Gemstone Polishing: A Beginner's Guide!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ก.ค. 2023
- Are you interested in discovering the art of gemstone polishing? Well, we have a treat for you! Join Preston as he embarks on an exciting journey of exploring gemstone polishing techniques. Despite being a beginner himself, Preston fearlessly experiments with his own unique approach, showcasing his skills on stunning gems such as iolite, rainbow obsidian, and Mexican fire opal. Be sure to bring a mask because it's about to get dusty!
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This is how I started, with simple grinding tools and sandpaper. I was curious about a small stone I had and wanted to experience precision stone shaping. From there I made a few tools, bought more and now I facet, cab and create sterling silver jewelry by recycling scrap, much cheaper than buying sheet/wire sterling.
Definitely need to use water, I never cut without water
I’ve faceted obsidian, hematite, tiger’s eye, and ametrine with just sandpaper and diamond sharpening stones. It takes less time than you might imagine
Ooowee! I'm surprised you didn't shatter your obsidian and opal from thermal shock! I used to use a slow drip of water above and a plastic tray of water below when I carved them. I'd dip the stone about every 30 sec to cool it.
If you get into gemstone carving you'll want to get a thinner handpiece for your flex shaft. Like something from a dentist supply. With the larger handpiece after an hour your hands will still feel vibration if you snap your fingers or touch anything. It's really weird. Can't be good for the hands!
With polishing obsidian you want to be really systematic with the steps.. progressively finer grades of sandpaper then up grades of polishing compound up to the best mirror finish diamond compound. Clean it thoroughly between each step. Let that vibration get out the grit and compound too, not just water and soap. You want every speck of compound off that stone before going to a finer grade or you'll get a noticeable scratch and have to grind it off and start again. It's real finicky! Opal in matrix is tough too because the matrix and gem material is so different (you know that!) So if you're not going to just grind it away it's better to use a cabbing machine rather than the flex shaft. It'll be uniform that way where a flex shaft bit will eject chunks of matrix faster than the opal. You also really don't want to work with opal dry. Not at all. If you can carve in a slurry of water and diamond paste that's ideal. It carves faster and cooler and prepolishes it. Doesn't seem to require as many steps as obsidian does to polish. It's going to be super porous even at the last step. If you have to stop before you get to the final polish keep it soaking in water. Both obsidian and opal cut like butter though. It's really satisfying, especially if you're doing something with a lot of fine detail. If you like those you might also like Tagua Nut, a vegetarian ivory lol. Carves the same and you can stain it with colored inks and dyes for scrimshaw. I've written you a book here lol. Hope it helps!
Thanks for the fantastic explanation! I'm totally visual as far as learning goes. Respiratory protection is what you were searching for in regards to the mask, I believe. 😆 I have a Dremel and an intimidating pile of raw gemstones that look at me from the corner. Now I feel more confident in tackling this task.
nice, simple tools and also you can do all of it under water to avoid all dust
We're waiting for some collaboration with CabKing!!! 😂❤
"Special tool to lock it."
Chuck Key-they make them everyday. Just take your tool with you to avoid doing math when you need a new one.
Thaks! This is really inspiring! I’ve been wondering how I can make my stones shine without buying a lot of expensive tools. I engrave stones and have only done natural stones so far. Will definitely try this to add some depth to the art 😊
That was pretty cool. I used to use my Dremel to polish small rocks. I certainly couldn't cab I could polish and I had many bits and sanding pads from 60 grit to 10,000 grit. They were about 2 inches but came up to 4 inches and I did really well for someone that only had one hand. The fire opal looked awesome! And I'm sure it was the easiest to get smooth! The iolite is pretty hard and will polish well, but is pretty hard going with a fordom. And you did pretty good with the obsidian too! I never had luck with obsidian, but I usually cut myself up too!
Thanks for showing this, because it can be really helpful and easy for beginners!
This is SUCH a great video. I've been wanting to try exactly what Preston did in the video. Preston has inspired me to give it try. Thanks for posting! 👍
Lots of 🌊
Hey, I just started watching your videos this morning and I know they’re like four months old but I just wanted to say thank you because I am just starting out and I’m trying to learn different ways and how things should be done and how they could be done I’ve only watched this one video, but I am definitely a subscriber and I will watch all your videos and again thank you very much. Take care and God bless great job.
in a similar vein, i'd love to see a video on gemstone dice! highly recommend Hedron Rockworks for the beautiful D20s & cutting & polishing process videos they make.
Welcome to Moh's!
Is that a Foredom rotary tool you are using?
9:30 I’ve been working opal with rotary for almost a year now and I must say from day one to now I’ve massively improved. I do agree a cabbing machine is best(I’m saving up for one but for now a rotary tool is great for what I need) but what I’ve learned with the tools is there’s many ways to go about this process especially with free-form pieces. Sometimes even a 3-4 day tumble can easily make the experience so much easier. I find that a good pre polish is key for the best polishing experience with no can machine and just the rotary tools as after I began using it my polishing results were DRASTICALLY improved than jumping straight from sandpaper to polish. Hopefully I’ll get the machine sometime soon but improving just with the rotary tools is equally as motivating 💎
Thanks. It was very helpful to keep in mind. I want to try more in my gemstone adventure. You're right, you can surprisingly do a lot without the "proper" tools. Necessity is the mother of invention after all.
I like how he said you don’t need any specialized tools as he’s using specialized tools
For the ultrabasics you really don't. I started out with the same sandpaper kit he's using(under five dollars at walmart btw) and a piece of wood to set the sandpaper on. Weirdly enough, you can ACTUALLY cut a decent looking cab like that with enough practice and patience. 1/10, slowest. Job. Ever. Do NOT recommend.
its not specialized, they're general tools
You help me lot. This video is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks a lot.
This was awesome, thank you!
You did a great job, I did it the same way when I first started, and now I use a flat lap. It's not as expensive as a cab king or other machines. Awesome video and great information.
Thanks for this demonstration
Yes I was planning to buy that of tools, I have found a special rock.
Im right there with you wanting a cabbing machine. I could also use a lapidary saw😂
I'm glad you are very informational. Thanks you sir"
Thanks and welcome
That typeof mask doesnot stop respirable silica.
You need to have a respirator that is made specifically to block silica dust with replaceable filters.
Oh wow! I need this video! I have a dremel only and am really looking to start polishing my geodes, maybe with a flat lap, but this will be so useful!
Beautiful 💜🌹
Why you don't use water, you need to cool down the temperature and make the tools life long longer when you use water
Hi! I loved your video so much. What is the machine you are using ?
Cok guzel yapiyorsun yetersizsin
Less a beginner’s guide than a beginner’s first attempt.
I do the same at home 👍
Can you please do a video on Astrophyllite, Arfvedsonite and Anthophyllite. I have several specimens that were sold to me as Astrophyllite, but then thought (based on several TH-cam videos and hundreds of Google Image examples) that what I had was Arfvedsonite. However, I have since learned about Athophyllite, and I am about 95% sure that this is what I have. I am also sure that the vast majority of what is sold as either Astrophyllite or Arfvedsonite is actually Anthophyllite. It would be good to get a reputable source for a video showing the differences, as sharing the Minedat and Epigem info pages is a bit hard for some of my customers to follow.
how about a video on terahertz stone?
This is what I'm trying to do as well however I'm afraid that I'm not using enough water or able to use enough water. I'm new at this so I'm not sure how much water is a sufficient amount. Also what kind of polish is being used because my Drexel came with a redish polish that actually turned one rock red and I can't get it off. It looks neat but it's not natural to the type of stone which I'm trying to keep them as natural as possible while still shaping and polishing.
Any advice on polishes/brands? I just tried one I had and it left my stone red🙃
What type/brand of rotary tool is being used?
Cool
Why take the sharper edges off the stone? I know it makes it more appealing but doesn't it take away from the natural look of the stone? Does anyone know which is favored as far as for selling?
❤
For the diamond bits/burrs what brand/set is a good pick? Amazon can be iffy so actual options are probably best here😂
They have lots of cheap Chinese crap.
what kind of polish was used on the stones
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If you hit a big rock with a hammer you will get nice jewelry sized pieces from the Little Rock’s, good friend Steven Quentin Dickey mining company - django
Eh, could achieve the same result with a tumbler. Fire agate or opal would need a dremel. I am dreaming of making a human powered machine to facet gemstones.
I am from sri lanka, can you help me ?
I think that's exefincev tolls
Ben size bu isi ogreteyim
I want to be a lapidary
Look for local clubs in your area. Where I live, (San Diego) there is a lapidary club that provides free use of cabbing equipment when you join the club and they also have classes in basic lapidary techniques. GIA also has lapidary classes and certification.
That's awesome!
Bro you need to be using water with your Dremel. You are going to waste a lot of bits without it. It's obvious you've never done this before.
Totally, best way to take longer, get a 2nd rate finish, and screw you tips out and overheat stones
Good job
Edited to add, in his defence he's does state he's a novice
He may be using water as there is a spray bottle. It may just be edited out
Imagine sharing a suggestion without being a d*ck about it… uh, what a strange notion
"Whoo-Hoo it is dusty!" Is what he says.
He says 30 seconds in that he hasn't done it before....pay attention.
Also has a spray bottle and stresses it's use at 4:10👍🏻