Rubbing 10 Lightning Ridge Opals From Subscribers $50 Parcel.

[@kenoathiog1156]

The plot thickens! The lumpy, flashy pea nobby though!!? Would be great in a more free-form piece of jewellery. In terms of the larger black piece with the multiple bars, I’d be tempted to slice between the 2 bars on the better end rather than go for a double sided stone- unless it’s a bit too precarious to do so?? But totally leave it in your excellent hands 👍. Stoked & grateful to get anything at all out of this lot!!! 🤗

[@RoysRocks]

I think the strategy is to check out the first bar and if good, a complex slice might get us 3 stones from just that one piece (making back the $50 hopefully). If that is a dud then just grind through it to the second bar and get it on some really nice base.

[@karenjones7111]

Great video. Love to watch the progression. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and talent .✌❤❤

[@RoysRocks]

No worries. Step 2 down now to finish a couple of the promising ones.

[@jeffholmes1362]

Good to watch the progress, there will be some nice little stones, that number 2 stone, I’m really keen to see how that bright blue goes on the bottom part, I think there could be a surprise in that, if you cut low enough. Good luck

[@RoysRocks]

I think there might be something half decent with a good low dome. I'm hoping to nail at least 2-3 stones from the parcel.

[@yoramuziel1695]

I also think that the blue on black stone looks promissing, we'll wait and see

[@Famo59]

Awesome. Well hopefully you get a nice one after you finish rubbing back and polishing them. Cheers Famo59 👍🍻🤓⛏

[@RoysRocks]

I think next video will focus on the big boy multi bar. It could make back his money in one stone.

[@Marb-pd9jz]

Thanks for another informative video. 👍

[@RoysRocks]

No worries at all. I should do a livestream where I just sit and rub a few stones back since I do it off camera sometimes anyway.

[@nancycurtis3230]

Looking forward to the next video. Be interesting to see how they turn out. Have a great day to all.

[@RoysRocks]

I dont think ill be looking at all of them again. Maybe just 2 or 3.

[@bentationfunkiloglio]

Wow. A couple nice little stones. Not bad at all for $50. Working through each stone in inexpensive parcels is a valuable education. Really, it's the only way to learn what to buy and what to avoid. Worthwhile even if you lose a little money.

[@RoysRocks]

Not bad at all. After a few buys and carving sessions you start to learn what to look for and what to avoid.

[@drfill9210]

I did the same but am wondering whether it was better to start off with expensive rubs... I've reviewed the material I cut and realised I threw away hundreds of dollars learning from difficult to cut rough.

[@bentationfunkiloglio]

@@drfill9210 Well, probably depends ones objective when buying. Certainly, a lot less risky to buy rubs. Easier to see potential. However, with little to no experience, it's quite easy to make bad purchases even when buying rubs. Less expensive parcels translate into less expensive mistakes. If a newbie were to ask for my advice, I'd suggest buying inexpensive parcels and spreading out purchases across as many sellers as possible. Set some budget accepting that an opal education will be the highest value result derived from the experience. Then, transition into buying a mix of rubs and untouched rough.

[@drfill9210]

@@bentationfunkiloglio possibly if you are to buy cheap stuff, try to get potch Opal rather than mud and sand... That way even if it's not worth much you can still make a cab...

[@lapidarydave]

awesome video :)

[@RoysRocks]

Thanks Dave. 👍

[@pattimessenger6214]

Fantastic! Thank you for sharing! Where did you get your opal parcel?

[@kenoathiog1156]

It was purchased from a seller on Opal Sales Australia Facebook group. They sell similar parcels all the time- usually around 100 carats each - anything from $15- $60. (I won’t name them, but look for the $1 coin & metal ruler for size reference in photos). I mean- it is absolutely beginner/ gamble type stuff, So great value if the aim is to practice carving, cutting, cabbing etc…. And some colour is evident in photos, so you never know!

[@RoysRocks]

Hope KG's reply helped. If you don't have Facebook you can find similar at opal auctions but as evil as Facebook is, the opal community on it is growing very well in the last few years.

[@pattimessenger6214]

@@kenoathiog1156 I’m on Facebook. I’ll look for it. Thank you!

[@pattimessenger6214]

@@RoysRocks I’ll look for it! Thanks!

[@drfill9210]

Love watching this mate! As an aside, have you ever paid a large sum for 100 carats and thought to yourself as you work "I paid 100 bucks for 80 carats of mud"? 🤣🤣

[@RoysRocks]

Well with boulder opal there is a lot of mud but I've been lucky and always found enough opal to carve. I think cabbers have more issues normally.

[@bentationfunkiloglio]

I once paid $100 for a several hundred carat parcel where half of the "stones" were pretty much only sand. Let me tell you, I worked my butt off to extract every possible bit of usable color. Came out a ahead in the end (if my time isn't included in calculation). Ironically, the best stone I've cut so far came from same seller. Managed to extract a clean, 1.3cts, bright dark opal from a $40 sandshot parcel. Cut gem has to be worth a couple/few $hundred.

[@drfill9210]

You are about to see exactly how much trouble I have with boulder mate! On the sand... If you are going to get rubbish to cut through, surface clay... It's not very dense so therefore doesn't weigh very much (1.5 g/cm^3). Opal by comparison is 2g/cm^3 so you don't waste as much weight, even if you cut through most of the stone! My experience says the cut stone will weigh about 10% of the rough. If you cut away 50% and have a good gem, you are winning!

[@pkgoldopalhunting]

looks a good parcel for that $$$$ spent

[@RoysRocks]

Yeah if I can land the 2 high probability stones I think he can mark it as a win.

[@EdWolfram]

The 120 grit sintered was plenty aggressive for me. I have rubbed my first parcel so far. ($80/460carat) Going to end up with one good stone, 2 decent ones, and a handful of black potch to keep for a doublet attempt later. Thanks as always for the Video Roy.

[@RoysRocks]

Nice one. Think you've made back the $80?

[@EdWolfram]

@@RoysRocks yeah the good one covers it plus some

[@RoysRocks]

@@EdWolfram Perfect. Thats always the minimum goal.

[@offyarocka]

awesome video bro!!! hey can you drop a link for those dremel bits if its not too much of a hassle =)

[@RoysRocks]

I haven't finished the website yet but I'll announce it when I do. I might just have to launch it mostly unfinished and keep working away on it over time.

[@offyarocka]

@@RoysRocks ah all good bro!!! ill keep an eye out for when you do =)

[@martinbowra9152]

Where is the best place to sell Opal rubs

[@RoysRocks]

The Facebook market is really strong for opal at the moment. There are many great sales groups.

[@redeyestones3738]

Hope you're doing okay

[@RoysRocks]

Yeah not bad. Even my post covid cough is dying down. Coughing fits make recording tough.