Came up from underground to check my phone, sat for an hour and watched this rather than actually digging for opal, oh the irony. Cheers Phil.. 😂😂😂

You are a wealth of knowledge. I enjoyed the details you included in each step. The stone turned out beautifully.

Great job explaining a process that is harder to explain than do, but very well done

As a newbie only recently playing around with some of my mothers equipment and low grade opals and potch, I’ll admit I was a bit confused on some of your explanations at the beginning. It Al made better sense towards the end. Thanks for getting my mind set I. The right direction early on in my journey.

Ramble on Phil. You are a wealth of knowledge.

I'm still a relatively new cutter so this may sound bonkers, but the stones tell me how they should be cut. I dont know if its my toolmaking mindset, I was a toolmaker and machinist for 20 years, but I see the final shape before its cut, as I'm cutting. The correct aesthetics of the dome and radius just come together. You know when it's not right. I've only sold one, but that's because I simply havent found the brilliant opals to sell yet. I'm just now starting to get a few worth selling. The latest drop I put up last night is amazing. At least, I think so. Amazing red/blue multi on a dark (not quite really, one grade away from dark) base. I watched a good couple of hundred hours of another cutter before I even took to a stone myself and realised I could do it. After a huge and slightly expensive learning curve in buying rough, I've finally landed some decent material (got an oz of Tom's (AusOpal) Coober). Best advice I can give to a new cutter is dont let opal fever consume you, and wait for the right pieces. My first half a dozen purchases were not at all what I hoped when I got them in-hand. I got drawn in by the colours and didn't properly determine the size mostly. Be very wary. A lot of sellers looking to take advantage of new cutters, making things look bigger and brighter and more viable than they are.

I LOVE learning about this process. My skill is nowhere near yours but with every stone it is improving. It has taken me a while to watch the entire video (especially as this came out just as Isak Finnbogason started his live drone streaming over the newest Icelandic volcoanic eruption), but I watched it all). Thanks again, Phil, for making content for us to appreciate.

Thank you so much. I just started cutting opal. My first few trys i kept thinking what am i aiming for. This explination of WHY and the deminstration was sensational. It made so much sence to me . Thanks again

Thanks for walking cutters thru the way to look at a stone before making it smaller.

Excellent video Phil. Lots of great advice including for those that have been playing with opal for a while. Thanks heaps!

Amazing to watch you work as always Phil your methods are very logical and clinical and return fantastic results i was glued to the screen and will definitely watch again thanks m8 you rock 🪨👍

Thank you for being real. You are right some channels make it look so easy.

Just the video I was looking for. Very helpful and informative. I am sure I will be watching it again. Thanks.

Big thanx now I can fine tune my cutting Great vid

Whew very informative 😮well done. . . . .again 😊

I try to have a selection of everything to offer the customers including price ranges and back up materials incase it sells then I can make more. Like my opal inserts or Other things that I will be creating soon. It all about finding your niche in this market and marketing it to sell. Great video again Phil

Awesome video! Really appreciate you breaking down the cutting process... Super helpful.

Awesome explanation, thanks very much for doing this vid mate.

Turned out GREAT Phil.

Hi Phil! Really great info! You create the best instructional vids. This one, in particular, hits on things that I haven't been doing quite right. I can create a nice, symmetric shape but looks like I need to work on some of the things that make a stone settable. Prong settings have been pretty forgiving in my limited experience. However, bezel settings can be more demanding. Time for another round of recutting my "completed" opals, I think. I'm shooting for perfect, but still working towards sellable. Pretty close now... maybe. :)

Thank you for the lesson on how to cut Opals Pil great job❤

great info on how to cut setting edges mate good stuff

This video is priceless. Nuff said.

Nice explanation. Thank you, Phil! 👋💎👍

Absolutely wonderful video! To be shown in a classroom. Not sure what the outlook for the Opal cutters are? Might be a little bleak? Not sure. But I’m gonna keep trying. Great work, so thank you again.

Gday Phill hope you are doing well mate

Hey mate- thanks for all the great info! Quick question- do u know what’s happening with wutke wheels? Website hasn’t been up for some time. Cheers

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Is it possible to do this with a dremel

New cutters: watch Lapidary Dave cut cabs on a proper cab machine; much easier to learn by seeing it done; it’s really not complicated.

ore you can sett them yourself.☺

One thing I’ll disagree on is that doming as high as possible is always good. Medium dome is the best looking opal. High dome looks like grandmas opal, it’s not a modern look.

Is it me or no sound. OMG I'm deaf😂😂😂

The good thing about matrix and Boulder etc is they will never be able to make a synthetic version of it.

Can you explain cutting a specimen ? Can’t seem to get it right !

Phil ? did you ever find a use for the little grinder I sent you??? Be well and be safe🦜