Part 6: More Essential Tools for Opal Cutting – Other Recommended Items
Welcome to Part 6 of our opal cutting series. In Part 5, we covered the core tools you need to get started — the Dremel, flexi shaft, cutting discs, burrs, and polishing pads. If you haven’t read the previous article yet, please check it out at Part 5: Essential Opal Cutting Tools.
Now, we’re going deeper. These tools aren’t strictly mandatory to get started, but they’re tools I personally use and highly recommend. They make cutting more accurate, efficient, and safe — and they’ll help you take your hobby to the next level.
This page is a continuation of Part 5, so if you're already set up with the basics, these are the next tools I’d add to your bench.
Diamond Knife Sharpening Stones and Blocks – For Smoothing and Flattening
Sharpening stones and blocks are one of the most overlooked but important tools when it comes to cutting opal — especially if you're making doublets or want a clean, flat base on your stone. These blocks help flatten the back of your stone, even up uneven edges, and improve your final polish. They're also great for creating a consistent shape when you’re first roughing out your opal.
What I Use
When I started cutting opal, I used a simple set of thin, plastic-backed diamond sharpening plates — and I still use them today. These sets usually come with a wide range of grits including 80, 200, 400, 500, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000 and 3000.. They're affordable, lightweight, and easy to use — ideal for getting started without needing big, expensive gear.
I also use two types of full-size sharpening blocks. These are heavy dual-grit whetstones commonly used in kitchens, with grits of 400, 1000, 3000 and 8000. While not essential for everyone, they’re excellent for flattening the back of larger stones and for tasks like preparing a surface for a doublet.
Additional Option: Diamond Hand Polishing Pads
I also have a cheap set of diamond hand polishing pads (sanding blocks) that come in four grits — 60, 100, 200, and 400. These blocks feature a raised diamond pattern and are a quick way to flatten the back of a stone, especially during the early shaping stages.
They're effective for rapid removal but should be used with care. Because they’re a bit more aggressive, you need to take your time and keep the stone stable. Rushing or using too much pressure can result in chipping, especially on thinner opal.
These are a handy backup to have on your bench and are particularly good for larger rough pieces or where you want to knock down uneven edges quickly.
These cheaper diamond hand polishing pads (sanding blocks) are available on Temu.
Temu does offer a huge range of opal cutting tools at very low prices, and I’ve personally purchased a lot of items from Temu. While the value can be great, just be aware that once you sign up, you may receive a lot of marketing emails and notifications. If you're just browsing, consider using a separate email address.
Which to Choose?
For most beginners, the thin plastic-backed diamond sharpening plates are more than enough. They're portable, practical, and offer excellent grit variety. These are what I started with and still use regularly.
The larger dual-grit whetstone blocks are a nice upgrade once you're doing more precision work or working with larger opal pieces. They offer a broader surface and feel more solid under the stone — but they’re not essential to get started.
The diamond hand polishing blocks from Temu are also a great budget-friendly option. They’re quick to use and handy to keep nearby, especially for rough flattening jobs.
I personally have all three sets of these shown above and use them all depending on the job. But if you’re just beginning — start with the diamond mini plates and add the others later as your skills and needs grow.
Why It Matters
If you're cutting a standalone stone, a flat base ensures a neater setting in jewellery and a more professional appearance. If you’re making a doublet, then the glue won’t bond unless both surfaces are perfectly flat. These blocks help you get there without needing expensive flat laps or large grinding machines.
I will demonstrate in a video on how to use these blocks in a later chapter of this series.
Where to Buy
Diamond Knife Sharpening Stones – View on Amazon
Digital Scales – Weighing Opals Accurately
Digital scales are essential for any opal cutter, collector, or hobbyist. These scales allow you to determine the precise weight of gemstones, including opals, which is critical when calculating value, tracking cutting progress, and ensuring accurate pricing. Whether you're cutting, collecting, or selling, a reliable set of digital scales should be part of your toolkit.
Why You Need Digital Scales
- Weight Measurement: Scales provide precise readings, essential for assessing the value and overall size of your opals.
- Accurate Pricing: Weight (in carats or grams) is a major factor in determining opal value. Precision is vital for fairness in pricing.
- Assessing Material Waste: Tracking weight before and after cutting helps you understand how much material is lost in the process.
- Precision and Calibration: Quality gemstone scales come with features like calibration tools and overload protection for reliable readings.
- Multiple Units: Many digital scales offer readings in carats, grams, and ounces, giving you flexibility depending on your needs.
My Recommendation
I use digital gemstone scales on every opal I cut. They're small, affordable, and incredibly helpful. Every hobbyist or professional cutter should have a pair on hand. Once you have a few stones completed, you'll want to weigh and record their carats — and these scales make it quick and easy.
Where to Buy your Digital Scales:
Digital Gemstone Scales – View on Amazon
Digital Verniers (Callipers) – For Measuring and Calibrating Opals
Digital verniers, also known as digital callipers, are a must-have tool for measuring the precise dimensions of opals and other gemstones. Whether you’re calibrating stones for matching pairs, setting them into jewellery, or simply recording their size, digital callipers offer unmatched accuracy and convenience.
Why You Need Digital Callipers
- Calibration: Essential for creating calibrated stones — especially if you're making matched pairs or ensuring a stone will fit in a specific setting.
- Jewellery Making: Precision is key for bezel setting or mounting into rings, pendants, or earrings. These tools ensure your stones are measured correctly before setting.
- Loose Stone Measurement: Ideal for checking the exact dimensions of loose opals, watch crystals, and other gems or beads.
Features to Look For
- Digital Display: Offers instant and easy-to-read measurements.
- Accuracy: Most digital callipers measure down to 0.01mm, which is more than enough for gemstone use.
- Optional Stone Holding Plate: Some models come with a small stone holder or cradle to make measuring rounded opals even easier.
How to Use
- Step 1: Clean the gemstone to remove any dirt or residue.
- Step 2: Place the stone gently between the jaws of the calliper.
- Step 3: Close the jaws slowly and evenly, ensuring they don’t scratch or crush the stone.
- Step 4: Read the measurement on the digital display — simple and precise.
My Recommendation
I have a few sets of these callipers on my bench. They’re affordable and incredibly helpful, especially when you're tracking dimensions for online listings or working on calibrated jewellery pieces. Every opal on opalsgemstones.com includes the carat weight and millimetre dimensions — and this is how I measure every single one.
Where to Buy your Verniers:
Digital Verniers / Callipers – View on Amazon
Gemstone Torch – Rechargeable or Battery-Powered for Inspecting Opals
A gemstone torch, essentially a focused high-beam flashlight, is an invaluable tool for inspecting opals. It helps you identify cracks, inclusions, and sand pockets in both rough and polished stones. By shining light through the opal, you can detect internal flaws that might not be visible under normal lighting.
How It Works
- Shining the Light: Hold the torch directly against or behind the opal to shine a strong beam of light through the stone.
- Observing Light Transmission: If light passes cleanly through the stone, it's likely free of major flaws. If the light scatters, reflects oddly, or breaks up — there may be cracks or sand inclusions present.
- Detecting Cracks and Sand: Light will often "catch" on fractures or reflect off sand, making these imperfections easier to identify before cutting or polishing.
- Assisting with Planning: When examining rough, a gem torch helps determine where the colour bar lies, how deep it goes, and whether the stone is worth cutting.
Why I Use One
I personally use a USB rechargeable gem torch to inspect rough opals, rubs, and finished stones. It's portable, easy to recharge, and strong enough to shine through even thick rough. That said, a battery-powered gem torch works just as well — the key is having a strong, focused light. I keep mine next to my cutting bench and use it before making any cuts — it’s saved me from wasting time and material more than once.
Where to Buy your Gem Torch:
Gemstone Torch – View on Amazon
UV Torch, UV Resin Glue, and Acrylic Lollipop Sticks – Dopping Made Easy for Hobbyists and Pros
Dopping is the process of attaching an opal to a stick for cutting and polishing. While traditional methods use red dopping wax and wooden sticks, many modern opal cutters (myself included) now use UV resin glue and clear acrylic lollipop sticks.
This method is faster, easier, and safer — especially for hobbyists or anyone (like me) dealing with nerve issues in the hands. And best of all, it delivers a professional finish and lets you handle even the smallest stones with precision.
We’ll go deeper into the step-by-step dopping process in a later chapter of this series.
Why I Recommend This Method
I have a few bottles of UV resin glue on hand at all times, a rechargeable UV torch (though battery versions work just as well), and at least 100 of each size acrylic stick — both 3mm and 4mm diameters. I now use this setup for every opal I cut, regardless of size. It's clean, fast, and reliable.
Option 1: Traditional Wax and Timber Dop Stick
This classic method involves red dopping wax and a timber dowel stick:
- Heat the wax over a flame until it becomes pliable (not liquid).
- Apply wax to the stick by rolling or pressing into the softened wax.
- Gently warm the opal to improve adhesion. Be careful not to overheat the stone as it may crack or fracture.
- Press the opal onto the wax and allow it to cool and harden.
Many still swear by this method — but for me, it’s no longer viable:
- I suffer from neuropathy in my hands and have burned myself too many times.
- UV resin is faster, safer, and just easier.
Option 2: UV Resin Glue and Acrylic Lollipop Sticks
This is the method I now use and recommend for beginners and pros alike. It’s perfect for rough, rubs, and finished stones.
How It Works
- Apply a small drop of UV resin to the flat end of your lollipop stick.
- Press the lollipop stick with resin glue onto the opal.
- Hold the lollipop stick firmly against your opal and shine the UV torch directly through the clear stick to cure the resin for 5 to 10 seconds.
- Done — your opal is ready to cut.
Why It Works
- The clear acrylic lets the UV light pass through and cure the resin from the back.
- No heat, no wax, no burning — just quick and solid bonding in 5 to 10 seconds.
- Reliable for even the smallest and trickiest stones.
A Few Tips and Warnings
- Temu sells many of these items cheap — but be warned: once you sign up, their marketing is relentless.
- Practice first on inexpensive stones until you get the feel for glue placement and torch curing time.
- Only use a small drop of UV resin glue — this is important so you can remove the stick from the stone once the face has been finished.
- Don’t use coloured lollipop sticks — they block the UV light.
- Always store your UV resin out of sunlight or it’ll start to cure inside the bottle.
