gem cutting 101

[kawman]

nice series of how to cut gems.

[video=480,360]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD6ZlNmtwmM[/video]

All videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD6ZlNmtwmM&index=1&list=PLFIMjYf_BtnvaVZNQkHJ4ieF-v1fqPgqu

 

[Martin]

Nice find, thanks for the link!

 

[Nugget]

Faceting is something I don't know a great deal about, so thanks heaps for the link. Now I've got some watching to do

 

[Martin]

Faceting is something I don't know a great deal about

I'm the same, I would like to know how to do faceting but it looks very time consuming to learn and do compared to most hobbies :|

 

[kawman]

we are all students looking for more input... stuff like this teaches us all a lot...

 

[bazza2210]

Very informative and interesting - I wonder how expensive the equipment is?

 

[Piep]

I've joined up with my local lapidary club last week, to start polishing al thos pieces of agate and chalcedony (carnelian) I find here when walking the dog. I brought the average members age down to 82 now
All their faceters are either dead or well on their way to do so and this means they have no faceting instructors atm.
I'm happy just learning cabbing atm, and move on to carving next, but would love to learn the art of faceting. I'll have to wait till they've either decided to hire a teacher, or join up with one of the nearby clubs. I might just watch all the vids and then take some agate to the faceting machine to practice, or source some sapphire bombs.

Very interesting vid. Thanks for posting this.

(I should really stop procrastinating!)

 

[kawman]

that sounds too good to be true... all that gear to use for free... get some rough stones and go for it.. study,study....making the errors is the path to getting it right eventually.

I've joined up with my local lapidary club last week, to start polishing al thos pieces of agate and chalcedony (carnelian) I find here when walking the dog. I brought the average members age down to 82 now
All their faceters are either dead or well on their way to do so and this means they have no faceting instructors atm.
I'm happy just learning cabbing atm, and move on to carving next, but would love to learn the art of faceting. I'll have to wait till they've either decided to hire a teacher, or join up with one of the nearby clubs. I might just watch all the vids and then take some agate to the faceting machine to practice, or source some sapphire bombs.

Very interesting vid. Thanks for posting this.

(I should really stop procrastinating!)

 

[Mr Magoo]

I wonder how expensive the equipment is?

About $4500 will set you up nicely with new quality gear that will allow you to cut/polish almost anything. Although the price of the machine varies a lot depending on brand etc.. Second hand is always a gamble. But once it's bought there is very little ongoing expense. Apart from any bought rough.

I haven't completed any stones in the last eight years (moving o/s and other commitments, blah, blah, blah) but last week I ordered some rough from the states. This forum inspired me to get back into it .
I'm self taught but probably cut around thirty odd stones

I'm the same, I would like to know how to do faceting but it looks very time consuming to learn and do compared to most hobbies neutral

I dunno. First stone is a pig and does take forever. Then it gets easier.

Here's my collection. Sill have to learn photography though.

 

[Nugget]

Wow Mr Magoo, just wow

 

[Mr Magoo]

Wow Mr Magoo, just wow yikes

Thanks Nugget.

Once you have done your first the rest falls into place. I think the first two in the second row are my second and third stones. Number one went to Mum who had a ring made up for it.

 

[Kingsolomon]

Nice work magoo
What machine do you use ? Glad your getting back Into it... I'm enjoying working the problems and the learning curve of a new trade.. Lots of fun and frustration at the same time .. Epic.
Barney

 

[Kingsolomon]

nice series of how to cut gems.

[video=480,360]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD6ZlNmtwmM[/video]

All videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD6ZlNmtwmM&index=1&list=PLFIMjYf_BtnvaVZNQkHJ4ieF-v1fqPgqu

These vids are good , most ultrarec machines you get for sale here are older ones , still good, but the mast dosnt work the same as this new one . I have an analog one , this is digital . Looked at the upgrade price for mast and digital ... $ 3000+ !
Think ill stick to what I have...
Alex Amess was an epic cutter .. His " crystal king " weighing 8512 carat .quartz took four carat of diamond powder to cut and prepolish... Then 680 grams of oxide to polish . It's in the vic museum , I'd better go see it .
He also used to cut a stone in half an hour , then auction it off at a gemshow .
Serious cutter , also managed to put a faceted stone into the table of another , via drill.
Was happy to teach , and sorry I wasn't born around his time to learn.

 

[Mr Magoo]

Thanks King S.

It's a Gemasta GF4. That was where I calculated my price from. I know cheaper are available.

Lots of fun and frustration at the same time .. Epic.

Know what you mean. I still have heaps to learn. I read a good post on GOL called the 'Perfect cut" (IIRC?). It gives you more faith in what you have achieved.
BTW in the thread some did find an image of the perfect cut. Won a comp 100 points. Looks awesome (I want to try it ). I'll try and find the link tonight.

 

[Mr Magoo]

Here ya go. Stone on page two

http://www.gemologyonline.com/Forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=17845&hilit=perfect