How To Polish Fire Obsidian

[@michaelvandyke6715]

I'll bring the bucket of Obsidian over one of these times soon Kyle and we can look for more fire... That is a knockout beautiful piece that K got there . Great work...👌

[@WorldofRockhounds]

That sounds like a plan! It's always fun looking for fire!

[@Cliffwalkerrockhounding]

Thats a sweet trick with the water.

[@RufotrisRootedRockhound]

For sure!

[@sandmaker]

You did a super job polishing and also explaining. What a beautiful finished piece. Your customer more must be over the moon. Be happy, safe and stay healthy 😷⚒

[@WorldofRockhounds]

Thank you and I can't wait to send it out to her!

[@VincentsRockGarage]

Fantastic - beautiful stone worked well. Thanks for sharing.

[@RockandRoadRockhounding]

I've never worked with fire obsidian so I didn't realize how much consideration needs to be made to get the fire to show well. Beautiful work!

[@WorldofRockhounds]

It takes more work but the end results is always worth it! And thank you!

[@northernrocks543]

Ooooo that blew me away!!! I absolutely love it. Thank you sooo much! Worth the wait and can't wait to see it in person. Kyle I can't tell you enough on what an amazing job you do.

[@michaelvandyke6715]

So glad you got "Fire" on that material... That is an amazing piece!

[@northernrocks543]

@@michaelvandyke6715 I am glad to. Thank you for selling it to me. It is an amazing piece. I hope you have more in your stash of obsidian.

[@mitchgillilan]

you did wonders to that stone! couldnt believe the fire went all the way across the piece!! Just awesome. thanks for showing us how its done.

[@WorldofRockhounds]

Thank you! I was in shock too and you're welcome! I'm always willing to show how I do things :)

[@jamespiel946]

Looks very nice Kyle. Really takes some patience to get it there. Again, very nice!

[@WorldofRockhounds]

Thank you and it sure does!

[@modernfossil8866]

Those tiny crystals inside the obsidian are phenocrysts. Beautiful job btw

[@WorldofRockhounds]

Thank you!

[@dustinfindsrocks]

🖤🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 WOW! Great work Kyle! 👍🏼

[@WorldofRockhounds]

Thank you! :)

[@kylaabegglen1275]

Absolutely gorgeous! Great job Kyle!✌️🤠

[@WorldofRockhounds]

Thank you! :)

[@OzoneFineArtVentures]

That obsidian turned out amazing. Your level of polish is sooooo goooood! It would be easy to just gaze into that for hours, great work!

[@WorldofRockhounds]

Thank you, Karen! :)

[@Mike-br8vb]

Fantastic results! You explained everything exceptionally well!

[@javiervidal366]

Thank you for sharing your thought process!

[@darrinwilliams5715]

Very cool. Nice work. Way to read that stone!! 😎

[@WorldofRockhounds]

Thank you! :)

[@themidwesternrockhound388]

Awesome job kyle! Looks amazing

[@RufotrisRootedRockhound]

Oooo this video makes me want to do something with my fire obsidian but it’s kinda pretty as is

[@Cliffwalkerrockhounding]

That is fantastic! I need to see this material in person.

[@Ontario_Rockhound]

Fire obsidian is so cool!

[@WorldofRockhounds]

Couldn't agree with you more :)

[@rickmccluskey1366]

sooooooo nice, thankyou for this fantastic vid.

[@WorldofRockhounds]

You're welcome and thank you for watching!

[@bunk9991]

I am getting ready to do my first piece of fire obsidian. I just ordered it and waiting. This vid was just what I needed because I am completely in the dark about this stone. Not unlike opal which I have mastered, I was hoping I could rely on that to get me through. Obsidian is a bear to polish properly and you did an excellent job. I have never used cerium oxide to polish. Usually relying on 3000 grit and then diamond .25 micron. And I still cannot get it perfect! It is maddening! Here goes nothing...................

[@WorldofRockhounds]

I hope my obsidian videos will help you out so best of luck! If you have any other sheened obsidian, you can practice on those to work down to just above that layer. Or just jump right in. All depends on how much to spent and how much you bought! Cerium oxide is all that I have used since I started lapidary, I was gifted another oxide for polishing but haven't tested it yet (I'm saving that for a comparison video)

[@bunk9991]

@@WorldofRockhounds Thank you. I had no idea how thin or thick the fire layers would be and your video showed me how to find those and work them and I am grateful for that. I bought a 6lb chunk but I have seen people claim fire obsidian when all it was was sheen obsidian. I am hoping this isnt the case but we will see. It makes sense that you got cerium oxide from a glass company. Obsidian is glass sooo.... I am looking forward to my purchase and will follow your advice for working it. Thank you again for the vid on that..

[@bunk9991]

@@WorldofRockhounds Well there was supposed to be fire obsidian in the 5lb lot I bought. Nowhere to be found. I guess it will have to wait. I really dont like buying something I cant see first. I could return it but you have to cut it to find out there is no fire. My stupidity!

[@savagesquirrel9828]

Nice video. Beautiful stuff

[@WorldofRockhounds]

Thank you and it sure is!! Polishing it never gets old either!

[@jimlancaster6120]

Very nice.

[@DonohueLabs]

I'm enjoying your walkthroughs. Since the fire is in layers, could you slice one stone into multiple slabs for cabbing, etc? Or are they better used for display pieces like this one?

[@WorldofRockhounds]

I all depends on the piece and the artist. If it had multiple layers of fire, and with a good angle of cut, it could be slabbed and cabbed. But if it just had a single layer, then one could slab it away from the rest of the rock that doesn't have any layers and then work that piece down into a cab. It would help to have the layer parallel to the cut side and then work the exposed side to reveal the layer. Having it domed on the edges also allows light to help enter the stone to reflect off the nano-crystalized layer. I'll be working on my necklace here soon as It had to be refinished and there are a few good pointers I can show in that video.

[@kenskill3201]

What was the straight line on first side when finished. I am thinking its layer lines but would be nice to have that confirmed. Great looking piece. You polishing wheel is it carpet or fabric.

[@WorldofRockhounds]

I think if it's the line I'm thinking of, then is it part of the later. and the polishing wheel is carpet.

[@khymchristensen1237]

I just found a little piece of fire obsidian in one of the crates that was collected over 10 years ago.. I wish I had known what to look for back then 😂

[@twistidrob]

Awesome video bro!!

[@WorldofRockhounds]

Thank you, bro!

[@MrBigal451]

where should I look for someone to polish my raw rainbow obsidian from mexico. I live in the Houston, TX area. your videos are entertaining and relaxing

[@WorldofRockhounds]

If there are any facebook lapidary groups in your area - that would be the best place to start. Or even contact local rock shops to see if they offer those services or know of any clubs. Rock clubs are great resources!

[@steviequmaaluk4045]

Wow amazing

[@WorldofRockhounds]

Thank you!

[@Shukarr]

I wish you could show us how you made this polishing machine

[@DG-kq8zf]

Are fire obsidian and rainbow obsidian the same? They both look to have gray and black layers, with the black being more transparent allowing more flash.

[@WorldofRockhounds]

They are different and with several differences. Fire layer is made of nano-crystalized magnetite and the layers themselves are very inconsistent and the colors can greatly vary on a single layer. Whereas rainbow obsidian is compromised of microscopic bubbles and the layers are not only more consistent but are thicker than that of fire obsidian layers. The colors are also limited to just one color per layer. Rainbow obsidian can also be found at several locations where Fire is only found currently in one spot in Oregon.

[@DG-kq8zf]

@@WorldofRockhounds Thank you. With that in mind, I see the single colored layers in my rainbow obsidian.

[@Shukarr]

GORGEOUS

[@damianfuentes9947]

How can I purchase one of your fire obsidian

[@WorldofRockhounds]

At this time, I don't have any of my personal collection for sale, HOWEVER, if you look up on Facebook: Coons Lapidary Magnetite Known As Fire Obsidian and talk to Emory - he should have a good supply since he has a claim for the material!

[@krackenagate5606]

Im having an issue with my obsidian ... when on my 220 wheel the obsidian seems to chip ... am i applying to much pressure on the wheel?

[@WorldofRockhounds]

Is it a 220 hard or soft wheel? And are you using water? And any imperfections in the stone?

[@krackenagate5606]

@@WorldofRockhounds so it looks like there might be some air bubble trapped inside and when i go down to the next layer it chips a small hole. It's a 220 sandpaper on the wheel and I am useing water. Im currently using the machines at the WAMS facility

[@krackenagate5606]

@@WorldofRockhounds im also more used to Agate atm so i feel like I might be adding to much pressure to the wheel.

[@WorldofRockhounds]

@@krackenagate5606 That could be it too. sometimes there could be a spot one the belt that can be more aggressive that the other spots of the wheel. There have been times I have spent so much time working obsidian that I went to working agate and the difference in how each material works is crazy!

[@krackenagate5606]

@@WorldofRockhounds thanks brother

[@namoiostman7729]

I'm curious. What are you looking for?

[@WorldofRockhounds]

I'm a bit confused by your question. Care to elaborate a bit more?

[@michaelvandyke]

His video showed exactly what he was looking for...

[@mhdiqbalji020]

Hi

[@WorldofRockhounds]

Hi!

[@banafa1977]

I expect the obsidian price will go up..

[@WorldofRockhounds]

Do you mean in general? Or just the fire obsidian?

[@banafa1977]

Especially the fire Obsidian..

[@namoiostman7729]

Why? You destroyed the information held within. What exactly are you attempting to do? Where are you going with this? Are you making jewlery?

[@michaelvandyke]

As anything else, Obsidian has come up in price...