Carving uncut opal with a Dremel. Tips and tricks
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- Опубликовано: 5 фев 2025
- Welcome to Black Opal Direct!
Let me hop off my travellator and dust off my carver's hat... it's been a while!
I don't enjoy carving as much as I love cutting on the machine but when an opal calls for it, who am I to say no?
Join me today as I carve an Australian opal nobby using a Dremel tool and some different bits.
If you're at home and looking for something to do, carving can definitely take a few (hundred) hours off your hands.
Read the full write up on the blog: blackopaldirec...
Take care
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I'm so glad you showed carving an opal. Thank you for keeping me laughing. I always look forward to seeing your videos. I would happily wear such a beautiful piece. Stay well and keep smiling.
i thought that gem looked amazing before you carved it. WOW that thing is beautiful
This is a stunning piece! I would totally wear it as a pendant
9:57 Your just like my kids! Bloody towel on the floor! LOL I've always just been a gold guy "detecting" And since one of your videos popped up you've got me into opals! Thanks!!
My son gets it from me hahah. sorry you got opal fever now :-p
Thats a really beautiful piece, i loved it as soon as i saw it , thanks for entertaining me when i am stuck at home.
You would fit in fine with our family. We do all sorts of crazy things like you do. Each one of us has more silliness than the next. We never forget someone's foibles. Absolutely nothing is scared around here. When my husband died, we all made it thru by using our silliness and funny memories to create the sweetness we needed. It is the only way to get thru hardships in life. Just keep laughing and not take the world to seriously.
I love watching you carve your opals but it is your sense of humor that keeps me coming back. When I feel my energy go down, I tune you in and things get so much better.
I wish you wealth, health and happiness but I think you have that already....from Chicago
Awww I totally get where you are coming from. Thanks for the kind words
Justin, thank you for all your hard work to provide content for we viewers. You are one of the only channels I watch that has no commercials to provide income. That in my book is awesome and makes every video that much more enjoyable. You work your business and still make time for us. I just wanted you to know that you are appreciated for making content for us. I do worry about your health, you sound so tired at times and that can lower your immune system (remember that nasty virus that has/is affecting everyone).
Just know how much you and your beautiful wife are appreciated! Stay safe and be well my Aussie friend 🙏✌💜💙💚😎
Aww thank you Cathi That makes it all worth while for me. Some days if I have not had a coffee it shows hahah. and I do have ads on the video but yes I don't ask people to buy opal much at all.Im not a sales pitchy kind a guy.
@@blackopaldirect When I win the lottery first thing I'm going to do is buy my first Australian black opal from you! And thanks for replying.
When you have the time, would love for you to talk about caring for you opal jewelry. Online I’ve read very confused advice. Some say rub the opal with oil, some say do not, some say store the opal with a moist cloth, some say to store it dry. I’m a little overwhelmed with the lack of consistency. I believe you would be the go to person with trusted advice due to the many years you have dealt with opals. Look forward to reading your thoughts. Thanks. Love your happy personality and beautiful workmanship.
The colors in this remind me of Christmas! This the season! Very informative! Great job!
Just a quick word of thanks to you for brightening up our time in lock down isolation. This virus can get folk down but you and a number of other RUclips producers stepping up to the mark to entertain and educate us is very heartwarming. Thank you so very much. Regards from Scotland.
Glad I can help long dog :-)
It's really beautiful. Definetly time and patience is required. Lots of it. Enjoyed watching and learning.
I love that concave piece! Wowzers!
Those greens are amazing!
Entertaining, as well as informative. Glad I've subscribed. Thanks!
A masterpiece video like this is needed in the new workshop
Thanks Justin, I could do this one at home, as I have a Dremel in my tool collection 😁
Sure could my friend
Love your sense of humor. The rest is simply mesmerizing
Thank you
Love your work... this Opal is Amazing.
Love your humout!
YOU ARE LITERALLY MY FAVORITE RUclipsR EVER THANK YOU SO MUCH I HAVE SUCH AN APPRECIATION FOR YOU AND YOUR CONTENT !!!! 10/10
Thank you I’m glad you enjoy
This was a real helpful video for me because I don't have anything except a Dremel. I really appreciate you doing this
Welcome 🙏
Justin you were hilarious! ;D Unique stone. I can understand why you're in no hurry to finish finish it.
I like how you handled your critic
How much would that nobbie be worth? It looks to be a very nice stone
Thank you. Not worth heaps but maybe $1000
You do know that we who watch your channel are already winners, we are gaining knowledge ( old say: give a man a fish and he eats for a day- teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime). The drawings are nice but thats not the point.
I love your"re sense of humor, i would love to be able to do what you do. You are a true artist. Opals are my daughters birthstone,she really loves them. Thanks for the fun and information.
I feel inspired Justin, just started 14 weeks off work. I'll definitely make myself some wooden tipped attachments. Take care & all of you stay safe.
Gorgious gem curving stone made by a master cutter!! I very much enjoy your cutting job. Thanks.
Thanks dude, that's what I'm talking about. Glad you mentioned the Nova points. they're such a blessing the old school Carvers. We used to have to improvise.
Nicely done ! That nobby sure has a lot of character. And it’s nice to see that maybe someone with limited equipment could cut an opal.
Love the content as always, and please don’t lose that sense of humor 😂, it’s dang near as polished as some of the gems you create lol
Thank you for this video. I learn something every time I watch you.
Welcome 🙏
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience with us. I’ve never worked with any stone before, but now I will start with some beginner rough and a dremel. Cheers!
Thanks for sharing this. I'm carving nobbies too. The color is amazing. And it's a great pastime 🖤
I felt like I was at the dentist.lol
Thank you.
Andy
Nice work with the DREMLIN!
That is a stunning rock bro, thumbs up.
Peace and love from toowoomba sunny Queensland.
It is time for a beer... Cheers. Need a lime with my Corona virus. Ha😅 !!! So the carving .... With the curve in the stone, might be cool to sculpt into a fish. New Zealand trout. That's a whole other art form and more tools probably. Thanks for sharing. Cool video. Much love from California.
Yes carving to an recognisable object is beyond me
Neat-o.looked like fun and it creates a unique piece. Keep 'em coming and stay safe.
I really like this. The older I get, the less I like over-embellished or over worked pieces. I like the stone, bone, or whatever it is one is working with, to, as you say, "speak for itself". There's been a tendency in jewellery making for people to try and remove all marks and garks and I think that's a shame. Obviously some stones are at their best when cut and polished to their ultimate point, e.g. topaz, zultanite, tanzanite but things like pounamu/NZ greenstone/jade, bone, coral, bone and IMHO some opal, can be shown to their best effect by leaving some of its history or natural provenance left in tact. It's a personal taste thing, I guess. Great video.
Glad you enjoying your food
I have a feeling this piece will be gorgeous!
really love this one as I have done this about eight to ten years ago,thank you
Thanks! Love opals and love dremels. I came across a box full of rough opals, mostly white so of no real value, but there are a couple black ones and some red ones and a blue one!
I have carved a lot of opal, and I do more steps with carving burs before moving to leather wheels, felt wheels, Nova points etc. Carving burs, usually 170, 320, 600 grit, as these steps get rid of the marks from the rougher burs. Thanks for the videos - I enjoy them a lot.
Awesome Greg I love to hear how others do it. I might try it your way
Great to watch 👍👍👍👍
perfect for while i wait till some real equipment comes LOVE YA WORK
So pretty :) reminds me of my old pocket pebble, had a similar shape where i would hold it in the crook of my index finer and rest my thumb on the smooth bit. Rub for luck lol
I stumbled upon this trying to find something relaxing to watch as I self quarantine in the Southern US & try to forget our president here suggested we drink bleach...(yes, he did) and I gotta say it's so relaxing before sleep & entirely fascinating! THANK U from the USA. I burned thru your entire playlist! Stay safe!
Hi Bimm thank you for watching and am glad I could take you mind off that guy for a little while. If you ever need to relax I have many more soothing cutting vids. ❤️
@@blackopaldirect I have checked them out & shared them with my twitter followers as something great & relaxing to watch! THANK YOU again!
I once carved a 3,2cm Salamander out of a mineral stone (don’t know what it is) that inspired me due the green color an S-shaped red line in the middle. I used professional gear for dental tech‘s (I am one), Diamond grinding tools, polishing rubber. I was amazed how hard that stone was, I almost gave up after 45 minutes. Felt a lot harder then titanium. It cost me a lot of diamond grinder and discs, and a lot of time. Finally I glued some little gold drops in for eyes and cast a rough nugget shape around it out of kobalt-chrom-molybdenum steel, looking like the salamander was sitting on it, with all his little toes and bumps on his back, grinning slightly😊. It turned out nice as a pendant. But took me some 11-12 hours of hard work...
EXcellent lesson! Great closeups, good organization (tools req), just the right amount of jolly times, and good "play by play." Short of an Italian girl in lingerie, what better way to spend your "shelter in place social distancing" time than by creating a stunning gem! 5 stars!
I love your videos keep it up iam so inspired to do this one day God willing
nice nugget :) and 'fluffy' pattern is very cool
most people don't realize how long it takes to make carving
good work as always
cheers
Bon appétit , so funky, and watt a color opalicius opal color i would say .❤❤❤❤❤❤
Hey Justin love you work this came out really beautiful dont worry what the haters have to say you've been doing it long enough to know what opals can and can't do so keep soldering ahead and thanks for the great laughs with the depressing times that we've got a head of us ps i would love to learn more about opals I do gold prospecting and would love to get into opals cheers
Thank you Bucky bucketson I appreciate the kind words. :-) sorry for the twist on your username
Thank you Justin for sharing
My pleasure!
Hi Justin,
We are in lockdown due to COVID19 situation, Your videos are saviour in these tough time. Love watching them, they are very satisfying. 😊
Prakash
Pune, INDIA.
Funny, I have a boulder opal in acetone right now, without knowing abut this video. You had me worried for a minute. Trying to remove a quartz doublet where epoxy was not quite clear enough. Thanks sharing your knowledge!!
yes the acetone will eat the glue but thats about it
Cool video dude. 😎✌️
For other mining districts - make sure your re-hydrate your opal by rinsing it in clean water several times after the solvent is done. If not, the solvent evaporates fast leaving the stone dry and it could craze by drying as fast as it can without re-hydration from the air. If you are using the solvent to carry in resin or a filler, that is not an issue.
Been waiting for this video! 💐
Nice work ..Great video .. Hopefully will help me carving some Cooper pedy shell opal ..Cheers
aqua regia can dissolve noble metals but hydrofluoric can dissolve most silicates. The wonderful world of acid. Looks beautiful!
Thanks for sharing 🍻😎
Great video, Totally agree 🤠thanks 👍
Amazing ... your father taught you well Justin. 😀😀😀
Thank you Annette
Carving is definitely an art. Takes a lot of patience that's for sure.
More than I have lol
You are awesome sir🤠 Thank You very much👍
Btw, I have just started polish Stones with my 4 kids. The way Master Justin doinit🤩. By sandpaper{wet stuff). And ITS alot messy, but fun😃
Flint is really hard stuff😊
Nice you will have to show me the results
Black Opal Direct I will👍
By email?
Fun y how are using a Dremel! I suggested it a while back...just bc I saw sand -bits that needed to without damaging a stone! I was just wondering if u used it? And now that I see you have...I will shut-up! Beautiful work sir!
I wonder if you carved from the other side, would you have been able to get the nice dome you love so much. Oh and yes it can take days to carve a freeform. You should try doing a harder stone like quartz.
The colorbar was too thin to do from the other side
I'll have to go online to find those bits. My local lapidary supply store is now a weed dispensary. Such are the times.
From stones to stoned !
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
That little dremel looks nifty, what model is it ? Really enjoy watching you at work 👍
I wish you were closer. I have a sample from idaho. One ive been wprking on slowly trying to save tge color to show you. It's fingerr mail thin and I'm poor lol so my machine is home made and yeah flat lap which I suggest no one ever try lol great for classic gem cuts. Not for cabs. Anyways just thank you for the videos. And hopfully fingers crossed I'll be loading video of idaho opal :) it's in basalt not sure what type I know color becomes prominent after dryinf
totally love the humour :)
Thanks for a extremely informative video!! Question for you---you pointed out to either go with what the stone gives you or force things, potentially losing color. Realizing every stone is different, although want to ask big picture philosophy question of when you might consider the loss of color worth "forcing it"? Oh, and with the things you did with eating and the other parts, you made it really clear carving can be VERY tedious! LOL
Yes forcing it you can lose color
Have you ever played around with satin or matte finishes on opals? I think it might work quite well on the right stone. Much less surface reflection to distract from the colour. Also unique. Probably a tricky finish to get, but fine media blasting could work, or fine Scotch Brite. Love your videos
I haven't but it might have worked ok on this piece
Hi Justin. Tks for the entertainment during this isolation period.
I've been looking for a drop down type slab saw like you have, but can only find ones that protrude up through the table. I'm in Canada, and there seems to be very limited lap equipment available here. Any suggestions? I've even thought of trying to make my own from a bench grinder, but I'm not sure of rotation speeds needed, or arbor sizes for the blades etc.
Yes a drop down saw is prob not the best was to slice opal. but would work kind of
@@blackopaldirect Tks for the reply. I don't think I explained myself very well. I am looking for one like yours that hangs above the table rather than protrude through it from below.
Enjoying all your wonderful experiments and loved watching the carving, thanks. I am presuming though that doublets or triplets might not be a good idea for soaking in solutions? The opal slither is likely to be fine, but the rest could possibly fall apart?
Correct
What speed do you typically run your dremel at?
Hi Justin. thanks so much for your videos. learn a lot from them. I have a question. Do yóu use "Diamond Pacific
Nova Miniature Sanding & Polishing Points " or can you recommend them or somethink other Nova Points.? Thanks for your help
Yes they are good
@@blackopaldirect thanks a lot for your answer. Keep up the excellent work and stay safe!
Would it have worked out to have cut it in thirds to get rid of the concave and make three "regular" gems?
yes I could have done that and would have preferred but want to make a carving vid lol.
@@blackopaldirect Just a thought for a future video....show us how to make quality gems out of a stone that's already prepped...like that one!.. if it wouldn't destroy the value that is. Personally I think that would be really cool, and something I've never seen before. Thanks as alway Dr.J, try not to go nuts, we will survive this.
Thanks for making this video! I did a similar carving and it looks very similar, I called mine "melted gummy bear" :-)
I'm curious if you have any thoughts on using the other Nova tips in the process, for example, instead of the wood+paste use the 1200 nova tip? What I've been trying is sintered bits 100#, 220#, 320# and then go to nova bits 280#, 600#, 1200#, 3000#, 8000# -- but, I don't think I spend enough time on some stages, easy to get impatient with all the steps. Another thing that I realized to be cautious about is with wear on those felt tips, I was using those with some coarser grit pastes and before I knew it the top of the felt had worn through to the metal shaft and that's no bueno.
Thanks again for all the info!
Just looking to start a small investment in Opals as a hobby. I am kind of thinking best approach might be to buy rough Opal and carve them all up so (1) get the most Opal for my $ (2) get to see all the colours hidden while rough (3) stores the bulk of the material in a sellable form so the next person can still cut as they desire. Would I be on the right pathway with that logic?
Another nice save Justin. 👍 What's the price per carat difference on a black opal domed oval stone vs a carved one of the same quality and weight?
a lot less. Much much less in my opinion
Could the dome be slices off and another gem created from it?
I live way up in the mountains in a very small town, faaaar away from any lapidary stores, or places that sell propper bits or tips for Dremel. Everyone just has the usual wood and plastic tips like sandpaper barrels and felt.
I have tried finding the soft Nova tips you use in one of your videos, but have found nothing online. Can you tell me the brand, or a good site to buy from?
She came out looking great Justin, you earned that beer! Thank you for the video. Quick question, what happen to that really big chunk of opal you were debating on chopping up or keeping as a specimen? I wouldn't mind seeing an update on it. Thanks again Justin 👍
sitting in the safe sleeping for now
I’m trying to do a small heart for a ring setting. Is carving the way to go or is there a trick to doing it on a cabbing machine? I can cut real small round, ovals and squares but stumped on doing a heart shape.
Hi Justin & viewers, I got a small parcel of rough recently, mostly about 5 to 7mm but have some very thin slivers, any ideas what I can do with these. Little flashes of colour but nothing special. Thanks guys, stay safe.
Walkalator HAHAHA - it’s called a travelator.
I would hate to be your cleaner there, it sounds like a death trap behind that counter bench. I do house cleaning but I’m currently in lockdown, like most others.
Didn’t want to carry germs from house to house so got time to make YT videos & watch some like yours.
Stay safe Justin & keep your family safe. Hope Melinda can come back once you have sterilised that ‘walkalater’ 😂
There is a runalator as well
Black Opal Direct otherwise known as a treadmill. LOL I love your sense of humour, thinking we could be related. I do have a brother around my age that my dad had an affair with a woman & had a son to. I’m 46 & I’m told he lives in Queensland. I don’t have a name & my dad has since passed away.
What would the odds be?
Our family has that kind of ‘dad humour’ going back generations.
Maybe I’ve got time to find my brother now. 💁🏽♀️
Black Opal Direct I’d also like to add that my Grandmother & I shared a passion for opal. We were obsessed with it. We would describe them as natures snapshot of the sky before they were buried for millions of years.
I wish she was alive to see your videos coz we would be discussing them together.
Thank you Sir!
Great vid, sorry if this has been asked before but what is it that makes the different colours in opal, also are they in layers or suspension through the sediments
Regards
The size of the silica spheres
@@blackopaldirect wish I could say I completely understand but I don't but thank you for the reply lol
I think you can do a show maybe ,on where they find the stones.
Have a look on my channel you fins all that and more
@@blackopaldirect I enjoy your show my have spoke to soon .
Would there be a way to do that under water or is that not possible
Omg what. This ending .. I think I’ve been day drinking for too long 🤣
Haha I had to go back and look again I couldn’t remember lol 😆
Definitely one great thing to do at home whilst the Pandemic keeps us there
Awesome
Hey Justin how much does opal like this cost in the rough?
The concave nobbs you get like that, have you ever dropped a pearl in the middle to see how it would look?
No I haven't you might be into something. If you try it let me know
@@blackopaldirect I haven't had the pleasure of cutting stone like this yet, only wore wrapping them.
Hi Justin, is it possible to put burn marks on crystal if you push too hard or using the wrong speed? I've just bought a dremel and there is some whitening effect on a small peice I noodled from coober that Ive been practicing on. Kind regards and thanks for the videos.
Yes
That is the sort of shape i like my opals.
I use acetone to remove my Ethiopians from the dop which I use lock tight to hold it on.
I have ordered from you before and you were very kind and sent me a free opal colour grade chart.
How do I order from you again not got a lot of money don't think anyone has at the moment but just looking for a bit of potch to keep me busy.
you can order from here blackopaldirect.com
I love these videos. Can you get a valuable piece out of carving?
Yes for sure
Do you advise wearing opal rings everyday or only occasionally? Thanks.
It depends on what you do everyday. Office work no worries. Bricklaying def not
Thanks