I really appreciate this. Many of us (especially beginners) can't afford very large rough to start with. I have dozens of these chips, mostly shell fragments and have really been enjoying your videos.
Really well done Roy great to watch ,the little stones are worth while doing ,its not all about big expensive pieces ,I have lots of little chips under half ct ,they all add up in the end .regards Brian🌍
I do hate waste, especially when it comes to opal. I've seem some creative settings of tiny stones so this one might come in handy sometime in the future.
Turned out lovely, what a challenge! It would make a great accent stone. I just cut a wee piece of boulder for an inlay, that was nerve racking. Kudos to you.
It definitely needs one or more companion stones to be set in a piece of jewelry. Tiny boulder is tough especially if the backing is of a softer consistency.
As a beginner, this was great! I have hope for some of these absolutely gorgeous bitties that I have that I thought would just have to be specimen collection pieces. Thanks!
Beautiful job Roy, a group of those would make nice flower petals. I have lots of small intense colour stones, not sure my eyes will let me do that though. 😁
True if I can get a few more of these they could build something together. I'm surprised my eyes could work on this one. To be honest filming it helps as I can watch the screen zoomed in.
Great video. This is exactly what i was looking for. I just have a few questions. 1. By epoxy do you mean something like araldite? 2. How do you get the epoxy off? 3. What is that tool you're using?
1/ A fast curing 2-part epoxy, araldite is what I use. 2/ It'll peel off after being left in water. 3/ Any flex shaft attachment is fine. I was using an Ozito rotary tool that came with a flex shaft but now use a fake Foredom.
I don't envy you, but nice job. I want to try out cutting stones, but I'll start with local garnets. Thanks for the epoxy tip, I didn't think of using that.
Congrats on the tiny cut, they can be tough, but rewarding. Especially if you have a handfull of them. On another note, when were you getting the nova points up for sale? Over here in the UK its impossible to get them, I can find them on the net, but no where imports them to the uk, or if they do it costs so much because they only use specialist postal services. It's a joke.
I have already sold a few over to the UK but I do have another batch that should arrive any day now. Heard they are difficult to get a hold of over there. Still postage is a killer from here.
@@RoysRocks cool, I'm glad to hear some stuff is getting through the brexit blockade, lol. Could I grab a couple packs (the set you use) off you? I have a feeling the national postal services are a fare bit cheaper than the parcel companies, and just as quick, sometimes quicker.
@@cheekyj4794 From memory its about $24 postage from here which I guess isnt to bad if I send over a set of large and smalls. Feel free to send me an email at roys.rocks@yahoo.com and we can work it out. For now I'll just chuck you down on the list as "Cheeky J RUclips".
Son get yourself a packet of 2-3 different size long jolt head nails ? So much stronger and keep a bottle of iced water on hand wax comes of soooo much easier
Freezer works fine for removing from wax. You'll see that I have covered using nails and wax/glues on the dopping playlist here: ruclips.net/p/PLgobZjRRLwJQFrbXhDSc-OCmGRrcVTfmg I'm not a fan of using nails most of the time. They less grippy compared to wood and the hold isn't as strong as a 2-part 5-min epoxy which is the go to if you need a strong hold.
I've cut a couple just a hair bigger. You are way more confident with the sintered diamond. I usually use my black nova for the rest of shaping. The would be about right after you put on dop.
Haha I dont have a patience to do all my shaping with the black nova. I trust my sintered burrs not to eat too much. The most scary thing is chipping edges.
So I’m not the only person who punishes themselves working on small pieces. Dopping them definitely makes it a little easier but it’s still a challenge.
Thanks so much @@RoysRocksI went fossicking at lightning ridge and found small Opal chips and little nobbies with specs of colour had a go and rubbing manually with wet and dry. Brought a Dremel but having a little bit of trouble would love to see what you could do or possible get a stone or 2 but will send an email through in the 🌄🎉
I really appreciate this. Many of us (especially beginners) can't afford very large rough to start with. I have dozens of these chips, mostly shell fragments and have really been enjoying your videos.
Man there is a lot you can do with opal chips that can look amazing so definitely don't have to blow the bank.
@@RoysRocks I’ve been watching what you do with small chips/shells…amazing.
@@ieatcaribou7852 Thanks, I like to show that there are great things in small bits of material every now and then.
I've just gone back to this vid because of the small pieces I have, and this gives me hope
Wow it really is small 😮. Great job by the way 👍🏿
Haha I was looking at this stone yesterday and wondering if I had it in a video.
Wow cool and many can be set amongst others in pattern I suppose great small craftsmanship and no waste good fun too thanks Roy .
Nothing goes to waste here. I'll pick out every single tiny piece of colour 😁
@@RoysRocks Good man same here 😄
Really well done Roy great to watch ,the little stones are worth while doing ,its not all about big expensive pieces ,I have lots of little chips under half ct ,they all add up in the end .regards Brian🌍
I do hate waste, especially when it comes to opal. I've seem some creative settings of tiny stones so this one might come in handy sometime in the future.
Awesome work man🙌🏼
Like always
Thanks its hardly work when you are having fun.
Thank you for this video! It was just what I needed 😁👍🏻
No worries at all. In a few weeks I'll go even smaller 😁
It's here finally!!! I've been waiting for this !
Haha love watching the pain of someone cutting the smallest piece of rough they have 😁
Nice challenge, I loved it
It was fun but I wont be rushing to do my next tiny stone straight away. 🤣
I was JUST about to ask a question on the facebook page about small stones too, before i saw this video lol.
Haha good timing then. 👍😊
That's awesome! lovely little gem! I have a bunch of small ones I'm "saving" hahaha
Haha I'll be "saving" any others I have lying around for a later date too 😊
Turned out lovely, what a challenge! It would make a great accent stone. I just cut a wee piece of boulder for an inlay, that was nerve racking. Kudos to you.
It definitely needs one or more companion stones to be set in a piece of jewelry.
Tiny boulder is tough especially if the backing is of a softer consistency.
Good work Roy, pretty ring stone
It would have to be a pretty small ring. Maybe perfect for one of the children that found the material...
As a beginner, this was great! I have hope for some of these absolutely gorgeous bitties that I have that I thought would just have to be specimen collection pieces. Thanks!
You can do it! The trick is just in the handling and tiny adjustments. Apart from that not much harder.
Nice Tiny king stone 👍🏼👍🏼
I'd lean towards tiny prince stone at this size LOL 🤣
@@RoysRocks lol 😂 That’s good, A chip off an old King stone could be made into a stunning prince opal piece👑 for a crown jewel 💎
Beautiful job Roy, a group of those would make nice flower petals. I have lots of small intense colour stones, not sure my eyes will let me do that though. 😁
True if I can get a few more of these they could build something together.
I'm surprised my eyes could work on this one. To be honest filming it helps as I can watch the screen zoomed in.
Great video. This is exactly what i was looking for. I just have a few questions.
1. By epoxy do you mean something like araldite?
2. How do you get the epoxy off?
3. What is that tool you're using?
1/ A fast curing 2-part epoxy, araldite is what I use.
2/ It'll peel off after being left in water.
3/ Any flex shaft attachment is fine. I was using an Ozito rotary tool that came with a flex shaft but now use a fake Foredom.
@RoysRocks Thanks
Love the video, what tips/Sanding are you using for your Tool.
All the equipment names are at the top of the video during the entire carving.
Sintered diamond burrs and Diamond Pacific nova points.
I don't envy you, but nice job. I want to try out cutting stones, but I'll start with local garnets. Thanks for the epoxy tip, I didn't think of using that.
No worries. Always happy when people can take something from a video and use it. Garnets are pretty different to opal but it should work.
Great job Roy! I'm pretty sure it was very hard to got this process on the video right? 😅 Anyway, very helpful video, thanks for this!!! 🙃
Not terrible but the smaller the opal the harder the filming that's for sure.
Nice and man I’m trying to get me a sample of that black lighter polish from Mark myself
Its good stuff whatever it is. When I have some time I should be able to work it out but work has been insane so far this year.
Congrats on the tiny cut, they can be tough, but rewarding. Especially if you have a handfull of them.
On another note, when were you getting the nova points up for sale? Over here in the UK its impossible to get them, I can find them on the net, but no where imports them to the uk, or if they do it costs so much because they only use specialist postal services. It's a joke.
I have already sold a few over to the UK but I do have another batch that should arrive any day now.
Heard they are difficult to get a hold of over there. Still postage is a killer from here.
@@RoysRocks cool, I'm glad to hear some stuff is getting through the brexit blockade, lol. Could I grab a couple packs (the set you use) off you? I have a feeling the national postal services are a fare bit cheaper than the parcel companies, and just as quick, sometimes quicker.
@@cheekyj4794 From memory its about $24 postage from here which I guess isnt to bad if I send over a set of large and smalls.
Feel free to send me an email at roys.rocks@yahoo.com and we can work it out. For now I'll just chuck you down on the list as "Cheeky J RUclips".
cool man 👍🇬🇧🎩
Thanks. Bit of fun but wouldnt want it to be the regular size.
How did you deal with the cracks?
Unfortunately cracks can only be cut out or stabilised. 99% or the time it is better to cut them out in terms of end value.
Small but beautiful
Thank you. I'm glad the crack worked out.
I did a bunch of chips this weekend, yes I don't have much fingernails left. ✌️
Saves needing to cut them. 👍
@@RoysRocks if only... It's only the thumbs and forefingers 🙄😂
@@LawrenceMacMacster haha only half the job done.
I can feel the arthritis in my fingers already. Lol. Nice little opal, though.
Haha yeah I dont expect you to be dopping toothpick sized opals like this. Even my fingers struggle.
Son get yourself a packet of 2-3 different size long jolt head nails ? So much stronger and keep a bottle of iced water on hand wax comes of soooo much easier
Freezer works fine for removing from wax. You'll see that I have covered using nails and wax/glues on the dopping playlist here: ruclips.net/p/PLgobZjRRLwJQFrbXhDSc-OCmGRrcVTfmg
I'm not a fan of using nails most of the time. They less grippy compared to wood and the hold isn't as strong as a 2-part 5-min epoxy which is the go to if you need a strong hold.
I've cut a couple just a hair bigger. You are way more confident with the sintered diamond. I usually use my black nova for the rest of shaping. The would be about right after you put on dop.
Haha I dont have a patience to do all my shaping with the black nova. I trust my sintered burrs not to eat too much. The most scary thing is chipping edges.
Fun fact: you CAN dop a stone to a toothpick. I put a 5.5mmx4mm stone on a toothpick the other day.
Yeah if you search the channel for toothpick you will see videos of me doing small stones on toothpicks.
So I’m not the only person who punishes themselves working on small pieces. Dopping them definitely makes it a little easier but it’s still a challenge.
Yeah without the dop I'd rate it nearly impossible... sounds like a future challenge video.
I bought an entire parcel of like 25 ish stones from riley gunn where all the stones are this tiny. I think i might be a masochist 😅
👍
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Will U cut my opals bro please 😊
I am always interested in helping out others. Email photos on facebook/messenger or email roys.rocks@yahoo.com
Thanks so much @@RoysRocksI went fossicking at lightning ridge and found small Opal chips and little nobbies with specs of colour had a go and rubbing manually with wet and dry. Brought a Dremel but having a little bit of trouble would love to see what you could do or possible get a stone or 2 but will send an email through in the 🌄🎉