Gained a new hobby - Gem Cutting

Goldy
Goldy Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,636
Long time no see! Been really busy with work over the past 3 months but I was able to score a faceting machine at a garage sale and have started cutting gems. I'm going to try and integrate digars and gem cutting next time the weather is nice but every time I try to do SOMETHING and smoke at the same time it never ends well.

Let me know if anyone wants something made up for the hollidays, I have a few requests allready but I can fit a few more in. I might even trade gems for cigars...


This stone below is a spinel and is my very first stone.
image DSCF2167 by bgoldylocks, on Flickr

Comments

  • jlmarta
    jlmarta Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,440
    Cool! This sorta goes hand-in-hand with your profession, doesn't it? I think that's neat!
  • Goldy
    Goldy Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,636
    it certianly does! I actually went out a while back and collected some nice topaz from a hill here in Utah so I am excited to cut those stones. Pretty cool idea to find a mineral and take it all the way to a cut gemstone all by yourself.
  • jlmarta
    jlmarta Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,440
    Boy! I'll say! Ought to be a great deal of satisfaction in that. Rock on, brother. (no pun intended).
  • stephen_hannibal
    stephen_hannibal Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 4,317
    That is kinda cool man.

  • cabinetmaker
    cabinetmaker Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,561
    That cut looks top quality. Perfect!
  • fla-gypsy
    fla-gypsy Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,023
    Super cool, nice pic too
  • laker1963
    laker1963 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 5,046
    Awesome job Goldy. I too am a rockhound. Nothing more relaxing then walking over the mountainsides looking for good samples. That or sitting on a riverbank panning. Would love to be able to do that... very nice work.
  • dennisking
    dennisking Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,681
    that's how it was in the old days from what i'm told. my wife's diamond is an antique mine cut diamond her great aunt had. it's pretty cool how they did it back then.
  • ENFIDL
    ENFIDL Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 5,836
    That's awesome man. Nice work
  • xmacro
    xmacro Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,402
    Damn, that looks really nice. Think I might have to contact you sometime around Christmas :)
  • ShotgunJohn
    ShotgunJohn Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,539
    Wow!! That is awesome, it looks fantastic. Very nice work.
  • Goldy
    Goldy Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,636
    xmacro:
    Damn, that looks really nice. Think I might have to contact you sometime around Christmas :)
    Sounds good, just shoot me a PM and tell me what kind of shape you are interested in.
  • laker1963
    laker1963 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 5,046
    Goldy, can you, or have you cut many different gem stones? I was thinking about the different hardness and natural flaws of different stones. I was thinking for instance raw sapphire. Could you cut raw sapphiers?
  • Goldy
    Goldy Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,636
    laker1963:
    Goldy, can you, or have you cut many different gem stones? I was thinking about the different hardness and natural flaws of different stones. I was thinking for instance raw sapphire. Could you cut raw sapphiers?
    Hardness just makes the stone take longer to grind but doesn't really increase the difficulty. What does increase the dificulty is cleavage which is the stones natrual breaking planes. Sapphires should be no problem and I am going to start cutting them very soon. I also just bought a bunch of opal that I am going to cut next week which should be fun.
  • laker1963
    laker1963 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 5,046
    Opals are amazing. I have a friend who got a bunch of raw and cut opal when he was in Australia.

    Are you going to start a web page or anything with your work dispayed?
  • Goldy
    Goldy Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,636
    Thats a good idea. Right now I'm just posting my things on facebook for friends to see. Do you know how hard it is to make a website?

    Just wait till you see the next creation, its sweet.
  • laker1963
    laker1963 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 5,046
    Goldy:
    Thats a good idea. Right now I'm just posting my things on facebook for friends to see. Do you know how hard it is to make a website?

    Just wait till you see the next creation, its sweet.
    I think it is quite easy. For me? Not so much. There are several website guru's on the forums I do believe.

    Will you post some of your stuff here? Maybe at least this latest creation you are speaking of.