Hello everyone, I'm a new member to the Australian Faceting Guild. I have been cutting gems for about 8 months, so I'm only a beginner. I was using the clubs faceting machine in Shepparton till I finally came across a Facet Star Machine made in Melbourne (I assume in the 70's) so I decided to buy it. I dedicate about 3 hours most days outside work and other activities to learning the art of cutting gems. I still feel I have a long way to go and a lot to learn in the years to come. It's been a life long ambition to cut gems since I was a teenager of 16. But with work and family commitments I finally got around to it at the age of 51 (better late than never). I have cut most of my stones on a 60 index wheel. The facet star doesn't have a 96 index wheel, so I'm limited to certain designs. Hoping to get hold of a 96 index wheel for this machine. So if any members have any ideas on how to get one, that would be great. I would love to go to the muster at Casino to learn more, but I have to check my timetable for 2018. It may also be a tad embarrassing rocking up with a Facet Star while other members have gun machines. Anyway, here's a link to a youtube video I made recently on the Facet Star machine and on how to cut a gemstone (Rose quartz) for those who are interested.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3fO7THrUzg&t=36s
Regards Cliff
Cliff ,
Congratulations on your video of cutting the Rose Quartz. If the way you have cleaned up the machine and cut the stone is any indication you'll do well and enjoy faceting.
I wouldn't be concerned about having an older machine - it looks as if it's cutting accurately and not all machines do that.
Hope you have luck in getting a 96 index but I noted that your present index wheel has grown from 60 to 64 indices. Many patterns written for 96 index can also be cut on a 64 wheel.
John
Hi John, Yes I stand corrected. It was a 64 index wheel. I also have a 60 index wheel for this machine. It's a nice machine and I got it cheap. Seems to cut quite accurate. Would be nice if I could read small percentages of a degree on the protractor. Has a 1/10th adjustment screw, but I think it's a bit of guess work on how far you need to turn it to get that perfect angle. Regards Cliff
Nice work.
I to am newish to cutting and from what i have seen in clubs. Its not always how good your machine is its all to do with whos operating it, and how patient you are. (WA.)
Cutting with a basic machine will make you be careful with hand pressure and force you to use your eyes properly. I started with an old Embel machine, that could definitely not have been called "rigid" in construction. It was equipped with a cheater, but you never needed to use it - to cheat right you simply dropped your wrist and for left you raised it!
Probably the most important thing is to have a good lens and learn to use it properly. Too many people try to facet with a low powered head loupe and then wonder why things do not shape up properly and why they have missed seeing poor polish, scratches, etc.
Bruce, I agree whole heartedly regarding the loupe. Part of the problem is we see many cheap loupes on the market saying they are 10x, 20x etc. But my Belmo 10x Loupe seems as strong as the cheap 30x loupe I have. It is worth the $50 needed for a good loupe.
There was also an article in Facet Talk recently that talked about lighting. It is well worth a read. Learning to use lighting properly helps you pick up missed meet points and polishing issues.
I have a single LED light for checking for scratches and my wife's embroidery light on a stand behind my shoulder for checking meet points.
Regards Gordon Perkins
All good advice im hearing here
Gordon Perkins wrote: Bruce, I agree whole heartedly regarding the loupe. Part of the problem is we see many cheap loupes on the market saying they are 10x, 20x etc. But my Belmo 10x Loupe seems as strong as the cheap 30x loupe I have. It is worth the $50 needed for a good loupe. There was also an article in Facet Talk recently that talked about lighting. It is well worth a read. Learning to use lighting properly helps you pick up missed meet points and polishing issues. I have a single LED light for checking for scratches and my wife's embroidery light on a stand behind my shoulder for checking meet points. Regards Gordon Perkins Hi Bruce, I also have single LED light. Good article about lighting in the last publication. A good light will pick up the scratches if held in the right direction. And good info on the loupe. But it takes take some getting used to using a loupe.
Hi Bruce, I also have single LED light. Good article about lighting in the last publication. A good light will pick up the scratches if held in the right direction. And good info on the loupe. But it takes take some getting used to using a loupe.
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