Lapidary and Faceting Equipment

Faceting Equipment Essentials

What faceting equipment do novices need to learn to cut gems? Learn what faceting machines, laps, books, and supplies are...

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Buying a Faceting Machine

Buying a faceting machine means making compromises between economy, looks, and technical features. Learn what questions to ask before you...

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The Spectra Ultralap

The Spectra Ultralap is an excellent choice for polishing quartz and beryl gemstones. Learn how to use this lap and...

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Tin, Corian, and Ceramic Lap Testing

Which laps and polishes can produce the flattest facets and sharpest edges on gemstones? Our lap testing compares tin, Corian,...

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Faceting Machine Features: A Beginner’s Guide

Before investing in an expensive piece of equipment, learn how to examine these gem faceting machine features, so you can...

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Gemstone Polishing Laps and Techniques

No single gemstone polishing method will work for all people or all stones. Our guide will help you choose laps...

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Gem Cutting Abrasives in Grit, Mesh, and Microns

Using the right gem cutting abrasives is critical for gem cutters. Our grit, mesh, and micron conversion chart will help...

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How to Score Polishing Laps

Most gem cutters prefer using scored polishing laps. They work better and faster than non-scored laps. Learn how to score...

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Should I Use Oxide Polish or Diamond for Polishing Gems?

What's the best abrasive for polishing natural gems? An oxide polish is usually the best option. Learn the different uses...

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The Dichroscope: A Faceter’s Guide

A dichroscope can distinguish the colors of pleochroic gems. Learn how gem cutters can use this tool to choose the...

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How to Choose the *BEST* Faceting Machine for Your Needs

What’s the best faceting machine for you? We’ll review models from all over the world in terms of cost and...

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What are Sintered Laps?

Sintered laps are expensive, metal/diamond bonded gem cutting laps. Are they worth the investment? Learn about their advantages and disadvantages....

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Product Review: Hyper-Edge Gem Faceting Laps

Hyper-Edge gem faceting laps will save you time and money. In particular, learn how the 1,500-grit lap compares with other...

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Ultra Tec Faceting Machine Factory

Ultra Tec factory is located in Santa Ana, California, It is a factory where machines for faceting is made and...

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Bob Lynn – CAM/CAD with Solidscapes

Solidscapes pretty much do anything, and at a detail level and precision that is just not possible using the old...

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Choosing the Right Faceting Machine

"Just ask Jeff" gives tips on choosing the right Faceting Machine. Several discounter's will sell anything that they can and...

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Laps Treatment and Care

Just Ask Jeff: Care and Treatment of Laps - "Just Ask Jeff" gives a few tips on the basic things...

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Buying a Faceting Machine

Get the insight of Jeff on all your questions and concerns about Gemstones. "Just ask Jeff" tackles faceting machine and...

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Faceting Machine Considerations

Buying a used faceting machine is a lot like buying a used car, you can get a good one but...

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Graves Faceting Machine

Jeff R Graham shares his opinions and ideas on various topics in Just Ask Jeff. See what his thoughts are...

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Facetron Faceting Machine

Jeff R Graham shares his opinions on various topics in Just Ask Jeff. See what his thoughts are on Just...

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Ultra Tec Faceting Machine

Jeff R Graham shares his opinions on various topics in Just Ask Jeff. See what his thoughts are on Just...

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Jeff’s Opinion on Laps

Jeff R Graham shares his opinions and thoughts on various topics in Just Ask Jeff. See what his answers are...

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Buying Faceting Add-Ons

Just Ask Jeff: Do you really need faceting add-ons like dial, indicators, stain gauges, down lights, digital read outs? Read...

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Several Ways to Clean Dops

Jeff R Graham shares his opinions and thoughts on various topics on Just Ask Jeff. See the several ways to...

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Having an Unaligned Machine

Jeff R Graham talks about unaligned machine in Just Ask Jeff. See what his answers are to What do I...

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Digital Faceting Machine

Jeff R Graham shares his opinions on various topics in Just Ask Jeff. See his answer to Questions you need...

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Common Causes for Contaminated Laps

Just Ask Jeff: Contaminated Laps? Bort Charging Laps? Jeff R. Graham shares some details and helpful information on contaminated laps...

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OMNI Faceting Machine

Jeff R Graham shares his opinions and ideas on various topics in Just Ask Jeff. See what his thoughts are...

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Working with Ceramic Lap

Just Ask Jeff: Do I need a ceramic lap and how do I get it to work?Whether you need ceramic...

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Product Review, Ultra Tec Faceting Machine

Ultra Tec Faceting Machine Review . The Ultra Tec has been referred to as the BMW of faceting machines. We...

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Product Review, Sony Cyber-shot

A Product Review on Sony Cyber-shot. Overall, it is an excellent camera and I was surprised by the low cost.The...

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Product Review, GemPro 50, Digital Scale

The least expensive digital scale for gem use is now the GemPro 50. It sells for around $150, which is...

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Retrofitting The Lee Faceter for a Digital Readout

Retrofitting The Lee Faceter for a Digital Readout. This is the second in a series of articles on how to...

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Retrofitting The MDR Faceter for a Digital Readout

This will be a challenge because the MDR machine uses adjustable needle bearings on the trunnion assembly.Retrofitting The MDR Faceter...

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Retrofitting The Graves Faceter for a Digital Readout

Retrofitting The Graves Faceter for a Digital Readout. Being a more "finished" unit, there is less flexibility for field modification....

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How to Make a Digital Readout for Your Faceting Machine

A Digital Panel Meter (DPM) can measure angles to 0.01 degree if a precision instrument potentiometer is used and a...

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Living With Your Faceting Machine

One serious pitfall for the novice is the quality of advice they get in choosing what faceting machine to buy....

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Faceting Machine Comparison Chart

Our gem faceting machine comparison chart will help you evaluate a number of models based on numerous features. Find the...

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Faceting Machine Survey

Recently, a survey was taken to see what kind of Facet Machines are being used by members of the Faceter's...

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The History of the Beale/Woolley Depth of Cut Indicator

The History of the Beale/Woolley Depth of Cut Indicator.It was after Marcus and his wife Marie opened up a retirement...

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