|
|
Post by helens on Feb 27, 2012 19:54:00 GMT -5
I haven't posted much by way of lapidary I've done here, so while this isn't new, I thought I'd show everyone:). I had a piece of odd shaped rough, that I bought to carve. Looking at the shape, I knew I wanted a very simple form that would basically follow the lines in the shape, with minimal detail, since they would get lost in the opal fire anyway, and be harder to polish. After studying it a while, about the only thing I could see coming out of such a strange shape was a very representational 'seal'. I like seals, so that works. This was carved with a dremel and diamond bits, then polished with felt wheels and silica carbide grits. I never even got to the final cerium oxide polish because at the time I didn't have any. The opal started out as a 7.4 carat precious opal rough, very firey. It was a odd shape, but interesting.  This is after it got cleaned up, matrix removed:  another few angles of the original shape   Almost finished, not cleaned:   Finished (well, through 1500 grit silicone oxide):   This shot was a few days later, and the hydrophane opal seems to be starting to clear up (see the leg turning from white to clear?)  Am hoping it goes fully translucent again, but hasn't happened yet. It's not a fine polish, but it's finished for now. I'm mostly interested in seeing if the white that happened from being wet clears up. I may go back to finish the polish later. While the photos enlarge it a lot... the actual piece is 5 carats, so pretty small. You can't tell that the finish isn't fully polished except under magnification. |
|
dbrealityrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2010
Posts: 1,084
|
Post by dbrealityrocks on Feb 27, 2012 20:02:41 GMT -5
Well sealed deal there... very beautiful opal!!
|
|
jason12x12
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 798
|
Post by jason12x12 on Feb 27, 2012 21:43:25 GMT -5
looks like it would make a nice dangle for a pendant..beutiful piece
|
|
xXxAlisha91xXx
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 284
|
Post by xXxAlisha91xXx on Feb 27, 2012 21:51:42 GMT -5
Awe...It's adorable!
|
|
rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2012
Posts: 1,637
|
Post by rockingthenorth on Feb 27, 2012 22:22:48 GMT -5
looks good helen. I agaree it would make a great pendant
|
|
|
|
Post by paulshiroma on Feb 27, 2012 23:14:52 GMT -5
That's a beautiful piece, Helen. Looking terrific!
Paul
|
|
|
|
Post by helens on Feb 28, 2012 0:44:59 GMT -5
Thanks everyone:). I know it's not great, it's my first 'carving' tho:). Glass is inherently an additive form of sculpting... you add glass til you get the shape you want. Carving is subtractive, you take parts away til you get what you want. But because you can't add anything again, you are limited to what you started with by way of mass. VERY challenging to switch from one to the other!!
This is really all I have to show, carving takes a lot of time with my limited tools, and I haven't been able to spend that much time on it. Opals are easier because they're so soft, so you can get a shape faster.
You guys are being kind, it's not that great a piece, but I'm proud of it because it's my first one:).
|
|
xXxAlisha91xXx
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 284
|
Post by xXxAlisha91xXx on Feb 28, 2012 2:52:35 GMT -5
It's a lot better than my first opals*cringes*:    I keep seeing them and wanting to fix them up, but I've decided to keep them as evidence of how far I've come.... |
|
|
|
Post by helens on Feb 28, 2012 3:33:57 GMT -5
hi Alisha:). But yours aren't carvings, yours are cabs:).
|
|
|
|
Post by kk on Feb 28, 2012 5:01:23 GMT -5
Helen is right with that Alisha, but hats off to both of you for working on such a small scale.
I don't dare to try anything under an inch. LOLOL
Helen, we are always our own worst critics (trust me, I know), you cleaned it up and followed the shape that felt comfortable. The shape is not what everyone really comments on, I think it is more about how well you where able to finish it. That together with the shape determines the admiration.
Lets see more adventures soon, greetings, Kurt
|
|
|
|
Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Feb 28, 2012 9:48:35 GMT -5
Yes, I agree that most all the one done by xxxalisha91xxx are small freeform cabs.
|
|
xXxAlisha91xXx
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 284
|
Post by xXxAlisha91xXx on Feb 28, 2012 16:17:21 GMT -5
I agree, they are small freeform cabs, but, I was comparing how well hers was finished in comparison...lol...and how hers is crack-free, unlike my firsts...lol...
KK, you'd be surprised how easy rotary tools, wooden dowels, and wood glue make it to work with smaller pieces...lol
|
|
|
|
Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Feb 28, 2012 16:29:46 GMT -5
one thing about opal, it will crack and craze if you get it hot while working it. That is one of the challenges working opals.
The only opal I have worked that likes to get hot is Honduran opalized basalt.
|
|
xXxAlisha91xXx
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 284
|
Post by xXxAlisha91xXx on Feb 28, 2012 20:14:11 GMT -5
yeah, i definitely learned the hard way  I always keep them wet now to prevent cracking |
|
NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
|
Post by NDK on Feb 28, 2012 20:17:23 GMT -5
That looks great Helen, what a firey piece!
My first opal (cab) ended up looking like a wad of dried white glue! Lol
Nate
|
|
|
|
Post by helens on Feb 28, 2012 20:24:24 GMT -5
When I started the seal, I knew nothing about carving.... I did all the shaping dry. I think that it's far less risk of cracking if you do (using a dust mask!), and I'm not sure why. This was a Welo opal, which is OMG tough. My dremel sent it ZINGING into the concrete ground at least 20x at very high speeds, and it never cracked or broke.
I think that a piece of opal without structural damage already would not break from impact EXCEPT for heat. After playing with pounds of precious and not quite so precious opals, and doing everything to them from tumbling to shaping, zinging them into concrete at high speeds (this wasn't the only piece I did that with), the only times they have cracked was from temperature. And I'm talking about even small temperature changes from picking a piece up in 45 degree F air temperature to warming in 97 degree hands. Opals are EXTREMELY temperature sensitive. Friction from polishing makes for a very high chance of crack/crazing because of the heat.
I don't think wetting saves them from cracking, I definately think it helps with the dust tho.
|
|
I always keep them wet now to prevent cracking
