Look at the actual piece in my hand under the loop at 10x or 30x there is nothing there so... Must have been a smudge or something? Blu tack residue maybe?

No worries and hope it helps.

No worries Michael, I hope you get some good stones out of your incoming rough parcel.

Thanks! I’ve been watching Justin and Pulitzer for years, and decided it was finally time to dive in for myself. I got about 200 carats of small rough Australian from art gems on opal auctions, as well as about a 10 carat piece of seam from lightning ridge! Should be a fun challenge. To practice I’ve been picking up pretty rocks outside when I see them and making rubs. Only problem is I’m From the northeast US, all of the stones are super hard and chew through equipment like nobody’s business!

Welcome to the channel Ann. If you have any questions feel free to ask away. I try to keep on top of my comments and try to help when I can.

No worries. 👍

Always look it over thats for sure. Even now I still check it two or three times per stage. Much easier than going back a stage r two by missing something.

Thanks Leroy. Good to put out an info video every now and then.

They are well worth it and residents of the USA are lucky. Much cheaper for you guys than the rest of us!

@@RoysRocks I'm seeing prices at around $8 usd. each. Does that seem about right ?

Had a quick look and yeah seems they are about that. Insanely cheap. I might have to place a big order and save on shipping then sell a few sets off like I'm going to do for the diamond sintered bits.

Yep i just bought some from kingsleynorth and they come to about $8.50 a piece. Went from michigan to mobile al in 3 days, a tool set is incomplete without these.

No worries Mackie, I know it was something that frustrated me when I started and now is no longer an issue for me so good to share how to get past it.

Thanks Wayne. Just trying to speed up the learning for others so they dont spend so much time trying to work it out solo like I had to. Merry Xmas and I wish you and everyone well for 2021. We've got to end this hellish 2020.

Hope it helps Karen, it can be a tricky process when starting out but easy after a few dozen stones.

I should do a Xmas special...

@@RoysRocks depends of if ya got a piece of green & red opal to cut i reckon that would be pretty Christmassy.

Oh yeah i didn't even think about Xmas colours. Might have just the piece lying around somewhere

It was something I wish I had a guide on when I started. Rushed through way to many stones which I had to backtrack on. There are for sure many more vids to come before Xmas.

Yeah that is a good way to go. I do the same thing if the shape of the opal let's you, so works here as well.

Not a problem Rene happy to help

Glad you found the channel. Justin's videos were where I started years ago as well so you are already on the right track. I have reviewed quite a few sellers so depending on the type of opal you are after I should know the right seller for you.

@@RoysRocks That's very generous, your channel is already a great resource. Thanks so much for posting so much content. I thought I might continue with the black opal and try nn/53 frogs but then boulder opal is actually my true love. I've bought plenty of finished cabs (Tucson Gem Show) but never worked rough. I'm really interested in the challenge of finding the bars and developing the rub/cab from the really rough. That being said, who's a good vendor for me?

@@OzoneFineArtVentures One day I will make a trip over for the Tucson Gem Show... For boulder rough I cant go past Nick Hoops. Since finding him I have not bought rough boulder from anyone else! Black opal is tough, beginner grade stuff is easy to come by but real quality pieces are not so easy. 53 Frogs is a good place to start. It is generally very well graded so you can get a good idea of what you are buying.

@@RoysRocks Thank you, I'll check out Nick. My mom literally planted me as a young adult in Tucson (from out of state) so she'd have a place to stay for the shows, lol. I had gone since being a teen and bought cabs from her dealer whom was very generous. This was decades ago and haven't bought boulder opal since and don't live in Arizona any more. The show is VERY worth going to, amazing! Thanks again for the help!

Hi Maryan. I have not found a cheap supplier over in the UK so I have actually been selling kits to all the way over there. Even with postage it has been cheaper.

@@RoysRocks I did go on your website but they're out of stock. Went with another option and I'll see how it goes. Any chance I could get in touch in the future for some guidance?

You can but it will wear quickly and they are a lot more expensive than a sintered diamond bur which can last thousands of stones.

Hi Paula. I bought them direct from the manufacturer in China. I have actually bought a batch to start selling them in Aus. I think i'll sell them for 50% of the gemcuts price at $70AUD. If it is popular I can get more (though you'll probably only ever need one set in a lifetime)

Yes please if i can i would love a set

@@RoysRocks I live in the US and have also been having a hard time finding the bits. If possible I would like to get in contact with you and maybe work something out.

As in electroplated burrs? They are difficult to buy in a range as they typically come in large packs. I think for an assorted kit if just go sintered burrs. Cheaper in the long run.

Depends on where you are in the world?

You said bunnings so guessing aus. Gemcuts is where I bought the nova's and the sintered diamond I bought from a Chinese manufacturer. At gemcuts they were $140 but I'm going to sell them for $70 cos that's rediculous.

@@RoysRocks Thanks, mate. Do you sell the nova tips? I'm after a set but gem cuts are sold out of the point tips, unfortunately.

@@RoysRocks you guessed right, I'm located in Sydney.

@@jarrodyoung7640 Gemcuts do run out of stock quite a bit lately (COVID related I think). Unfortunately I don't run a shop myself as of the moment. I might think about it into the future.

What kind of marks are they?

Hi Justin. They are on the way. Xmas and new years slowed it all down but the first batch are in the mail. Since gemcuts ask a crazy $140 I am going to halve that and go $70. If I could order in a larger volume I could bring that down but I don't think demand is that high.

@@RoysRocks sounds good to me I will definitely take one off of your hands,👍👍👍

@@Toobras You'll have to be quick when I announce they are here (will keep them exclusively for subscribers for now). The first batch is only 5 sets but as soon as they sell I will order the next 5. If demand is super strong it may extend to orders of 10 (if I can find the coins needed).

@@RoysRocks well that's good that I am subscribed to your channel LOL for a while now but I will definitely keep my eyes open for it .

@@Toobras No worries. Worst case scenario I can order more. I have them making a large batch but they are letting me buy them for as low as 5 at a time which is nice.

Depends on where you are in the world.

I havent found one that fully competes yet. Some of the more expensive chinese ones come close but nothing I have found replaces the 280 grit nova and what it can do. These put up a fight but not quite: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/i95pkrN3ytanp58.html

@@RoysRocks Thanks for that so where do you get the nova tips from cause i've tried on amazon and a couple of others can't seem to find them.

I got my set from gemcuts but they are quite expensive. I am going to try to do a bulk order from America to save some money and sell the extra sets so others can save as well.

I get my sintered diamond burrs manufactured in China and nova points from the USA all for sale on roysrocks.com though stock is always selling faster than I can stock it.

Hope it helps 👍

I get the sintered diamonds manufactured and I source the Nova points from Suva Lapidary Supply (USA). I typically buy in bulk for average out the postage, keep one set and sell the rest on to viewers.

Hi Aaron, Depends on where in the world you are. The common set of four that they sell is the one in this vid: 280, 600, 1200 and 3000 which works for many stones. If you are lucky enough to be in the USA they are quite cheap but outside of the US the prices seem to be much higher. Here in Aus I can buy them for about $60USD. I have a facebook group and there I have started a document collecting good places to buy tools like novas. Feel free to join if you have a facebook.

@@RoysRocks what is the Facebook groups name? Yep, I’m that lazy guy who would prefer to be told instead of taking the 30 seconds to find it myself. Lol. Sorry, but thanks in advance.

@@aaronschaekel8848 If you search for "roys rocks" it should turn up.

@@RoysRocks will do. Thanks.

From others in that area someone said there is a place in Finland that sells them. I think another shop in the UK as well but most just order in from the USA. You guys need to work together to save on shipping in that area I think.

There has to be an alternative , I can't find them anywhere in UK.

This one is in italy, but if you order form any other site prices wont have tot much of a difference, the price here is 11 a piece www.gemmarum.it/en/product/177-resin-bond-polishing-points.html

Leroy thats a good find. Italy is much closer than the USA.

@@RoysRocks that's true but in comparison i dont think its much of a difference pricewise. 2-5 days shipment against 7-9day from us. And shipmentcost are higher in us but prices of product lower. So still evens up.

Haha. Yeah I am mostly Japanese. Born there but mostly grew up here in Aus.

Not sure yet I will need to replace the black before the others. Maybe three years of everyday use?

@@RoysRocks oh wow. I bought 6 of each grid to be sure not to run out of them 😅

Well... I don't think you'll run out any time soon.

Winning strategy for sure.