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Post by rockrookie on Mar 1, 2010 20:48:33 GMT -5
here are some pictures of my favorite boulder opals that i tumbled last year IMG]http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/qq285/rockrookie_2008/2010-03-01/rocks016.jpg[/IMG]      i hope that these pixs turned out well and you like . THANKS !! ---paul |
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Post by Toad on Mar 2, 2010 7:44:09 GMT -5
Tumbling opal? Cool. What was your process?
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Mar 2, 2010 8:17:21 GMT -5
Wow, that is a totally cool looking stone!
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Mar 2, 2010 9:31:21 GMT -5
Way to go Paul! They're awesome! I love it... tumbling opal. How did you approach it?
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Post by rockrookie on Mar 2, 2010 17:51:01 GMT -5
Way to go Paul! They're awesome! I love it... tumbling opal. How did you approach it? actually i approached it before i was told that it is not a good idea . i bought a couple of lbs of rough on ebay . it was not to bad of a price . it had a lot of ?? matrix . it turned the tumbler water a rust brown (mud) . i just added those peice to my 12lber with a large asst of other stuff. onnce i got to hard stone . it started to really look promising . i then switched the better peices to a smaller barrel with smaller peices .some of the opal was trimmed & grinded to get to the gemmy layers . then i just went through to normal stages to 1000 AO then finally AO Polish . the gemmy layer look good . but what really amazes me . is the shine on thmain rock . the color is dark burgundy .the shine is so strong that it was very tough to photograph . it almost looks like it has a plastic covering like it was vaccuum wrapped . that sounds weird , but it is just my description .. i would not do it with the expensive peices that ebay sells by the single rock for expensive $$ . but from my experience , there was some good material hiding in low grade chucks , for a fair price. THANKS !! ---paul |
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Mar 2, 2010 21:28:02 GMT -5
Good job man, seriously! I like to see that good good stuff tumbled and looking great!
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Post by Bikerrandy on Mar 3, 2010 14:16:44 GMT -5
Most people are scared to tumble that stuff. lol... Great job!  |
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Post by montanamuskrat on Mar 3, 2010 17:32:25 GMT -5
Great job of tumbling opal.
Debby & Tom
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Mudshark
fully equipped rock polisher
Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock. Will Rogers
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,083
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Post by Mudshark on Mar 3, 2010 19:10:31 GMT -5
Great job on a tricky stone!Are you gonna wrap any?
Mike
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Post by frane on Mar 3, 2010 19:25:03 GMT -5
Amazing! I just never knew you could tumble that stuff!
Fran
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Post by rockrookie on Mar 3, 2010 20:59:31 GMT -5
Great job on a tricky stone!Are you gonna wrap any? Mike i have not "successfully " done wraps yet . i am going to use beavertail bails on a few . Thanks ! --paul |
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Post by Toad on Mar 4, 2010 11:10:00 GMT -5
Might have to try that some day.
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