and the Butterfly Wing is fantastic!
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Post by akansan on Nov 10, 2008 23:06:04 GMT -5
I admit, I haven't attempted the few pieces of BO I have around my house because of that heartbreak. I'm so afraid I'll grind to nothing!
Both of those pink opals are terrific, and yes, that Butterfly Wing is gorgeous!
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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 Nov 10, 2008 23:11:27 GMT -5
My only attempt at BO cabbing ended so much like yours, LOL. You MUST go SLOW, but I think slow isn't enough said. Stick to the hard stones, they're much more cooperative and they will give you confidece in the beginning. The last two cabs are beautiful, I like the most the second to last - especially its shape.
Adrian
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Post by sitnwrap on Nov 10, 2008 23:55:01 GMT -5
If it were not Boulder Opal, I'd say the pattern looks great but where you were hoping for more than a pin sized flash (good pic of it btw), I can see why you are disapointed. I love the Peruvian opals and the Butterflywing is gorgeous.
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MidNight~Rocksi3
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2008
Posts: 1,716
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Post by MidNight~Rocksi3 on Nov 11, 2008 0:44:45 GMT -5
Hey it ain't that bad.. still a wicked pattern in there.. and hell you did a killer job on the shine.. I do like the butterfly as well .. Kudo's to you girl!
*smiles*
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deedolce
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2006
Posts: 1,828
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Post by deedolce on Nov 11, 2008 0:54:02 GMT -5
I still love the rich browns and patterns of BO - even without flash it would be a gorgeous rock! I see the green flash too! The last one too is beautifully done! Good job.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2008 1:13:18 GMT -5
Amber,
I applaud your efforts. Opal isnt exactly a beginner's material and its good you are starting with beginner quality boulder opal. Imagine your disappointment if it had been a fabulous piece with lots of fire and you ended up blowing right through it in a matter of seconds (its happened to us all). I dont know how many times I kept grinding CONVINCED there was more fire, only to blow through what little was there. Fortunately Boulder opal is one of those stones that has amazing patterns even without fire.
My opal of choice is Mexican fire opal. It doesnt make a mess like BO but instead, it teases you with a ton of fire and then often throws a fracture in your face that wasnt visible when you started. But the bottom line is, they are WORTH IT so keep practicing.
I really like the parrot wing jasper..........great colors!
Shannon
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Post by Tony W on Nov 11, 2008 3:20:47 GMT -5
Shoot, girl, I think you did good! You learned a lot... perhaps more than seems fair I mean dropping the good one, and dusting the one with potential is tough to swallow, but to me... the worst heart ache is the first one. It has a great shape, and you have worked the shape to pattern thing with real applumb. It has a nice pattern... the only thing it lacks is any opal of consequence Dang, Amber, make that mean Tony buy you some rough with some splash and flash when you have a good show I think you made up for your disappointment with a great job on the jasper. It has a super pattern and you framed it great! Tony
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Post by Bejewelme on Nov 11, 2008 7:03:48 GMT -5
Well Tony W, my Tony had sort of started the shape on the BO, so I can't take full credit, I am so scared of it now, because some of it is expensive, and I don't want to be disappointed, but I guess we keep trying, it is helpful on my diet, to just keep spending hundreds of dollars on rocks, versus food !!!!! Hahahahah.
Shannon- I agree that the Mexican Fire Opal is pretty too. I just got a honduran opal from Stonesthatrock, I am scared to cut that expensive little sucker. IF anyone knows about working with that, let us know it is in the black matrix.
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Nov 11, 2008 7:49:43 GMT -5
Don't be TOO hard on yourself now! I think your doing just fine. I can't say how to improve or give you any suggestions as I've never worked any type of Opal. Well...I did try a small piece I found at the Royal Peacock. It was gorgeous until I burned it up within a few seconds. It literally turned brown! So...after that experiece...I haven't tried since. I applaud you for trying. You can't learn until you try...so don't let this first experience keep you down. I can still see some gorgeous cabs. Thanks for sharing your stuff. Steve
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Nov 11, 2008 8:11:20 GMT -5
Well bejewelme, it depends on if you have pinfire or broadflash in the stone. Pinfire looks good cut across the grain and broadflash with the grain. Tho if the layers are deep enough you can cut pinfire with the grain, the problem comes in the doming of the stone, if you get the fire in the middle of the stone you loose it on the edges. Flat tops are seen alot because of this.
If the is potch (actually sand) in the face of the stone you can stabilize it after you get your final shape.
I use Cerium Oxide for the final polish and let the pad dry out a little to add some heat during the final.
I really love/hate working with this stuff (like all Honduran Opal), I work some Black Matrix when I need a pick-me-up since it usually comes out better than expected. ;D
Advise...Never buy just one stone, buy 3, one your positive your going to screw up and thro away, one that will come out ok after the third try and the last one should be the keeper. And carpet your floor so the rocks don't break when gravity grabs and throws them on the floor (thru no fault of your own!) I carpeted the wall behind the cabber for when the Opals try to take flight also.
How big is the piece your working with?
Dr Joe
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Post by Titania on Nov 11, 2008 9:07:09 GMT -5
I definitely see the little pinfire in the BO. It looks like good matrix, so it's a pretty stone, even if there's not as much going on as you'd hoped. I think you did a great job on the others, too. Especially so, given the difficulty of the materials you're working. Keep at it!
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Post by Tonyterner on Nov 11, 2008 9:54:25 GMT -5
Starting any new craft can be frustrating. My first cabs were way worse than this. Just keep plugging away and you will get better. Oh and keep the cabs away from the edge of the grinder so they don't fall off. lol The dome and shine on the butterfly wing are as good as anything I've done. Keep it up and the student will surpass the teacher (that's not a very long drive).
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rockieroad
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2008
Posts: 20
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Post by rockieroad on Nov 11, 2008 11:38:57 GMT -5
Hi, I'm new to the group and lapidary. I have been seduced by the gorgeous BO cabs I've seen here but haven't tried yet. I did find an article that seemed very thorough. www.koroit.com/cuttingopalarticlelinks.html I hope that helps. Grace
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49er
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 753
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Post by 49er on Nov 11, 2008 11:38:53 GMT -5
Amber I have to agree with Shannon, opal is a tough beginner material. I would suggest starting with some agate first to get your feet wet. Harder stone and more forgiving. When I taught lapidary, I always started my students out with harder stones then allowed them to move forward if allowed. Don't give up your shapes are excellent and not the same basic cab shapes.
Hope to see more of your work
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Post by Bejewelme on Nov 11, 2008 12:54:44 GMT -5
49er, that is becuase I can't stay in the lines, so they are all freeforms, which I like anyway, I like to just follow the material. I like the soft stones because they go quicker, although with me they sometimes really go!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2008 14:42:56 GMT -5
Amber..........ya, the soft ones "go" alright. LOL Like my first picasso marble. It started as a large oval 1/4" thick. After just a short "go" it was damn near paper thin. It happened before I even realized it. That was when I first started cabbing. I decided at that point that I needed to perfect harder materials first.
Here is a tip I learned from someone that has been cabbing opals for over 35 years.....take a completely junk opal and just grind the heck out of it. Ruin it if you want. Grind lightly, grind hard. It will give you a feel for the material itself without having to pussy foot around with an expensive piece. With expensive ones, you never really get a feel for the material because you are so busy trying not to ruin it. When I first started working with solid opals, I tried out this little tip and it really helped me a lot. I used a Coober Pedy with almost zero fire.
Shannon
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Nov 12, 2008 16:48:48 GMT -5
I second that! There's no way to practice for Opal than on Opal. Oh, and don't forget a pic of the that Honduran Opal. Dr Joe .
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Post by stoner on Nov 12, 2008 19:27:09 GMT -5
Did I give you that junker piece of opal? !!!!! This stuff can be frustrating, but when you finally get some nice material, it's well worth the effort.
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