shimmeringsun
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2011
Posts: 20
|
Post by shimmeringsun on Oct 21, 2011 17:39:57 GMT -5
Hello
I’m just starting out being/or trying to be a Lapidary working with opals. The opals I buy come with many sandpits so I find myself cleaning each one in a bowl of water with a dentist pick... which does turn out to be therapeutic, but also time consuming. I’ve researched ultrasonic cleaners to help remove these sandpits in mass loads but it turns out that an ultrasonic cleaner could break an opal apart due to them being brittle. The reason I’m removing these sand pits is because I want to keep the opal in their nature form and form that give them a high polish. Does anyone have any ideal on a piece of equipment which would be gentle enough on opals while removing the sand?
Thanks for taking the time to read.
|
|
Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
|
Post by Don on Oct 21, 2011 18:08:08 GMT -5
maybe a rotary tool with a real fine diamond bit on it?
|
|
shimmeringsun
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2011
Posts: 20
|
Post by shimmeringsun on Oct 21, 2011 18:37:46 GMT -5
Yeah i've also tried that although I tend to remove some of the natural orange peel texture of the opal.
Thank you DLC =)
|
|
LarryS
freely admits to licking rocks
SoCal desert rats
Member since August 2010
Posts: 781
|
Post by LarryS on Oct 21, 2011 19:05:12 GMT -5
I just purchased a El Cheapo ultrasonic cleaner from Harbor Freight for $35 and it works great. You don't see the rocks violently moving around. All you see is tiny bubbles/foam coming out of the pits where dried polish is packed in. Cleans out the pits within 5-10 seconds. Has a built in 1 minute timer and I let it go for the full length. I throw in 3-4 cabs in at the same time, some as large as 3". No problems. Might be worth experimenting with.
|
|
Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
|
Post by Don on Oct 21, 2011 19:24:07 GMT -5
Larry's idea is good to, so long as the ultra sonic vibes don't beat up the opal. It would be worth a try.
|
|
shimmeringsun
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2011
Posts: 20
|
Post by shimmeringsun on Oct 21, 2011 19:36:26 GMT -5
Yeah I think I will buy one... they can be used for other things anyhow. Most of my welos are below three carats so i'd have to keep an eye on them... just give them a 5-10 second burst me thinks. Cheers for your time chaps =)
|
|