Little opal carving

[mick&marg]

This little Ridge opal is for a client in Sydney I have done a few pieces for recently, this one is turning out very good, more a free form with some pattern carved to show the color depth, finding this grade to carve is very hard now.

 

[Jaros]

They look alright.

 

[pinfire opals]

Very nice work, well done. Contact Justin @ black opal direct in lightning ridge if your after quality rough stones. Hes my main go to for high quality. Cheers Noel.

 

[Martyz]

Hi mick&marg. I love what you did with that piece. It already has a lot of colour but those contours must have it picking up light from every any angle.
I was just wondering if you could share what tools and techniques you used to carve your design. I have shaped this opal and exposed the main colour bar as best I can but down the left hand side is a dull area that has another colour bar beneath it. I was considering carving a small step along that side to expose it but Im not quite sure how to proceed.
Cheers Martyz

 

[goody2shoes]

I have three Opal's

Goody

 

[sand surfer]

Hi goody, is that opal from your trip looks nice

 

[goody2shoes]

Yes it is sand surfer...

Plus I got a lot of Opal's chips that my mate Rodney gave me...

Goody

 

[mick&marg]

I use either a plated or sintered diamond point at around 15000 rpm in water or with a spray or drip system on the hand piece, hand sand with either diamond or silicon carbide wet. hope this helps, be careful as you may chip the opal, practice on some low grade stone before you try for real.

 

[Martyz]

Thanks mick&marg. I think that exposing the lower band down the side of my stone will make the most of the available colour. Unfortunately I dont have any practice opal but I think that if Im careful itll work.
Thanks for the tips. :Y:

 

[Martyz]

So Ive had a go at exposing the lower colour band on my opal with pleasing results. Its become this double geometric shape and uncovered more colour along the side and end of the stone.