Opal cutting: how I used to cut and polish.
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2024
- Hi everyone, I hope you’re all well! Here’s a video just to show how I have cut and polished quite a few stones, before I invested some $’s into a decent machine. I don’t recommend this method, it’s just not quite dust free enough and it takes technique not to let the stone over heat and crack or fleck, the rest of the processes in this video are quite fine though. The lapidary machine I have now not only keeps the dust down and stone cool, but also allows for a quicker result. I hope you enjoy, thanks for your time 🤪👍
You are 110% correct about silicosis Phil.
I used to work for a local construction company who paved highways and airport runways. I worked at their concrete batch plant. My job was to keep the silos filled with dry Portland cement and fly ash. We would pour anywhere from 1000 to 1500 yards of concrete per day, so I had SEVERAL semi loads being delivered per day, and the dust was super prevalent ALL DAY EVERY DAY.
A mask, safety glasses and water were mandatory. The water was used to wash your face and rinse your eyes several times a day as the dust would build up on your eye lashes and eye brows and then get into your eyes if you didn’t clean it off.
Silicosis is no joke. You end up with muddy lungs and think you’re going to live ? Not.
I did that job for 2 years before I landed the job I’ve had for the last 22 years, I am a journeyman diesel mechanic now, the construction job was an in between way for me to feed my family.
I’m in my mid 50s now, and have dreams of visiting Australia and finding a mine owner who would spend a few days with me letting me mine for Opal. Bucket list pipe dream lol, but I am a hard worker who’s not afraid to get dirty.
Australian jumping spider, really cool! I have a big jumper I keep as a pet. That looks like a fun way to cut a stone for sure, but I think I’ll stay with the wheels
I love that you show its possible to so this without going broke on equipment. Your music for your vids is AWESOME btw!!!!
What a short video... I like the daily uploads. Keep up the awesome work✌
Nice stone I use a similar set up still
I bought my cab machine for under 200 on FB. I bought a larger one with 6 wheels for 350$ You dont have to spend much to get into the field with a semi pro machine. As you can see , sand paper is all you really need but a cabber makes it much faster. Ebay has slant cabbers for under 200 new.
G’day mate, too true, as long as the grit is moving, you can concentrate on the shaping/cutting. 🤪👍
EXCELLENT EFFORT THANKS.!
Thanks mate, useful video for me
Fyi I use a 50 dollar cordless drill with a sanding attachment. Fyi the wet and dry sandpaper works fine. (It does crack if you are not careful)
nice stone, very clear material, love the sun-flash patterns.
NICE CRISTAL
Love ya work Phil, hope to see you in Andamooka some time soon.
Catch you this weekend 🤪👍
Genuis
Absolutely gorgeous
Well done Phil ! Thank you !
You got a nice finish on that Phil, good job, I bet your glad you upgraded your machine, far less work and dust
I’m in heaven with the new machine, I used to be so paranoid about the dust I found my self holding my breath at times even though I had a dust mask on. I’m certainly breathing easier now 🤪👍
Do y’all just use any kind of wax when polishing the stones? I’m curious
G’day mate, after grinding and sanding to at least a 1200#, opal, being a silica, can be polished with cerium oxide, I don’t have any wax polishing compound for opal. 🤪👍
I'm intrigued to know how what you'd value this cut stone at?
G’day Vince, that stone would have been better as a doublet, as is, I’d set it in a silver pendant and put it up for au$80-$100. 🤪👍
@@theopalmills appreciate the reply. Super hard to value low end stones. It's mostly labour costs. Pity the face is about 45degress off front, there is colour in there.
Where do You buy Your machines ?
Gemmasta are owned by Gemcuts distributed out of Ballina NSW, www.gemcuts.com.au/Gemmasta-GSP8-Complete-Vertical-Cabbing-Machine, they sell most of my lapidary needs 🤪👍
What is the green stuff on the stick and were do you get it from
It’s called “dopping wax”, you can get it at lapidary suppliers like www.gemcuts.com.au/dopping-wax-stick-113-grams if you’re in Australia, or you’ll need to search one out near you. 🤪👍
@@theopalmills awesome thank's yep I'm from Victoria 👍😀
@@donnahalden1122 I use leg wax from ebay!
Ps it melts at 55-65 degrees... handy if you don't have tools that keep the stone wet as you work, typically the stone drops off the stick before it gets hot enough to crack (not all the time sadly)