Beginner Glassblowing: Opal Marbles

How to encase opals in marbles. This is a slow and methodical technique for tricky opals such as orange, faceted, or flat opals.
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[@robinoswald6269]

That was a really generously narrated video. I appreciate that you thoroughly explained all the steps and techniques. Thank you, Robin

[@patrickdean9797]

very cool looking marble so many layers of attraction thank you for sharing

[@hearttoheartglassart]

Thank you for sharing this! I watched every second of the video. I learned a lot about encasing opals. I've also never seen anyone start by coating their glass with a carbon layer and then burning off. I find that very fascinating.

[@jasmine2501]

That's one way to flame anneal but in this case is just so you can heat up the inside without melting it. This is really only needed for "special" opals like the orange ones, faceted ones, and diamonds. Any haze on one of those diamonds would be easily seen.

[@baddonkey75]

@@jasmine2501 it doesn't anneal its a indicator of temperature; it will go away once warm enough; using the carbon to measure the heat So you can anneal

[@jasmine2501]

@@baddonkey75 not what I meant. I was just pointing out that a cool flame can be used to flame anneal.

[@hearttoheartglassart]

That's my marble! It looks amazing!

[@LepoppetGlassBeads]

Beautiful!

[@brigittekleynnaert1123]

Thank you for sharing . It is so helpfull for me 👍

[@patrickdean9797]

that is so cool

[@lifeschase5780]

You should do a video showing the gear you are using.

[@jasmine2501]

It's just a Bethlehem Bravo torch connected with two oxygen concentrators.

[@patrickdean9797]

even the cracked marble looks amazing

[@jasmine2501]

it looks cool with the cracks inside, but it's smooth on the outside. But, eventually it will probably break in half completely.

[@patrickdean9797]

@@jasmine2501 probably loaded with stress but as a show piece that just sits in a display it should be okay it would be cool if you could stabilize it some how

[@jasmine2501]

@@patrickdean9797 you really can't unless you melt it again. Things with too much stress might stay together but they might break apart at any time, you just don't know. It can sit fine for years and then just crack in half.

[@patrickdean9797]

@@jasmine2501 thanks for taking the time to reply to me i really did enjoy the video i think marbles are amazing you and the rest of the creators keep pushing the boundaries and coming up with new techniques so thank you for that

[@brigittekleynnaert1123]

Hello ... thank you again for sharing your skills. I allow myself to ask for a little help . I’m a silver-goldsmith . The marbles are to high to make a ring or pendant . I need a flat backside and the lens on top to see the sparkles - swirls or opals ( like a maria) so I can set it in silver or gold . It would be great If you could help me out on how to make it. Thank you . Kind regards Brigitte

[@jasmine2501]

Look on my channel for an older video about murrini encasement, where I show how to make a flat-backed pendant or fidget stone. This is one of many methods of making a cabochon. There are many other methods as well.

[@brigittekleynnaert1123]

@@jasmine2501 ok ... I will and thank you 👍cabochon that did not pop up in my mind when I was writing to you 😂😂

[@cweave02]

So you do not use natural opals? I looked on your Etsy store and it said it had not been updated since 2020

[@jasmine2501]

Yes, natural ones contain water and they will burn, so we use Gilson opals. I have been mostly selling on Facebook lately. I sold a marble on Etsy last week though

[@mrcrypto.1064]

Shit bro im in az to. You do any classes on glass blowing hear?

[@jasmine2501]

No but I think there's a class at the Mesa Art Center, that's where I learned.

[@mrcrypto.1064]

@@jasmine2501 thanks

[@jasmine2501]

@@mrcrypto.1064 btw, the reason is because I've only been doing this a few years and there's people who teach for a living who have been doing it way longer. See if you can get a lesson with Laurie Nessel, she's pretty smart, you can mention me.

[@mrcrypto.1064]

@@jasmine2501 thanks i aprishiate it

[@josephmccaslin7349]

I’m trying to get into this as well here in AZ. Would be cool to get to a point to give some introductory stuff just introduction to tools and mentor. Awesome video thanks

[@mikesfound]

Where in Arizona?

[@jasmine2501]

Phoenix area. There's a ton of us here.

[@mikesfound]

That's cool I'm in quartzsite not many here I'm new got some production experience but it's limited trying to learn more.

[@Sonofsun.]

Dude who about the incasement. that brown fog tho

[@jasmine2501]

You mean the gold fume? It's gold. Looks orange and greenish, sometimes pink too.

[@Sonofsun.]

@@jasmine2501 I'm pretty sure its brown

[@jasmine2501]

@@Sonofsun. possibly the lighting or your eyes or your monitor. My fumed marbles are reflective, colorful, and they sell really well. People happily pay 30 or 40 bucks for these without opals, and they almost always sell in one day or less. You can't insult me. I know what I'm doing.

[@Sonofsun.]

@@jasmine2501 no you got it wrong. I didnt mean to insult you. They are definitely beautiful, my original goal was to compliment those fumes. But I'm sure that's brown. if you say it's colored gold then maybe one of us is a little colour blind. Well actually i am a little red green colour blind but i dont think that has to do anything with the colour gold

[@Sonofsun.]

@@jasmine2501 when you say gold i keep thinking of this www.wikiwand.com/en/Gold_(color) But the marble you showed is more like the hair colour here www.123hairandbeauty.co.uk/hair-products-c1/hair-colour-c78/semi-permanent-hair-colour-c79/xp-light-radiance-demi-permanent-hair-colour-8-73-light-blonde-brown-gold-p14750

[@Sonofsun.]

Who cares*

[@adrienrodriguez250]

About over 5000 people do.