I purchased a $50 skill tile saw and converted it into a lap grinder, then I purchased a $54 drill press from harbor freight and make a lapidary grinder. Both utilize a water system and I use them for making jewelry stones and whiskey ice cubes. Thanks for the information, most people don't think about dust when sanding wood either and some exotic wood dust is quite toxic.
Always watch your content, seems like a very rewarding job, I wasn't even aware that Opals were expensive before I started watching many months ago, from the UK so people don't really mention them here.
It is awesome when technology can advance a process for the better. Thank you for sharing the details of your shift and change in the process of revealing the beauty of Australian opal. And black opal in particular.
Awesome information Justin. Exactly what I need to know👌Diamond Nova wheels it will be, for me toooooo😊 - I was going to buy a new metal detector, but I go for a Nova wheel instead. Hope I find one here in Norway then.
I work with wheels. The only way to go. I only use a flat for the final, final polish with cerium and titanium dioxide. Thanks for sharing the information. I passed it along to someone I know that uses sandpaper and even though he wouldn't believe me, he has you. Thanks you may have saved him a lifetime of lung problems!
First of all huge fan of your channel. I have always loved rough and cut opals. I've been doing my cutting and polishing with a dremel set since that is all I can afford as of now but what would be a good beginner cabbing machine? And could I email you some photos of the ones I have done and get your feed back? God Bless
Thank you! That was a very timely video. We acquired an old cabochon machine and I was just considering what wheels I wanted and Nova was my top contender. Thank you for confirming!
Cant wait to buy some rough bundles from you good sir!!! Up here in Canada there was Opal found in BC near Vernon. Not too sure of its quality though, still looks nice but its no black Opal. :)
I bet they didnt air that new outback opal hunters over there. At any rate they were talking about lightning ridge and I forgot the other two they mentioned. Found it cool I knew of it from you long before the history channel told me lol
Justin, if youve already made a video like what I'm about to request, could put a link to it here please. I just bought my first opals to start practicing with. I need to know what brand, model and RPM for my grinder. Also, where I might find Nova wheels. I'm getting ready to make the leap into the Opal Ocean. Thank you for the amazing videos, they have been inspiring.
Hay Justin I've watching ur videos on RUclips for awhile now I have a serious question have u or do u know of anyone that has found opal in the cairns and tablelands areas as I'm really keen to get out and have a dig there has been gold and diamonds found in these regions therefore I was kind of hoping opal may be lurking around this hills as back in the dinosaur days cairns and most of the tip of Australia was under water since the land has resin and the water has receded such a long time ago do u think its possible there may be some here. Thanks and sorry for the long message but I'm so fascinated with Opal
Justin, is "Ethiopian black opal" a real thing? I saw an eBay listing recently that said that the opal was a Black Ethiopian opal. Please and thank you for answering that question. BTW, I totally loved seeing you get so happy over that amazing piece that made two gorgeous stones, I could SEE and FEEL your joy (did you telepathically feel my envy)? Lol!! Be careful and healthfully minded. Who gives a thumbs down to that? Do the "thumbs down" people identify themselves or ever say why they leave a TD? It seems like such a cowardly way to say nothing!
Yes there is a type of black opal from Ethiopia but it is not stable and will be confused with the treated type from there. I just steer clear to be sure. As fo the thumbs down haha it is just another channel that feels threatened by me and my channel. So they resort to dumb stuff like this. They feel so threatened that they are showing it in their videos. Which makes me laugh even harder. Instead of maybe collaborating they do this which really shows the true nature of them and their fear of competition. Competition is healthy in my opinion but for some it's a threat. True colors come out of people eventually and bite them in the butt. I have blocked them so I don't need to see the pitiful shame they put on themselves. My followers have mentioned this about them and they have stopped following. Pages on facebook have also stopped sharing their videos so its just doing them a disservice and no-one else. Sorry still laughing. lol. Oh and I am sure they will read this message too so thank you for bringing it up :-)
My mate is teaching on how to make sandpaper burrs for the rotary tool he uses, I'm like please no don't i pray he doesn't aarrgghh me, 😱 😲🤣 he's a bro 💯.
I use an ameritool flat lap to cabb with and it's the only thing I've ever used, and I dont want to brag but I am damn good. Mine has an gravity water feed so the wheel stays wet and the grit dosent fly up at all. It has 4 disks that change out for the different grits and then I do my final polish with a dremel and cerium oxide with a felt tip. I'm just poor is why I learned to do it like that, it takes a little longer but I would put my work up against anybody's. Yes people have more valuable stone than me but I guarantee you that my finishing work is as good as anybody else's. You can look the company up online and see what I have. I am paying off a 6 wheel cabbing unit now, but I definitely wouldnt say anything bad about my flat lap. I'm the only person I know that cabbs opal on one though to be honest, but if you want to learn to cabb and you cant afford a big unit, you can get a flat lap that runs with water and you can most certainly learn on it. I see that the ones your aware of dont have a water feed, so ya I wouldnt use those kinds. But the water feed one, o hell yes! Any day
Hi hope you get this I tried to do this the hard way but I found a opal and I think it might be a little black have you got a email I could send pic to please
I had a salesman try to sell me on a expanding drum with belts. I checked the pricing and the diamond sandpaper is as almost as much as a nova wheel. Have you ever used one Justin?
pk Gold & Hunting you can but the idea with sandpaper is to clog it up to get a smooth surface on the opal. Water will just wash it away and wear it out faster
I purchased a $50 skill tile saw and converted it into a lap grinder, then I purchased a $54 drill press from harbor freight and make a lapidary grinder. Both utilize a water system and I use them for making jewelry stones and whiskey ice cubes. Thanks for the information, most people don't think about dust when sanding wood either and some exotic wood dust is quite toxic.
Always watch your content, seems like a very rewarding job, I wasn't even aware that Opals were expensive before I started watching many months ago, from the UK so people don't really mention them here.
It is awesome when technology can advance a process for the better. Thank you for sharing the details of your shift and change in the process of revealing the beauty of Australian opal. And black opal in particular.
Awesome information Justin. Exactly what I need to know👌Diamond Nova wheels it will be, for me toooooo😊
- I was going to buy a new metal detector, but I go for a Nova wheel instead. Hope I find one here in Norway then.
MrInsaint glad you liked. The wheels are light and can be shipped anywhere in the world easily
Love watch your videos ,
Great advice, thanks
thanks Justin, please keep us updated on that huge boulder you showed us and i am not talking about boulder opal :)
great to hear the comparison between the two types. Silicosis is nothing to mess with!
I work with wheels. The only way to go. I only use a flat for the final, final polish with cerium and titanium dioxide. Thanks for sharing the information. I passed it along to someone I know that uses sandpaper and even though he wouldn't believe me, he has you. Thanks you may have saved him a lifetime of lung problems!
I've used all these methods lol but the novas are so good .... need a few more
First of all huge fan of your channel. I have always loved rough and cut opals. I've been doing my cutting and polishing with a dremel set since that is all I can afford as of now but what would be a good beginner cabbing machine? And could I email you some photos of the ones I have done and get your feed back?
God Bless
Thank you! That was a very timely video. We acquired an old cabochon machine and I was just considering what wheels I wanted and Nova was my top contender. Thank you for confirming!
Joe Reilly welcome 🙏
Thanks justin ! 👍👍🍺
Cant wait to buy some rough bundles from you good sir!!!
Up here in Canada there was Opal found in BC near Vernon. Not too sure of its quality though, still looks nice but its no black Opal. :)
Is Vernon the only place in Canada with opal mining ?
@@gunnyaustria so far its the only one thats known, but Id guess there are more spots to be found still. :)
@@DurpVonFronz
I come to Canada, we find some opal and become miners ... or gold or jade. ☺️
I bet they didnt air that new outback opal hunters over there. At any rate they were talking about lightning ridge and I forgot the other two they mentioned. Found it cool I knew of it from you long before the history channel told me lol
Justin, if youve already made a video like what I'm about to request, could put a link to it here please. I just bought my first opals to start practicing with. I need to know what brand, model and RPM for my grinder. Also, where I might find Nova wheels. I'm getting ready to make the leap into the Opal Ocean. Thank you for the amazing videos, they have been inspiring.
yes they are all in the playlist :-)
Much thanks. I've been thinking of asking you about the wheels you use. I think they'll be great with pearl shell. Thank you.
Torres Pearls yes you can use them for that
Make sure you have ventilation as mother of pearl or shell can put out poisonous fumes like epoxy, Abalone also.
@@ResortDog - most certainly! I always use a mask when working on pearl shell!
Hay Justin I've watching ur videos on RUclips for awhile now I have a serious question have u or do u know of anyone that has found opal in the cairns and tablelands areas as I'm really keen to get out and have a dig there has been gold and diamonds found in these regions therefore I was kind of hoping opal may be lurking around this hills as back in the dinosaur days cairns and most of the tip of Australia was under water since the land has resin and the water has receded such a long time ago do u think its possible there may be some here. Thanks and sorry for the long message but I'm so fascinated with Opal
Brendan Bradford there has been Boulder opal found in some creek beds in and around Charter towers. So it is possible
Thank u for the quick answer Justin I appreciate ur feed back mate
If I find some I'll send u some to cut
Justin, is "Ethiopian black opal" a real thing? I saw an eBay listing recently that said that the opal was a Black Ethiopian opal. Please and thank you for answering that question. BTW, I totally loved seeing you get so happy over that amazing piece that made two gorgeous stones, I could SEE and FEEL your joy (did you telepathically feel my envy)? Lol!! Be careful and healthfully minded. Who gives a thumbs down to that? Do the "thumbs down" people identify themselves or ever say why they leave a TD? It seems like such a cowardly way to say nothing!
Yes there is a type of black opal from Ethiopia but it is not stable and will be confused with the treated type from there. I just steer clear to be sure. As fo the thumbs down haha it is just another channel that feels threatened by me and my channel. So they resort to dumb stuff like this. They feel so threatened that they are showing it in their videos. Which makes me laugh even harder. Instead of maybe collaborating they do this which really shows the true nature of them and their fear of competition. Competition is healthy in my opinion but for some it's a threat. True colors come out of people eventually and bite them in the butt. I have blocked them so I don't need to see the pitiful shame they put on themselves. My followers have mentioned this about them and they have stopped following. Pages on facebook have also stopped sharing their videos so its just doing them a disservice and no-one else. Sorry still laughing. lol. Oh and I am sure they will read this message too so thank you for bringing it up :-)
i do fossil preparation and it always astonishes me the number of old-timers who don't wear dust masks.
My mate is teaching on how to make sandpaper burrs for the rotary tool he uses, I'm like please no don't i pray he doesn't aarrgghh me, 😱 😲🤣 he's a bro 💯.
Thank you.
Cool tips thankyou.
By the way thanks for the birthday well wishes.
Haha Welcome
I use an ameritool flat lap to cabb with and it's the only thing I've ever used, and I dont want to brag but I am damn good. Mine has an gravity water feed so the wheel stays wet and the grit dosent fly up at all. It has 4 disks that change out for the different grits and then I do my final polish with a dremel and cerium oxide with a felt tip. I'm just poor is why I learned to do it like that, it takes a little longer but I would put my work up against anybody's. Yes people have more valuable stone than me but I guarantee you that my finishing work is as good as anybody else's. You can look the company up online and see what I have. I am paying off a 6 wheel cabbing unit now, but I definitely wouldnt say anything bad about my flat lap. I'm the only person I know that cabbs opal on one though to be honest, but if you want to learn to cabb and you cant afford a big unit, you can get a flat lap that runs with water and you can most certainly learn on it. I see that the ones your aware of dont have a water feed, so ya I wouldnt use those kinds. But the water feed one, o hell yes! Any day
Hi Justin, where do you purchase your wheels and cutting machine from please? 👍👍
Annette Halliday I buy them from gem cuts near me in Ballina
Wish I could try this
you can
@@blackopaldirect not as easy as that haha when you dont have alot of money
Ben Cook this is true
Hi hope you get this I tried to do this the hard way but I found a opal and I think it might be a little black have you got a email I could send pic to please
Craftsman!!
I had a salesman try to sell me on a expanding drum with belts. I checked the pricing and the diamond sandpaper is as almost as much as a nova wheel. Have you ever used one Justin?
Who’s your favorite supplier for nova wheels?
Mark McArthy gem cuts
if i paint the back of an opal with black lacquer,does that mean it is a doublet now???
yes
What brand of machine do you use those nova wheels on?
gemmasta
Do you sell the cut stones? Or do you make jewelry and things as well?
Marc Bristow I sell it all here blackopaldirect.com
Thanks for answering my questions. I love your videos lol. So satisfying!! Keep up the good work!
How do you weigh opal carats? Surely not grams haha
Łìł Jãÿ Channel yes carats the same as diamonds
🥰
why can't you use water on wet and dry sand paper
pk Gold & Hunting you can but the idea with sandpaper is to clog it up to get a smooth surface on the opal. Water will just wash it away and wear it out faster
@@blackopaldirect ok thanks mate for the info good to learn of you
I am dentist with good skills...
Will you hire me ??
I really wanna work with you
My teeth are pretty good thanks. haha