Lapidary and Faceting Equipment


Learn about the tools and equipment involved in lapidary arts.

Faceting Equipment Essentials

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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?

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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’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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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