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#1
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Faceting question...
I don't know how many of you do your own faceting...But I was
wondering if you could offer any insight to a good entry level machine, and the costs associated with this. Dave |
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#2
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Excellent question but hard to answer as much of depends on you. Kinda
like the usual question of - say - buying a flexshaft - used, harbor freight,Foredom. If you have a gem & Mineral club nearby, it may offer classes as mine does in faceting. Even if you don't join/participate some of those folks will be using older machines, some newer machines, some may give private lessons, may be some machines for sale - in general, a good place to network. If funds are not a problem AND you are not mechanically inclined or related to someone who is a machinst - stay away from used machines UNLESS it's purchase is from the person who actually uses it, the company that made it still manufactures faceting machines, and you feel VERY comfortable the machine has been cutting good stones without a lot of special/tricky manipulation. If funds are tight, try to avoid the problems outlined above, get as many laps accesories in the deal as possible, try to get someone who facets to check the machine out, realize if some relatives have found deceased uncle Bob's machine under some disassembeld VW bug parts in the barn it MAY ned some alignment done - you better be or know a machinist or HOPE it is a brand that can still be sent to the manufacturer and 'tuned up'. As for brands - they will all do the job and they all have some downside. I use an Ultratec now and have used a facetron and my forst machine was an old taylor which needed several tweaks and mods to just be useable - but I won competitions with it - it just was more hassle/slower than the UT. Your EYE is the most important part of the faceting machine - but you shouldn't have to fight the machine all the way. The new facetron has a dial indicator (ala Ultratec) and it has a big following, the XtalTek and other prismatic models are very nice. face-Ette Gemasta is very pricy but very sturdy. If you are doinfg research I think you would like to visit www.gemsociety.org - they have a review in the archives I think. Bob's Rockshop has some stuff (including a coupla' my designs) www.rockhounds.com also check www.gearloose.com for PLANS to build your own machine and some tweaks/upgrades for older machines. as for costs - I have seen older Graves with a few accessories go at club shows in the low hundreds. A new machine as outlined above with some new laps - 3K and up is likely. Depends on what bells and whistles you want and what laps. faceter's also make a lot of their own laps - especially polishing laps. If you want more info. email me with facet stuff or something like it in the subject. have fun Carl 1 Lucky Texan Dave Adams wrote: I don't know how many of you do your own faceting...But I was wondering if you could offer any insight to a good entry level machine, and the costs associated with this. Dave -- to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net) |
#3
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CORRECTION!
------------------snip---------------------- The new facetron has a dial indicator (ala Ultratec) and it has a big following, the XtalTek and other prismatic models are very nice. face-Ette Gemasta is very pricy but very sturdy. -----------snip--------------- that shoulda' read - and other Polymetric models - sorry. Carl 1 Lucky Texan |
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