Cutting HIGH GRADE Ethiopian Opal, the right way.
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- Опубліковано 16 жов 2024
- Ethiopian Welo Opal is Hydrophane!! That gives it some special properties, and requires special steps in order to cut correctly without damaging the stone. Come hang with me and lets cut some very high grade Ethiopian Opal!!
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Use super glue gel to dop Ethiopian opal and it won’t crack from heat. Remove it off the dop with acetone. I do this and not once had an opal crack on me.
I’m obsessed with opals, Ethiopian opals specifically. I have a gorgeous Opal that I’m scared to do anything with bc it’s already so beautiful in it’s rough form! Wish there were more folks that cut opals so we could have an Opal cutting club! Lol love your videos! They’re helpful and entertaining!
Hydrophobic means water repellant. Hydrophane is the term used for water-absorbing opals. ALso, since they do this, you should only use the purest of water (distilled or RO, not spring water) because you can get hard water deposits in the stone. Same reason you should avoid oils, as oils will oxidize over time, causing the stone to yellow, so avoid any oil based polishing compounds
I wondered that so I have been using distilled because regular bottled has sodium bicarbonate and calcium chloride in it 👍
Very nice video. Your sound is great! I don't know if you are still cutting or not, but if you are, you should try Riley Gunn's dopping system. When I see that green wax these days, I shudder, thinking about how difficult and generally horrible dopping wax is. It use to be a catastrophe when a stone fell off of the dop stick. Now ... it very rarely happens and it's no big deal. If you let me know where to send it, I will send you one of Riley's kits. Life-changing!
Hydrophane opal soaks up water quick and also releases water quick. Besides cutting dry if you use water and lets say shape the opal 600 grit or so, the roughness of the grit allows water to escape too quick resulting in stress/craving. Picture the surface at 600 grit all rough ridged ragity. If cut from beginning to polish, the smooth even polished surface traps in the water slowly releasing it and color returns also week or so later but no crazing. Good grade AAA is pretty stable, some etho opal cracks no matter what you do. Over time etho will soak up impurities (sweat, oil, etc.) And dull colors. Now Aussie opal, you could soak it in acetone and it wouldn't faze it.
The 2 welos I did today for S.and G's turned out nice but not after the smaller decided to craze because I took a break in between. Every etho I've done beginning to end polish are still holding up today. Quality helps but a little knowledge goes a long way.
I think the key is to not leave large sand inclusions if you're leaving the stone to finish for later.
Oh my lordy! I'm so glad you posted this before I cut my welo! Great to know!
Oooooh you have some welo to cut!! Enjoy
Getting better with the cabbing machine brother,and the lesson of drying between every wheel (or but/bur) is a hard one to learn but VERY IMPORTANT to remember. Saves time, work and money...but great video and great cutting, keep em coming!!!
hey thanks man!! thanks for watching. hope all is well w your projects
Also..what causes cracks is the mud expanding when it gets wet. Drying too fast will also crack them. This is why you should cut the material dry, but if you do, you need an exceptional exhaust system so you don't get silicosis.
Great pattern and colors on the finished gem!
0:23 Welo opals are not "hydrophobic", they're hydrophane. Big difference.
Cutting opals never gets boring
I've been cutting opal for just over two years and very recently started cutting welo opal (that I won). I just started posting videos last month.
It’s actually hydrophane not hydrophobic
It’s great to see Ethiopian opal internationally. I am a GemStone exporter from Ethiopia and if anyone is interested we will go all the necessary procedures to have a trust to work together. Have a good week …
Beautifully done lad! Hope it ages well, beautiful cut!!
You should never lie to yourself, you will always be caught out in the end. Nice job
hahah so true
I have an AAA black Wello to cut, might do this by hand.
Hey, do you recommend someone I can buy Walo opal from? Where do you buy yours from?
If you don’t warm opal when dropping the adhesion will be compromised WITH ALL OPAL
By now I'm sure you've discovered that welo opals are hydrophane, which is the opposite of hydrophobic
I know that people cut so many opals in round shapes for rings. But I hardly see anyone cutting stones for like mens necklaces of darker stones into like Kite shapes to drill a hole in and use leather for the necklace. I mean I really don't see many people wearing opals anymore in the USA. Is it a still thing in other countries for younger woman who wear them? I am thinking of getting nice looking Koroit boulder opal to make one out of that has some killer opal patterns and color even though they can get pretty expensive I have seen.
In the US, Opal seems to be a pretty niche thing. Most of the people i've seen wearing it have lab opal or synthetic and don't seem to know or care. Everybody Opal lover i've met is through my channel! On the plus side, i think real opal really leaves an impression on people because they don't see it often. Thats my take!
The opal isn't done .. keep going. Get rid of the inclusion and standardize the cut. Its wonky
Ethiopian must of gotten a lot stabler since this video was made because I’ve never had one crack or craze and I’ve done a lot. Well maybe Styish😂
Nice piece!
Great results m8 🇦🇺👍
Heyy thanks!! I'm tryin out here
Some people cut those opals dry and use crazy glue instead of the wax
So it takes a few days at least to dry it out to return color 💯 the reveal looked really milky still
Can you cut dry?
That's what I do and they turn out great
Wow 🤩
big one
And slowly heat the stone before dropping it so it adhere bettter
I cut ethiopian to.. very lot to learn about. Aussies opal less risk
Yeah, cutting aussie opal is such a luxury compared to welo.
I’m going to have to say pendent nick
I think im with you on that... a little to big for a ring
I have Ethiopian opal on hand if you need
You need better shaping skills😂
you are too weird
Will you please pronounce it right dude...
I'm thinking a pendant to big and awkward for a ring but it might also make a good silver bracelet
I need some help. I have a beautiful 145gram welo Ethiopian opal and I need to figure the best route for selling. Whole or have someone work it? It is stunning and video only does it so much lol
This does not seem lie high grade opal tbf
Getting better with the cabbing machine brother,and the lesson of drying between every wheel (or but/bur) is a hard one to learn but VERY IMPORTANT to remember. Saves time, work and money...but great video and great cutting, keep em coming!!!
Bit*