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Detailed entries for one subject from the INDEX TO HOW TO DO IT INFORMATION. |
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GEMSTONE CUTTING & POLISHING sa GEMSTONE CARVING sa GEMSTONE CUTTING & POLISHING DESIGNS & PATTERNS sa GEMSTONE CUTTING & POLISHING EQUIPMENT sa GEMSTONE DOPPING & TRANSFERING sa GEMSTONE DRILLING & CORING sa GEMSTONE SAWING sa GEMSTONE TUMBLING sa GEMSTONE TURNING x FACETING x LAPIDARY xx GEMSTONE xx JEWELRY xx POLISHING The handbook of flat lapping. Part 3. Cutting with the flat lap. The handbook of flat lapping. Part 4. Cutting with the flat lap (continued). Cutting and finishing ulexite. How to facet and polish opaque tigereye, a good one-evening project. The handbook of flat lapping. Part 5. Gang lapping. Faceting for beginners. Part 8. Polishing laps. The Handbook of flat lapping. Part 6. Polishing laps. One way to make shiners. Gemstone polishing hints from Rudy and Ruth Ramacher. The Handbook of flat lapping. Part 7. Practical examples and projects. How I cut malachite. Tips on cutting this more expensive gemstone. The handbook of flat lapping. Part 9. Other laps and lapping techniques, including the vibrating lap and the passive lap. How to make intarsia spheres from gemstone materials. The handbook of flat lapping. Part 10. Other uses for a vertical arbor include the cutting of gemstone spheres. The technique is described. How to apply lattice lenses to make star and cat's-eye stones. How to cut the stone material and bond the lattice lens to the back. Tigereye and its kissing cousins. Sources and cutting hints for this gemstone. Faceting for beginners. Part 9. Damage and contamination. Faceting for beginners. Part 10. Lap sizes. How to joint six triangular-shaped pieces together to form a six sided cabochon. How to cut a Gilson emerald. Guidelines for polishing jade by Gerald I. Hemrich, author of "Handbook on Jade." Tip: How to use woven rayon mesh impregnated with silicon carbide grains for sanding cabochons. How to tumble, cut facet, and carve rose quartz. Special emphasis is on how to orient the star. Faceting for beginners. Part 14. Selecting faceting materials. The 1980 Directory Reference Almanac. Conversion tables, charts and definitions most often referred to by jewelry makers, gem cutters and rockhounds. Faceting for beginners. Part 15. Preforming. How to work with nephrite, jadeite and jade. Details on undercutting, flat lapping and polishing. Faceting for beginners. Part 16. Preforming (continued) and sawing rough material. How to facet opal triplets. Faceting for beginners. Part 17. Preforming (continued). Faceting for beginners. Part 18. Preforming (continued). Working chrysocolla. Freeform cutting of cabochons. Includes the basic mathematics used to generate cabochons. Beryl for the gem cutter. A look at the varieties of beryl and recommended lapidary treatment. Faceting for beginners. Part 19. Orientation for color. A look at malachite and a summary of its lapidary treatment. A guide to cutting non-oval cabochons. 1981 directory, Reference Almanac. Conversion tables, charts, and definitions most often referred to by jewelry makers, gem cutters, and rockhounds. How to facet apacite or other soft gem materials. Includes instructions for the fancy cut. Polish faceted stones using this inexpensive system consisting of a single sided phenolic polishing lap, three polishing compounds and diamond lubricant. Tip: Use a circular lap of fine-grained polystyrene to polish difficult stones. How to facet cerussite. Faceting tips from a pro. Selecting rough material, polishing peridot, make a wax lap, polish a cleavage plane, etc. Tip: How to get a perfectly flat face on material being worked on a vibrating lap. Oxalic acid, the rockhound's helper. Use as a cleaner and polishing aid. Improvised faceting. A technique for cutting that makes use of standard faceting machines and accessories, but without any preconceived pattern or design. Reference almanac. Conversion tables, charts and definitions most often referred to by jewelry makers, gem cutters and rockhounds. Tip: How to polish large flat slabs on a vibrating lap. Tips for jewelry makers. (1) Cutting jade with a Damascus separating disk. (2) Use dental bristle brushes to polish jewelry. (3) Soldering ring shanks without removing stone. How to smooth and polish a stone by hand using a heavy sheet of glass and some silicon carbide abrasive in various grits. An introduction to meet point faceting. How to cut a marquise without preforming. How to avoid the "fish eye effect" cutting error. A simple way to leave a polish-like finish on rocks by using a polymer compound (instead of grinding, lapping, sanding and polishing). Considerations in judging faceted stones entered in competition. Competitive freeform cabochons. Techniques and tips from a trophy winner. Meet point faceting of heart-shaped stones. A look between the lines of faceting instructions. Tips on solving a variety of problems encountered when using a faceting machine. A five-point checklist is suggested for beginning faceters to help prevent errors. Tips on varying the angles when faceting cubic zirconia. Tip: The Meet Point faceting technique does not require an ultra-precision faceting machine. Tip: "Nitch" the outside edge of a cabochon with a trim saw before grinding. Description of a method for polishing faceted gems of 7.5 hardness and harder on a cast iron lap. Using the vibrating lap. Working tips for polishing clock cases and other flats. The art of "nature-form" cabochons. Tips on using the "Lorton Stroker" to form decorative colored stones into cabochons by hand. A technique for using the oscillating or vibrating lap to weight and polish 3 or 4 slabs or geodes at one time. Tips on making a gemstone egg. "Electroplating" by El Cheapo. Embellish polished agates with gold paint and make them into pendants. Includes instructions on casting several agates in plaster of paris blocks prior to slabbing. How to cut a truly round stone. How to obtain useable accuracy when preforming rough gem material by cutting 16 equal girdle facets. Methods include cutting by sound and using girdling devices. Tip: An opal triplet may be separated (unglued) by using oil of wintergreen. Faceting C-OX. Instructing for cutting the new man-made material. Profiles in jade. Tips on converting scrap jade slabs into interesting sculpture. Tip: How to align and polish small facets that are difficult to see. Tip: How to use the Thompson Traverse method of getting accuracy in girdle facets. Tip: How to cut small stones on a diamond wheel. Tip: Use adhesive putty to attach weights on rocks when flat lapping. Frame a pretty picture. Something different for cabochon cutters. How to surround a rectangular piece of decorative stone with a border of a different stone and then create a pendant-shaped cabochon. Catalyst altered water for gem polishing. Greatly improved speed of polishing and quality of polish have been noted when using a highly ionic form of water. Faceting tips for the beginner's blues. Part 2. Includes information on material, stone size, cut and planning, dopping, etc. Faceting hints. Includes tips on using diamond paste, diamond spray, extender fluid, etc. Tip: How to remove scratches or small chips from the tables of faceted gems without removing the stones from their mountings. Polishing techniques. Excerpts from the book "Master Faceting" by Gerald L. Wykoff. Part 1. How to polish thin gemstone windchime slabs without cracking or breaking them. Polishing techniques. Excerpts from the book "Master Faceting" by Gerald L. Wykoff. Part 2. Techniques to avoid polishing scratches. Some handy hints for gemcutters. How to saw and polish (lap) geodes known as "Mexican Coconuts". Polishing techniques. Excerpts from the book "Master Faceting" by Gerald L. Wykoff. Part 3. New developments in polishing. Techniques to improve polishing. Polishing techniques. Excerpts from the book "Master Faceting" by Gerald L. Wykoff. Part 4. Hand lapping. Tip: Use silicone rubber caulk to hold specimens for flat lapping. Faceted stone polishing. Theory and practice. A variety of methods to achieve a good polish are discussed. The Bielby layer concept in gemstone polishing. Advice on polishing soft stones from a diamond cutter. Facet grinding and finishing. Theory and practice. An in-depth analysis of the factors involved in getting a good polish. Polishing laps and powders. Theory and application. An in-depth study for faceters. Tip: Coat small cracks in gemstones, geodes, etc. with melted paraffin. This prevents the cracks from collecting grit. New faceting techniques for friable, stressed and heat-sensitive stones. Tip: How to cut opal with a faceting machine. Tip: Use "Johnsons Baby Oil" in place of extender fluid. All facets great and small. Tips on table cutting and polishing. Method to cut very thin and accurate slices of opal on a faceting machine. I'm learning. Part 9. Cutting and polishing a gemstone. The unconventional cabochon. How to make cabochons of unusual shapes like bells, leaves, penguins, free forms, etc. Faceting must be difficult. How do you do it. An amature suggests that the best way to illustrate and practice faceting is to cut and polish glass marbles. A series of marbles can illustrate the production of a gemstone step-by-step. How to make super polished cabochons. The seven step surface preparation and polishing procedure plus other tips. The Gilson opal triplet and how to make it. A three piece gemstone made by cementing together a thin piece of precious opal between a backing piece and a layer of optical quartz or other clear material. Finishing rocks by hand. How to grind, sand and polish rock specimens, geode halves and slabs by hand, without expensive machinery. Getting the most out of faceting material. A visual-graphical method for cutting and performing. Bicabs and tricabs (showcabs) easily made. Glue pieces of different rocks together, separated with pieces of nontarnishing stainless steel. Then cut and polish the composite cabochons in the normal way. Cubic zirconia cutting and polishing techniques. Suggestions on ways to use rock slabs. How to produce perfectly flat surfaces. Tip: An alternative process for polishing soft stones. Typical problems involved in using a 15" vibrating lap to sand and polish flat faces of agates and geodes. Practical solutions discussed. The 33rd annual Rockhound Buyers Guide. Cutting free form cabochons. Covers analyzing the rough material and judging what shape can come out of a slab. Cutting Charoite, a new mineral from the Lake Baikal region of Russia. Covers slabbing, rough grinding, and polishing. Scratchproof facet and cabbing polishing technique. Oakey's sour polishing technique. How to use a vinegar solution or vinegar, Karo syrup and soap to make a scratch-free polishing solution. Collecting Minerals, a Handbook..." Part 5. A summary of ways to produce gemstone jewelry. Tips on tumbling, cutting, cabochons, lapping and carving. The B.W. Anderson method of determining the refractive index when you don't own a refractometer. Shop practice for gem cutting by Pierre Gilson. Recommended methods for cutting and polishing Gilson-created precious stones. Also includes a list of suppliers for the various materials required. How to make a parallel cut on a cabochon. How to cut flat, curved, circular and conical facets. One faceter's suggestions on how to work with phenolic laps and not get scratches. How to obtain an attractive sheen effect from layered obsidian. Faceting Slocum stone, a man-made gemstone resembling opal. A safety guide for lapidary and gem hobbyists. Part 2. Safety in the home and shop. Cutting rhodolite garnet for brilliance and recovery. The art of cabbing and sphering on a faceter. A glossary of lapidary terms. Basic faceting. Part 1. Basic faceting. Part 2. A look at Ultra laps that require little or no slurry. Working with clean planes. A step-by-step description of the basic procedures for stones in the 5 carat size range. Basic faceting. Part 3. How to cut quality stones from Kashan ruby crystals. A look at some of the soft lapidary materials and ways to use them. Covers alabaster, amber, bone, catline, crocoite, gypsum, horn, ivory, jet, lepidolite, meerschaum, prousite, shell, serpentine, soapstone, ulexite, and vivianite. How to get started in lapidary. More soft stones for lapidary: calcite, coral, domeykite, howlite, shatluckite, azurite, malachite, dolomite, fluorite, magnesite, rhodochrosite, serpentine, smithsonite, and thulite. How to cut spectrolite. An outline of the types of books that should be in a basic lapidary library and suggested titles for each category. Gem lore and faceting diagrams. A series which deals with the art (or science) of faceting. Part 1. The history of gemstones. Buying faceting rough. A description of several types of faceting rough that are available and peculiar problems that might not be expected or easily visible. For the beginning faceter. Part 1. What to facet. Tips on working obsidian. For the beginning faceter. Part 2. Selecting and preforming rough gem material. The saga of faceting. Instructions for the beginner on the art of faceting and how to get started in this hobby. Gem lore and faceting diagrams. Part 5. Selection of cutting material (rough). For the beginning faceter. Part 4. Cutting stone. Facet polishing tip for the new amethyst/citrine quartz. For the beginning faceter. Part 5. Polishing. How to buy CZ (cubic zirconia) facet rough. Cutting diaspore. Some tips. Gem lore and faceting diagrams. Part 7. A look at various mistakes or foibles which can be encountered during faceting. How to hand polish slabs using a minimum of equipment and supplies. Processing scraps of ammonite (loose flakes and particles of flakes) into cabochons. Two methods described. From rough to ring. A description of the various steps and decisions that must be made when shaping (faceting) a gemstone. Gem lore and faceting diagrams. Part 9. Four cutting sequences are described. How to eliminate uneven girdles in faceting. Some tips. How to recognize flaws in gemstone rough. On recutting old, worn and damaged stones. Thoughts on being a faceter. A discussion of some details which are beyond the scope of most "how to" articles. A guide to choosing facet rough. Some experiences and suggestions from an amateur faceter. Includes tips on faceting diagrams, dopping and transfer, diamond cutting laps, polishing, etc. Cabbing for repairs. Cabbing standard-sized stones and free forms, and reworking stones that are chipped, scratched or dulled. Some tips. Lapidary experiments using non-traditional materials, techniques and projects. Some ideas. Faceting for fun. Practical guidelines for the beginning cutter. Tip on cutting malachite. Tips on buying rough cutting material. Tip: Use carbide glass cutter to trim slabs for cabochon preforms. Tip: Use a mixture of "Tide" and cerium oxide on a hard-to-polish cab. Tip: Add pumice powder to 600 grit slurry for a brighter final polish. Tips on selecting facet rough. Tips on working "spectrolite", a variety of labradorite. The most common combinations of buffs and polish compounds are noted. Tip: Use crushed turquoise mixed with clear epoxy to fill small defects in turquoise gemstones. Tip on polishing flats with a Lortone vibrating lap. Tip on polishing jade. Tip explains the purpose of each different color of "rouge". Getting started. The beginners guide to creating a jewel. Jewelry maker explains the basics of cutting a cabochon, from trimming a slab of gem rough to bringing up the final polish. Also includes information on tumbling. Tip on paste for polishing jade, rhodonite, or lapis. Tip on repolishing stones without taking them out of the mounting. Tip on orienting a high domed cabochon with a star in the center. Tips on polishing opal. Tips on getting the best "rainbow" from iris agate. Tip on polishing Petoskey stone. Tip on cutting spectrolite (labradorite). Tip on cementing opal doublets together with shellac flakes. Tips on buying rough gem material for cutting a top quality stone. Tips for polishing slabs, geode halves, etc. Tip: Use water glass (sodium silicate) as a cement when cutting identical pieces. Uninhibited gem designing. The Tiki Mask, a 23mmx30mm amethyst, demonstrates this professional lapidary's ideas and techniques for creative cutting. Tip: Use a cork lap for polishing nephrite, rhodonite, lapis, etc. Making doublets and triplets from small pieces of opal. Cement opal to black jade for a doublet. Cap with a quartz dome for a triplet. Technique for orienting phenomenal stones to get the best chatoyance and color. Tip on sanding a thin slab of iris agate. Tips on the proper sanding needed to achieve a mirror polish. Hobby businesses. Turning a lapidary hobby into a legitimate business. Some advice. Tip: Clean grit off of a felt buff by holding a piece of soft wood (balsa wood) against it. Orienting color in quartz gems. Tips on what to consider when orienting a piece of rough for cutting. Hints on polishing fluorite. Tip on orienting rough material to produce the eye in tigereye. Spheres. With a few additions to an existing horizontal lap, a hobbyist can make gemstone spheres. The soft touch. Art Grant shares his techniques for faceting soft stones, especially fluorites and calcites. Grooving for enhancement. Persistent problems in faceted stones are solved with negative cuts. A new look at Charoite, a hydrous silicate of sodium potassium and calcium. Step-by-step instructions for cutting and polishing. Inlaid marble sphere is made by gluing up a blank from seven different types of colored marble. Some tips. Tip on cutting and polishing opalized wood. Economic substance. Advice on determining if your lapidary activity qualifies as a "business" for income tax purposes. Tip on using small Naugahyde pads charged with diamond compound to polish stones by hand. Study of the stars. How to locate stars (asterism) in various kinds of rough gemstone. Step-by-step directions for cutting quartz stars, with notes on garnet, beryl and corundum. Using oxalic acid to prepolish gemstones and to remove stains from quartz and chalcedony. Technique for fabricating a plume agate doublet is described. Tips on using a vibrating lap. Make a "super polish" by adding pumice to 600 grit sanding cloth. Tips on eliminating problem scratches during the polishing operation by careful cleaning, changing speed, etc. Tips on flat lapping without a lapping machine. Tip: Use aluminum wire "lead" to outline cabocohons or for other marking on gemstone. Tips on working opalized wood. Tip on polishing chlorastrolite (green stone). Tip on polishing a slab of iris agate. Reworking gemstones accidentally damaged or scratched through ordinary wear. Tips on repolishing and/or recutting. Tip on preventing contamination of polish compound solutions. Tip on polishing jaspers. Jade cutters' tips for respiratory protection. Shop safety. An extensive listing of the hazardous tools and chemicals in the workshop and the precautions to take when working with them. Safety information for small shops with applications in gold- and silversmithing, jewelry manufacturing, lapidary work, etc. Faceting tip when using a ceramic lap to polish sapphires and chrysoberyl. Tip on using baby oil as a diamond compound extender fluid. Tip on fixing a hairline crack in a gemstone using super glue prior to cutting. Tip on a safer method for polishing calcite onyx (Mexican onyx). Tip on gluing together various colored materials to make cabbing rough. Tip on finishing (polishing) small flat surfaces like thunderegg halves. Tips on faceting cuprite gems. Tip on heating (curing) some porous lapidary materials to drive the moisture out prior to polishing. Tip on using a fluorescent light to check the progress in grinding a gemstone. Cleavage in quartz. How to recognize and adapt to the tendency of quartz to split along specific planes. Part 1. Brief explanation of polishing compounds for both the novice and experienced lapidaries. Cleavage in quartz. Part 2. Time honored techniques. In a high-tech world, hand polishing brings satisfaction to lapidaries. Non-machine methods for grinding and polishing agate (or jasper) slabs and opal cabs. Tip on achieving a good bond when gluing up a doublet. Tip on cutting a fire agate cabochon. Tips on cutting "cabochets", the forerunners of today's popular fantasy cuts. It's what's inside that counts. Gem material with inclusions can often be faceted to form extraordinarily patterned pieces. Some tips. Tip on reinforcing a thin slab prior to lapping. Multiple choice. Techniques for polishing apatite or fluorapatite. Faceting transparent opals. Some tips. Faceting fluorite. Cutting and polishing fluorite requires modifying your usual techniques. Some tips. Faceting hiddenite. Pleochroism and distinct cleavage are special considerations that affect the faceting of this stone. Cabbing (cutting a stone into a rounded shape without facets). An introduction to lapidary as a hobby. Part 1. Setting up a shop. How to cut the opal from Opal Butte, Oregon. Tip on backing a dull cabochon with aluminum foil. So you wanna make jewelry. A blueprint for getting started in jewelry making, stone setting, gem cutting, and/or gem carving. The fascinating world of faceting. An introduction to the world of index gears and frosted facets. Tips on choosing a machine, what to cut, design, etc. Tip on polishing rhodochrosite (Inca Rose). Cutting cabochons. One in a continuing series of articles on cabochon cutting for beginners. Tip on heating nodule and thunderegg halves prior to polishing. Tip on finishing the back of a cabochon first. Cutting cabochons. Grinding the stone that you have been forming in this continuing series of articles on cabochon cutting for beginners. Tip on making an opal mosiac triplet by applying colorful opal chips to a thin backing of black obsidian and covering with clear quartz. Tip on grinding the flat surface on a stone to be used for a cabochon. Cabbing figurines. An advanced cabbing project that describes a method of producing figureines of birds, flowers, and animals using only conventional lapidary equipment. Part 1. Selecting your material and cutting your slabs. Cutting opal. Intermediate-to-advanced cutting project. Cabbing figurines. An advanced cabbing project that describes a method of producing figureines of birds, flowers, and animals using only conventional lapidary equipment. Part 2. Grinding, sanding, polishing and cementing your piece. Hand-polished opal cabochon. A beginner lapidary project. Advice on using colloidal polishes. Cabochon cutting and polishing for beginners. Advice on how to hand polish a Petoskey stone. Tip tells how to use the hot-needle test to distinguish jet from vulcanite. Also suggests how amber and other organic materials can be shaped and polished. Grinding a cabochon. Tips for beginners on grinding and shaping stone. Tip tells how to polish a cabochon dulled by wear without removing it from the mounting. Slabbing on shares. How someone with stone but no saw and someone with a saw but no stone can work out a trade. Cutting and displaying iris agate. How to recycle a cabochon that has broken or chipped. Cutting Australian boulder opal. An intermediate lapidary project. Part 1. Selecting and preparing rough, exposed opal. Amazing Amazonite. A beginner lapidary project. Cutting Australian boulder opal. Part 2. Dopping, cutting and finishing. Pointers for new lapidaries. Rules of thumb and six methods for individual materials. Rutile. Carving buried treasure. How to cut rutilated quartz. Intermediate skill level cutting project. Tips on shop safety for beginning lapidaries and metalsmiths. Cutting a 550-carat kunzite. An advanced faceting project. A hand-made cabochon. A project for beginners who want to find out about working with gem materials without investing in machinery. Cutting tips for fire agate, a lapidary challenge for beginners. Cutting patuxent river agate. Beginner-to-intermediate project. Cutting Mexican jelly opal. A project for beginners. Getting started in gem cutting. Gem cutting techniques and equipment. Part 1. Gem cutting techniques and equipment. Part 2. | |||||||||
Copyright © by Norman Lathrop Enterprises. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, print photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior expressed permission of Norman Lathrop Enterprises, except as permitted by law. |
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