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Post by toiv0 on Mar 19, 2021 16:55:59 GMT -5
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Post by MsAli on Mar 19, 2021 18:31:06 GMT -5
Oh wow Mr Billy you just took these up another level!
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Post by toiv0 on Mar 19, 2021 18:42:39 GMT -5
Here's a better look Miss Ali and another question. Rubys and sapphire are the same except for color. When they be one red they're a Ruby, any other color they're sapphires. So I bought this one as a Ruby but to me it's pink. So am I going to call it a sapphire or ruby.  |
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Post by greig on Mar 19, 2021 18:46:02 GMT -5
Any chance you can buff it with a soft cloth and polishing paste? It looks great in your first pictures but looks like it could use a spit and shine on the last photo. Beautiful work.
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Post by toiv0 on Mar 19, 2021 18:50:45 GMT -5
Any chance you can buff it with a soft cloth and polishing paste? It looks great in your first pictures but looks like it could use a spit and shine on the last photo. Beautiful work. I could do that. I did rub it some with a polishing cloth. What would you recommend for paste? Cerium? Alum oxide? |
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Post by greig on Mar 19, 2021 18:57:22 GMT -5
If it were me, I'd use 14,000 diamond paste, but I am no expert. In a bind, I have also used automotive mag polish and sometimes got surprisingly good results. Hopefully, someone else chimes in.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 19, 2021 18:59:43 GMT -5
No polishing wheel with rouge on that opal. Do you happen to know what the last grit used on it was?
No matter, really. If you don't have any, get some 14K and 50K diamond paste and some felt buffing wheels for your Foredom. Use the 14K first SLOW on the Foredom so the opal doesn't get too hot to polish it good. Check often with your fingers to make sure and if it's getting a little too warm wait until it cools off or dunk it in some room temperature water. As long as it's not too hot, it won't hurt it. Wash it well and then go on to the 50K and do the thing. That should bring it up to it's full shine potential. 
Please post another picture of it when you're done.
I'm really digging these new pendants you're making!
ETA: Use a drop or two of some type of light oil (sawing machine oil, etc. or extender oil for lapidary use if you have some) on the felt buffs with the diamond paste so the diamonds can spread out evenly.
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Post by toiv0 on Mar 19, 2021 19:16:55 GMT -5
No polishing wheel with rouge on that opal. Do you happen to know what the last grit used on it was?
No matter, really. If you don't have any, get some 14K and 50K diamond paste and some felt buffing wheels for your Foredom. Use the 14K first SLOW on the Foredom so the opal doesn't get too hot to polish it good. Check often with your fingers to make sure and if it's getting a little too warm wait until it cools off or dunk it in some room temperature water. As long as it's not too hot, it won't hurt it. Wash it well and then go on to the 50K and do the thing. That should bring it up to it's full shine potential.
Please post another picture of it when you're done.
I'm really digging these new pendants you're making!
ETA: Use a drop or two of some type of light oil (sawing machine oil, etc. or extender oil for lapidary use if you have some) on the felt buffs with the diamond paste so the diamonds can spread out evenly.
ThAnks robin. I will have to dig pretty deep to find the diamond paste. Just a thought I have one of those wooden opal wheels. Each groove is labeled for grit. Any thoughts other than someone else used it and labeled it. |
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Post by toiv0 on Mar 19, 2021 19:19:10 GMT -5
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Post by fernwood on Mar 19, 2021 19:32:07 GMT -5
I am no help for best way to polish.
Wanted to let you know that these are extra exceptional.
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Post by jasoninsd on Mar 19, 2021 19:37:18 GMT -5
Nothing to do with your question...but those middle two in the last group photo are gorgeous to me! (You know, the ones not sapphire or ruby...)
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 19, 2021 19:44:32 GMT -5
No polishing wheel with rouge on that opal. Do you happen to know what the last grit used on it was?
No matter, really. If you don't have any, get some 14K and 50K diamond paste and some felt buffing wheels for your Foredom. Use the 14K first SLOW on the Foredom so the opal doesn't get too hot to polish it good. Check often with your fingers to make sure and if it's getting a little too warm wait until it cools off or dunk it in some room temperature water. As long as it's not too hot, it won't hurt it. Wash it well and then go on to the 50K and do the thing. That should bring it up to it's full shine potential.
Please post another picture of it when you're done.
I'm really digging these new pendants you're making!
ETA: Use a drop or two of some type of light oil (sawing machine oil, etc. or extender oil for lapidary use if you have some) on the felt buffs with the diamond paste so the diamonds can spread out evenly.
ThAnks robin. I will have to dig pretty deep to find the diamond paste. Just a thought I have one of those wooden opal wheels. Each groove is labeled for grit. Any thoughts other than someone else used it and labeled it. The wood wheels are perfect for polishing opal. Test drive a spare polished stone first (softer would be better so you can see scratches) on each of the grits you plan to use to make sure there's nothing gnarly on them that'll scratch it all to hell. Add a tiny bit of oil on those wheels too, for the same reason as above. If you haven't used it, the wood is probably a little dry anyway. Hopefully whoever used it before was cutting opal and was careful about the grits. |
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Post by opalpyrexia on Mar 19, 2021 19:46:21 GMT -5
Here's a better look Miss Ali and another question. Rubys and sapphire are the same except for color. When they be one red they're a Ruby, any other color they're sapphires. So I bought this one as a Ruby but to me it's pink. So am I going to call it a sapphire or ruby.
Nice work, Billy! I think that calling your corundum a pink sapphire is more accurate.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 19, 2021 19:47:48 GMT -5
Call it pink sapphire. To my eye it's not red enough to be called a ruby, but I'm not a gemologist, either.  |
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quartz
Cave Dweller 
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,265
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Post by quartz on Mar 19, 2021 21:52:10 GMT -5
My wife found a fair chunk of nice opal at a sale, said see what I could do with it. I got it pretty well polished but not quite "there", rubbed it with white tooth paste and a terry cloth scrap, came out great.
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Post by toiv0 on Mar 19, 2021 22:00:08 GMT -5
Nothing to do with your question...but those middle two in the last group photo are gorgeous to me! (You know, the ones not sapphire or ruby...) Those stones are MI greenstone, fairly rare that size but not impossible to get. |
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Post by toiv0 on Mar 19, 2021 22:01:42 GMT -5
Here's a better look Miss Ali and another question. Rubys and sapphire are the same except for color. When they be one red they're a Ruby, any other color they're sapphires. So I bought this one as a Ruby but to me it's pink. So am I going to call it a sapphire or ruby.
Nice work, Billy! I think that calling your corundum a pink sapphire is more accurate.
Kind of what I figured which is why I asked. I was going to go that way if there was no answer. You should see them glow under a black light. Prob take a picture later and post it. |
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Post by toiv0 on Mar 19, 2021 22:03:16 GMT -5
ThAnks robin. I will have to dig pretty deep to find the diamond paste. Just a thought I have one of those wooden opal wheels. Each groove is labeled for grit. Any thoughts other than someone else used it and labeled it. The wood wheels are perfect for polishing opal. Test drive a spare polished stone first (softer would be better so you can see scratches) on each of the grits you plan to use to make sure there's nothing gnarly on them that'll scratch it all to hell. Add a tiny bit of oil on those wheels too, for the same reason as above. If you haven't used it, the wood is probably a little dry anyway. Hopefully whoever used it before was cutting opal and was careful about the grits. You have the best Ideas. Great way to figure it out. Thanks Miss Robin. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 19, 2021 22:46:14 GMT -5
Nice work, Billy! I think that calling your corundum a pink sapphire is more accurate.
Kind of what I figured which is why I asked. I was going to go that way if there was no answer. You should see them glow under a black light. Prob take a picture later and post it. Hmmmm ... I know some rubies glow. Let's ask gemfeller. I'm pretty sure he'll know the answer. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 19, 2021 22:46:48 GMT -5
The wood wheels are perfect for polishing opal. Test drive a spare polished stone first (softer would be better so you can see scratches) on each of the grits you plan to use to make sure there's nothing gnarly on them that'll scratch it all to hell. Add a tiny bit of oil on those wheels too, for the same reason as above. If you haven't used it, the wood is probably a little dry anyway. Hopefully whoever used it before was cutting opal and was careful about the grits. You have the best Ideas. Great way to figure it out. Thanks Miss Robin. You are most welcome, Billy! |
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