Things I'm afraid to cut - part three

[lostwax]

Just to keep the ball rolling..This is probably my favourite rock, mesmerizing is only word I can come up with..but ain't going near it.... for quiet a while.

Just on another note...I'm confused as to why these great forums have such a low traffic count???

Come on people...post all your opal stories, trials and tribulations

[Iceopals]

Oh wow!!! GREAT rock!!! Sooooo wish it were mine. With color like that, uncut, it should be killer once cut.

[PinkDiamond]

Ohhh, mesmerizing is how I'd describe it, too. I can just imagine all the flashes of color coming off that thing in your hand. Wow! I'm green with envy.

I, too, wonder why there's such low traffic here, since we have such a great and diverse group of people. Got any suggestions on how to get the party going?

[lostwax]

Ohhh, mesmerizing is how I'd describe it, too. I can just imagine all the flashes of color coming off that thing in your hand. Wow! I'm green with envy.


I, too, wonder why there's such low traffic here, since we have such a great and diverse group of people. Got any suggestions on how to get the party going?

I wish I knew PD...it gets a little worrying when you come back after a day or two and see the last post was your own...

That stone is definitely in the too hard basket for now...all the angles are difficult with pita gough marks either side. Why are the best ones always like that ??:roll:

Sean

[Iceopals]

So! What is the size of that tantalizing tidbit??

[lostwax]

So! What is the size of that tantalizing tidbit??

Hey Ice

It's 32 x 14mm(widest) x 5 mm deep - 9.9 carats.
I'm still trying to figure out a way to cut it to minimize waste..The sides are the biggest headache as they basically both slope the one way at around 45 degrees - abit like this // and will be difficult to smooth out.

Hoping to keep it around 7 carats but it may be wishful thinking.

The other (more appealing) option is patiently polishing with a dremel...when I get the experience that is

Ps.. I'm working on a cast titanium tiger head pendant...it's been hollowed out behind the eye sockets to allow for a couple of nice opals It is coming along nicely...

if you're interested I'll post a few piccies..

Cheers

Sean

[Iceopals]

Hi Sean,
ALWAYS interested in pictures!!! And I think that slow carving of that opal is the way to go. Don't try to force it into a cab mold, let it sing it's own song, something it appears pretty darned good at!

[lostwax]

Thanks Ice..yes, think I'll wait on those rubber tips.

Here's some pics...the casting is pretty much as it came out the mould, the rough look is actually a hard outer casing that will be removed although a nightmare on tooling tips. size is around 40 x 30mm
Also needs the fangs shaped, (I purposely cast them larger to be assured of metal flow)....still a way off yet.
Will probably anodize it in a nice dark blue or purple color eventually and try a few green and red cabs.






inside



some may remember my first attempt at a ring..it had a nice single triplet that is now gone in favour of the real thing and I've made room for a few smaller stones.



here's a beautiful small piece of boulder just uncovered...it glows







Cheers

[Iceopals]

Oh Yummy!!! I can just see that boulder opal in the ring!!!!!

[scribblygum]

Hi there lostwax, that piece is absolutely gorgeous.
Have you cut it? Can you post a pic? It will be stunning !

RE the forum traffic, lots of lookers, not a lot of posters.
I've been out of the forum for a few months, but pop in every now and then.
Perhaps people think they'll sound silly? I hope not, that's what the forum is for, to find out all about opals right?
Jenny

[PinkDiamond]

RE the forum traffic, lots of lookers, not a lot of posters.
I've been out of the forum for a few months, but pop in every now and then.
Perhaps people think they'll sound silly? I hope not, that's what the forum is for, to find out all about opals right?
Jenny

You're absolutely right, Jenny. I wish we could coax the shy ones out of the closet and get them to chat with us. And where have you been keeping yourself? I was wondering where you were, and I'm glad you dropped breadcrumbs so you could find your way home! Great to see you here again, and I'm looking forward to seeing lostwax's pics, too!

[lostwax]

Hi there lostwax, that piece is absolutely gorgeous.
Have you cut it? Can you post a pic? It will be stunning !

RE the forum traffic, lots of lookers, not a lot of posters.
I've been out of the forum for a few months, but pop in every now and then.
Perhaps people think they'll sound silly? I hope not, that's what the forum is for, to find out all about opals right?
Jenny

Hi Jenny, good to see you back ( :
Still not game to touch that one just yet, although I'm thinking a freeform teardrop shape will be nice and keep wastage to a minimum.

I did have a few cracking issues with the thinner mintabie pieces - mainly after removing the hard sand layer.

Different surface layer tensions + heavy hand = heartbreak

Vinnie kindly offered some expert advice so thanks Vinnie..Also found it helps greatly to remove the sand with an old serrated knife...no heat & much quicker too.

Btw Vinnie, Where are you mate? hope ur are ok...miss your posts.

Here's a pic of a few faced mintabie pieces that just need a final polish and shaping...it is truly beautiful once you get down to the thin precious seams.

regards
Sean

[scribblygum]

Hi Pink & Lost,
thanks both for the welcome back....it was only 3 months-ish, but seemed a lot longer. I suppose part of it was that over winter I felt far less like getting my hands wet and cold...my downstairs storey is a bit colder than upstairs. I'm a woos when it comes to being cold. AND if you knew how cold Sydney got in winter you'd think I was mad....it never gets below 10 deg C, so for most American winters that's positively balmy! but I'm pathetic. (and of course we have heaters...but as I said...I'm pathetic.)

Then there's kids, ....my children each got the flu', and were sick for around 2 weeks each, one after the other. Just when I got them back to school one got Chicken Pox,...then, just to please me, the other one got it right after. He's 12, and he got it REALLY badly, poor little sucker. So that took about 8 weeks of my time. I'm thinking I just got so bogged down with drudge that I forgot how to immerse myself in the bliss of the hum of the lap. machine.
I have a little ebay shop too, (with no opals in it) and I was working on that too. Feebay, I mean. I hate ebay, but it serves a purpose. Like having a continuous garage sale.

Well, that explains my absence. Not much of a reason, is it.

I've cut some little bits of stuff lately, mostly just working my way through my bucket of Lightning Ridge pea-nobbies. Sometimes I find something nice, but they're really hard to cut, because they're usually so small or thin.
I'm going to start a new thread.
About backs. I really need to know the order of cutting, and the way you all approach the 'back'. Off I go to do that right now.....
J.