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Post by christopherl1234 on Sept 8, 2011 18:36:52 GMT -5
So I cut an Chocolate Ethiopian Opal today and this is what happened to it...... it crazed like mad!!!! All these tiny cracks appeared shortly after I cut it. I had it all polished up, I set it down to get the camera, took it outside to take some pictures and then BAM!!!! all of a sudden it looked like a cracked eggshell. None of these cracks seem to be very deep but I am afraid that if I try and cut them out I will either loose the fire or they will just come back.......bummer!!! I do still like it though
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Sept 8, 2011 18:38:49 GMT -5
Wow, touchy stuff!
I wonder if you did the opticon treatment would those go away
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Post by christopherl1234 on Sept 8, 2011 18:53:27 GMT -5
I am not sure if it would work. I tried Opticon on some other material about a week ago. I didn't have very good results. I let them soak under a light for a few hours and then I "painted them with the mixed solution. I didn't get very good penetration. I might try it with this one though. Seems like the cracks are much shallower.
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Post by tandl on Sept 8, 2011 19:07:52 GMT -5
i usually don`t like the crazing , but i like this one .
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Sept 8, 2011 19:10:16 GMT -5
when I do a treatment on cabs or slabs I soak them in the resin under a light for more than 24 hours, sometimes longer you might try a acetone thinned resin but no light or heat get a little container and put an amount that you can cut with an equal amount of acetone to make it water thin and soak it in that overnite then pull it out and hit it with a few drops of the hardener and let it sit for 5 or so minutes and clean it off. The thinned opticon if you have a glass container it will keep for those stones needing water thin resin. I might add that if you do this make sure that its a glass container and that you keep it with the lid on while doing the soaking.
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Post by beefjello on Sept 8, 2011 19:14:14 GMT -5
Regardless of the fractures, that's some nice colorful chocolate.. eye candy that hits the spot! ;D
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stoneviews
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2009
Posts: 1,864
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Post by stoneviews on Sept 8, 2011 21:26:28 GMT -5
Very Cool!!!!!!!!
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Post by Toad on Sept 8, 2011 22:44:46 GMT -5
Wonderful material. Shame about the crazing.
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Post by christopherl1234 on Sept 8, 2011 23:07:28 GMT -5
I think I will try your suggestion Diane. Let it soak for a day or more if it looks like it didn't do the trick then I will make a thinned out solution and let it soak in that for a few days and see if that works. I feel that the stone is worth it.
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rockhound97058
freely admits to licking rocks
Thundereggs - Oregons Official State Rock!
Member since January 2006
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Post by rockhound97058 on Sept 8, 2011 23:40:16 GMT -5
Welcome to the world of Opals! - Actually a fair amount of Ethiopian is stable when cut, however many craze out just like your piece.
On the other hand, you think that's bad - try Oregon Opal. I own a small opal mine in Central Oregon - most is a common based opal, however from time to time I get some precious varieties, I've dug some pieces right from the ground and within 5 minutes it starts to crack! No chance in all to attempt to cut a stone from it.
On the other hand, great cab! Looks great Chris.
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
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Post by Don on Sept 8, 2011 23:53:33 GMT -5
I love this stuff but haven't seen any that isn't crazed all over. My friend rescued a crazed opal with a soak in thinned epoxy in a home made vacuum chamber.
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Post by christopherl1234 on Sept 9, 2011 0:19:48 GMT -5
How did he make the vacuum chamber Don?
I cut a nice one last year that didn't craze at all. This year I cut a nodule that I had opened up a year ago. Usually that will release the stress and any cracking will be done with after a year or so. I guess I didn't open this one up enough. I have about 1/3 of a nodule left from the one that did not craze. After I see if I can save this one or not maybe I will cut another out to the good one and let that other set for another year now that it is wide open.
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Sept 9, 2011 8:09:53 GMT -5
The stone is definately worth giving it a go at saving it!
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adrian65
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Post by adrian65 on Sept 9, 2011 8:58:27 GMT -5
Beautiful cab. You were lucky compared to me: Looking at your opal cab, that brought me up the apetite for cabbing a small piece of Ethiopian opal I bought one year ago. I made a VERY high domed cab (over 1/2 inch high) and after finishing it I sunk it in a glass of water for a couple of hours, to enhance its glare. But, the only very fine fracture in the cab (barely visible) was all across its thicknes and water only helped it falling apart in two pieces It broke while picturing it to make a post here. Adrian
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Sept 9, 2011 9:26:57 GMT -5
some of the opals that are that sensitive to moisture loss and heat are best cast in resin or as doublets/triplets
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by peachfront on Sept 9, 2011 11:11:12 GMT -5
I feel like once the stone is put in epoxy it has lost most of its value because you must either disclose that the stone is stabilized or risk the appearance of dishonesty. I realize a lot of people out there aren't disclosing, but those people are one of the reasons that some of us are turning away from the frequently treated stones and I think it's ultimately damaging to the hobby. Is there no way to use the stone as a doublet, rather than "stabilizing" it and making a real stone into, let's face it, plastic?
A doublet/triplet in my opinion is what I would try in your shoes. Not epoxy/chemicals/plastic. Keep in mind, this is just my humble opinion and not worth much...
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Don
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Post by Don on Sept 9, 2011 15:31:04 GMT -5
So long as the treatment is disclosed by the seller and the stone is priced appropriately, I don't see a problem. obviously a natural, untreated stone would be worth more.
Christopher, I'll see if I can get some pictures of the homemade vacuum chamber.
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grayfingers
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Post by grayfingers on Sept 9, 2011 18:34:26 GMT -5
Wow, that is a beautiful opal Christopher. I bet you will get it fixed up with all the knowledge being shared. I just now read up on opal, I had no idea about the water loss issue.
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