|
====================================
LAPIDARY ARTS and FACETERS DIGEST
====================================
Issue No.58 - Tuesday February 4, 2003
====================================
Moderated by: Thurmond Moore III
====================================
Committed to carrying on the fine works started
by Hale Sweeny and Jerry Dewbre
====================================
Click a link below to post to the list:
for faceting questions faceters@caprock-spur.com
for lapidary questions lapidary@caprock-spur.com
====================================
====================================
Index to Today's Digest
01 RE: grading & selling natural zircon rough
02 RE: grading/photographing rough
03 RE: Tumblers / Vibrating Units
04 RE: Garnet Abrasives
05 RE: Recycling Lap Plates
06 Aqua Rough prices ?
07 Star sapphire orientation methods?
08 RE: Tumblers / Vibrating Units
====================================
Message:01
Subject: Re: grading & selling natural zircon rough
From: "Cheryl Weaver" <cheryl@winsoft.net.au>
To: "Lapidary Arts and Faceters Digest" <owner-faceters@caprock-spur.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 19:32:40 +1100
Hi All,
Thank you to everyone who replied to my questions re Harts Range
zircon.
I will play around with my camera using your tips and see if I can
produce some good quality shots.
Regards
Cheryl from down under.
__________________________________________________________
Message:02
Subject: grading/photographing rough
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2003 15:50:08 -0800 (PST)
To: LapidaryArtsDigest <lapidary@caprock-spur.com>
From: Dave Thompson <djt@irastro.caltech.edu>
Cc: cheryl@winsoft.net.au
Hi Cheryl,
> 2. ...photos of the rough what would faceters like to be able
to see
Shoot photos of the rough sitting on a white piece of paper
under natural light (a bright but cloudy day works best) with nothing
more than the appropriate color balance for the conditions, using
a
decent digital camera. This gives a reasonable idea of the
color of
the finished faceted stones. A photo or two of cut stones
would help
as well.
Dave (Pasadena, CA).
__________________________________________________________
Message:03
Subject: Tumblers / Vibrating Units
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2003 18:57:06 -0500
To: "LapidaryArtsDigest" <lapidary@caprock-spur.com>
From: "kulaczp" <kulaczp@pivot.net>
It was nice to see questions on this subject. I purchased a 10 pound
vibrator on line and was a bit confused on useage. I played around
for a few
loads and came up with a few good observations.
I am only using this unit to do the first parts of the tumble process.
I
have also added ceramic tumble media to help grind down the rough.
I can put
down a load of quartz hardness stones in no time, oh also of course
had been
added the silicon carbide. I do wash out the unit but save all the
left over
silicon for further projects. Water level is important and you will
need to
play with the level, I just watch the tumble and see how the stones
are
moving. I do know when I mix in too many pieces that are flat my
tumble does
not do well. I have found stones of similar size and shape work
out better
and speed the process a bit.
My final stages are done in smaller roller type units . Polishing
in the
tumbler did not work well because the unit couild not be cleaned
well enough
not to have any left over abrasive from the rough grinds.
I will say that taking down the rough in the vibrator unit is soooo
much
faster . My polishing only takes a couple of days after I
beat them up good
in the vibrator.
Thanks again.
Peter in Maine
www.rattlesnakemountainminerals.com
__________________________________________________________
Message:04
Subject: Re: Issue No.57 - Monday February 3, 2003 -- Message:03
Date: Mon, 03 Feb 2003 21:09:52 -0500
To: LapidaryArtsDigest <lapidary@caprock-spur.com>
From: Kreigh Tomaszewski <Kreigh@Tomaszewski.net>
Rose,
Garnet abrasives have a long history in lapidary. Prior to WWII
they
were the only uniformly graded abrasive that was available commercially.
If carborundum was used, the user either graded it themselves by
elutriation, or it was only used for rough grinding. Garnet fines
were
typically sold graded by the actual grain size in microns; typically
avaliable grades available were 30, 28, 26, 24...,8, 6, 4. They
were
made from natural garnets and well graded.
Remember that garnet has a hardness of 6 1/2 -- 7 1/2. If you are
doing
quartz or harder you probably need carborundum (or lots of time).
Garnet, like carborundum, will break down over time because it is
brittle. So go ahead and use them in regular grades, if you have
them.
If you have only coarse or mixed grit, running it out will probably
work, much like with corborundum (aka, corundum, carbo, "grit").
A
little bit of carbo mixed in sometimes helps speed the process.
Don't be
suprised if it takes longer.
Kreigh
__________________________________________________________
Message:05
Subject: Re: Issue No.57 - Monday February 3, 2003
Date: Tue, 04 Feb 2003 07:03:03 +0000
To: lapidary@caprock-spur.com
From: "Frank Romano" <romanfj@hotmail.com>
Phillip Stone brook wrote: SNIP>
Well, I guess
I'll now salvage the "master lap" portion from these after
a trip thru
the oven.<SNIP
Many adhesives are flammable. I'd find out what kind of "glue"
is used on
the lap, especially with a gas oven. Also, it's winter here on the
shores of
Lake Michigan and as a result, houses are buttoned down tight.
If you think
solvents smell strong at room temp, they'll positively knock you
off your
feet at 200 degrees F. Think about some ventilation.
Frank Romano
"Gemcutters are Multifaceted Individuals"
__________________________________________________________
Message:06
Subject: Aqua
Date: Tue, 04 Feb 2003 08:30:29 -0500
To: lapidary@caprock-spur.com
From: "Don Sommerfield" <dlsomm@hotmail.com>
One of my good friends passed away and his widow asked me to evaluate
some
aquamarine rough. I do not facet, but I do lots of cabochons so
I have
little knowledge of the rough prices. Can any one give me a price
range for
some pretty good looking stuff?
__________________________________________________________
Message:07
Subject: Star sapphires
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 07:08:53 -0700
To: <lapidary@caprock-spur.com>
From: <wreisbick@mho.net>
This is my first time to post a question, so it is a new experience.
I
have approximately a pound of star sapphire rough that looks like
so
many rocks but they all have the ability to star. They also change
appearance drasticly when polished. I bought this rough to practice
with
but so far I seem to be missing the mark. Is there an easy
method of
locating the correct position to grind the stone?
Walter
wreisbick@mho.net
__________________________________________________________
Message:08
Subject: Re: Issue No.57 - Monday February 3, 2003
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 12:24:42 EST
To: lapidary@caprock-spur.com
From: Send2mail@aol.com
Thurmond
Great tips ! I was not aware of the delicate balances of water.
I like your idea of possibly transferring to a different tumbler
for
polishing. I will try that trick with a different vibrational tumbler
/
Covington's.....
I have found that slabs need to be separated by up to 80%, non-slab
materials...Lapping together / the sticking together of slabs is
a large
problem.. No grinding, sanding or polishing will otherwise occur,
unless
slabs are free to receive the carbides and aluminas..
Perhaps I will also increase the power, it's just that the increased
noise of
doing so, is a big concern for me in my current living situation..
Thank you
====================================
RESOURCES FOR LAPIDARIES ~
Hale Sweeny's Lapidary Digest Archives http://www.lapidarydigest.com/
International Lapidary Association http://www.gemcutters.org
http://webdev.archive.org/
then enter www.liccini.com
RESOURCES FOR FACETER'S ~
Facetron: http://www.facetron.com/
Graves: http://www.rockhounds.com/graves/
MDR: http://www.mdr-facet.com/
Polymetric: http://www.polymetricinc.com/
Ultra-tec: http://www.ultratec-facet.com
Fac-Ette Manufacturing Company: (910)256-9248
http://www.fac-ette.com/
800-336-9248.
Raytech Industries: http://www.raytech-ind.com
Rock Peddler: 1-800-416-4348 / www.rockpeddler.com
====================================
RESOURCES FOR GEMOLOGISTS ~
Accredited Gemologists Association, http://aga.polygon.net/
American Gem Society, (AGS) 702-255-6500
American Gem Trade Association, (AGTA) http://www.agta.org
Gemmological Assc. & GTL / Great Britain, http://www.gagtl.ac.uk/gagtl
Gemmological Association of Australia, http://www.gem.org.au
Gemological Institute of America, (GIA) http://www.gia.edu.giagem
International Gem Society (IGS) web site is: http://www.gemsociety.org
International Colored Gemstone Association, http://www.gemstone.org
My Gemologist http://www.mygemologist.com
====================================
FACETING GUILDS (Alphabetically, World) ~
*Charleston Faceting Guild, South Carolina, wmcnay@mindspring.com.
*Columbia-Willamette Faceter's Guild, http://www.facetersguild.com/
*Danish Faceters Guild, http://medlem.spray.se/danfacet/
*East/Central Florida:Tomoka Gem and Mineral Society's Faceters
Guild,
Don Cameron: ghgemcutter@earthlink.net
*Eastern Mass Faceter's Group, rockpeddler@attbi.com
*Faceter's Forum Society-LaPorte, IN VESteele@aol.com
*Faceter's Guild of N. California, Wayne Meissner, lklomp@cnetech.com
*Faceter's Guild of S. California, Jerry W. Carroll, (818)348-6327
*Intermountain Faceter's Guild, Carl M. Unruh, (360)385-3753
*Midwest Faceter's Guild, Tyler Miller, tmiller277@comcast.net
*Mid-Williamette Faceters Guild, Albany, Oregon, Michael E. Bumcrot;
E-mail @ MBumcrot@valleyoilco.com
*Moreton Bay is a branch of the Australian Facetors' Guild, Brisbane,
Queensland. http://cwpp.slq.qld.gov.au/afg
*New Mexico Faceter's Guild, Nancy Attaway, attaway@highfiber.com
http://www.attawaygems.com/NMFG
*North Puget Sound Faceting Guild, Keith Wyman, tfw@fidalgo.net
*Tacoma Faceting Guild, Chuck Bloch chuck_b@prodigy.net
*Texas Faceter's Guild, Jill Rowlands, gemsbyj@aol.com
*Seattle Faceting Club (LeonardBahr@prodigy.net)
*United States Faceting Guild (Keith Wyman, tfw@fidalgo.net)
http://www.usfacetersguild.org/events.shtml
*Vancouver Island Faceters' Guild - British Columbia, Canada.
wrheitland@shaw.ca
(Add your faceting organization here, US or International - Write
to
( owner-lapidary@caprock-spur.com
or owner-faceters@caprock-spur.com
)
====================================
TODAY'S FUNNY ~
From Harper's Magazine:
Amount of pizza eaten each day in U.S. (acres): 75
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Found on the seal of a bag of bagels:
NEW
IMPROVED
Made the old
fashioned way
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sign in a restaurant:
"We reserve the right to serve refuse to anyone."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heard on a radio station.
What did the female mushroom say about the male mushroom?
"He's a real fun guy [fungi]."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Ever wonder about people who pay $2 for a bottle of Evian water?
A: Just spell "Evian" backwards!
=====================================
REFLECTIONS AND TIDBITS:
" Few are those who possess the imagination to truly conceive
reality."
--- Albert Einstein ---
=====================================
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS:
TUCSON
February 6 - February 11, 2003
TUCSON
LOWE ASSOCIATES - Robert P. Lowe Jr. invites you
to visit us in
Booth # 205 at the GJX - Gem & Jewelry Exchange, Downtown Tucson,
for
TOURMALINES - in Greens, Pinks, Indicolite, Rubelite, Salmon, Yellow,
Silver, Orange, Purple, Bi-color, Tri-color, - sliced, faceted,
cabochons, Paraiba and Rough. TOURMALINES in Watermelon Slices,
Singles, Matched Pairs, Sets, Cabochon Slices, plus all the other
Brazilian Colored Stones, including - Aquamarine, Citrine, Blue
Beryl,
Rutilated Quartz (Calibrated), Imperial Topaz, Alexandrite, Kunzite,
Brazilian Opals - Crystal & Boulder, rare Purple Topaz Specimens,
Amethyst, Morganite, Faceted Gemstone Beads, Emeralds - faceted,
cabochon, carved & Slices, Emerald Faceting Rough, Emerald Crystals,
Emerald Specimens, Emerald Jewelry - And Faceted Spessartite Garnet.
Rough - Dark Aquamarine, Amethyst, Citrine, Spessartite garnet,
Lowe Associates - Robert P. Lowe Jr.
Rua do Mirante, 573
13801-100 Mogi Mirim, SP, Brasil
Telephone: 55-19-3862-4217
Telefax: 55-19-3806-4354
e-mail: < robertplowejr@juno.com
> in USA
e-mail: < robertplowejr@uol.com.br
> in Brazil
PL02122003
*******
Rough to Cut
If you're looking for quality facet rough please check out Rough
to Cut,
http://www.roughtocut.com.
We offer a wide range of quality facet rough
from Aquamarine to Zircon. Large selections in stock currently of
Beryl,
Garnets & Tourmalines. Please check us out & when you do,
why not give a
try to our contest, you could win a 5ct + piece of Spessartite garnet
facet rough.
Noel
Rough to Cut
http:www.roughtocut.com
11142002P
********
Subject: AD
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 20:50:44 -0800
To: faceters@caprock-spur.com
From: "P. Miklik" <b-daw@pacbell.net>
AVAILABLE FOR SALE
Contact b-daw@pacbell.net
ZIRCONS
Honey, red & brown zircons, 10g parcels @$20/parcel
GARNETS
Red Garnet $8/g, eye clean-slightly included
Spessartine Garnet $7.50/g, slight-moderately included
Malaya Garnet $6/g, good eye clean roughs
Tunduri Garnet $10/g, eye clean-slightly included
TOURMALINES
Pink Tourmaline $20/g, eye clean-slightly included
Red Tourmaline $10/g, slight-moderately included
Bicolor Tourmaline $15/g, eye clean
Watermelon Tourmaline $20/g eye clean
Green/Green Blue Tourmaline $10/g, eye clean roughs
SAPPHIRES
Blue, Green & Blue/Green Sapphires $35/g, eye clean-slightly
included, up to 1g.
BERYL
Blue Beryl (Aquamarine) $6/g, eye clean-slightly included crystals
Green Beryl (Emerald) $10-$50/g, eye clean-slightly included crystals,
zoned green
Cabbing Grade Aquamarine $3/g
11012002P
********
Rock Peddler
Complete online discount catalog for cabbing and faceting machines,
wheels,
laps, polishes, diamond saws, diamond blades, and general lapidary
supplies
at http://www.rockpeddler.com.
09272002P
********
Gewelers Gems
e-mail: sales@jewelersgems.com
Solid copper laps 1/4 thick 8" and 6" you can charge
both sides with
diamond. http://www.jewelersgems.com
03222002P
********
NOW ONLINE! RRGaetan Gem Rough - Featuring excellent, facet-grade,
Colombian Emerald rough! PLUS, Chrome Tourmaline, Achroite Tourmaline,
Golden Chrome Tourmaline, Aquamarine, Spess, Mint and Malaya Garnets,
and more! For photos and more information, visit us at rrgaetan.com.
01012003RP
********
===================================
COMPETITIONS:
For All National and International Masters, Past-Masters and
World-Class Cutters:
This post is simply a reminder that in 2003 the USFG will host its
first National and International Faceting Competition. It
is called
the North American Faceting Challenge -- 'NAFC.'
Since the designs
and rules were first published in the 2001 September Issue of
the
USFG's Newsletter, and since they have not been published since
2001,
some of you, who are most capable - skill-wise, may not
know about the competition, and some of you may have forgotten.
The
"NAFC" is an OPEN Competition. Please note:
The designs and rules
can be downloaded at <http://www.usfacetersguild.org/events.shtml>.
The closing date is June 20th, 2003; the amount of time between
the
present date and June 20th, 2003 should be enough for all Master
cutters to cut the two required designs -- Fred Van Sant's "Four
Star," and Charles Covill's "Wind Wheel No. 2."
If further
information is needed, please contact me at <clmoon@pacbell.net>.
Charlie Moon
*****
===================================
SHOWDATES:
~ CALIFORNIA
FACETERS SYMPOSIUM 2003
Presented by the Faceter's Guild of Southern California
At the Seaside GEMboree AFMS/CFMS Convention
& Show
Ventura,
California June 6-7-8, 2003
You are invited to participate in the Faceters
Symposium 2003 which will be held at the Seaside Park
(Ventura Fairgrounds) at Ventura, California during the
AFMS/CFMS Convention & Show. The Faceters Symposium dates
are June 6th, 7th, & 8th. That is Friday, Saturday, &
Sunday. The CFMS GEMboree is on those dates as well as on
Thursday the 5th of June. All of this is at the same
location, just a hundred yards from the beach.
The Faceters Symposium will feature ten
speakers, who
will have presentations covering various parts of gemstone
faceting interests. A Hospitality Hour on Friday evening
and a Saturday Awards Luncheon are also part of the
Symposium. There will be competitions at the Novice,
Advanced, & Masters levels. Get started on your
competition entry soon.
The CFMS GEMboree itself will have buildings
that have
exhibits on display, dealers with their wares to offer,
demonstrators to show how it is done, and speakers with
presentations covering other lapidary fields of interest.
For information & costs regarding the
Faceters
Symposium (including competition information), your contact
is listed below. Ask for one of the Packets. Be sure
to
state your snail mailing address so that a Packet can be
mailed to you.
Glenn Klein, Chairman
24001 Muirlands Blvd., Space #79
Lake Forest, CA 92630
email: glennklein@yahoo.com
*******
~TEXAS
Lubbock Gem and Mineral Society is proud to present it's
45th Annual Gem, Mineral, Fossil,& Jewelry Show.
WHEN: May 17-18, 2003
Where: Lubbock Civic Center, Lubbock, Texas
Time: Sat.5/17: 10am-6pm
Sun.5/18:
10am-5pm
For more information contact Archie Scott
e-mail: asscott2@door.net
telephone: 806-894-1584
===================================
LAPIDARY ARTS and FACETERS DIGEST PERSONALS:
KANSAS: If anyone in the central portion of the country from Oklahoma
city
to Wichita to Kansas City would be interested in forming something
like the
Flatland Facet Guild or some such name give me a line at
faceter@bigfoot.com
Larry W. Davis
******
ILLINOIS - MISSOURI (Central Area, hubed around St. Louis, Missouri)
A
group of 4 faceters have met and we had a great time. We intend
to meet
again and would like to have fellow faceters join our group. I received
an
email from another Newbie that expressed interest in attending our
next get
together. Faceters from any and all areas are welcome... It's swell
to meet
personally and exchange tips and hints! COME JOIN OUR GROUP! It's
FREE! ;o)
Doug Smith, Alton, IL .at: gembin@spiff.net
******
INDIANA: I moved to Valparaiso, (Northwest) Indiana, about three
years ago.
Are there any clubs in this area? or is there anyone interested
in starting
one? I do faceting and some cabbing. Not much here but cornfields.
Nice
scenery, but I get sooooooo lonely. LOL Let me know. (Bill) "William
J.Pysnack" <wjpin@home.com>
******
S.E. LOUISIANA: Anyone in or around the New Orleans, LA area wishing
to
form a club or have get togethers for faceting, discussions, cabbing,
procurement, etc. Please contact me via email @ tbird@bayouself.org.
(Thom
Bird - Chalmette, LA)
*****
MISSISSIPPI: If anyone is near Meridian Mississippi and would be
interested
in forming some kind of club or just get together with faceting
and/or
cabbing please e-mail me at jennings@netdoor.com
Thanks, Jim
*****
TEXAS: Anyone in the Corpus Christi or Coastal Bend area that is
interested
in starting a local faceter's guild contact me at: hankswan@earthlink.net
or
gemscc@msn.com or telephone
361-857-2405 (days) or 361-992-1296
(evenings).Hank swan
******
WASHINGTON DC.(Rockville Md area) Looking for folks to get together
occasionally to facet. I have just started faceting and am also
interested
in sphere making (infinate # of facets) Robert Winfield
winfielr@inra.nimh.nih.gov
******
=============================================
Lurking is fine, but participation is more fun!! Get involved!!
=============================================
LIST and WEBSITE INFO~
LAPIDARY ARTS and FACETERS DIGEST
is produced by Thurmond Moore III
owner-lapidary@caprock-spur.com
Tempie Francis, Attorney at Law / Legal Advisor
==============================================
==============================================
The LAPIDARY ARTS and FACETERS DIGEST is never sent unsolicited.
You are receiving it because you subscribed to it at our digest
subscription page at:
http://dns2.caprock-spur.com:81/guest/RemoteListSummary/LapidaryArtsDigest
To unsubscribe, just use the link below and follow the instructions
there:
http://dns2.caprock-spur.com:81/guest/RemoteListSummary/LapidaryArtsDigest
List Posting Guidelines and rules can be found at:
http://www.gemcutters.org/rules.htm
====================================
Web Site http://www.gemcutters.org
Archives: http://www.gemcutters.org/archives.htm
====================================
Published Monday thru Friday, except holidays
from Spur,Texas
====================================
The Lapidary Arts Digest is moderated by:
Thurmond Moore III
==============================================
List Policy: http://www.gemcutters.org/rules.htm
==============================================
Share your love of lapidary with a friend!
==============================================
|
