Cutting Queensland Boulder Opal Using Carving Tools
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- Опубліковано 1 лип 2024
- An in depth process describing the steps of processing piece of Queensland Boulder Opal using carving tools and polishing compounds to achieve this result.
This video is for people who have a Dremel, Faro, Fordom, Marathon, Kavo, Ryobi, Ray-Foster, and other rotary tools.
Webpage www.diverseopals.com.au/
Facebook / diverse-opal. .
Instagram / diverseopals
List of the tools used
Electro Plated Diamond Disc
www.ebay.com.au/itm/143229055713
Silicon Carbide Rubber Abrasive Point
www.ebay.com.au/itm/144407624148
CSS High Concentration Diamond Paste
www.ebay.com.au/itm/143236037912
Felt Polshing Cylinder 2.35mm Shank
www.ebay.com.au/itm/143652785522
Starcke / Matador wet and dry paper
www.ebay.com.au/itm/142845127432
O-pol polishing compound
www.ebay.com.au/itm/143792052441
Chrome Split Leather Opal Gemstone Glass Polishing 150mm 200 mm
www.ebay.com.au/itm/143652808950
00:00 Intro
00:10 Queensland Boulder Opal Rough
01:55 Carving Tool
02:00 Coarse Grade Iron Stone Removal
04:11 Finer Grade Iron Stone Removal
04:50 Silicon Carbide Rubber Abrasive Medium Grade
06:20 Diamond Paste
08:32 Finished Stone
great job , as always
Thank you for watching. 🙂
Fantastic video! Could not be any clearer, you have got me totally inspired to get stuck in !!!.many thanks from NZ.
Thank you for watching, and your encouraging feedback.
Looked at your website and i love your work. Attention to detail. Absolutely beautiful mate
Thank you for watching and your feedback.
Thanks a lot for sharing. I've wondered this for a few years now because it's so similar to carving fire agate. Though FA is quite a bit harder and the color layers are much thinner, I couldn't see why this isn't a common practice. Maybe most people just dont share their methods. Either way, this confirms my new approach to boulder Opal. Much respect. Subbed
Thank you for your feedback. I am confident this process is transferable to other gemstones, shell, wood, etc. The only difference maybe the use of different abrasive papers or cloth.
What a beautiful specimen!!!
Thank you. The miner did tell me if I was careful I might get a nice surprise. He was right.
Really enjoed this video. Liked & subscribed 🙂
Thank for subscribing. Your feedback is appreciated.
Very inspiring thank you.
Thank you for your encouragement.
Just watched in fascination your carving this opal!!! WOW…your talents and knowledge are pretty amazing! I watch opal hunters on YT all the time! Rough rough way to earn a living! Once you catch the fever…I’m sure it’s so hard to get it out of your system..if ever! Thanks for sharing your work!
Thank you for subscribing and your encouragement. I am glad this video has been of interest to you. Opal has is surprises and disappointments. We are always learning because every piece is different.
well made! thanks for it
Glad you liked it!
That was just exellent to watch I an Currently on my third cut of boulder, I have been cutting opal for some time ,and I think boulder is becoming my favourite type to cut, I used to steer clear of it due to the mess and different techniques used to cut and Polish ,but after eventually deciding to give it a go,, it's early days ,,but it may become my favourite type of opal to work with ,it really is beautiful when it works out in your favour, cheers for posting it's really helpful,
Thank you for your feedback. I am glad to hear you are enjoying the experience of cutting boulder opal. Processing each piece can be so rewarding. Although I have shared my methods for cutting, you may develop your own, in time.
Cheers, braddah. Thanks. Being that I have only cut crystal, white, and 2 little blacks, and never cut boulder, this was much appreciated. The biggest lesson I learned is, when cutting with a blade, cut bit by bit from the outer edge of ironstone and gradually work my way in, so as not to cut into any unpredictable color bars. Good to know.
Thanks for subscribing and your feedback. Queensland boulder can be a bit unpredictable, as you could see in the video. Just take your time.
Aloha, @Red Eye Stones where you from brah? Nice wave in your avatar... shot from where (don't tell me Tahiti and make me jealous 🌊)? I love boulder opal and just started cutting/carving some recently. Crazy how the colors will shine bright and within a quick brush of the bur, the colors might disappear. SUPER FUN. Kinda like pulling into a barrel at a surf spot that's not always well groomed/predictable... might make out like a bandit, or might get crushed.
Oh and just so I'm not ignoring the video and amazing work shown: MANY MAHALOS FOR THE INFO AND ENJOYMENT! I truly appreciate it, as I'm sure so many have and so many others will in the future. Your video actually motivated me to suck it up and chase a very thin bar in a tiny piece of vegetation kine boulder. I know you mention diamond paste in the video, but I used cerium oxide... is there a good way to get rid of the cerium oxide spots in the host rock after final polish?
@@zoinkaboose Thank you for your feedback, quite poetic and well expressed.
I have been cutting boulder most of the afternoon. Boulder can be a bit like that, a bit too much pressure and that thin layer of colour disappears. Although I talk about and use diamond paste in the video, I do use a polishing powder called O-Pol. I talk about it in one of my other videos. I like the finish it provides. To get the white out of the surface of the ironstone I use an ultra sonic cleaner. If it is still a bit stubborn use something a toothbrush during the process.
@@zoinkaboose I'm from Maui, cuz. And if you can't afford an ultrasonic cleaner, and a toothbrush doesn't work out, try a spray nozzle on an air compressor. Just be sure you wear rubber gloves for better grip, so the stone doesn't go flying across da room and catch chips
@@zoinkaboose the wave is actually a secret spot.
very cool
Glad you enjoyed the video.
good tips mate
Thank you for your positive feed back. Questions are welcome.
@@diverseopalproducts thanks
I got the Fordome SR !
Cable drive? Should develop a lot of torque, I think.
That turned out beautifully and I was very surprised to see how all that colour was in there. I bought a little piece of boulder matrix and I was wondering if you can get all the iron stone off the opal in that type of piece? I think it looks good but it has so much ironstone that it doesn't have a bar to look at.
Thanks for your feedback. As this piece had a relatively straight bar of opal sandwiched in between soft ironstone it was pretty straight forward. Just needed to take it slow. Boulder matrix is very different, opal starting, stopping. Weaving in and out of the ironstone. In most cases people cut matrix into cabochons. It's safer than chasing full colour. I wish you success which ever process you decide.
Instead of rubber abrasives can you use nova diamond tips? I know you must work wet with them but does it do the same job? I'm really trying to do exactly what you're doing I have tons and tons of boulder opal but no real guidance with it. Just always looking for help. Thanks for your help
Thanks for your question. Not all boulder needs to be processed in the same manner. I only use rubber points when areas of the surface cannot be reached by my 4 1/2" sander and although I dry sand some of you may use 4", 6" or 8" Nova wheels. I cannot comment on the use of Nova diamond tips compared to rubber points as I have never used them due to my choice to work dry. If you have a lot of boulder to process you need to explore all options.
no lo quiero romper para ver vetas de color porque es un fósil, solo le saco un poco para que se puea ver el animalito ya que estaba cuvierto de ópalo mas lechoso
That’s why you always make your way in from the perimeter BEFORE the decision and always work with running water
Thanks for sharing.
Hi there, I was just wondering if you were to cut boulder wet would you have any tips? Is the process about the same?
Thanks for your question. The same methods I use in this video will work with water but you may have a problem with the leather backing when it gets wet and to a lesser degree the abrasive paper. Someone left a comment suggesting the leather be soaked in hot wax. I haven't tried it because I work dry but it does sound like it might work.
@@diverseopalproducts thank you so much for the response! And I will definitely take that into consideration.
new subscriber
Welcome.
I understand that exposing more of the opal is more desirable and thus has the most value, but I personally prefer the aesthetics of flat cuts with slivers and matrices. If I cut my boulder opals that way, am I ruining them?
Thank you for your question. Cutting a gemstone of any type is your own decision. We all have our own way of doing it. Personally I like to present as much colour as possible but at times there may not be enough colour. So, I try to orientate the stone in such away as to balance colour with ironstone. I say, cut it the way you think best. :-)
Do you have a website of prices for tools?
If you look in the description area just below the video you will find the links for most of the tools. We are still working on the supply of some of the tools. In one our soon to be future videos we will talk about making some of your own tools.
Gold?
ถ้ามีขายที่ไหน
Sorry for my late reply. I have not listed this stone for sale. Are you interested in purchasing it?
what is the price ?