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LAPIDARY ARTS and FACETERS DIGEST
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Issue No.61 - Friday February 7, 2003
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Moderated by: Thurmond Moore III
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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
====================================
From the Moderator:
Does anyone have any tips on final polishing
of stabilized turquoise? I am guessing cerium on
pellon or leather? Colloidal silica?
Thurmond
====================================
Index to Today's Digest
01 RE: Star orientation methods
02 RE: Star orientation methods
03 RE: Star orientation methods
04 RE: private answers to questions
05 New - pro and cons of individual faceting machines
2 new Advertisements Today
====================================
Message:01
Subject: star orientation
Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2003 19:04:52 -0800
To: <lapidary@caprock-spur.com>
From: "Thomas M. Donahue" <oldcrow@oregonfcu.com>
Hi!
The explanation for orientating a star sapphire was very good
and
easily understood. I recently purchased some Idaho
( star ) garnet
rough. These crystals are basically round
with flats similar to
facets. How would one go about finding the
star axis. The rock
shop I bought them from led me to believe they would all cut at
least a
four rayed star and he had heard that quite a number of them had
cut six
ray stars. When I asked him about orientation,
he said he personally
had no idea. I thought it was worth a chance,
they weren't too
expensive and if push comes to shove I can always facet them.
Tom Donahue
the old crow
__________________________________________________________
Message:02
Subject: Re: Issue No.60 - Thursday February 6, 2003;STAR SAPPHIRES(small
talk)
Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2003 23:10:56 EST
To: lapidary@caprock-spur.com
From: Bellcha7@aol.com
For the small talk (but true) side of star sapphires.One day
when I came to
work (back in the 70's) there was a big white sheet spread out in
the middle
of the floor of the main cutting room.On that sheet were several
burlap bags,
(each about the size of 2 lb. of grapes from your suppermarket)one
of these
bags was opened to reveal a pile of rubby looking pebbles.
These burlap bags had been contained in a ruddy looking suitcase
that had
been sitting under the drillpress since I had been working there.Now
the
suitcase lay askew, and the boss on his knees ,was hands deep in
the pile of
pebbles.They were STAR RUBYS,--years later I remember saying
to myself 'you
mean you've been coming to work here all that time and sitting under
the
drillpress was a suitcase , a SUITCASE FULL of STAR RUBYS WHAT THE
---- IS
GOING ON HERE?'
Of course the key word here is finished,they were unfinished star
rubys.They looked unsightly there,in their muddy matrix;of
course I was
young and in love with the kalideoscopic enchantment of opal at
the time.
The challenge of repair work kept me from paying that much attention
to the
bosses affairs--but later on in the week I noticed our staff gemologist
over
in the corner with a bent up coat hanger and a can of S.T.P. , and
a
gooseneck lamp with a bunch of the rubys.After a while he called
me over,and
showed me that by setting that grape sized ruby just so, and with
the coat
hanger dropping a bead of S.T.P.
on top of (what I now know is the "C AXIS") of the stone
a six legged star
appeared on top of the bead of S.T.P.
He then told me this would help him orient the stone to cut the
proper crown,
and get the most effective length of the legs of the star.
I have never had a chance to have my own suitcase full of star rubys,but
I'll
keep that
incident in mind,what I'll NEVER forget is pollishing those suckers
...But
thats another story .file under" flying hot rubies".
CHARLES W. BELL JR.
__________________________________________________________
Message:03
Subject: Re: Star sapphires
Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2003 01:55:05 -0800
To: faceters@caprock-spur.com
From: Phillip L Stonebrook <plstonebrook@juno.com>
Greetings list and Walter...
The very easiest way to cut a "star" stone, or to check
to see if you
even have rough that will "star", is to simply grind it
into a sphere,
like a marble. No need to go beyond 600 grit, or even to get the
sphere
perfect; just close. Then, apply mineral oil, honey, glycerine,
cooking
oil; they all work; and with an unfrosted incandescent lamp (single
point
source light, important) above your head, look down on the illuminated
and oil covered stone, and rotate it until you see the star (if
it's star
material, any star material, you'll see it). Center it, and mark
the
circumference with a marking pencil, cut it along that line (in
half) to
get 2 stones, as the other half should also star. Once you do this
a few
times, you'll get the idea. You'll also be able to better appreciate
the
good and more technically correct, but possibly confusing to a newbie,
input you've received from others here. You will also need to learn
all
they've said to repeatably cut a star stone from inspection, crystal
shape, etc. and various nuances. But, for the first few times, try
this
for a quick and easy method, or to just "screen" the material
to see if
it will star.
Hope this helps to simplify the learning process.
Best regards.....
Phil in Florida
<<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>>
__________________________________________________________
Message:04
Subject: Re: private answers to questions
Date: Fri, 07 Feb 2003 02:13:08 -0500
To: faceters@caprock-spur.com
From: "Douglas Turet" <anotherbrightidea@hotmail.com>
Cc: fob@birdamlasu.com
Hello Oya,
In yesterday's faceter's list, you wrote:
"Hello all..
Some of us are not sure how to ask a question about a specific subject
and when one see a question of her or his problem is excited that
the
answer will be in the next digest. Then the next day there is a
thank
you note from the person who asked the question.
Don't you think it is the best to answer the questions through the
digest so that everybody can make a use of it?"
...and I'm just writing to say that, in
most cases, I agree with you,
completely. After all, this _is_ a forum for learning and sharing,
right?
So, if a question has merit, why not share it with others and spread
the
knowledge around? The only two kinds of situations in which I would
intentionally _not_ reply online would be if either, (1) the questioner's
letter contained a specific request that I respond to him or her
off-line,
or, (2) the letter contained comments or other material that I thought
would
be either offensive to others or embarassing to the original writer,
if it
appeared in public. Otherwise, yes, I agree.
Now, I have a question for you, Oya. A
few years ago, it seemed that
everywhere I turned, dealers were offering "Turkish color-change
Diaspore";
since last year, though, I haven't seen a single ad for the material.
Is it
still being mined? (And, if so, do you have any that you'd be willing
to
part with, either for money or exchange of some other roughs?) I'm
extremely
curious about this material, since the only time I'd ordered a piece,
it was
on ebay, and what eventually arrived was neither flawless nor even
remotely
capable of any sort of color change. Thanks, in advance, Oya!
All my best,
Doug
Douglas Turet, GJ
Lapidary Artist, Designer & Goldsmith.
Turet Design
P. O. Box 162
Arlington, MA 02476, U.S.A.
Tel. (617) 325-5328
Fax: (928) 222-0815
Email: anotherbrightidea@hotmail.com
__________________________________________________________
Message:05
Subject: New - pro and cons of individual faceting machines
From: "Cheryl Weaver" <cheryl@winsoft.net.au>
To: "Lapidary Arts and Faceters Digest" <faceters@caprock-spur.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2003 21:03:28 +1100
Hi everyone,
Before purchasing a faceting machine I need as much advice as I
can get
on the good and not so good points of individual faceting machines
from
the people who are using them every day.
Would members like to offer their personal opinions to try and help
me
reduce the list of possible choices.
thanks
Cheryl from down under in Australia
====================================
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 ~
Catching many fish
A fisherman returned to shore with a giant marlin that was bigger
and
heavier than he. On the way to the cleaning shed, he ran into a
second
fisherman who had a stringer with a dozen baby minnows. The second
fisherman looked at the marlin, turned to the first fisherman and
said,
" Only caught one, eh?"
=====================================
REFLECTIONS AND TIDBITS:
Comfort on difficult days
Smiles when sadness intrudes
Rainbows to follow the clouds
Laughter to kiss your lips
Sunsets to warm your heart
Gentle hugs when your spirits sag
Friendships to brighten your being
Beauty for your eyes to see
Confidence for when you're in doubt
Faith so that you can believe
Courage to know yourself
Patience to accept the truth
And love to complete your life.
-
-- Author Unknown ---
=====================================
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS:
The Lubbock Gem and Mineral Society is looking for 2 more vendors
for our Spring Show at the Lubbock Civic Center May 17th and 18th.
Setup day for the show is Friday May 16, 2003. If you are
a vendor and
would like more information concerning the show please call Ed Ries
at
806-799-2722
02072003
*******
Subject: Subject add
Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2003 15:47:26 -0500
To: <faceters@caprock-spur.com>
From: "RICHARD P ROSENTHAL" <kenaii@earthlink.net>
Date Febuary 6th /03
Green Siberian Nephrite Jade
Carving ,Sculpture Grade, Some Black Spots, Ten dollars a pound
up to
fifty pound pieces.
Jewelry grade, Green with Green chrome spots, Superior Transluscense
and
Color, Fifty dollars per pound
Please contact Kenaii@earthlink.net
or check the material out at
http://catseyejade.com
02072003
*******
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
==============================================
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====================================
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