mc2
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2009
Posts: 1,147
|
Post by mc2 on Mar 25, 2010 21:47:34 GMT -5
Who might be a good source for some optical quartz for triplets? I have some black jade for the backing. It looks like it should work good for the backs. Just need some good clear material for the fronts.
Thanks, Mike
|
|
|
Post by phil on Mar 25, 2010 22:15:29 GMT -5
Why not just use a good quality glass? After all, that's what quartz and glass both are....
|
|
|
Post by bobby1 on Mar 25, 2010 22:41:40 GMT -5
Here is my source for Optical Quartz: Bob Lewis cell: 650 773 9964 He has synthetic bars of Optical Quartz used in the electronics industry Bob
|
|
nuevomundo
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2010
Posts: 222
|
Post by nuevomundo on Mar 26, 2010 8:23:26 GMT -5
Why not just use a good quality glass? After all, that's what quartz and glass both are.... I asked pretty much this same question on another board a while back... turns out glass and quartz have different crystal structures which in turn means important differences in the optical properties as well as in how the two materials fracture. I'm sure someone else could explain it better, but apparently there are important differences between glass and crystallized quartz.
|
|
bushmanbilly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2008
Posts: 4,719
|
Post by bushmanbilly on Mar 26, 2010 18:52:51 GMT -5
|
|
mc2
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2009
Posts: 1,147
|
Post by mc2 on Mar 26, 2010 22:09:54 GMT -5
Thanks bushmanbilly!
Mike
|
|
RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
|
Post by RocknCritter on Mar 28, 2010 21:34:09 GMT -5
Glass is single refractive while quartz is double refractive. The refractive indexes and specific gravity are probably different too.
Of course, tinted glass has a green mask that isn't always attractive.
The term "glass" in the gem trade is also synonymous with fake.
|
|
bouldergal
freely admits to licking rocks
Glacier Meadow
Member since July 2007
Posts: 783
|
Post by bouldergal on Mar 30, 2010 20:47:06 GMT -5
what size do you need? I just got some in a lot of things I bought with some equipment. The crystals aren't huge, but there are some nice pieces. Susan
|
|
mc2
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2009
Posts: 1,147
|
Post by mc2 on Mar 30, 2010 22:57:00 GMT -5
Well thank you very much, Susan! I really am not sure about size. Not large I am sure. I am going to try my hand at learning to work opal. I understand that in some cases, the opal will wind up being pretty thin, so I am getting material together for making a triplett or two. One member has already graciously offered to send me a piece of quartz to work with. So, for now, I will see how I do with that. I would like to know more about the pieces you have though. I am sure I will be wanting to get a few more pieces.
Mike
|
|