Matrix opal: coating in resin.

[@Paul-BB-FNQ]

Thanks Phil, that's exactly what I wanted to see, the wheel grit change over, fantastic design. I see many comments about your coatings to the opal and coatings altered to suit the type of opal. I have spent decades working with coatings & epoxy & you can't really do better than the hobby gem coating that you used. It's clear, doesn't get over hot and as shown can be trimmed. Great viewing. Obviously trial & error with many applications as I've watched your acid cook videos. Mate, I had to watch them a few times to get it right but again I saw the progression to success. I would never have believed it if I didn't see it. Fantastic viewing, thanks again, Paul BB

[@Albanojardimenatureza]

Wow, what a great job. Without a doubt, this channel is not boring, as it consists of everything that has to do with the gem of God.

[@annblakeway7691]

Another surprising discovery 😊 well thought out and activated 🎉

[@dalerolando5371]

Phil, I’ve used Gloss Polyurethane Spray , serval coats . Actually works really well . Dale from Eagle River Alaska

[@offyarocka]

They really pop with the resin 🤩🤩🤩 Thanks for sharing

[@theopalmills]

🤪👍

[@ThatOpalGuy]

great results, and no insects trapped in the process.

[@Famo59]

Awesome job..!! Thanks for sharing this. Cheers Famo59

[@theopalmills]

🤪👍

[@lyndallsymons9767]

Fantastic that was great to watch Phil very interesting

[@bbisyy4u]

Beautiful. Nice to see side by side comparison.

[@bentationfunkiloglio]

That’s really interesting. Super useful once I find the time to start working with matrix!

[@A_Bone1972]

i've heard of resin coating, first time seeing the process. as always Phil, thanks for sharing your journey of all things opal! i too agree that it's best to relocate spiders when necessary. they take care of insects considered house pests where i live. only 2 kinds of spiders that are dangerous over in this land of Oz, but they're rarely seen in inhabited places. plus, they are easy to identify being Black Widows & Brown Recluses. as always 🍻 ✌️🐝➕ oh yeah, on an update on my end to my email. i have half the material for what i have remaining on my project! i'm trying not to get too excited about it. mainly how i'm surprising myself with how pleased i am with this first attempt at this kind of project, and thus, how much i want to share the result with sources that unknowingly give me knowledge & inspiration! 🍻 ✌️🐝➕

[@theopalmills]

Bones, that’s great to hear, I’m looking forward to seeing your finished piece, if you get stuck, have questions or need help, let me know if I can help. Cheers. 🤪👍

[@waynehill2430]

First time seeing your video absolutely brilliant now I know what to do,I'll give it ago .thank you mate.

[@GlobalProspecting]

Awsome video love those beautiful!!!

[@theopalmills]

🤪👍

[@jeffdillon-zg7oq]

I love it. Now I know about resin and its place with opal.

[@ResortDog]

We miners learned everything we know and more from Turquoise miners treatments, but high voltage does NOT work, LOL.

[@SirRocksAlot]

Nice catch!

[@hudmumper]

Yet another inspiring video with lots of COLOUR! 😁 Beautiful work and just in time. Can you believe I'm just getting around to treating some matrix a generous person sold to me a year or so ago?!? Life keeps getting in the way. 🙄 Like GWS losing by 1 point. I'm hoping to finish some by end of October. Will send shots when they are ready. Thanks again for the video and happy birthday. Whoops did I let that out? 🤐

[@theopalmills]

🤣👍

[@GlobalProspecting]

Thanks!

[@theopalmills]

G’day guys, thank you for the support, much appreciate, cheers. 🤪👍

[@ResortDog]

Here is a tip: Don't use Starbond with your bare fingers! Have acetone handy to clean up. Wear gloves & use a plastic coffee, cookie or candy bag that doesn't stick to Super glue to let them dry on. Space Age Polymer used to hold the tiles on the space shuttle. If you set the dried warm stone in a pool of cyroacrylate on tin foil it will wick thru to the top surface driving out the air. You can tell treated solid opal in matrix by the polished off the opal surface break line at the boundary. Nothing treats solid precious opal unless hydrophane & using a "bomb". Those can even turn that black & non-hydrophane. You need a loupe to see the breaks or just light to see hidden cracks.

[@theopalmills]

I need to hire you to write my disclaimers 🤣, top advice.

[@josephcase3105]

Congrats on the 5k sub Phil, bravo mate ... If I'm not mistaken I'm one of the 1st 100 to wander along an find ya lol

[@theopalmills]

Thanks mate, I’m having too much fun to keep it to myself, KZbin has been a great way to share with you all. The first 1000 subscribers definitely helped kickstart the channel, and if it weren’t for you and everyone who encouraged and stuck with me in the beginning, I’d have probably stopped the channel. Cheers to the future. 🤪👍

[@waynehill2430]

Mate absolutely brilliant I have matrix opal from yowah Queensland 🇦🇺 types tan and hard .also 3 types from lighting Ridge Queensland red soft red hard and grey from the roof and its like concrete.then I have matrix from opalton Queensland it's red hard and red soft and tan hard all boulder opal I have tried cooking the softer stuff in brown sugar also cotton seed oil okay but that vacuum idea bloody marvellous it fills in all the holes what I have seen you do so far .next to see how you cook it in acid never tried it .🎉

[@kaynefryday6637]

Turned out great 👍

[@SirRocksAlot]

Squishy would look good in some resin. Andamooka Amber

[@andrewwong3825]

👍👍👍

[@gregorybowman4638]

I see you took my advise, warm up the stones as well.

[@bonnieroffman5453]

Live is best!!!

[@theopalmills]

🤪👍

[@ThatOpalGuy]

how nice of you to save a deadly spee-ider.

[@theopalmills]

I have a catch and release policy for flies too. 🤣👍

[@ThatOpalGuy]

@@theopalmills yeah, no...

[@ccccarriemchardy9216]

Have you tried the self leveling UV resin? It's quick and easy. Paint brush half, bake in sun, then do the other side.

[@theopalmills]

G’day mate, no I don’t have UV resin, and it’d only go off/harden at the surface or as far as light can penetrate, this matrix was considerably porous. 🤪👍

[@pkgoldopalhunting]

very interesting to see mate good looking stones the smaller ones come out very good i think, have you tryed ,[ Cear top coat epoxy resin ] i buy some havent used it yet

[@theopalmills]

G’day Peter, I haven’t tried it yet, as long as you can get the air bubbles out you should get a good bond. 🤪👍

[@WayToGoOz2]

I don't have a vacuum chamber, is a torch going to do the job? Thanks for the video, I have so many small pieces of concrete I'd like to coat. I tried Starbond but it is kinda scary stuff and didn't really work well.

[@theopalmills]

G’day mate, heating the stone will help, and a torch should get bubbles out, but it won’t quite suck into the stone without the vacuum chamber. I have another method I’m trialling, if it works it’ll be a game changer. 🤪👍

[@WayToGoOz2]

@@theopalmills Terrific! Look forward to seeing what you are trying.

[@surajitsaikia4139]

Hi mate, this is extreme and ha ha ha⁶, a stone with plastic coating, i should stop seeing some video, best of luck.