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@@lapidarydave Aww that's very sweet of you! but how about you pay it forward, give it to someone who's down on their luck or just needs to feel loved. :)
I promise to make a better one where I’m actually talking to some of the minors and manufacturers as soon as I get to Tucson I turn on chatting with an S opal which is the gentleman Adam who gave Pulitzer the stones in his latest video
That opal you picked up at 11:00 was the "Belle of the Ball." I would of picked that one for sure! The black host around it made it looks surprisingly like a black opal. It even looked more stable and less jelly and hydrophane than the others somehow. Hope your Quartzsite is going well for you.
I just went back and looked at it thanks to your timestamp it was pretty awesome I might go pick that up if it’s still there when I head back on Sunday
@@lapidarydave Thanks, I will do that. I usually look for machines and parts more than rocks at the shows. Do you remember we talked at the Stoddard Wells show? I was there on Saturday while you were setting up the cabbing machine. I was looking for used cabbing wheels.
Was at Quartzsite on the 13th, love that place! Check out the giant rock pile @ 50 cent a pound at the back end of aisle #1. I picked so much raw material, I’ll be cutting and cabbing for the next two years, spent 4 hrs digging on that pile LOL
Theres 2 types Ethiopian opal. You do not want to soak Enhydro Ethiopian opal in water. They can/ do crack craze easily when they dry out. Here's the rub; you need very specialized eqpt to tell the diff. So assume its all enhydro. Thanks again for another great vid.
I’ve heard about this before in the past I really appreciate you breaking it down for me my friend I know there’s probably some kind of catch when They sell you it in a small bag with water a gentleman Bought a couple pieces yesterday and he’s paying me to cut it im excited to see what will happen I’ll be very careful luckily I do not have to saw it
@@lapidarydave Sory I probably sound like a broken record. More for the ppl who watch & don't know. Keep up good vids. I watch while working. Keeps me company.
@@lapidarydave I specialize more in crystal minerals cut & polish. Treatments, synthetics. Tanzanite emerald sapphire etc so if I can be of any help just ask. Youre far more knowledgable on morphic rocks. Its a Good learning session for me.
A bad surprise is when you learn the outside rehydrating is swelling faster than the middle can hold together and pop there is a crack. I think that ends at some point due to just size. I say opals are stable to the size they crack down to out in the desert. Honest opal is honest opal.
cerium oxide discolors Ethiopian. And since they are in water they will soak it up. Its funny that vendor said after it was said do you use... he really didn't have a clue.
@@lapidarydave thank you brother I am watching you now at 22nd st you rock I have been a lapidary for 35 years I carve fire agate and love opal. Keep up the good work. I will send you some photos.
It was in quartzite This particular vendor is not Courtade anymore that show was earlier this month These vendors are at the 22nd St., Show in Tucson now
I try too google some of the vendors. Not getting much for "Stan the opal man". For those of us who can't get to Tuscon I'd buy if they have a web store. Trying to build a lap machine. Have 5/8 x 30" stainless mandrel shaft w bearings on order. Just $69 bucks !
Awesome my friend good luck on your bills I would love to see photos when you get it running I did manage to get the information for Stanley opal man I’ll give you his phone number here in the common section it is 970-260-8259
@@lapidarydave Oh cool. I ran into another lap channel " Too many projects". She made her own lap. Good vid for on the cheap lapidary. I'm really excited. Would love to cut opal. She said to start w Lapis & turquoise before opal. Deff keep his #. I did buy some rough shewa chocolate Ethiopian. I hope its stabilized.
@@roberttyrrell2250 I leave the rhyolite rind on my Shewa to hold it together. Did you know a geologist from Reno made the initial development with the local tribe? After he was shot & the Shewa was cracky, the sellers moved over to Wolo material.
@@ResortDog That would be a good way to keep it. They were cabbing it. The Ethiopian Gov't got involved & removed its sale. Its very unstable cracks, crazes unmercifully. Large Dealers brokers were Pissed. They bought killo's to have it disintegrate. They have come up w a stabilization process. Its why you're seeing it back on the market. The process is still a "trade secret". I bought 6 cabs in 2010 all but one fell apart. A nice 4ct chocolate brown honeycomb . Had it 6 yrs. Finally set it 14k for (my now ex) wife. Stunning ring. Pretty sure she pawned it. I was told what I ordered was treated & stabilized. Some smalls. If its ok I'll buy larger pcs. I'll check the bark, have a look see under my AM scope.🤞🤞
Quick question do the people selling the Mexican opal sell online? I can't travel but really love cutting Mexican opal it's my second favorite opal to cut.
Hello there my friend this particular vendor does not have any cards and I don’t believe they sell online however a lot of Mexican awful dealers do sell online I will be sharing that information when I find a vendor that will in Tucson the prices are just about the same if not more affordable there as well :)
Brother Dave...... Don't touch the Welo after touching the water Opal with wet hands. You know how Welo reacts to water lol. Dry those hands before handling the Welo Opal lol!!!! You're making the color disappear / causing cracking to the Welo. * Mike from Roys Rocks group waves *
@@lapidarydave I figured you knew that from watching Roy or Pulitzer Opal etc. No worries homie. Looking forward to this show season myself once it starts back up in March here in the Cleveland area. Be my 6th year attending my local gem and mineral shows.
ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WWTR6MQRYyU.html Here's Roy's video of him cutting some honeycomb water Opal I sent him for the channel. He also has some Welo videos, one of material I sent him. All from my local shows. Thanks to you as well for giving me some show skills these last few years watching your videos. Also sent Roy some Fire Agate to mess with on the channel from Fire Agate Mark. Has a few cool videos of the fire Agate as well. Check out Roys Rocks channel further, always mention you to Roy. Figured you would be interested in seeing some cut since you asked the people at the booth.
