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Thread: Opals and polish

  1. #1
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    Default Opals and polish

    A lady has given me some rough opal that she picked up on honeymoon - she wants one small piece set in a ring.
    I'm amazed at how easy it was to shape - I ground off the matrix, wahcked off (technical!) and part that had a cleavage line, and used fine grade wet and dry (wetting the opal along the way) - she doesn't want it evenly shaped (thank god), but it's come up very nicely - but a bit dull. If I get some cerium oxide and make a slurry to polish it, should that do? And what do I use to best apply it? (I'm a dremel girl) Thanks for any advice!

  2. #2
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    I would start with a fine diamond polishing paste, maybe two different grades (lots available on line under lapidary polishing paste), on a cotton mop such as Cookson 999ACO. You need to run your machine quite slowly and avoiding pressure, keep the mop moving or you will get tram lines.

    Because opal is very soft, you might get the best final shine with Vonax, which is really meant for acrylic, but used on a new clean mop. Hope this helps, Dennis.

  3. #3
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    Thank you Dennis, will post some pics when I'm done

  4. #4
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    Here are the two chips (have now done them with acrylic polish)
    what do you think? Need more shiny shiny?
    Click image for larger version. 

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  5. #5
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    Can't tell from the photos, but the colours are pretty.

  6. #6
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    hopefully this will give a better idea of the sheen
    Click image for larger version. 

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  7. #7
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    If I look closely, I can just make out your face Lydia, so it must be OK.

  8. #8
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    sorry for any scares ;-)

  9. #9
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    here it is in place

    Click image for larger version. 

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  10. #10
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    It looks lovely Lydia, I like the shape of the ring very much.
    Elaine at Mead Moon
    Mead Moon
    My Etsy shop

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