I watch these videos to learn from the masters. I think your videos are superb because of the professional way you photograph the process. Good set-up, no shaking, and superb focusing. GOOD JOB !
Indeed, Amber, the vibrant colors in opals are a sight to behold! Congratulations to the lucky individual who now owns this beautiful gem. Opals always bring joy! 🌈🎉😊
My name is Billie and I’m in Seward Alaska I’ve just recently discovered my love for rocks in general but when I discovered my passion for opal I’ve not been able to really look at anything else! I’ve got a tiny little work bench and very few conventional tools ( no wheels) but I love working with these and want to learn as much as possible and be able to create beautiful gem stones and pieces of ‘work’ for the community and loved ones. My fiancée is an artist of extreme talent and works with alknost every medium there is but specializes in Wood, antler bone and leather as well as metal smithing m, most recently he’s been making knives and swords! One hunting knife is made from the jawbone of a black bear he’d killed himself many years ago. Our home is like one giant craft fair but I’ve settled around opal with tremendous interest and enthusiasm! I love your videos, I have my iPhone running your videos all the time while I work! Thank you for the knowledge and I hope stand a chance to win this opal!
This video was SUPER helpful to me! I am fairly new to cabbing opals and have a whole pile I’m starting to work on. This helps me know the thought process you go through when you end up with a stone with lots of problems. Thank you!
My wife and I are hooked on opal. You do awesome work and got me thinking, I turn wood bowls and weld. Saving up to get tools. You are highly skilled and do awesome work. Keep on rocking brother.
Loving the way it flashes from fire to green to electric blue, that really is a quality stone just the way it is. I would love to start my collection with that stone, and thank you for giving us this opportunity.
I love it just the way it is. The colours outshines all the flaws. I just started wire wrapping and would love to wire wrap this beauty! Thank you for sharing it with us! :)
It really came out better than I expected with all the cracks. It was still quite nice to look at with the cracks. I think you’re right, people will see the color more than the cracks.
I would like to have it! And no, it's not too much footage! I'm glad you go through the whole process from evaluating rough, I actually wish there were more videos like this! It helps us newbies to learn!
Good afternoon Colonel. On this particular stone I am glad you decided to take it to full polish, it actually helped it look much much better. Even with the flaws, the color play and Polish together really helped it. I’m positive whoever ended up with that gem was quite happy with it. Personally, I’d have set it in a gold setting, I think the overall color of the stone would have been enhanced by the gold color of the setting. Of course, that’s just my opinion, which doesn’t count for much haha. I really appreciate your content and the patience you quite obviously have with noobs like me. Thank you much.
I'm just new to your channel and this stone has such a beautiful quality... almost poetic! The dancing colours distract you from the cracks, it's so alluring. I hope the new owner loves it!
What a gorgeous and interesting piece! This is what I'm always saying!!! Where else can I see so many different types of opal being cut?!? Lambina, what an interesting material!
You can't win' em all. As a matter of fact, you make out alright. (based on your videos ) Another generous give away. Nice. Looking forward to the next parcel. It's hypnotic to discover whats in the stones along with you at the wheels. 👍
Stunning colour, I especially love the purple flash, it would make a beautiful pendant. I'm got engaged last month and getting married in July, it could make a very special wedding gift for my future wife after it was mounted. Great work and keep up with the videos :-)
Just love the full spectrum of this stone! I've been dreaming opals recently. No idea what it means. Beautiful specimen indeed.Thanks for your inspiration Don.
I would agree with you. More comments on color, rather than defects, which I think adds to it being from the earth. I'll take it in a heartbeat. Thanks, in advance.
Its a coffee bean opal. Pity i didn't have a computer till 2years ago. I'm a late techno kind if old fella. Still a beautiful stone that some very lucky person recieved. Very kind jf you indeed Colonel 💎🏴👍
Mate, what a beautiful stone, I was lucky enough to have a opal left to me by my mother when I was 16 but never did anything with it until she passed away years later. I hope you give it to someone who will give it a good and loving home
Oh, I know this is an old video however I would have liked to have this beautiful opal. I don't know about opal but it was so beautiful even with the cracks, so similar to special people. Thanks for the video. Take your like 👍
Opticon that mofo. So beautiful! Ahhh, opals! They remind me of the colors and effects/sets of old Star Trek, in the best possible way, to name but one thing. Endlessly enthralling 😫
Having watched your video's for several years now I've become an opal cutting expert. Well an expert as far as the comment section. :) ( amazing how many experts and professionals you find in comment sections) I would have liked to have seen you attack that backside. I know the cracks and crevices went a little deep and you would have had a smaller stone, but that color flash on that side would have made up for the loss in karat weight. That or you would have just end up grinding it to powder. Your video's have given me the confidence to give it a go. I pulled the trigger and bought some opal. I've been binge watching your video's for the last week in the hope's I'll pick up some tips and tricks. Ill be back either thanking or cursing you. J/k.
It's absolutely gorgeous as is!! I'd love to have it and would set is as is. Much appreciation both for your generosity of knowledge and consideration for the give away.
Thanks for taking us through that. I love this opal despite the issues. Great color. I would love to have this one. I buy from Murray regularly but have not had an opportunity to get any Lambina material as of yet.
My daughter (8yrs old) would love to have this. She wants to be a geologist and tells me more things about stones than I’ve ever heard. Opals are her favorite although she’s never held one in person. Would love to make that into a necklace for her!
I know this has been over a year but the cracks would only add to the character of the opal the colors are amazing I myself can’t afford a real opal so wished I had one you didn’t want thank you for helping me learn more about opals because yes I have been taken god bless and have a great day
Don, it’s beautiful! Sad that it had the problems it did. I have learned so much from watching your videos. You’ve given me confidence in determining how to assess where the cuts are. Quick thought...I wear hearing aids, and when you have your grinder on, it’s harder to understand your conversation.
It’s absolutely beautiful cracks and all...love the abstract value it brings. Awww I’m a year too late to own it....gorgeous though and someone got lucky!
Pulitzer Opal that’s awesome and so nice, thank you for telling me🤩... I may have watched it already since I’ve viewed many of your videos. Definitely checking it out.
Another fantastic video, these videos are amazing. I left you a comment on one of your videos and I told you that I have dyslexia which is a learning disability and the way you talk about things I can understand exactly what you’re saying it’s really cool, but anyways be safe. And as always take care and God bless.
Thank you so much for your kind words, @charlesteune6416! I'm absolutely thrilled to hear that you find the videos informative and easy to understand. It means a lot that I can make a positive difference for you. Remember to like and subscribe to keep up with all the exciting content coming your way. Take care and God bless you too! 💖
We all have flaws I can't think of anything more natural then flaws. That is what an opal is, a beautiful flaw and you have a prime example there and I would like to make a home for it.
Oh i know its gone but its a Beauty..i would have loved to had my name in that hat ..im new to your channel and i love to watch you turn these stones..Thank You for sharing ..💎💖💎
OMG! An opal giveaway. I can’t believe it. I’m crazy about opals. I would love to have that opal and stare at all the pretty colors. Please pick me , so that the opal can travel the world to stay with me. I’m dying for a real solid opal
I would love to have that Opal! If not thats cool your videos inspire me and my girlfriend. Like you i was at the tucson Gem and rock show this year and we bought some rough opal I've been working on them they're looking great but I still don't know quite what to do with them yet and thanks to your videos it's helped. An hour after I made this comment I realize that this video is 2 months old and of course the opal is long gone but it matters not and I definitely think your videos are the bomb
I actually like defects sometimes. They remind you of the history of the gem, make it less sterile. The process that lead to the formation of that gem tells us so much about the history of our planet.
I really wish to buy this opal. It’s beautiful as it is I’m a collector from Denmark and love to watch your videos and learn more about these amazing stones. If I can figure out how to send pictures of a few pieces I will show you one that I found in Sweden ( of all places) and one Mintabe that is one of my favorites. Thank you again and best wishes from Liseleje, Danmark- Helle 🙏🏻😊🙏🏻
beautiful, have run into the same thing cutting my rough , and find i just keep , well i keep most of my rough and just admire it as is , haha. and pick out some every once in a while and cut it. I am one of those opalholics. something i have done on a couple pieces is cut out the crevice (s) and work to polish the crevice, but with a crevice, even polished, it detracts from any "store " value. but like your stone it is still pretty to me.
I myself think this piece is very beautiful I would love to have it so I can do a beautiful silver wire wrap. Thank you so much for all your videos. Plus my daughter is born in October and she would love to have this
@@PulitzerOpal if you ever come across such a "half ruined" piece, with all that imperfections. Please consider me as a buyer! I might not be elegible for giveaways, since shipping to Denmark could ruin anyone 😅
@@PulitzerOpal patience is a part of my skill set, a small Secret i have never left the EU and i have only traveled somewhere to work, and then headed back once the job was done. You don't See much of where you are traveling if you spent 12+ hours a day working with carbonsteel 😅
@@PulitzerOpal well i don't spend 12 hours daily in front of the forge, i wish! When i started my apprenticeship we had a forge. And used it quite often, that 1095 is a tough one to work with!. Nowadays it's mostly S235black carbon steel, or S315-stainless i work with.
@@PulitzerOpal it would make sense for them to mainly use 1095. when it comes to hardness 1095 is the king, unfortunately Also when it comes to brittleness! 235 is more flexible and way softer. Sometimes they use a core of lesser steel lile 235, and then they give it an edging outer layer of 1095. Giving it a flexible core with the hardest edge you can get besides diamond.
Have you ever tried using Opticon or other filler resins to smooth out cracks? Sometimes if you're careful and keep an eye on it you can even make the cracks practically disappear, but I find that's pretty rare. I use a small toaster oven to submersion-cure the pieces, since the smaller convection ovens use hot air rather than radiating heat that can further damage the stone, and they have glass doors that make it easy to scope in on what's happening. Even if the cracks don't visibly go away, it can make the stone stable so it won't further deteriorate, and it feels nicer in the hand.
RH - I have a decent amount of experience with Opticon. This would have been a good stone for it, but I didn't think about it before I gave it away. I have used a vacuum oven (that I mostly use for treating matrix opal). I have an opal arrowhead that my wife wears (often), that has cracks and has had areas "flake off." Opticon helped quite a bit with that one. It has remained good for over 5 years (which is a long time for something so fragile and "exposed" [not in a setting]). I am sure that you know that Opticon doesn't work with Ethiopian opal; I have never found a way to "seal" Ethiopian. It is possible that a very short exposure to Opticon might work. The resin permeates the entire opal, not just the cracks. If you have a formula for Ethiopian, I'd love to hear it.
Hydrophane Ethiopian opal will leech the epoxy in over time, so using quicker setting Epoxy 330 after the stone is polished will work quicker and it dries at air temperature, but it's better to put the stone under a light bulb or something that will heat it gently. I've found low wavelength UV light works too, without heating the material at all. As you know not all Ethiopian material is hydrophane, and in my experience completely clear crystal opal and dark, completely opaque material will take to the Opticon treatment well, especially if the stone is showing instability issues before you cut into it or shape it. It's worth it to treat the rough material with Opticon before shaping, then when you have the stone shaped and roughly polished, to do a surface treatment with the hardener and the longer low temp heat soaking after that, let it cure to the air for a day or two after wiping off the access, then polishing the hardened resin shell to the desired luster. That's just personal experience though. For really gem rough, especially Australian and Virgin Valley material, people will actually use sodium silicate (water glass) to stabilize the rough, and continue using it in stages as they whittle away on the stone, then leaving a shell on it when the final shape is done, since it will take a 20k-50k polish afterward and keep the material sealed.
I watch these videos to learn from the masters. I think your videos are superb because of the professional way you photograph the process. Good set-up, no shaking, and superb focusing. GOOD JOB !
I love the colors, whoever was the lucky person to adopt this gem, Congratulations!!
Indeed, Amber, the vibrant colors in opals are a sight to behold! Congratulations to the lucky individual who now owns this beautiful gem. Opals always bring joy! 🌈🎉😊
Even FLAWED Opals need loving and that one is a BEAUTY! I would cherish her and wear her as a pendant, always. 💙
I love the relaxed pace of these videos, I can feel my blood pressure dropping by the minute.
Right! And his goofy sense of humour!
I mean it the nicest possible way xx
i guess it is kinda randomly asking but does anyone know of a good website to stream new series online ?
@@nikolaidakari5925 Dailymotion
My name is Billie and I’m in Seward Alaska I’ve just recently discovered my love for rocks in general but when I discovered my passion for opal I’ve not been able to really look at anything else! I’ve got a tiny little work bench and very few conventional tools ( no wheels) but I love working with these and want to learn as much as possible and be able to create beautiful gem stones and pieces of ‘work’ for the community and loved ones. My fiancée is an artist of extreme talent and works with alknost every medium there is but specializes in Wood, antler bone and leather as well as metal smithing m, most recently he’s been making knives and swords! One hunting knife is made from the jawbone of a black bear he’d killed himself many years ago. Our home is like one giant craft fair but I’ve settled around opal with tremendous interest and enthusiasm! I love your videos, I have my iPhone running your videos all the time while I work! Thank you for the knowledge and I hope stand a chance to win this opal!
Within a flaw, comes true beauty. This is one of those moments!
Fabulous color. Thanks so much for sharing & you stopped at just the right spot. Beautiful
It's incredibly beautiful just as it is. Those colours are just .... Wow.
I love how you bring all those gorgeous stones to life
I’m glad you liked it. I set all opal cabochons that I personally like in gold. New video next Wednesday at 4am EST USA
A lovely little Easter egg! The color flash is so vibrant! 💜
This video was SUPER helpful to me! I am fairly new to cabbing opals and have a whole pile I’m starting to work on. This helps me know the thought process you go through when you end up with a stone with lots of problems. Thank you!
My wife and I are hooked on opal. You do awesome work and got me thinking, I turn wood bowls and weld. Saving up to get tools. You are highly skilled and do awesome work. Keep on rocking brother.
Is there a place that I can see your wood bowles?
Is there someplace I can see your bowls?
That turned out to be a most beautiful stone with its "flaws" it makes it unique in my eyes. Lovely.
Color is unbelievable. Saw the cracks and knew it was all the way through but such beautiful flash.
That is a beautiful stone and you surely made someone very happy.
It's an amazing stone. I am glad it stayed in one piece. I think the flaws don't detract from it. Wish I would have seen your channel sooner.
What a generous man you are..Thanks again for my viewing pleasure
Loving the way it flashes from fire to green to electric blue, that really is a quality stone just the way it is. I would love to start my collection with that stone, and thank you for giving us this opportunity.
I love it just the way it is. The colours outshines all the flaws. I just started wire wrapping and would love to wire wrap this beauty! Thank you for sharing it with us! :)
I can watch your videos all day long! Thank u! 🙏
AWESOMENESS! Real true beauty as is. The cracks are reflective of my flawed life, which is beautiful now.
It really came out better than I expected with all the cracks. It was still quite nice to look at with the cracks. I think you’re right, people will see the color more than the cracks.
I would like to have it!
And no, it's not too much footage! I'm glad you go through the whole process from evaluating rough, I actually wish there were more videos like this! It helps us newbies to learn!
amy are you from Israel like me?
Good afternoon Colonel.
On this particular stone I am glad you decided to take it to full polish, it actually helped it look much much better. Even with the flaws, the color play and Polish together really helped it.
I’m positive whoever ended up with that gem was quite happy with it. Personally, I’d have set it in a gold setting, I think the overall color of the stone would have been enhanced by the gold color of the setting. Of course, that’s just my opinion, which doesn’t count for much haha.
I really appreciate your content and the patience you quite obviously have with noobs like me. Thank you much.
I'm just new to your channel and this stone has such a beautiful quality... almost poetic! The dancing colours distract you from the cracks, it's so alluring. I hope the new owner loves it!
What a gorgeous and interesting piece! This is what I'm always saying!!! Where else can I see so many different types of opal being cut?!? Lambina, what an interesting material!
You can't win' em all. As a matter of fact, you make out alright. (based on your videos ) Another generous give away. Nice. Looking forward to the next parcel. It's hypnotic to discover whats in the stones along with you at the wheels. 👍
Beautiful...why not just try a gold wire wrap?
I love your work...who was the lucky person?
I would love to have it, thanks for posting all your videos, I'm learning a lot about opal cutting, I'm learning to do it.
Thank you for taking the time to share what you are doing Sir.
It’s just like a person
Flawed but still pretty
Great video Don 🏆
wow, you did a great job; it's beautiful (warts and all!)
Stunning colour, I especially love the purple flash, it would make a beautiful pendant.
I'm got engaged last month and getting married in July, it could make a very special wedding gift for my future wife after it was mounted.
Great work and keep up with the videos :-)
Just love the full spectrum of this stone! I've been dreaming opals recently. No idea what it means. Beautiful specimen indeed.Thanks for your inspiration Don.
I would agree with you. More comments on color, rather than defects, which I think adds to it being from the earth. I'll take it in a heartbeat. Thanks, in advance.
Very nice work. The "flaws" actually look pretty cool in this. I think it would make an awesome tie pin.
Its a coffee bean opal. Pity i didn't have a computer till 2years ago. I'm a late techno kind if old fella. Still a beautiful stone that some very lucky person recieved. Very kind jf you indeed Colonel 💎🏴👍
That thing is gorgeous!
I definitely would love to have it, the colors are amazing. Loved watching you cut it, Thanks:)
Don
Thanks for the opportunity! You have some amazing opals! It's
very generous of you!
Sincerely
Well done, my friend!!! All your vids are very informative, keep it up.
Good on you for showing how to cut opal. I wish I could have one.
It's good to reinforce the thought that you can't win em all. Thanks for sharing
What a beautiful stone!
Your videos make me want to get into doing this. Looks like a great hobby
I love seeing the turquoise flash. I think it's my favorite.
Lovely opal thanks for sharing this wonderful video.
Mate, what a beautiful stone, I was lucky enough to have a opal left to me by my mother when I was 16 but never did anything with it until she passed away years later.
I hope you give it to someone who will give it a good and loving home
I love that stone, it has a lot of potential. I'm sure it has been given a new home a year ago but I would have loved to put it on my wheels.
That store is beautiful, I can see amazing ring with it.
The defects actually give the final product very good character, very pretty, i would love to have such a gem
It's beautiful!
Oh, I know this is an old video however I would have liked to have this beautiful opal. I don't know about opal but it was so beautiful even with the cracks, so similar to special people. Thanks for the video. Take your like 👍
Opticon that mofo. So beautiful! Ahhh, opals! They remind me of the colors and effects/sets of old Star Trek, in the best possible way, to name but one thing. Endlessly enthralling 😫
Having watched your video's for several years now I've become an opal cutting expert.
Well an expert as far as the comment section. :)
( amazing how many experts and professionals you find in comment sections)
I would have liked to have seen you attack that backside. I know the cracks and crevices went a little deep and you would have had a smaller stone, but that color flash on that side would have made up for the loss in karat weight. That or you would have just end up grinding it to powder.
Your video's have given me the confidence to give it a go. I pulled the trigger and bought some opal. I've been binge watching your video's for the last week in the hope's I'll pick up some tips and tricks.
Ill be back either thanking or cursing you. J/k.
It's absolutely gorgeous as is!! I'd love to have it and would set is as is. Much appreciation both for your generosity of knowledge and consideration for the give away.
Such a beautiful stone
I would be extremely happy with that! It’s perfectly imperfect!
@@PulitzerOpal I definitely would!
Thanks for taking us through that. I love this opal despite the issues. Great color. I would love to have this one. I buy from Murray regularly but have not had an opportunity to get any Lambina material as of yet.
My daughter (8yrs old) would love to have this. She wants to be a geologist and tells me more things about stones than I’ve ever heard. Opals are her favorite although she’s never held one in person. Would love to make that into a necklace for her!
I know this has been over a year but the cracks would only add to the character of the opal the colors are amazing I myself can’t afford a real opal so wished I had one you didn’t want thank you for helping me learn more about opals because yes I have been taken god bless and have a great day
Man that thing was beautiful
I would love to have that opal! It's very beautiful. Love your videos.
wow...that purple is amazing!!!
Don, it’s beautiful! Sad that it had the problems it did.
I have learned so much from watching your videos. You’ve given me confidence in determining how to assess where the cuts are.
Quick thought...I wear hearing aids, and when you have your grinder on, it’s harder to understand your conversation.
Superb looking stone, i'll throw my hat in the ring
Look at the colours 😍
I would love to ad this gem to my cabinet of minerals etc
Pulitzer Opal yes! 🤞😁
New subscriber! These are magical! I'd love to have one of your works. Flaws or not it's just beautiful and I'd proudly wear any real gem.
I love watching this stone! Would love it! Calming effect
It’s absolutely beautiful cracks and all...love the abstract value it brings.
Awww I’m a year too late to own it....gorgeous though and someone got lucky!
Pulitzer Opal wow really? Not even a thank you, that’s a shame.
Pulitzer Opal that’s awesome and so nice, thank you for telling me🤩... I may have watched it already since I’ve viewed many of your videos. Definitely checking it out.
What a fantastic piece of material. I would love to be able to display this! never won a givaway before so heres hoping :)
I am Australian and I love watching your videos!!!
@@PulitzerOpal LOL..... Tex? :-P
@@PulitzerOpal It's all those extra "h"'s you puht into youhr wohds. :-P I just like southern accents.
Pulitzer Opal oh dear! Hmm .... I had this happen once before - and was mortified but can’t recall where ..... Indiana ?
Unless it’s New Mexico? You put a h in your words so it kinda sounds southern ... Texas! Except not as harsh
@@PulitzerOpal No idea then ....unless you're from an area surrounded by mountains - PA for example? I give up LOL
Yes, please. The color is marvelous!
I'm just starting to make my own jewelry from silver that I have mined myself and I think this would be a great stone to try and set!
Another great video. Informative and very enjoyable
Another fantastic video, these videos are amazing. I left you a comment on one of your videos and I told you that I have dyslexia which is a learning disability and the way you talk about things I can understand exactly what you’re saying it’s really cool, but anyways be safe. And as always take care and God bless.
Thank you so much for your kind words, @charlesteune6416! I'm absolutely thrilled to hear that you find the videos informative and easy to understand. It means a lot that I can make a positive difference for you. Remember to like and subscribe to keep up with all the exciting content coming your way. Take care and God bless you too! 💖
I think its still a beautiful stone, flaws and all. Well done
Half of length wise along that crack and you have lovely earing pieces
I would love to have a piece from you, Sir!
We all have flaws I can't think of anything more natural then flaws. That is what an opal is, a beautiful flaw and you have a prime example there and I would like to make a home for it.
I'm from India. I was an early subscriber of your channel. Because I love opals.
Oh i know its gone but its a Beauty..i would have loved to had my name in that hat ..im new to your channel and i love to watch you turn these stones..Thank You for sharing ..💎💖💎
OMG! An opal giveaway. I can’t believe it. I’m crazy about opals. I would love to have that opal and stare at all the pretty colors. Please pick me , so that the opal can travel the world to stay with me. I’m dying for a real solid opal
I would definitely cherish such a beautiful piece of art! I would give it a very good home. 💜:-D
Hey friend, I’m from the USA and I think it’s a bummer that we don’t have opal here lol love that stone, love your videos.
@@PulitzerOpal thanks for the info, looks like a great destination for vacation. lol
Oh my yes dear,I would love to give this opal a home.
I would love to have that Opal! If not thats cool your videos inspire me and my girlfriend. Like you i was at the tucson Gem and rock show this year and we bought some rough opal I've been working on them they're looking great but I still don't know quite what to do with them yet and thanks to your videos it's helped. An hour after I made this comment I realize that this video is 2 months old and of course the opal is long gone but it matters not and I definitely think your videos are the bomb
I actually like defects sometimes. They remind you of the history of the gem, make it less sterile. The process that lead to the formation of that gem tells us so much about the history of our planet.
Ive been watching all your vids for 2 weeks now im super amazed with the beauty of the opal i hope i can join your giveaways so can own a small opal
awesome color, I would certainly love to have it.
I really wish to buy this opal. It’s beautiful as it is I’m a collector from Denmark and love to watch your videos and learn more about these amazing stones.
If I can figure out how to send pictures of a few pieces I will show you one that I found in Sweden ( of all places) and one Mintabe that is one of my favorites. Thank you again and best wishes from Liseleje, Danmark- Helle 🙏🏻😊🙏🏻
Absolutely gorgeous. I would have made it into a pendant as is.
I'd love to add this stone to my collection.. it's so pretty. You get lost in the flashes ❤️
Its beautiful ,flours and all 😀
beautiful, have run into the same thing cutting my rough , and find i just keep , well i keep most of my rough and just admire it as is , haha. and pick out some every once in a while and cut it. I am one of those opalholics. something i have done on a couple pieces is cut out the crevice (s) and work to polish the crevice, but with a crevice, even polished, it detracts from any "store " value. but like your stone it is still pretty to me.
I myself think this piece is very beautiful I would love to have it so I can do a beautiful silver wire wrap. Thank you so much for all your videos. Plus my daughter is born in October and she would love to have this
I think those cracks and defects in it help tell the story of the Stone
I like the red lights on the rougher side. Imperfections and all
It maybe not perfect for someone else's eye but for me it's the most beautiful and mysterious thing in the world to see ! I would love to own it.
that gem is the gemification of me, cracked to the point just before total destruction, but yet still beautifull.
@@PulitzerOpal if you ever come across such a "half ruined" piece, with all that imperfections. Please consider me as a buyer! I might not be elegible for giveaways, since shipping to Denmark could ruin anyone 😅
@@PulitzerOpal patience is a part of my skill set, a small Secret i have never left the EU and i have only traveled somewhere to work, and then headed back once the job was done. You don't See much of where you are traveling if you spent 12+ hours a day working with carbonsteel 😅
@@PulitzerOpal well i don't spend 12 hours daily in front of the forge, i wish! When i started my apprenticeship we had a forge. And used it quite often, that 1095 is a tough one to work with!. Nowadays it's mostly S235black carbon steel, or S315-stainless i work with.
@@PulitzerOpal it would make sense for them to mainly use 1095. when it comes to hardness 1095 is the king, unfortunately Also when it comes to brittleness! 235 is more flexible and way softer. Sometimes they use a core of lesser steel lile 235, and then they give it an edging outer layer of 1095. Giving it a flexible core with the hardest edge you can get besides diamond.
Have you ever tried using Opticon or other filler resins to smooth out cracks? Sometimes if you're careful and keep an eye on it you can even make the cracks practically disappear, but I find that's pretty rare. I use a small toaster oven to submersion-cure the pieces, since the smaller convection ovens use hot air rather than radiating heat that can further damage the stone, and they have glass doors that make it easy to scope in on what's happening. Even if the cracks don't visibly go away, it can make the stone stable so it won't further deteriorate, and it feels nicer in the hand.
RH - I have a decent amount of experience with Opticon. This would have been a good stone for it, but I didn't think about it before I gave it away. I have used a vacuum oven (that I mostly use for treating matrix opal). I have an opal arrowhead that my wife wears (often), that has cracks and has had areas "flake off." Opticon helped quite a bit with that one. It has remained good for over 5 years (which is a long time for something so fragile and "exposed" [not in a setting]). I am sure that you know that Opticon doesn't work with Ethiopian opal; I have never found a way to "seal" Ethiopian. It is possible that a very short exposure to Opticon might work. The resin permeates the entire opal, not just the cracks. If you have a formula for Ethiopian, I'd love to hear it.
Hydrophane Ethiopian opal will leech the epoxy in over time, so using quicker setting Epoxy 330 after the stone is polished will work quicker and it dries at air temperature, but it's better to put the stone under a light bulb or something that will heat it gently. I've found low wavelength UV light works too, without heating the material at all.
As you know not all Ethiopian material is hydrophane, and in my experience completely clear crystal opal and dark, completely opaque material will take to the Opticon treatment well, especially if the stone is showing instability issues before you cut into it or shape it. It's worth it to treat the rough material with Opticon before shaping, then when you have the stone shaped and roughly polished, to do a surface treatment with the hardener and the longer low temp heat soaking after that, let it cure to the air for a day or two after wiping off the access, then polishing the hardened resin shell to the desired luster.
That's just personal experience though. For really gem rough, especially Australian and Virgin Valley material, people will actually use sodium silicate (water glass) to stabilize the rough, and continue using it in stages as they whittle away on the stone, then leaving a shell on it when the final shape is done, since it will take a 20k-50k polish afterward and keep the material sealed.
I sent you an email, sorry I didn't see you comment until now.