Opal inlay rings: how I make them.

G’day everyone, I hope you’re all well! In this video I’ll be making some more opal inlay rings, and I’ll start from the beginning this time. This is not so much a “how to” but more of a “how I make” these rings. I tried to include as much of the important information on my process as I could, so I hope this is somewhat informative. I hope you enjoy, thanks for your time. 🤪👍
[e-mail]
For the epoxy resin black dye, I used “Batman” black, from www.arttreecre...
I use Araldite for the epoxy resin www.selleys.co...

[@DouglasMosley759]

As a jewelry maker it’s always nice to be able to do your own lapidary work. I do too!

[@theopalmills]

I approached from the other side, as an opal cutter who’s learning to set in custom jewellery. Either way it is quite satisfying. 🤪👍

[@Kerrsartisticgifts]

Those are beautiful! Who wouldn't be proud to give or get one of those? His and hers would be great for a couple.

[@michaelprue9024]

Second time watching this tutorial. Very well done. Thank you

[@tattoofthesun]

Thanks so much, there are so many other videos on KZbin of chip inlay and dust but few tile

[@Albanojardimenatureza]

I think its the best rings at you are made.(beautiful).what a piece of jeulary.

[@Nobbybuttons]

lovely rings, the colors are popping, nice work..cheers

[@firstlast-mp1dc]

Nice rings. Thanks for sharing your process.

[@michelleroberts3299]

Thanks Phil, your in-depth explaining will be very helpful👌

[@johnoakes6772]

Thanks Phil. Very inspiring. I particularly like the look of those types of rings with various types of infills not only opal. I am eagerly awaiting to see the other attachment for the New Vertical Cabbing machine in your next video. Well done.

[@yoramuziel1695]

Nice job Phil ! Thanks for sharing

[@lisamiller2227]

Wow those rings come out absolutely beautiful! I have wondered how Inlay was done, thank you for sharing your way 💜

[@gabewrsewell]

glad to see this! i’m going to use this not only for inlay rings but also for making myself a meteorite ring with the meteorite scraps i bought off ebay for $20, much leas expensive than the $1000 it would cost for a slab thick enough to make a solid ring

[@SirRocksAlot]

Getting ready to start smelting small amounts and hopefully silversmithing this weekend.

[@grantivers9091]

Great job phill love how they turned out thanks buddy....THE OPAL MILLS ROCK

[@kevanleross-ls8wd]

Hell good fella , Inspires me to have a go at 67 years old !🙂👍

[@BlueSkySusan]

Thank you very much for a great video, especially the specific information about making the epoxy black. Subscribing!

[@ES-bl1wy]

I hope they were happy too. Very nice. 👍🏼🙂

[@evelynpickwick9822]

I have wondered how this was done. I learned so much. Excellent video. Thank you!

[@opalonly]

Thanks fo sharing, I learn to make nice rings for opals, for me as beginner, your videos are really helpfull, thanks for your time and all mate!

[@theopalmills]

🤪👍

[@peterchristodoulou1264]

Legendary to watch start to finish 👍.

[@theopalmills]

🤪👍

[@MrSpotlucy]

a huge thank you for a very informative video makes me more in a rush to finish my work bench area in my new home and have a go at making some rings keep up with the great videos

[@markjones7124]

Wow! those turned out beautifully

[@bandilla7317]

awesome very interesting idea.

[@FriendsoftheBar]

Top notch as usual mate thanks for showing us what to do.

[@maxnmick1]

Well done they look great

[@frangipaniriver6285]

It's great to watch you create such beautiful jewelry. Wonderful job. Well done Phil!

[@theopalmills]

🤪👍

[@bellthebiker2208]

Another informative enjoyable vid thank you

[@Albanojardimenatureza]

I wish you a good weekend,hugs.

[@Hippucytees]

Absolutly class fella!! Thankyou..

[@jessicahart2115]

Wow,Id love to have couple of these. 😍

[@Albanojardimenatureza]

Nice rings.

[@MrSpaceldad]

Just a little suggestion about how to calculate the length of the initial metal strip. Take the diameter of the chosen ring size (for example 20 mm) and add the thickness of the metal strip (for example 1.2 mm) and then multiply the result by 3.14. In my example it's 21.2*3.14 which give us 66.56 mm length of the metal strip (in this video is silver).

[@theopalmills]

G’day mate, I’m not sure on that math, ring size charts will show the size and its corresponding inside circumference. I take the inside circumference and add 2mm for every 1mm of the bands thickness. In this case size ‘U’ = 20.02mm diameter = 62.89 inside circumference, a 1.2mm band thickness x 2 = 2.4mm + 62.89mm = 65.29mm, this is the length required. In your example you’ve added 3.7mm to the inside circumference of a 20.02 mm diameter. 20.02 pi = 62.89 = inside circumference, by adding 2.4 mm to a 1.2 mm thick band, you’ll get a 62.89 mm inside circumference. If you added an extra 3.7 mm, you’d end up with a size too big. The googled method says to use the formula you mentioned, but, it also says, “As the texturing process makes the band bigger, you will need to make your ring at least one size smaller than the desired finished size.” With this formula, you’d be correct, only thing is, once I’ve measured, I don’t lose anywhere near a whole size after solder and file/sand/polish. 🤪👍

[@lenastiward8657]

Absolutely gorgeous! ❤ Thank you for this video!

[@terrynaylor1729]

Nice work mate awesome ❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍

[@kaynefryday1251]

They look amazing

[@larrymoremckenzie3029]

Very good! well explained! I'm about to try to inlay some wampum or Quahog shell so i've been exploring all the tutorials i can find,theres only a couple on inlay.

[@scottpeters5624]

Awesome video.,, imformative as always,, the rims look really fiddly,, Does pickle solution have to be hot? And how often can you use it before it no longer cleans? My father died couple weeks ago ,, he always used the term gentle persuasion when using a hammer,, and called the hammer a knocking stick,, the 14lb sledge was called the "F/b knocking stick" 😂 Thanks for reminding me of those terms,, brought back good memories.,, He also cut the top off his thumb,, demonstrating to me how not to use a tabletop saw,, his teaching worked,, I still have all my fingers and thumbs 👍

[@theopalmills]

G’day Scott, sounds like your Dad was part of the generation I learnt a lot from. With the pickle, it’ll react when cold, but, you can speed up the reaction by heating the pickle solution, reducing pickle time. I mixed up my pickle solution 6yrs ago, I only add water as it evaporates (noticeable when pickle starts forming crystals), I don’t heat my pickle (🤣) though I do drop the silver in while hot, and it’s still going strong. 🤪👍

[@scottpeters5624]

Thanks mate, ,, 6yrs!! Jeez,, I've been wasting it,, still early in my learning curve. Love your channel man. I laugh while I learn

[@scarlettardis2018]

Awesome video Phil

[@pkgoldopalhunting]

great stuff fiddley work but looks great

[@martymeinsma1340]

good on ya mate i enjoyed watching the proscess , you didn't get to technical which was good. Not a lot of bullshit as you find in lots of other tutorials, they bore the shite out of me , once again thanks mate, cheers !😊🙃

[@surajitsaikia4139]

Great silversmithing mate, rings are beautiful, hope we can see some more creative work, thanks mate

[@mrunique4871]

Awesome vid , cheers .

[@jeffholmes1362]

Great job Phil, love them. Did you have an apprentice in the shop? Really inspiring stuff, can’t wait to move and have space to start cutting again. Thanks for sharing

[@theopalmills]

Yes. 🤣👍

[@metalgirl]

Lovely. I have to make a gold inlay wedding ring… never done it before… wish me luck.

[@theopalmills]

Good luck. 🤪👍

[@darrenbayre162]

Awsome Phil

[@islandfreshman]

Beautiful

[@fishwithandy]

Hi Phil , Wow they look Awesome , thats next level Jewellery making right there , having dabbled in making a few bits and bobs myself I can now really appreciate the skill level something like that takes , those side walls look really tricky , are you entering the competition you did so well in last year ? I think it would take something pretty impressive to beat those rings , sounds like you've got an apprentice in the background , thanks for sharing the Knowledge .

[@theopalmills]

I’m hoping to have atleast one ring ready for the Mudgee Gemboree. Yes, I had a mate learning to make the rings. 🤪👍

[@rekekongen1]

Nice work :)

[@Gemexi]

beautiful

[@mzjazz5737]

Can you explain about the wax stick more and how and what do I use, please and thank you!

[@theopalmills]

G’day Mz Jazz, the dopping wax is available at most online jewellery supply stores www.aussiesapphire.com.au/dopping-wax-select-from-brown-green-red-or-black for example, I use the green wax, and the dopping sticks can be any stick shaped wood, I cut down lengths of various diameter wooden dowel to about 10cm/4inches, for the size needed the hold the ring I cut the top off of a broom stick. 🤪👍

[@mizzify]

Brilliant Phil! Thanks so much for sharing! I've been cutting opal for about 4 years and making jewellery for about 3 but never had the balls to try and make an inlay ring. Fantastic teaching method too but now I'm wondering what dye you used? I bought some milliput black but it's a thicker putty type 2 part epoxy. Great for chunkier pieces but not so great for delicate pieces. Thanks again! Cat

[@theopalmills]

G’day Cat, here’s a link to the site I bought mine from, they specialise in epoxy resins, the colour I use is “Batman black” www.arttreecreations.com.au/products/epoxy-pigment-paste 🤪👍

[@jay8353]

Gday phil,im going to give these a go,what grits did you use to polish them ?

[@Honeyhound]

I'm eager to try this ring. Is the black dye for fabrics or something else. Beautiful rings. Your new gold work is stunning

[@theopalmills]

G’day Ricky, I use an epoxy pigment paste “Batman black” here’s a link www.arttreecreations.com.au/products/epoxy-pigment-paste

[@1t0eknee]

Phil, am I able to get 2 or 3 size N blanks from you?. And do you have earring blanks? These channel rings are beautiful. I would love to add that to my project list. :)

[@blakemorgan179]

wow such beautiful work, will def try one day. What's the black pudge you use to lay the opals? and what did you use to polish? annddd laughed at 44:00, I always forget to stamp my pieces too hahahaha

[@theopalmills]

G’day Blake, I used Araldite epoxy, coloured with “Batman black” dye from “Art tree creations”. The polishing was a #3000 soft resin pad, then cerium oxide. 🤪👍

[@Play_it_Leo]

what kind & type of grinding or sanding wheel ru using to get thru the rock that easily? Is it best to do that wet too?

[@theopalmills]

G’day mate, I’m using a vertical flat lap, most machines should grind well with the right grit, allowing the wheel to do the work, pushing the stone into the wheel like a disc brake will wear the grit down quicker, as it’s how the grit is bonded to the wheel that deteriorates. Yes, use water, especially with silica dust being a carcinogen, causing cancer, and silicosis as the dust goes in your lungs but doesn’t come back out. 🤪👍

[@coreymerrill3257]

Very cool process. It's always good to see how various people do stuff. I am getting close to needing to price some opals . Is there a price list that doesn't cost money to get or is that subscription market pricelist the only or best option?

[@theopalmills]

G’day Corey, pricing opals can be very difficult to do accurately. Asking others for their opinion can help for a rough idea, with more experience you’ll be able gauge better, based on what you know of passed sales. If you get and evaluation done, you’ll need someone reputable, for that you just need to ask your local pawn shop whose opinion/evaluation they trust for gemstones/jewellery. 🤪👍

[@coreymerrill3257]

@@theopalmills that doesn't exist where I live but thanks anyway. The opal miners association of Australia offers a subscription that give daily market prices for opal , how to evaluate them properly for sale ,by a points system and gives general news and updates related to mining and selling Australian opal...incase you didn't know that is a thing. They go well beyond the basic n1-n9 and b1-b5 scale. Be well .

[@lclrockhound1970]

The rings look great! What tool are you grinding the rock down with?

[@theopalmills]

After the inlay and resin have set in place, I dop the ring on a sawn off broom handle and use my vertical flat lap to finish the opal and silver flush up and polished. 🤪👍

[@lclrockhound1970]

@@theopalmills I see, thanks!

[@Mass-jab-death-2025]

Just noticed one of those rings isn’t set in silver (no stamp) wonder if it will corrode?

[@dane5547]

Great Video! What is the make and model of your grinding buffing machine?

[@theopalmills]

G’day mate, I’m using an 8 inch flat lap, made by Wuttke wheels, I leave a link in the description of all videos to the contact email. 🤪👍

[@martinbowra9152]

Great video what is pickle?

[@theopalmills]

G’day Martin, pickle solution is a mild acid that cleans the surface of the silver especially for after soldering. 🤪👍

[@mickellis8747]

Nice work Phil. I have one question, is the solder an alloy or is it pure silver? it reacts very similar to the sliver solder I'm used to using for industrial purposes which is silver alloyed with brass.

[@theopalmills]

G’day Mick, from my understanding it’s made with brazing alloys, silver (86%), copper, zinc. 🤪👍

[@ccccarriemchardy9216]

When doing the outside sides, wouldn't it be easier to measure the outside width with a gauge and then put it on the mandrel to shape to size?

[@theopalmills]

G’day Carrie, with the sides, I need them to be tight fit, so I make them slightly smaller and file to fit, or they move when soldering. Also I’ve never worked out the math for the 2 x 1 mm wire to bend to fit every size of a 1.2 mm ring band, that’s more for a mass production effort. For me, this was the quicker. 🤪👍

[@nadjatalidrissi8355]

❤❤❤

[@izea816]

What type of wax do you use in the dowel? Please.

[@theopalmills]

G’day mate, it’s jewellers dopping wax, I use the green one as it’s formulated to a low melting point at 65 degrees Celsius keeping the heat as little as possible. There is a red wax also, but this is used for faceting as it has a higher melting point used for stones that can tolerate more heat. 🤪👍

[@SirRocksAlot]

Morning

[@Quantum_GirlE]

Break its neck! Lol that had me cracking up, that's exactly what its like lol

[@Tomeccho]

Not a criticism at all, just wondering why you don't measure the length of band to make the ring with a bit of masking tape or thin card etc (sizing Q for an S size, or whatever size you're wanting) and cut to that length instead of wrapping the band around the mandrel and guessing.

[@theopalmills]

G’day, unless mass producing, it’s quicker to wrap on a mandrel and mark to size, once you’ve made a few, you tend to know where to cut. 🤪👍

[@Tomeccho]

@@theopalmills Fair enough lol can't argue with someone who does when I'm someone who never has 😉

[@metalgirl]

How thick is that silver??? 20 gauge would you say?

[@theopalmills]

G’day, i don’t use the gauge system of measurement, I used 1mm sheet for the 5mm band and 1 x 2mm rectangle wire for the sides of the inlay. 🤪👍

[@kevinmoa1678]

what kind of epoxy and die for inlay?

[@theopalmills]

G’day Kevin, I’ve just added two links to the description in this video, one for the epoxy resin and one for the dye. 🤪👍

[@leia8046]

Hi

[@theopalmills]

G’day 🤪👍

[@prospectvic]

Why do I keep calling you Simon? Lol

[@theopalmills]

Is it because I is simple? 🤣👍

[@richedgar3322]

really bad !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@theopalmills]

I know right, I’m so embarrassed. 🤦‍♂️