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Location: Gems and Minerals
Discussion: Guess I'm going to learn how to facet and cab gemstones
Keyword tags:
gems
minerals
treasure hunting
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purplepat purplepat |
Guess I'm going to learn how to facet and cab gemstones
May 16 2008, 4:22 PM EDT My family went to the Cincinnati Gem and Mineral Show two weekends ago. There, I discovered a local faceting and lapidary club which I am in the process of joining. One old gentleman teaches faceting, and the lady president teaches cabbing. Both charge $10/class, and we'll use their equipment during classes. Best of all, the club has faceting equipment that they will rent out to a club member for dirt cheap! I think they charge $20 or $30 a month to rent the equipment, and that includes the cost of the consumables such as the laps. They said that the rental fee basically goes to cover the cost of the consumables. Seemed like a very small, laid back group of individiuals. I've still got a ton of rough left over from my North Carolina trip, and just bought some African gem rough (mostly sapphires) off eBay, can't wait to see what that stuff looks like. It was literally dirt cheap ($9.99 plus shipping for 1000 carats of assorted rough sized 4mm to 15mm); got to figure there are going to be at least a few stones in there worth faceting. Here's a link, though I'll post some photos once I get the stuff): http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=380025629230&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=025 Not sure how long it will take before I actually cut my first stone, will probably start lessons week after next. Wish me luck! 1 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you? |
 pvjjh |
RE: Guess I'm going to learn how to facet and cab gemstones
May 16 2008, 7:19 PM EDT Pat. that is GREAT!!! That is cheap rent for the equipment and extremely reasonable class fees. That is one thing I never got to do was to take a faceting class. You’ll learn it in no time and will soon be cutting stones. When you see that stone shining back at you it is pretty cool! It will be like an addiction after a while. Hey you still cleaning off the emeralds? Have fun and the best of luck. Paul Do you find this valuable? |
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GranDudette GranDudette |
RE: Guess I'm going to learn how to facet and cab gemstones
Jun 4 2008, 10:57 AM EDT Hi Pat. I recently went to North Carolina and came home with 3 large ziploc freezer bags of gems. I am very interested in the local club you mention (I live in Lawrenceburg, IN). Can you give me a link to club (if there is one) or some detailed information about it? Thanks! Do you find this valuable? |
 aubreyreynolds9@gmai |
RE: Guess I'm going to learn how to facet and cab gemstones
Jun 4 2008, 2:22 PM EDT "Hi Pat.Great! My wife and I cut and sell our creations. We love it. It gives us more shared interests. Check this link it give clubs in your area. There are eight clubs listed in Indiana. I have posted information on collecting in Indiana on the National Directory. http://www.amfed.org/ American Ferderation of Gem and Mineral Societies. Andy has started a swap thread to swap for other cutting material and minerial specimens.. If you like the hobby you might want to buy some good used equipment (chech out Rock and Gem" magazine. Bill 3 out of 3 found this valuable. Do you? |
 washatonian |
RE: Guess I'm going to learn how to facet and cab gemstones
Jun 4 2008, 2:23 PM EDT "Hi Pat.Where in NC did you go? Western part, Asheville area? What kind of gems? Do you find this valuable? |
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GranDudette GranDudette |
RE: Guess I'm going to learn how to facet and cab gemstones
Jun 4 2008, 3:08 PM EDT My husband and I went to Franklin, NC to Sheffield Mine. We had planned on going to other mines in the area, but loved Sheffield Mine and the employees that we went back everyday! Their prices were incredibly low, too. We found a total of 238 carets in Rubies (biggest one is 33 carets). Other gems found in "salted" buckets include amethyst, bloodstone, citrine, jasper, garnet, moonstone, agates, quartz (crystal, rose, and smokey), and sodalite. 3 out of 3 found this valuable. Do you? |
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pvjjh |
RE: Guess I'm going to learn how to facet and cab gemstones
Jun 11 2008, 12:52 AM EDT GranDudette, did you get any of your stones cut or faceted? It is a kick to go through material and find the gems and rocks. Glad you had a good time. Paul Do you find this valuable? |
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GranDudette GranDudette |
RE: Guess I'm going to learn how to facet and cab gemstones
Jun 11 2008, 7:07 AM EDT Hi Paul. No, I haven't had any cut or faceted yet. I hope to soon, though. This is all new to me and still "researching" on purchasing tumbler, etc for the gems/rocks. I've been in contact with a local club about joining, ordered a few books, and subscribed to a magazine. Being a "writer" be day, makes it hard to do the extra reading/research at night. :-) Do you find this valuable? |
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pvjjh |
RE: Guess I'm going to learn how to facet and cab gemstones
Jun 11 2008, 10:58 AM EDT That is a good start. Joining a club is always a good thing. Hopefully they will be helpful with your research or maybe even someone there facets. Gen involved and much as you can and above all have fun! Paul 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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purplepat purplepat |
RE: Guess I'm going to learn how to facet and cab gemstones
Jun 19 2008, 4:13 PM EDT "Hi Pat.Sorry it's been so long to get back here. It is the Greater Cincinnati Lapidary and Faceting Society. Their regular meeting is the 2nd Monday of every month, 7 PM, at the Symmes Township Library, 11850 Enyart Rd. The President is Judy Budnik, her email is wisho@msn.com should you need to contact her. Annual dues are $13 individual, $15 family. Hope to see you there. Not aware that they have a website at this time. Do you find this valuable? |
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purplepat purplepat |
RE: Guess I'm going to learn how to facet and cab gemstones
Jun 19 2008, 4:41 PM EDT "Pat. that is GREAT!!! That is cheap rent for the equipment and extremely reasonable class fees. That is one thing I never got to do was to take a faceting class. You’ll learn it in no time and will soon be cutting stones. When you see that stone shining back at you it is pretty cool! It will be like an addiction after a while.Got off the emerald cleaning kick for awhile, I did about as much to it as I could.. On another area of the rock there is some nice emerald I was picking away at, but there just isn't enough of it to do much with. Getting ready to send it off to Jerry Call for cutting. The "African mixed gem lot" I got on eBay was disappointing. The ad said the smallest pieces were 4 carats, and 4 mm. Well, a 4 mm rough stone is pretty small to cut anything from. I'd say that 80% of the lot were < 4 carats. I complained to the seller, who sent another parcel that were a minimum 4 carat size. But even with that, there just aren't enough clean stones of any size to get excited about. I'm sure there's some cuttable rough in there, but they'll probably yield very small cut stones. Not a lot of great color there either. I'll know more when I start actually cutting some. In another eBay auction I bought a bunch of "Brazilian mine run rough emeralds". This guy is selling 1/2 lb scoops of rough for $15.95 + shipping, from crates of emerald rough that he bought, and of course he talks about how these are straight from the mine, that you'll be the first person to really look at these emeralds and see what lies beneath their matrix crust. He seems to have many satisfied customers. Not sure if I'm one or not. On one hand, I got a ton of emerald rough real cheap...for every 2 scoops you buy, he'll send you 3, so I got 2 (3). I got some really great "specimens" in the lot, including a chunk bigger than a golf ball. On the other hand, almost all of it is opaque and/or very poor color-some almost white with just a hint of green. I got some nice translucent pieces, but none really gemmy or transparent. Paul, I'm wondering if some stones that look translucent look much clearer after cutting and polishing...I can put a bright light behind a couple and the whole stone just lights up. Do you find this valuable? |
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pvjjh |
RE: Guess I'm going to learn how to facet and cab gemstones
Jun 19 2008, 6:43 PM EDT Hi Pat, most emerlds will have inclusions or be off color. It is hard to tell what you'll have until you can get into the stone. Maybe grind just a bit off the outside and clean it up a little. Then put on some mineral oil and shine a light into it. If it is a good green color and semi transparent, it won't be too bad of a emerald. Of course a perfectly clear green colored emerald about 10 cts would be fantastic. lol I have found that when purchasing rough form some of the eBay sellers that any of the good rough will be small. I cut stones clear down to 10 pts. Much smaller than that I would rather send off offshore. Anyway, I have really never done that good buying rough from the bulk sellers. I have good ones, but you also have to take the junk with the good. Unfortunately there isn't a lot of really good big gemmy rough. I have done better with Gem mtn buckets or buckets like that. Now remember that all emeralds are treated with cedar oil once finished. You will be surprised as how the color will change once the voids are filled with oil and it has been treated. My understanding is that all emerald jewels should be treated once per year. At least the seller that you complained too send you a new batch with the proper mnimum sized roughs. The small roughs sort them and keep them. When you got like a 500 cts of good stuff but smaller than you want to facet, send them off shore. I just send my first batch off and am waiting to see the results. Hey don't be gone for so long next time. Have you started faceting and cabbing?? Like to see some of your finished stones. Paul Do you find this valuable? |
