Merry Christmas Roy. Enjoyed the Christmas colors in this stone. Fascinating the way the stone absorbs water. Look forward to seeing you in the coming year.
Hi Roy. Don Quarnstrom has posted some really nice opals lately. I can't wait to see how yours turns out when trimmed. Gotta love the Christmas colours! Have a great Christmas.
@@RoysRocks It's left me wondering why Ethiopian opal isn't doubleted because with that level of transparency, I'd have thought adding a black backing would make sense. Perhaps it relates to price and labour costs combined. Regardless, I'm keen to see how it goes. All the best for the holiday season, Roy.
@@RoysRocks thank you ❤️ Just posted a little shout out about your channel on my Facebook profile and in a couple groups that I'm in. Hope you'll get the last few subscribers to reach 7000 by Christmas 😉
Great job! I always pick the dirt out before shaping too. One thing I've found success with is after removing the dirt I soak it until the color disappears and let dry a couple times. If it's a really nice piece I'll do it three times. It takes forever, but after soaking and drying 2-3 times if there was a crack it will have shown and I can break it so when I'm finally ready to shape and polish I'm confident the cracks are out. I've been really, really lucky doing it this way. It's probably similar to the slow drying method, just goes about it in a different way. Thanks for the video and Merry Christmas!
Interesting approach. I'd be too scared transitioning between wet and dry before full polishing. The crack that formed during this one almost got me but I just carved it away and that seemed to work.
Merry Christmas Roy! ❤️ Thanks for a great video, nice to see something a little different! I just finished up a stone just like this one, and I used your cerium oxide power to finish the polish, didn't seem to absorb any from what I could tell but maybe I was lucky... 🤔 Looking forward to a New year of new Roy's Rocks Videos! 🎉🤩
Merry Christmas morgan, I have seen a few people polish with cerium and it was fine so I think I'll give it a shot as well. The AlOx is much smaller than the CeOx so if anything were to get stuck in there AlOx would be the one.
It's a solid stone. You just needed another round with the 280 and the 600 taking your time. Also you needed to let the stone open air dry after the slow drying another day or two at least. Then that milky look will disappear and the stone shows it's final form. Make sure you open air dry a few days before presenting any of the hydrophane Ethiopian Opal. So just do a follow up on this video cataloging you fixing the issues?
Yeah they’re super time consuming cutting wise and drying. A small one like this is still maybe a 3-4 hour cut with the Dremel for me. Some I’ve seen take a week to fully dry. And yeah open air is the way to go on cutting grade Welo. After this one fully dries it’ll spark up quite nicely.
Nice stone. I got some baby oil and was going to try treating one of my Ethiopian opals that I have to keep wet. I thought it might take up the oil replacing the water. I thought it might be worth a try. Happy Christmas 🎅Ho 🎅Ho 🎅Ho
I'll do a few treatment videos soon as well but have also had success drying water opals (the ones that have to stay in water). It'll be on the channel after a few more attempts.
Merry Christmas Roy, almost to the 7k subs, if the slow dry does stop cracking, maybe it’s time I gave a piece a go. Be very interested to see if you can make a doublet, as long as the stone is full dry, I can’t see why it wouldn’t work. Good luck, thanks for sharing
Yeah I will be super dehydrating the stone (much further than open to air) before I try to glue that backing on. 7k is a pretty good number. A couple more years and it might get to 10k which is crazy.
I wonder about the doublet idea ? Ethiopian is very soft meaning it is less dense. This would concern me when making a doublet for two reasons. 1) Will the bonding agent soak into the stone changing the colour or causing cracking? 2) Will the density difference of the Ethiopian Opal and the backing stone cause them to expand and contract with temperature changes at a different rate causing cracking or crazing ? As long as you’re not concerned about losing the Opal it will be good to see how it goes. Hope you’re feeling well now Roy, three thumbs up. Merry Christmas Roy.
It’ll be really interesting to see if you can make it into a doublet. Love that you’re willing to experiment with it. Wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas!
Some of the questions I want to answer by testing it. Experimentation often involves some sort of sacrifice and I've been waiting for a good chance to do it.
Hey there! I was just sent your way by Don from Pulitzer Opal I have a fairly large piece of fire agate. He says you’re the only one that should be cutting and polishing. Maybe we can get in touch and work something out. I’d love to send you some pictures and get your opinion, thank you so much
I don’t understand why you start with 280 nova point, could you please explain? I use the Chinese Diamond burs too but those Chinese yellow600 it’s really not the same thing then 20$ burrs 600/800, i use Varenkor Diamond Sintered Burr, just for 600/800 it worth the extra price, you should give it a try I think you will and have the need of the 280nova
Such a pity that Ethiopian is so fragile, as the colours are wild. You’d need to be careful how & when you wear it in jewellery! I look forward to your doublet experiment 👍
Merry Christmas Roy. Enjoyed the Christmas colors in this stone. Fascinating the way the stone absorbs water. Look forward to seeing you in the coming year.
It is a strange phenomenon when you grind a hundred aussie opals then pick one of these up.
merry christmas all. thanks for the early present, Roy.
Merry Christmas Don. Stay safe and well. 😊
Meet Xmas Don. Hopefully a good end to the year for you.
@@RoysRocks working on my next video, about an ethiopian opal, and a bunch of shorts to end the year.
@@nancycurtis7315 YOU TOO, Nancy!
@@ThatOpalGuy Back to the editing, or another week in the dungeon! LOL. 😇
Thanks! Enjoyed seeing the whole process.
Its fun but very different to the aussie material. I was way out of practice for this one.
Hi Roy. Don Quarnstrom has posted some really nice opals lately. I can't wait to see how yours turns out when trimmed. Gotta love the Christmas colours! Have a great Christmas.
I'm keen to see how it goes as a doublet. Might as well try it and see since I've never done it myself.
@@RoysRocks I definitely want to see that process. Have a few chips myself.
Oh Nancy, you KNOW I cant pay you for this. lol
@@ThatOpalGuy 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣Have a brilliant day, err night?
@@RoysRocks
It's left me wondering why Ethiopian opal isn't doubleted because with that level of transparency, I'd have thought adding a black backing would make sense.
Perhaps it relates to price and labour costs combined. Regardless, I'm keen to see how it goes.
All the best for the holiday season, Roy.
Ethiopians are so beautyful, and I think you did great 😊❤
Merry Christmas and happy new year to you and yours, Roy ☃️❄️☃️
Merry christmas Shiramus. Hopefully a good end to the year for you and a better 2024!
@@RoysRocks thank you ❤️ Just posted a little shout out about your channel on my Facebook profile and in a couple groups that I'm in. Hope you'll get the last few subscribers to reach 7000 by Christmas 😉
@@RoysRocks congrats on 7K subscribers, Roy 🥳
@@ElinHaugan Its crazy how far the channel has come.
Great job! I always pick the dirt out before shaping too. One thing I've found success with is after removing the dirt I soak it until the color disappears and let dry a couple times. If it's a really nice piece I'll do it three times. It takes forever, but after soaking and drying 2-3 times if there was a crack it will have shown and I can break it so when I'm finally ready to shape and polish I'm confident the cracks are out. I've been really, really lucky doing it this way. It's probably similar to the slow drying method, just goes about it in a different way. Thanks for the video and Merry Christmas!
Interesting approach. I'd be too scared transitioning between wet and dry before full polishing. The crack that formed during this one almost got me but I just carved it away and that seemed to work.
Good job Roy. Im OG 😂
Hi Mike 👋
Merry Christmas.
Happy holidays! I hope we get to see the finished doublet result soon.
Should be very soon (should be an easy test).
I might have to show my embarrassing flat lap though... still putting it off 😂
So pretty! Have to get to work on some more ethiopian opals in the spring ❤️
How would it work to do some cool pattern in that potchy/milky section, to be viewed through the crystally material? :-)
That could be fun but I really need to test the doublet work with ethiopian opal.
Thanks for the video Roy.
No worries Chad. Merry Christmas.
@@RoysRocksMerry Christmas to you too!
All the very best to you ROY, And Family too.! At Christmas........ Great Vedio too.
Hope you have a good end to the year. Bring on 2024
Great video Roy. Merry Christmas to you and yours. ✌❤🎅🎅
Happy Christmas and merry New year Karen. 😁
Merry Christmas Roy! ❤️
Thanks for a great video, nice to see something a little different! I just finished up a stone just like this one, and I used your cerium oxide power to finish the polish, didn't seem to absorb any from what I could tell but maybe I was lucky... 🤔
Looking forward to a New year of new Roy's Rocks Videos! 🎉🤩
Merry Christmas morgan,
I have seen a few people polish with cerium and it was fine so I think I'll give it a shot as well.
The AlOx is much smaller than the CeOx so if anything were to get stuck in there AlOx would be the one.
Awesome man
Thanks Gazz, have a good Christmas and new years.
Thanks Roy you too
It's a solid stone. You just needed another round with the 280 and the 600 taking your time. Also you needed to let the stone open air dry after the slow drying another day or two at least. Then that milky look will disappear and the stone shows it's final form.
Make sure you open air dry a few days before presenting any of the hydrophane Ethiopian Opal.
So just do a follow up on this video cataloging you fixing the issues?
Probably the only follow up video will be the grind and doublet making to see how that goes.
Yeah they’re super time consuming cutting wise and drying. A small one like this is still maybe a 3-4 hour cut with the Dremel for me. Some I’ve seen take a week to fully dry. And yeah open air is the way to go on cutting grade Welo. After this one fully dries it’ll spark up quite nicely.
Nice stone. I got some baby oil and was going to try treating one of my Ethiopian opals that I have to keep wet. I thought it might take up the oil replacing the water. I thought it might be worth a try. Happy Christmas 🎅Ho 🎅Ho 🎅Ho
I'll do a few treatment videos soon as well but have also had success drying water opals (the ones that have to stay in water).
It'll be on the channel after a few more attempts.
Merry Christmas Roy, almost to the 7k subs, if the slow dry does stop cracking, maybe it’s time I gave a piece a go. Be very interested to see if you can make a doublet, as long as the stone is full dry, I can’t see why it wouldn’t work. Good luck, thanks for sharing
Yeah I will be super dehydrating the stone (much further than open to air) before I try to glue that backing on.
7k is a pretty good number. A couple more years and it might get to 10k which is crazy.
To remove sand, I use mini files, it’s very inexpensive and always handy!
I have used mini files before as well and they can be incredibly useful.
nice colour Merry x mass mate
Merry xmas pk. Hopefully an even better year next year.
I wonder about the doublet idea ? Ethiopian is very soft meaning it is less dense. This would concern me when making a doublet for two reasons.
1) Will the bonding agent soak into the stone changing the colour or causing cracking?
2) Will the density difference of the Ethiopian Opal and the backing stone cause them to expand and contract with temperature changes at a different rate causing cracking or crazing ?
As long as you’re not concerned about losing the Opal it will be good to see how it goes.
Hope you’re feeling well now Roy, three thumbs up. Merry Christmas Roy.
It’ll be really interesting to see if you can make it into a doublet. Love that you’re willing to experiment with it. Wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas!
Some of the questions I want to answer by testing it.
Experimentation often involves some sort of sacrifice and I've been waiting for a good chance to do it.
Hey there! I was just sent your way by Don from Pulitzer Opal I have a fairly large piece of fire agate. He says you’re the only one that should be cutting and polishing. Maybe we can get in touch and work something out. I’d love to send you some pictures and get your opinion, thank you so much
Fire agate is not too bad. I dont work much of it but have heaps so maybe I'll do a video of one from start to finish so you can see the process.
I don’t understand why you start with 280 nova point, could you please explain? I use the Chinese Diamond burs too but those Chinese yellow600 it’s really not the same thing then 20$ burrs 600/800, i use Varenkor Diamond Sintered Burr, just for 600/800 it worth the extra price, you should give it a try I think you will and have the need of the 280nova
I use a sintered burs up to 600 ANSI but it still requires a 280 nova to get a perfect end polish or a lot of time with a 600 nova.
Such a pity that Ethiopian is so fragile, as the colours are wild. You’d need to be careful how & when you wear it in jewellery! I look forward to your doublet experiment 👍
Yeah the transition to jewellery due to its properties really keeps its value down. It is fun to play with and look at though.
I think the other side will be better.
Maybe then I'll have to switch gears and doublet from the other side.
is that a limb cast?
Not sure? Most of the Ethiopian opal isn't but there is always a chance. I think this one is just a standard wonky nugget though.
@@RoysRocks nice, it looked kinda like a small branch sticking out, but maybe that is just me arborizing things.