I could watch Opals being cut, and polished ALL DAY LONG!!! It's so relaxing to me. As a matter of fact, I'm procrastinating my housework right now! This is MUCH more satisfying! Thanks for sharing your art work ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

This is so addictive, watching Justin turn a lump into a precious gem. Beats binging on TV shows for sure sure.

I'm even watching the commercials during this video! THAT'S how relaxed I am bcuz of watching this Opal being polished by Jason... 👌

A big thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge. I believe you inspire a lot of people, but you also inspired me to chase back the ancestry of my opal rich region.

Very well done. I have cut a few cabs, including some Australian opal, and I learned a lot from this video.

I'm about to be binge watching your videos. Great job. You've inspired me.

@blackopaldirect

5 жыл бұрын

Haha enjoy

a beautiful piece of opal beautifully polished. nice demonstration

Thank you for the details and tips you give in your videos. It really is interesting and I'm looking forward to the day I will be cutting opal myself.

@blackopaldirect

7 жыл бұрын

Awesome I look forward to seeing what you cut :-)

That is a beautiful Opal Justin. Thank You for sharing! ❤

very good demonstration and information about perfecting and shaping and polishing the stone. Nice!

Another great outcome! Very good tutorial for unsure beginners.

It’s like an entire galaxy in your grasp! Stunningly beautiful!

I have just started to cut opals, thanks for the hints and tips they are helping.

You make shaping, and polishing look so easy!! Good info on this video! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Great video! Thank you so much for such a great lesson. It will help me a lot!

Crystal is such a beautiful stone. Definitely one of my favorite types. Very first opal I cut by hand was a beautiful purple opal with green Chinese writing in it from a beginners rough I purchased from you! Thanks so much for all your helpful videos and the beautiful stones.

@blackopaldirect

4 жыл бұрын

you are welcome and am glad you enjoyed the beginner parcels

@valeriechamp7199

4 жыл бұрын

How much does a chrystal opal cost this size or half this size? I have a necklace with a beautiful opal smaller than this one, but I have yet to see or find one like it. This one is gorgeous!

@valeriechamp7199

4 жыл бұрын

I love watching your videos ❣

Another slice of heaven love all your videos!

I'm watching this how-to video on polishing Opals as if someday I too will be doing this very thing!! In other words... I'm Day Dreaming!! ❤

Watching your videos inspire me

@rawdawgpendants5490

5 жыл бұрын

moniqueking5 right!? I cant wait to get the proper tool for this. I use a dremel bit in my drill for now. Just cut my first opal today.

Beautiful job brother.

Such a beautiful crystal opal!!

Nothing better than watching a craftsman crafting. ❤

fantastic video, super informative. Will definitely take some tips from this. Cheers.

@blackopaldirect

7 жыл бұрын

You are welcome :-)

Justin, thanks for sharing all of your cutting videos! I've been obsessed since I found your channel a few months back. I was wondering if you would consider doing a video about cutting thin color bars? Also if you could give some advice on picking out rough opal and what to look for.... and cutting other types of opals.... it would be much appreciated! You're the only channel I've found that has great content on cutting opals

@blackopaldirect

7 жыл бұрын

Thank Amy I appreciate you watching on :-) Some of the videos will be difficult to do but I will see what I cancel up with.

Wow that is a HUGE COLOR BAN CRYSTAL OPAL omg!! Love it

you are great Justin, love your videos!

Nicely done, Justin. Well explained and demonstrated. The only thing you left out was the weighing and pricing.

Hi Justin would love it if you could do some more dremel cutting videos its the only tools I have atm until I can start selling my cravings. really love your tutorials they are truly helpful.

@blackopaldirect

7 жыл бұрын

Hi Charlie I have done a Dremel video kzread.info/dash/bejne/qWWMprKhgay1erg.html

Tks so much justin ! Great video ! Love it !

Wow that came out amazing.

Man I found your videos I know nothing about opal but it sure is beautiful and it's just amazing but anyway I love the video keep up the great work.

@blackopaldirect

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you 🙏

I really like the crystal opals. The black opals are gorgeous, but I think I like the crystal opals best.

Oh my that video was amazing...About the wax stick..., good to know that one, I could use some tips like that - I'm still a beginner befouling the art of polishing stones :-D

@blackopaldirect

7 жыл бұрын

Cool well enjoy to journey. It is fun and can be rewarding

I remember Justin when you only had a few followers and an enthusiastic opal person was talking about how Chinese writing was maybe racist yet not a good description of what looks more like ancient script and script pattern was born i remember also having 27000 carats to start my apprenticeship and finding you the most wonderful source to help my addiction of the greatest gem on earth . Sadly most of my collection was stolen not searching for sympathy I am not that why inclined and replacing them is not possible for every one is unique it is not the money value they had it was the beauty they brought to me just to see them so people be ware even today i have only a hand full of good ones left and hope ones in other hands brings them the joy they brought me as does the ones i have left The moral of the story is Thank you Justin for exposing the lovely opal character of which there is none better and regardless of bad times or bad people the beauty of opal will always shine thru given a chance and like my opal addiction so what i may have to start from scratch again yet nothing brings more enjoyment than seeing an opals face for the first time Thank you Justin and the black opal direct for sharing what i call inter mate opal moments and keep up your amazing work cheers

@blackopaldirect

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Peter I’m sorry you lost your collection. Suck kind words and thank you for sticking around so long

@peteraitken2225

2 жыл бұрын

@@blackopaldirect We all have our ups and downs the trick is to keep going and growing lots of love dont worry as you know opal addiction is for life it was never the wealth of worth they had to me it was always how special i feel just looking into the mystery of opal and how it shines back at you with a rainbow cheers give my love to the crew you have done a lot for opals standing well done

This has been very useful, didn't know the methylated spirits could melt the wax! Thanks Justin!

@blackopaldirect

3 жыл бұрын

You bet!

Watching videos all the way to the very end also helps the channel grow. Just sayin... ❤

Great video, what speed or rpm is you machine running at?? Cheers David. Adelaide 👍

Iv watched loads of theses now you got me dreaming of bloody opals

I love your videos! Your humor matches mine and I find them very informative and entertaining. I do have one question: how long do your Nova wheels and felt wheel last?

@blackopaldirect

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks 🙏 they will last you years

If i were to try and flush set an opal is there any alternative or softer burnishers to stop damaging softer stones or opal. ? Excellent film Justin.

@blackopaldirect

4 жыл бұрын

The nova wheel can do that in the bigger grits

A tip for any of those new cutters out there who are exploring the world of cabochon cutting ...Aside from eliminating facets it's also important to remember to dry the stone as you said after each wheel and make sure you have removed all the scratches from the previous wheel , if you do not you will never get rid of them on the next highest grit wheel . It turns into a frustrating experience, if this happens you have to go back to the previous wheel and continue to work the stone . This is less true with opal due to it's relative softness compared to an agate or harder stones such as jade but it is still true enough. Obviously this message isn't meant for Justin as he is clearly a pro but if any of you new cutters out there read this message give it a try and see if those annoying scratches get easier to get rid of and if your final polish doesn't get better.

How the hell did I miss this one great vid Justine

@blackopaldirect

6 жыл бұрын

John Bowers I don’t know lol

Beautiful thank you . 👍🏻

Hi Justin I like your video its to helpful to understand the fair way of cutting of black opel .kindly if you have stone for sale .1 Australian black oper And 1 etopian opel plz let me know I will buy from you

Beautiful

Hi Justin, how can i remove polishing grit from porous matrix opal

For some reason, having over 100 comments tells the YT algorithm to distribute your vids out randomly to other people who haven't seen you yet. At least that's how I understand it... So what the hey! Let's try it! ♡

Hello, I ve tried to polish my opal with a Dremel but it stays foggy. Do you have any advice? I use the Polish from Dremel.

What a beautiful stone.

TRUE MASTER CRAFTSMAN!

My. Goodness! Sweet bud!

Hey Justin, Thanks for your highly informative videos. Thanks to these I have been able to start cutting some opals myself to use in my jewelry. One question... when doing the final polish, my lapidary club only has a leather end wheel for doing the cerium oxide. Will that work as well as the felt or do I really need to find a felt wheel? Thanks and keep up the great work.

@blackopaldirect

6 жыл бұрын

Great to hear. I would love to see some of your work one day

@blackopaldirect

6 жыл бұрын

Sorry yes the leather pad is fine to use it just won't hold as much water or polish as felt does

@jeffdekofsky6708

6 жыл бұрын

Awesome. Thanks Justin. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your style of teaching as well. I am an educator by trade (high school math - pre-calculus,calculus,etc) so I know what I'm talking about. You are the best opal cutting teacher on the internet hands down. Do you have an email I can send some pics of my cut opals (and then my jewelry pieces I make with them) to? I would be happy to do so. Thanks again and jeep making more videos. Especially the ones where you show and explain your approach to various pieces of rough 👍🏻😀

@Jdekofsky

6 жыл бұрын

So I should just use the leather wheel but re-apply water/cerium oxide more often? Do I have that right? Thanks again.

@tuxedo9824

4 жыл бұрын

@@Jdekofsky Obviously Yes .... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Is it possible for you to show us the stone once it’s set. If love to see what you pieces look like completely finished

@blackopaldirect

3 жыл бұрын

They are usually with its new owner when that happens

@leighstevens5846

3 жыл бұрын

I’ve never had the actual KZreadr respond to a comment never thought it would happen. Much love. You videos are amazing I’m gonna be cutting my first piece of opal next week using the hrs and hrs of of your videos that I’ve watched! So thank you for putting the time and work in to your craft. Your legacy will live on.

@blackopaldirect

3 жыл бұрын

@@leighstevens5846 good luck with your first cut

Is that wheel out of round, or is it just my old eyes or maybe the camera? Love your videos...

@blackopaldirect

2 жыл бұрын

its the camera frames it looks out but its not lol

That's nice

Ola Justin meu nome Luiz Carlos, tenho vontade de conhecer Australia, principalmente os garimpos de Opalas, tenho vontad tambem de conhecer o trabalho maravilhoso que vc faz com as pedras opalas e suas caracteristicas, pegunto a voce, a possibilidade de voce me receber ai em sua oficina. Sem mais atenciosamente no aguardo de sua resposta.

Hi, I'm going back in time to watch your older vids! I ALSO see there are 91 comments for this video. Sooooo, I'm now going to add 10 comments, so you'll then have over 100 comments, which will help make the YT algorithm happy.

Are all good Opal cutters LEFT HANDED.?

is it safe to pass the stone over a burning flame when putting the wax? won't it crack? thanks.

@blackopaldirect

5 жыл бұрын

Yes it is fine just to warm it up little but not for too long

@Jbuss0679

4 жыл бұрын

Yes you want to make sure to warm stone up for 1 so it's dry and 2 the wax won't stick as good when stone is cool. Just don't hold in flame for long

nice video Justin ! , yw :)

@blackopaldirect

7 жыл бұрын

Shall do whoops thanks for letting me know :-)

Awesome

Great video Justin! Why are there comments from 2 months ago, when it came out yesterday??

@blackopaldirect

7 жыл бұрын

Haha yes well I forgot to mark the video as public so the link was only on my website. Sorry about that. :-/

@jacksgems3599

7 жыл бұрын

That's ok it's very informative! I cut opals in the same way, but didn't know about the fast and light spinning that gets of the edges. - Thanks

@blackopaldirect

7 жыл бұрын

Welcome :-)

@chubbu28

7 жыл бұрын

Black Opal Direct wow the stone is beautiful. I'm dying here. I want to come to Australia and become an opal miner so I can be surrounded by those beauties sigh

@blakhokrif2278

6 жыл бұрын

Black Opal Direct bonjour ms je peux achter svp ?

Fair dinkum opal, cobber! Nice demo...probably be much easier if you had some Diamond Pacific NOVA wheels to start...600, 1200, 3000, which compress a little w the neoprene backing. Your technique of quick-turning the cab on a flat Galaxy wheel then wouldn't be necessary. Very much like the close-ups...most cutters shoot way too far back! Next time, use a lavallier microphone, though, in the camera's mic input, so you don't have to shout over the sound of the machine, and viewer doesn't get an earful of motor noise. Still, a masterful lesson--she's right, mate!

@blackopaldirect

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tips

@blackopaldirect

7 жыл бұрын

I just thought I would let you know that these are Nova Wheels :-)

👏🏻👏🏻

Organic shape is much more pretty and unique than boring perfectly symmetrical geometrical

All the so called opal cutters out should have to watch this video, most of them have no clue how to cut and polish, especialy when it comes to setting, I now only buy rough and do my own cutting

@blackopaldirect

7 жыл бұрын

Most of them do haha. Thanks for the comments

Hi 👋👋👋👋👋

howcome you don't wear a mask if i may ask? and especially cutting it dry, isn't that dangerous? thanks

@blackopaldirect

2 жыл бұрын

That’s just it I don’t cut dry

@ClashixTV

2 жыл бұрын

@@blackopaldirect Oh I see! I really want to start cutting opal..... You inspired me, So, I've been collecting (low grade compared to you) opal to start my adventure, but I read an article about the safety and dangers of silica when cutting opal. they saw always run water and wear a mask. is it nothing to worry of as long as I run water? thankyou. :)

You would laugh, i have a diamond blade for a dremel that i put in my drill, and that's how i cut my first opal. It looks great to me.

@Jbuss0679

4 жыл бұрын

That is fine to do it that way it's just with the wheels you can get stones cut/polished so much quicker and easier. A lot of people use Dremel's and they have a huge variety of different bits for them. I'm actually rubbing a small black opal on some wet/dry sandpaper at the moment. I watched one of Justin's videos a week ago and got hooked instantly. So I looked around and got a good deal on one and it came in mail yesterday, it's pretty small being only 1.2 carats but it's actually already rubbed a bit so I won't lose much more shaping the rest of it. I needed a hobby and might actually try to turn a profit in the future by making some custom opal inlay rings but will probably use the synthetic opal for that.

@Jbuss0679

4 жыл бұрын

He actually has a video using a Dremel on opal.

@Jbuss0679

4 жыл бұрын

Lmao you were right about laughing. I didn't think you actually meant you were using a diamond CUTTING wheel to try to shape it. I thought you meant like a diamond grinding wheel lol. Like I said before get some wet/dry sandpaper it will work 100 times better then what you were doing and is way safer. I got each sheet for a buck a piece.

@tuxedo9824

4 жыл бұрын

@@Jbuss0679 synthetic opal devalues real opal why would you put it out there ? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

@Jbuss0679

4 жыл бұрын

@@tuxedo9824 in inlay rings synthetic opal is slot more practical and very affordable. I recommend checking out tempest rings here on you tube and see for yourself. You can get it in different size grades , like crushed almost to powder or smaller pieces and looks great.

Not another comment for the algorithm!

@blackopaldirect

2 жыл бұрын

Hahah thank you

I never use wax on opal. CA glue works better.

ALO CAN I HAV SUM OPAL ALL YOU HAVW TO DO IS REPLAY WITH A DIMAOND EMOJI wait where the diamond emoji 💍ugh who's cares if you can't find ur the diamond ring

Warning: my next 9 comments are probably going to be a bit silly. Bcuz I have no idea what to say in them...

Beautiful