I’m now addicted to watching videos about opals! Fascinating to watch!

@blackopaldirect

5 жыл бұрын

Whitey says NO! Well I do hope I have helped in that addiction 😆

@Abby_the_cat

4 жыл бұрын

Whos whitey

@StarBingBright

4 жыл бұрын

LillyLake 🌸 Me too 🌸

@TheJonn14

4 жыл бұрын

LillyLake me too! Such a nice channel.

@janetflint2817

4 жыл бұрын

LillyLake Me too ..love watching

I love coming back to your old videos and seeing how you’ve learned so much over the years. I love seeing how much your confidence has grown

@blackopaldirect

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you being in front of the camera is not natural for me

would have never thought those 2 gems came off the same stone

I had no idea such a slice was even doable much less a good idea! Good to know next time I'm feeling frisky. Great video m8 I've learned quite a lot from all your videos.

I hold my breath everytime you carve 😅 the sound reminds me of the dentist, but this is much better than being at the dentist! Beautiful opal!

@blackopaldirect

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Chloe I mean Miss Chloe :-) I can remind me too of the dentist

Your a mad man! But in all seriousness amazing work you've got the hands of a neurosurgeon. Both pieces are brilliant, amazing work man.

@blackopaldirect

5 жыл бұрын

Seige Drakonera thank you 🙏

I don’t know why one of your videos popped up on my suggested videos but I am hooked on your content now! Great work sir!

He actually had a nice full head of hair before cutting this one .

@blackopaldirect

5 жыл бұрын

corporate world woke slave 😆😆😆

@WearySecret

5 жыл бұрын

No doubt, been trying to cab some low grade jelly opal, my hair is thinning a bit and my fingernails are down to nubs. Black opal though, stakes are untouchably high for me. $$$

@corporateworldwokeslave3589

5 жыл бұрын

@@WearySecret where are you ?

@tigertiger1699

4 жыл бұрын

Priceless 👍😂

@acpgunner2336

4 жыл бұрын

@@WearySecret I just cut my first opal, Ethopian jelly. Cant imagine the nerves of cutting Australian black opal haha.

I LOVE your videos. It kills me every time I watch you make a hard decision like that and whittle away good stone for a better final shape. I kinda love the unique character of the “impurities” you’re trying to save, feels like an odd personality of a stone, and part of me wants that fire red to invade the pure emerald tone for a unique cut. Maybe there’s no market for that. No matter what, you are a master to have made a separate stoned out of that. Well done

If they haven't been set yet maybe a setting with both . The two opals spent a long time together maybe a little longer wouldn't hurt . My mom was in the jewelry business for 35 plus years and I learned a bit . Opal's and other similar minerals are so beautiful . Been doing a bunch of clean up in and around our office finding lots of forgotten things that I have kept from storage units I bought . Have to bring home things to research or stockpile to sell in lots online . Found some of the raw opal slices but I know there's more . Some of it is black opal and I would like to see what quality it could be . Have some gold ore also , might be enough to make a ring with but I have to find out how to extract it . I'm sure there's a video or two on that . Really enjoy seeing your work on those amazing opals . I'm sure my mom would like to see your videos also .

Wow 🤩. No guts no glory! I’m so glad I found your channel. Going through the old videos is amazing 😻. Can’t get enough Justin. Love all the “guest “ you bring on with you. You look like a fun group of people. I wish we all had a boss like you

*Chances make champions! Nice job, Justin! I love your channel! Its helped me have a whole new appreciation for opal. I can't believe it took me 37 years to realize how wonderful and beautiful my birth stone, opal, truly is.*

@blackopaldirect

4 жыл бұрын

I am happy to have helped ❤️

Woaw sooo lucky I’ve been doing opal lapidary for about 3 years now and know that was not at all easy and very breath taking, thank you Justin for sharing this with us all

I could barely watch, that's heart attack work all the way through. Well done, I didn't think you'd manage that one

@blackopaldirect

6 жыл бұрын

Nathanael Moxon thank you

Just found you...I'm hooked, love it. My favorite stone.

Justin, I am sorta binge watching your older videos because I just recently found your channel, and I love them all.

@blackopaldirect

3 жыл бұрын

🙏🙏❤️ please subscribe

@SewTexas

3 жыл бұрын

@@blackopaldirect I sid subscribe

It's like the Ruby slippers and the Emerald City of Oz.

It looks to me that a Dremel tool would allow for more precise removal than the wheel. But then I don't think I would have the stones to approach that stone.

I can't believe he had all parts of his fingers after seeing that damn saw.....wow

Great to see a pro at work and a great teacher. Thank mate from Liverpool England!!!

I've discovered you a couple days ago, I'm completely mesmerized.

@blackopaldirect

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mike :-)

@MikeyMikeHq

3 жыл бұрын

@@blackopaldirect i subscribe to a lot of KZread channels, maybe more than 200, you are/have my most undivided attention. You describe the work , risk , monetary value, beauty, but more than anything you have a wonderful family and life , and you are having fun . I believe Fun is the best

Whew! That was a great job! Good going! Thanks for posting this. 👍

Opal drinking gamw, drink every time he says color bar

@TheActionBastard

5 жыл бұрын

...but I don't want to die from alcohol poisoning?

@chriskappler3482

4 жыл бұрын

Callabah?

That was incredible Justin! Cannot wait to see the polished green gem!!

Beautiful work my friend. Beautiful stones.

My first ring other than my baby ring was an opal, for my 10th birthday. I love rocks, always have. My Great Grandpa was a Midwest farmer...and rocks (of a larger size) when unearthed with farm equipment can do some damage quickly to expensive machinery. Yet, his love for rocks did not waiver. He would show me his finds, and my rock love was ignited. The opal being one of my favorites to this day. The color and uniqueness is unmatched. Every stone has its own character and beauty! Thank you for sharing. My anxiety as you cut these...you must have nerves of steel!! I had no idea how they were cut until now and oh my, so nerve racking!! I’m glad there are people like you in the world that can bravely bring out the beauty for the rest of us😍

@blackopaldirect

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Marion

I could not quite comprehend what you were attempting until I watched the whole thing. That must be a seriously thin blade.

super lucky you di dnt slice a finger off lol

@blackopaldirect

6 жыл бұрын

Loreanna York haha in 25 years I still haven’t. Touch wood

@politicartisan1339

5 жыл бұрын

Wet saw blades like that are not likely to cut you, they can be touched quickly on the abrasive with no damage really, and the sides of the blade you can safely push with your finger (sometimes needed if the blade tries to swim or drift when cutting a small sliver off a piece of stone or tile).

@carlblyth8479

5 жыл бұрын

i was going to say that...

@corbonzo1

5 жыл бұрын

these types of blades are surprisingly safe actually. you can touch it for a short time with no damage.

@RussellChapman99

5 жыл бұрын

@@blackopaldirect Is it possible to make some sort of precision stone holder? I was cringing, you are one sneeze away from losing fingers, then you can change the name of your channel to Blood Emerald ;)

Looks nice. I hope to give this a try one day. thank you

Best Vogel on the net you voice is soothing and even though the risks is great it gives us rookies courage to take a chance. Thank you .......Paul

I think I only took three breaths through the entire video. Fascinating!

@blackopaldirect

5 жыл бұрын

Violet Elin please don’t suffocate

Those who comment about his not using safety tools or using such a large saw you have to think about how many years he has been doing this. Since unlike most newer Rock workers that I deal with in my business he does not use breathing safety materials rubber gloves Etc I figure he's been doing this since he was pretty young and it's the feel of it. HE HAS THE TOUCH. Without that touch he wouldn't be able to be as good as he is. This is the sign of experience skill and something innate inside the person. They don't just have trained skill, practice Etc but they have something inside them. It gives them the ability to feel the gem, the stone they are working and find the beauty that's hidden beneath the Dross. I've seen it in people who still do lost wax carving and blow you away with gold work that just amazes and other gem workers who can take a piece of nothing and turn it into something you want to set in a most valued peice of metal work. There are countries that can Force laborers to make piles of what I call Commercial stones but there are very rarely the people like this guy who can cut the stone no one people can see!

Amazing! Very impressive - glad it worked out so well. Even from watching alone, I got super-nervous :D Thanks for sharing, stay brave and much luck in the future, too \m/

@blackopaldirect

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you I am glad you liked :-)

@vikkster5723

6 жыл бұрын

Amazing touch!

Your skill is amazing. Ive always loved opals but never realised the skill needed to cut one as the stone is so thin. Bravo.

@blackopaldirect

5 жыл бұрын

Yes some pieces take some time to work out before attacking it on a machine. Thanks for the kind words

This is quite an mesmerizing cutting on this stone. I’ve been binge watching all your videos and I’m surprised I didn’t see this one! I’ve never seen anything like this before. Ive learned so much from all your videos and after I get back to work I might buy a wheel and some supplies and buy some rough opal to start the hobby as well! Thanks so, much keep up the great work and PS your video quality has gone up tremendously compared to this 3 year old video haha

@blackopaldirect

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

Love your work Justin,you have the hands of a micro surgeon and the eyes of a hawk.Thanks for the video.

@blackopaldirect

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Larry

I can feel the stress, my heart definitely moved towards my throat. Nice cut Justin!

Damn impressive Dustin! Your digits, that close to, that whirling wheel of dismemberment, made my sphincky clench harder than a soulless diamond. 😆

7:28 That sign on the side of the cutter....It looks like "Probably Made In Australia"!! I really hope that IS what it says, because that would sum up Aussie humour!

Did you ever think of lettin the red bump there as a sculpted stone. Who said the state has to perfect round or in height . As an opal lover I would be intrigued by something different in shape

@blackopaldirect

5 жыл бұрын

donnareedrakowiecki sure but the chance is selling it is lower so for me it’s not an issue but for you maybe it would not matter. Each to their own

Amazing, way to go! The pucker factor was very high on that one lol

Thanks for posting and taking the incredibly risky move to slice it off, I'm pretty sure I could ever do something so nerve wracking! Prouda you son!😁👍💯

How much does a rough opal like that worth? Does not having colour in the middle reduces it's value?

Nice results.👍 With today's rock analysis equipment, could a piece of opal be 3D scanned for internal structure and know exactly where the best cut is? Could it reveal hidden internal gems? Potential for CNC cutter accuracy.

@blackopaldirect

5 жыл бұрын

Good question. Maybe it could

I Think this time Justin the gamble paid off, sometimes the opal dictates the way too go.well done sir.

I found you by accident and now I’m addicted 🤩 thank you Justin ⭐️ you are making me fall in love with Opals ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤💖

Great job again! Congratulations!

Can you make a video talking about how to start up your own opal career and what to buy?

Hey thanks for making such informative videos. I was wondering if you could make a video on the kinds of settings best benefiting opal stones? Or would one take the same approach as other gemstones? If you could explain a little bit, please and thanks again. The Lone Comic TM

@TheBLGL

6 жыл бұрын

Justin mustve been too busy or missed this... so hopefully he wont mind if I try to field this one... there really is no one type of setting that is best for opals as it depends on the opal... for example an opal with sand on the back would probably be best set in a bezel, but one with a clean back could be a prong setting... a crystal opal showing colors on all sides would be best displayed in an very open setting maybe... a thin opal with a low dome would probably not look nice in a claw setting... a freeform opal would definitely need a special setting-maybe wire wrapped? so you see because no 2 opals are the same its very difficult to say which is best.... however I will say with opals, in my opinion, the best setting is always one that can provide some kind of protection to the stone as opals are fragile...

Well done Justin,trust your hands & instincts..beautiful crystal green black & great cabochon color.wow,i was really hoping you were not going to have a shot after 3/4way through of opposite end cut...you had to keep the cut going,,great wheel & i noticed myself doing fine cuts,sometimes the least amount of water.you had it just right...

I loved it so much , I had to watch it again!

Great result, well done! Glad it didn't crack during cutting.

Silly question time. With the need to slice that "top" layer off, and the proximity to fingers. Would using a Dob stick on the layer to be removed be a good idea? Point being to get fingers away from the blade and to also give a bit better look at where the cut is going.

You did so good...well done!

I would love to learn how to do this work.

I was sitting at the edge of my chair.....!

@blackopaldirect

7 жыл бұрын

Gabby Flying Chef 😃awesome glad you enjoyed

Question: In approximately 1986. My husband and I came to Australia and did some tours. Went to lightening ridge. Bought a small bag of “boulder opal”. They were ready for mounting. And after all these years still in a small plastic bag. I am wondering if there is any value in them ? Dorothy Fry. In Fort Worth Texas (NRH)

how much for a raw piece like that?

Hopefully the opal gods are on your side today mate. Good luck and believe in yourself, you can do it mate.

Beautiful! Even if you sacrificed some of the blue green. That top was amazing and well worth saving. Opal is such a mysterious and beautiful stone. The best in the world IMO. Nothing else compares in color.

What cc of sandpaper do i use to make a nice great polish?

That was a perfect cut bud very nice

@blackopaldirect

6 жыл бұрын

REDMAN PROSPECTING thanks mate

amazing videos.Love you brother for your craftsmenship and beautiful opals

@blackopaldirect

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you

my heart was in my throat.. wow..great video!

I'm amazed you still have all of your fingers after watching you do this.

opal look gives me nostalgia feeling of happiness

I Don't Understand why you still not get more then 100K subs man. your Vids are so professional Keep it up Love from Pakistan

@blackopaldirect

4 жыл бұрын

Opals are not quite that well known as yet. Thanks for the kind words

@GoharRehmani

4 жыл бұрын

@@blackopaldirect Very true. that could be a reason. but through your videos I'm sure, knowledge of opals will break far far boundaries very soon.

i have a opal very similar but with a little more red, there is no one in my area that deals with opals, i'm looking for a idea on price what would be your best guess in the ones you have in the video? much appreciated love your work !

That little one sure had a pretty array of colours 💝

Follow-up to previous 3D scan /CNC comment. Could an opal be sculpted into a shape(other than classic, perhaps a cityscape) to maximize the total opal within the rock shape? Not sure if this would just look tacky though, or economical.

@blackopaldirect

5 жыл бұрын

you sure can but I prefer not to as I like symmetrical shapes. But yes this is another way

I love these videos, thank you 💜

@blackopaldirect

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

Should consider selling them together. Offering pics of the two coming from one stone. 👍🏼

Wonderful, I like watching your vids very much. It is how you take a rough stone and make somthing so beautiful from it. Very satisfying to watch!

@blackopaldirect

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you muchly

Fantastic! Amazed us by cutting and curving it into two seperate pieces...

what do you do with the other pieces. I think the green is still lovely. It may not be worth anything, or is it.

@blackopaldirect

7 жыл бұрын

Twils Stanton yes it is worth stil alot

Stunning green!

What brand/type/thickness blades do you like to use for this kind of work? (Love that saw setup!)

@blackopaldirect

4 жыл бұрын

It’s a proper lapidary saw. The thinner the blade the better

Just found your videos, awesome content! Keep it up!

@blackopaldirect

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you please subscribe if you get a chance

Did that opal with the red color make a doublet, triplet or was it set just by itself?

Beautiful. God bless you and your talents.

awesome, keep the videos commin, lovin it!

@blackopaldirect

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks :-)

Nicely done!

Hey Justin...just curious what did you do with that small piece of red after you removed it?....nice cut by the way....

A question, why don't you use little point grinders to get the sand out?? It would allow you to get the sand out without risking too much stone.

@blackopaldirect

5 жыл бұрын

Yes this is also another great way and you would save more opal for sure, no doubt. I just like symmetrical shapes :-)

Well done matey. Next time you might think you can pull it of then you might not. Life works like that.

Can't believe you don't use a wooden vice grip on a platform to hold the stone and you're using bare hands. For most people that's too risky.

@blackopaldirect

5 жыл бұрын

Years of practice I guess

...and you still have all 10! Amazing.

@blackopaldirect

4 жыл бұрын

😆

That's a whole carreer's worth of experience right there.

To preserve something like the color way of red on top, to get the sand around it or be delicate, could you use a dremel? Love your videos, from Richmond VA ✨

Now that's gorgeous!!

Sir, It may well be my own hearing, but even with the volume all the way to 100%, I was still having difficulty hearing you, but what beautiful work you do!! Stunning! I am envious. Simply beautiful.

Why not polish (if possible somehow) the stone as is, then make a fitting frame? Would have been an extraordinary stone, in my opinion.

@TheUmbrex

5 жыл бұрын

he literally explained that the first minute

@bowenzhou5264

5 жыл бұрын

What he did is value added .. opal is not like jade, where the sum is often "greater than the whole of its parts" .. when finished , the two stones will fetch more $$ separately

Weird edge of your seat action.....but I was totally holding my breath

Watched this a couple of times now Justin, you have such a sensitive touch.

@blackopaldirect

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you

The red piece is absolute fire. It shames a diamond even though a diamond have a class of its own.

would something like a dentist drill with a sander bit give a person more detailed control than a larger wheel type machine? Ive never done this, so was just wondering.

@blackopaldirect

5 жыл бұрын

s s a hard wheel is better

@murf1201

5 жыл бұрын

A dremel tool is what your thinking.

I have a couple of lights just like his, Ott Lights. You can buy them from JoAnnes, watch for huge sales.

One video just wasn't enough today so decided to watch this Gem (Pun Intended) wow did this video have my nerves going!

That was amazing work.

Your grinding wheel was bouncing around like a jackrabbit. Lucky the whole stone did't shatter!