Saturday, 29. August 2009
by Richard Rockman
If you have never heard of a lapidary then you may want to learn more about it if you are looking for a fun hobby. If you’d like to become a lapidary then you want to become a gem cutter. It is a person that makes lapidary rough into a beautiful gemstone.
In nature, gems are not found in the same manner that they are found in jewelry. They need to be prepared to look that way. A lot of tools and skill are used to prepare the stone.
When you get lapidary rough you will see a lot of extra material that is around the rock or mineral from when it was mined. A lapidary then uses saws and other tools to mold the rocks and minerals and remove the excess stuff that surrounds it. When a gem is cut well it shines and is very impressive. A gem not cut well will be ugly and dull.
You will need to use a saw first on lapidary rough. Then the rock or mineral needs to be cleaned with oil so there is nothing left on it that shouldn’t be there. It will need to grind it using silicon carbide wheels or diamond impregnated wheels. Then the gem needs to be sanded to make it shine. Read more... (377 words)
Posted in Jewellery by Richard Rockman -
Tuesday, 14. July 2009
by Richard Rockman
In order to get the perfect results from tumbling your rocks, you will need a really good tumbler machine. The Lortone Rock Tumbler is just what you need to get the job done.
Lortone makes a number of models and sizes. Size does matter when it comes to your tumbler as it can make a difference in the results that you get.
Different needs require different models of the Lortone rock tumbler. For instance, if you are a beginner you will most likely do better with the smaller model. You will have the polished gem rocks you desire while saving on the amount of polish and grit that it takes to achieve your desired result.
When your need is for the larger stones or for a larger amount of stones, then there is a medium or mid-sized tumbler that might be your better choice. The rule of thumb is, the larger the machine is the larger the quantity of rocks needed for the machine to perform at its best. If you are doing a commercial run, there is a production type machine available to meet your needs. Read more... (420 words)
Posted in Jewellery by Richard Rockman -
