Buying a Faceting Machine

Buying a faceting machine and do not know what else you need? Ok, here is a list. You will find that sooner or later you will end up buying most of these things. But I have marked the ones you really need. These Prices are Jan 2009. Prices may change with out notice.

Note: Prices are subject to change without notice.

Do you need a 220 Volt machine?

• 220V adapter - No extra cost on the OMNIe (In the USA you will not need this.)

Here are the books I recommend: (You will likely want all the books sooner or later)

• Beginning Faceting "The Right Way..." - $19.95 - You will need this to start.
• Book - Gram 1 (50+ designs, binder, dividers...) - $19.95 - You will need this to start.
• Addition #1 (42 designs) Quartz, Topaz/Tourmaline, Garnet - $17.95
• Addition #2 (42 designs) mixed materials - $17.95
• Addition #3 (42 designs) mixed materials - $17.95
• Addition #4 (42 designs) "Money Cuts" - $17.95
• Addition #5 (42 designs) "Barions" - $17.95
• Addition #6 (42 designs) "Checker Boards" - $17.95
• Addition #7 (42 designs) "More Money Cuts" - $17.95
• Addition #8 (42 designs) "Diamond Checker Boards" - $17.95
• Addition #9 (42 designs) "Mirage Cuts" - $17.95
• Addition #10 (42 designs) "Mirage Cuts 2" - $17.95
• Addition #11 (42 designs) "Sunstone" - $17.95
• Addition #12 (42 designs) "Glitter" - $17.95
• Addition #13 (42 designs) "Domes" - $17.95
• Addition #14 (42 designs) "Beads" - $17.95 (also the Gram Bead Dop)

Below is a list of the laps I recommend. Note the steel laps are faceters.com brand.

• 1 - 100 grit Economy steel lap - $82.95
• 1 - 260 grit Economy steel lap - $82.95 (You will need this to start.)
• 1 - 600 grit Economy steel lap - $72.95 (You will need this to start.)
• 1 - 1200 grit Economy steel lap - $72.95 (You will need this to start)
• 1 - 1200 Nu Bond Composite lap - $139.95 and/or 1 - 3000 grit steel lap - $86.95  (You will need this to start.)
• 1 - Tin lap - for alumina oxide polish - $204.00 (You will need this to start. See Note)
• 1 - Pkg. Spectra UltraLaps - polishing Quartz and Beryl - $10.95 (You will need this to start.)
• 2 - Tin laps - $408.00 ($296.00 - 2 laps) - (See Note)
• 1 - bottle 8,000 diamond for pre-polish - $18.95
• 1 - bottle 50,000 diamond for polish - $18.95
• 1- bottle of Lube extender fluid - $11.50
• 3 - red/brown dop wax - $14.95 (You will need this to start.)
• 1 lb aluminia oxide - $36.95 (on sale) (You will need this to start.)
• 1 lb cerium oxide - $19.95 (You will need this to start.)
• Alcohol lamp - $5.95 (You will need this to start.)
• Blaizer torch - $63.95 (You will need this to start.)
• Slide Lock Tweezers - $10.95 (You will need this to start.)
• Peer 10x Loupe - $14.95 (You will need this to start.)
• Swiss Dial Caliper - $39.95 (You will need this to start.)

Note: Due to the continuing high cost of tin the laps have become very expensive. I would suggest some alternative options. Instead of the tin lap for AeO2 polish I would recommend a Phenolic lap $57.60. For plishing hard stones instead of the 2 tin laps I would consider 2 Last laps $106.40.

Faceting Machine - You will need this to start. It will depend of course on what machine you choose to buy or have. I am currently recommending an OMNI faceting machine 8" $2383.00 complete or the Ultra Tec $3380.00 or the Digital UT $3980.00.

Extra Dops are a good idea, here is what I recommend: Extra dop sets are often a good idea, your choices will depend some what on the manufacturer of your machine and what they may offer.

Tourmaline Dops - Are long rectangle shaped dops for cutting rectangle stones. I usually recommend a selectyion of standard dops between 3mm and 10mm (flat, vee, cone).

Let me know if you have any questions or when you decide to buy the machine. There may be a couple of other things that you will want like some faceting rough.

• Rose De France Quartz
• Amethyst Quartz

There is lots of other rough, just ask.

Jeff R. Graham

The late Jeff Graham was a prolific faceter, creator of many original faceting designs, and the author of several highly-regarded instructional faceting books such as Gram Faceting Designs.

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