[Jewelry making - Article 00296] - Re: [Orchid] Working with simulated opal inlay

[Rick]

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>     I would also appreciate any general advice on inlay, 

    I do a lot of inlay with turquoise and lapis and other stones. I
    haven't worked with simulated opal. I sometimes use a 1" diamond
    cutting wheel on my flex shaft to cut small pieces. Separating disks
    would probably work on the simulated opal. Cut slowly to avoid
    heating the simulated opal or cut it in a small dish of water. For
    shaping I use an 8" flat lap and a diamond coated drum sander about
    3/4 of an inch in diameter on my flexshaft. You could probably get
    away with a cheap set of diamond files. 

    If you could get someone with a lapidary diamond saw to cut the opal
    in 1/8 to 3/16 inch slabs would be a good start. 

    First start by cutting the opal in the approximate size and shape.
    Then shaping the opal to fit the inlay channel. Your diamond files
    would be best for this. Once you are satisfied with the fit in the
    channel shape the inside of the piece with diamond drum sander on
    your flex shaft or a round diamond file. You can lay the opal
    alongside of the channel to check how it will fit the curvature.
    Don't worry about shaping the stone on the surface. That will be done
    in the final steps. 

    Once you have the stone fitting properly it's time to glue it. I us
    CA Special T (look for the green label0 cryogenic adheasive (super
    glue). It has a thicker consistency than most of the cryogenic glues.
    You can buy it at Woodcrafters woodworking store. I glue one piece at
    a time and use the setting spray. Before the glue sets up completely
    clean up the excess glue in the channel with a sharp xacto blade. 

    Once you have all the stones glued in it's time to grind or file the
    stone even with the channel. Then smooth it with progressively finer
    sand paper. I use diamond coated laps for this but wet/dry sandpaper
    should work. Then polish the piece with Zam. 

HTH

Rick Copeland
Silversmith and Lapidary Artisan
Colorado Springs, Colorado
rockymountainwonders.com
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