On the dop

[bammer]

First of all Happy New Year!

I thought I would mix it up a bit and add a post "on the dop", as a quick look behind the scenes when faceting.

I think I only 1/2 appreciate a finished stone, I get the other half appreciating what rock I had to saw it out of, and what challenges I had in cutting it.

Some pre-forms below(this ought to keep me out of trouble for a while).


This photos shows the tumbled stone I bought at a gem show and the section I faceted. I have a thin veil that I tried to line up on the corner of the facets. (big arrow) I had some challenges polishing the table and when I switched to a new lap I scratched the daylights out of it. (small arrow) I plan on redoing the table some day...

As a bonus my wife allowed me to place my machine in the family room for the holidays.

My daughter seems to like faceting also. She is working on a chunk of Amethyst we later had to give up on once we got into it. I switched her over to some clear quartz, round brilliants look great in quartz and are fairly easy to cut.

[booodelle]

Happy New Year,
Very nice behind the scene look.Cool that your daughter is into faceting.also very nice of the wife to let you in the house.I am very impressed with every thing that has been posted in the jewelry and gemstones section. Keep up the good work. My only new year request is that i can finally get a real faceting machine and give up this ridiculous idea of homemade jamb peg faceting...
booodelle

[gronkus]

Very nice! It's funny... you're daughter looks alot like my youngest as well who is the only one even remotely interested in this stuff. And to have your machine in the living room - that is the most impressive thing I've heard in a LONG time ;-)
Dave

[bammer]

Thanks Dave,
You have been an inspiration to me with your posts and your new machine. Great stuff. Keep it up.

I have been finishing my basement and that is where the machine is supposed to go but I think I can keep it in the Family room as long as I keep the stones flowing into my wifes hands.

She seems to just knod yes to what ever question I ask right after I hand her a new stone. Try it sometime.

thanks

[colorshapetexture]

Bammer my hero. Grinding rocks in the house.
Me know shiney rock will make um nod yes trick. But grinding rocks in the house. You da man.

[gronkus]

Bammer,
My wife has gotten her share, but she's a bit of a tough one and my "free pass" doesn't last very long, if you know what I mean :-) And regardless of WHAT kind of rock might ever being dangling around her neck, her aversion to noise and mess is much too strong to ever overcome. So like colorshapetexture says, "You da man."

Thanks for the compliments. I appreciate the encouragement. My wife and I are headed into Philly today to visit Jeweler's Row and a guy I met there. I'll likely come home with some nice rough today, but since my wife heard that the last rubellite I cut was wholesale valued around $3000, she's become a bit more enthusiastic (but still no moving up to the main floor).

Oh, and I also just booked my flight to Tucson! Anyone else going? Never been there and I can't wait.

Take care and keep the gems a flowin'... Dave