White Opal Carving. Can You Guess The Opal Field?

[@rachelruggieri5491]

I thought I was going crazy when my low dome stones weren’t getting a polish as fast as my high dome stones. It didn’t make sense to me because I thought more opal meant more polishing time but your explanation about the curvature being a factor made everything make sense. P.S. I knew it was lightning ridge opal because I can’t quite explain it, but lightning ridge white opal is more of an icy cool white vs coober pedy’s eggshell white. The difference is only slight but the more grey the body tone from Lightning ridge the more obvious. Sure coober pedy can be darker too but it still has this quality that LR doesn’t quite have. My theory is the body tone is darkened by a different material in its formation. (Not everyone I talk to can observe this but it must have some merit since I guessed right.)

[@RoysRocks]

Flat faces are tricky to get that polish so hopefully that helps show why. The minerals in the ground at the different fields certainly have a strong effect on the body tone for sure.

[@Kerrsartisticgifts]

Hi Roy, I am picturing what that stone would look like surrounded by little marquis cut citrines. Maybe that's a cheesy idea, but I keep seeing beautiful little opals and imagining them as centre stones. I'm imagining daisy looking little rings.

[@RoysRocks]

I've seen some great pieces like that but most of the time they are diamonds or emeralds.

[@bentationfunkiloglio]

Very nice! I'd like to put in a request for koriot/yowah boulder opal videos. :) I've been cutting a fair amount of it lately and it is a real challenge (in a fun/interesting way). Among other mysteries, I have no idea what it's worth. Prices are all over the place!

[@RoysRocks]

The more tribal style I am guessing? I like working a lot of the potentially full faced ones but I do have some other stuff in storage. I'll see what I can find.

[@bentationfunkiloglio]

@@RoysRocks Yeah, I've seen mostly tribal pattern. However, I've also cut several pieces of Koroit/Yowah boulder that were predominantly boulder matrix. Thx!

[@kevbruce9191]

Great info as ALWAYS Roy 👍 🎉

[@RoysRocks]

Thanks Kev. Wanted to surprise people with some white LR. Now for some black Coober Pedy.

[@EvelynPic]

Before your video started, I thought lightening ridge. Now I’ll watch to see if I got it right. 😊

[@EvelynPic]

You can teach an old dog new tricks! I did start thinking Coober Pedy once I started watching the video though. Beautiful opal!

[@RoysRocks]

Haha you got it from the thumbnail. Thats a good eye and some built up experience shining through.

[@Teknojok]

I amnin for the hard resin bits. Nice job on the stone! Another great vid.

[@RoysRocks]

They are a huge adjustment from the nova points so I'll have to send them with a warning.

[@CrystalForestGemTrees]

My hubby has bought your polishing powder? Says it works well and you are doing a good thing. You have a following that appreciate you and what you do, maybe if its a numbers thing maybe you can do a preorder on your website for these burrs? And that way you can reach the MOQ rather than you having to save up for it for a few months. Just state that it is preorder and how long it will take because it having to meet an MOQ before it happens. I recommend also putting in a picture a well a listing information. 😊

[@RoysRocks]

I just dont like the preorder idea because I hate taking peoples money and having them sit there waiting. I also though business loan but the interest rates on that seems wild. Its okay with a few more sales and some hard personal saving I can do it this year still.

[@jay8353]

@RoysRocks you are a good dude man, you really do help people that are on a budget trying to get into this hobby. And it is greatly appreciated.

[@CrystalForestGemTrees]

@@RoysRocks you're so nice and caring, would make people want to support you more ☺️

[@TomsBackyardWorkshop]

Well i've seen similar white opals from cooper pedy but even lightning ridge can produce those.

[@TomsBackyardWorkshop]

Yay I'm learning well.

[@RoysRocks]

Haha you are learning fast! Power of the internet and handling material yourself. There is always something new but thats what keeps opal so interesting.

[@jeffholmes1362]

Coober Pedy, Olympic, would be my guess, but there are a few fields look a lot alike. Beautiful stone by the way

[@RoysRocks]

Many fields especially when there are plenty of exceptions out there as well.

[@nicolemurray-jeffery7433]

100% right on the contact on low dome or flat stones (dremel and on wheels). So many missing bits in the middle in some previous stones I’ve done. I guessed LR white opal.

[@RoysRocks]

Sometimes I have bought low dome stones with this issue so I just scrub them up again. I see it all the time in doublets actually.

[@kenoathiog1156]

Thought of crowd funding for your first production run of resin burrs?- then people could choose to receive a set as perks- where they would probably want to purchase from your site anyway?? Win/ win !

[@RoysRocks]

I kinda thought about that to start the silversmithing but I thought it is better to just get there on my own. I'm not that far off for the burs. I really should have just increased prices on the store (which I will have to do soon anyway) but the cheapness of the tools is what I am aiming to do.

[@SuperBroncosguy]

G'day! Your videos rock! I've a question.....When cutting close to a color bar what grit bit do you suggest?? Thx in advance! Cheers from a old Colorado rookie.

[@RoysRocks]

Sintered 600 max but could skip to 280 nova if really on it.

[@AlabamaUSA1234]

What do you use to paint it? That would freak me out.. okay heard permanent marker... WOW... I'd be so worried it would get into the stone... I've got those burrs, but I haven't used them yet.. don't trust myself.. even with my inexpensive Ethiopian opal I'm training with... What about the diamond polish that's oil based, would it be okay for the final polish? Didn't realize the purple wasn't really there.... WOW! I got the name right... really can't believe it. I've watched hundreds of opal videos... Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with me... Really enjoy your channel

[@RoysRocks]

If it gets into the stone you need to remove the pitting that let it in there anyway. Just dont paint a porous stone like matrix opal. The oil diamond pastes are fine but sometimes the colour will get into pores as well.

[@eirintowne]

At first glance, I thought Mintabie, but the potch on the sides made me lean more towards Cooper Pedy?

[@eirintowne]

Wow! Didn't see the right answer coming!

[@RoysRocks]

It is a bit of an exception since LR is so known for black opal but they do have the full spectrum like many other Aussie fields.

[@NomadUniverse]

it looks like classic coober but could be andamooka...

[@NomadUniverse]

Coober potch and get nice and dark grey, I have a couple of N6-N7 stones from there

[@RoysRocks]

I have a few bits of black Coober Pedy that I want to do a similar video with to surprise a few.

[@Famo59]

Great job..👏 Cheers Famo59👍⛏️

[@RoysRocks]

Thanks man. I'll keep grinding ad you keep scratching up that gold!

[@Famo59]

@@RoysRocks LOL 😂 I will keep scratching till the Sun Goes Down.🌞👍

[@AdamDermody]

Either Andamooka or Ridge

[@RoysRocks]

You got it with Ridge.

[@dcallan812]

I got some old stones from the Olympic mine in Coober pedy look a little like this but thinner

[@RoysRocks]

It is very Olympic mine like for sure.

[@bbisyy4u]

Coober Pedy was my first thought although mintabie comes to mind

[@bbisyy4u]

It’s a beautiful stone even if it is from lightening ridge. lol. Love the explanation about the flat dome.

[@RoysRocks]

Both are reasonable guesses. It was meant to be a tad tricky.

[@Rygoat]

8:23 Maybe a team-up with the blacklighters? I know they also sell burrs to their community so perhaps they'd be keen to take part

[@RoysRocks]

I think they have their own thing going so not sure it would be a joining of forces.

[@TIG2MAN0]

Great video. Im very surprised you are having trouble getting nova points. Especially since you live in the opal capital of the world. Im American. Maybe I can help you out.

[@RoysRocks]

I can try again but there are not many stores in Aus that sell them apart from my store and gemcuts. I'll try again but the 4-piece kits are getting rare these days.

[@ccccarriemchardy9216]

Didn't guess right but lovely stone none the less.

[@RoysRocks]

Its an okay one. I was hoping to get that last bit of potch out of the face but not quite.

[@AlabamaUSA1234]

lightning ridge...???

[@RoysRocks]

You got it!

[@nancycurtis7315]

Nice opal. Shame about not being able to obtain your requirements, but as one door shuts, another one will open for you. 😊.

[@RoysRocks]

I just gotta keep trying the doors.

[@elishadoyle8191]

Mintabie or Cooper Pedy 😊 I think I spelt, Mintabie wrong 😂. And I was soooo wrong 😢. I learn something from you nearly every video.

[@RoysRocks]

Haha its all good. Your guesses were understandable. Very little indicating LR.

[@scottlubsen9004]

You can’t could buy them from Diamond Pacific, but that in the USA. So, do a group order. FD I live in Easton PA USA 🇺🇸

[@RoysRocks]

Diamond pacific wont sell directly to me and I was using Suva but apparently the 4 piece kits are not being produced as much as they used to.

[@judygofton1896]

A suggestion , why not get everyone to pre order so you can get the money for the burrs 😁

[@RoysRocks]

Just dont like preordering. So much could go wrong.

[@bonnieroffman5453]

My guess is Cooper Pedy

[@RoysRocks]

It is a reasonable guess.

[@tracyormandy9707]

Grawin

[@RoysRocks]

Yep.

[@jay8353]

Coober

[@RoysRocks]

Probs the most common guess. 99% of the time you'd be right.

[@jay8353]

@RoysRocks yea I clicked right at the end when you said grey base,but I'd already put in coober lol. But I'm learning what the stuff from different fields look like. Thanks to you 😊

[@AngelaThomson-opals]

Andamooka

[@RoysRocks]

Can get Andamooka that looks 100% like this so fine guess.

[@kaynef6637]

Mintabe

[@RoysRocks]

Could easily have been

[@AngelaThomson-opals]

Coober pedy

[@RoysRocks]

Reasonable guess.

[@EpicsodeOne]

Coober Pedy.

[@RoysRocks]

Most likely guess I reckon.

[@EpicsodeOne]

@@RoysRocks Indeed.

[@EpicsodeOne]

Mintabie.

[@RoysRocks]

I wish my mintabie worked this well.

[@lindapozzobon1523]

Coober pedy

[@RoysRocks]

Fine guess for sure.