Howaya folks!

I’m only getting started in lapidary, but I’ve been having great craic shaping and polishing a few stones lately, including a heart in blue apatite, which I’m not ashamed to say I’m fairly happy with.

The rest are practice pieces a serpentine, amazonite, moss agate and one last stone that’s still a work in progress but more traditional cab.
Nothing fancy, just me getting used to the wheels and burrs and trying not to make a hames of things.

No big questions, but any advice for beginners would be appreciated!

Delighted to finally post here. Cheers for taking a look.

My Wife made this ring with my first piece.I just started lapidary and made these from some raw chunks. They turned out way better than I expected. She is currently working on the other two. Hope to post those soon.

I have tried over and over and over again. Even with all the incredible advice I’ve been given and I just can’t do it. 😖
Is there a chance I can hire someone for a reasonable price to drill some holes for me?
I have a drill press, diamond bits- solid bits and hollow bits, I have a water basin and a water drip. I am flat out exhausted now from trying.
Is there anyone who has the technique nailed down who would be willing to hire out and drill some holes for me? Thank you.

Hi everyone! I hope this is okay to share here. I read the rules and I think I am okay??

I’m a teacher living in a pretty remote part of southern Utah, surrounded by more rocks than people!

When I first got into lapidary, I remember trying to find polychrome jasper and being shocked at how expensive it was when I finally found some. I just wanted fun material to cut and experiment with without spending a fortune. I ended up buying a large quantity and had plenty extra and wanted to share with others.

It’s just a side gig (teaching is my real job), but I love finding interesting material and making it affordable for other rock people.

One of my favorite things is throwing in free rocks. Any purchase comes with free Utah rocks because I live in rockhounding heaven and I love sharing a little piece of it with people. And honestly it’s a feel good venture, I love this hobby I’ve gotten into and going to brightens others as well.

Anyway, if you enjoy cutting, polishing, collecting, or just looking at cool rocks, you’re welcome to come check out my page. Even if you don’t buy anything, I always enjoy meeting other people who get excited about rocks! I definitely would love for you to share your lapidary creations.

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CfjrThDL5/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I am completely mesmerized by the pattern in this freshly polished piece. The contrast between the brilliant turquoise areas and the dark, metallic matrix makes it look like an aerial map of a desert oasis. Another day of hand-cutting that reminds me why I love being a lapidary artist. Hope you enjoy looking at it as much as I do!

I was blessed to get my hands on this Beaver arbor from Lortone Inc. I can't locate a model number and haven't had much luck finding this exact model online. It has not been plugged in yet but the wheels spin freely with no grinding sounds from the bearings. I'm totaling new to cabbing and would greatly appreciate any information on bringing this unit back into working order. Thanks in advance. I've been wanting something like this for years now after tumbling and making some jewelery.

Finished it a few days ago, Cabs Lace Agate pieces

Test cuts from a new spot! The patterns carry through, and the rock quality is great! The white/purple on the first one is translucent, as is the green rock. The last rock is translucent also, it cracked but I’m blaming the dull, tile saw blade.

The longer I stare at these.. the more I want guacamole. Anyone else? 🥑🙈

Just finished polishing this gorgeous matched pair of moss agate cabochons on my workbench!

The fine red and gold-brown dendritic inclusions look like tiny, enchanting landscapes trapped inside the stone. Everything from the initial slab trimming to the final high-gloss polish was done entirely by hand.

What do you guys think of the pattern and polish on these? Let me know in the comments!

I attempted to make a sound shroud type thing for my saw out of osb linesd with yoga mats …. I don’t think it made a difference lol

Hello. I made these Star Trek cabochons but I'm not sure how to proceed on adding in the command star in the center. Anyone have any ideas? Thank you. 🙏

I work with cutting, grinding, and polishing meteorites, and I’d like to ask about your experiences with achieving a true mirror finish on meteorite surfaces.

So far, I’ve found that stony meteorites, particularly chondrites, are the most challenging materials for me to polish successfully. Interestingly, the best results I’ve achieved have come from using a beechwood polishing disc with a small amount of aluminium oxide (alumina). This combination seems to produce a better finish than some of the other polishing methods I’ve tried.

However, I haven’t experimented much with other types of wood, and I’m curious whether the hardness, grain, or structure of different woods might influence the final polishing result.

I’d be very interested to hear about your experiences:

• What polishing media and compounds do you use to achieve a mirror finish on chondrites?
• Have you experimented with wooden polishing discs? If so, which types of wood have worked best for you?
• What is your experience with aluminium oxide compared with other polishing compounds?
• Have you discovered any techniques that consistently produce a high-quality, scratch-free finish while preserving the natural structure of the meteorite?

I believe sharing our experiences and experimenting with different materials and techniques could help all of us achieve better results. If you’ve conducted any tests, I’d be very grateful if you could share your methods, observations, or photographs of the results.

Thank you in advance, and I look forward to exchanging ideas with you all!

Hello everyone!

I work with cutting, grinding, and polishing meteorites, and I’d like to ask about your experiences with achieving a true mirror finish on meteorite surfaces.

So far, I’ve found that stony meteorites, particularly chondrites, are the most challenging materials for me to polish successfully. Interestingly, the best results I’ve achieved have come from using a beechwood polishing disc with a small amount of aluminium oxide (alumina). This combination seems to produce a better finish than some of the other polishing methods I’ve tried.

However, I haven’t experimented much with other types of wood, and I’m curious whether the hardness, grain, or structure of different woods might influence the final polishing result.

I’d be very interested to hear about your experiences:

• What polishing media and compounds do you use to achieve a mirror finish on chondrites?
• Have you experimented with wooden polishing discs? If so, which types of wood have worked best for you?
• What is your experience with aluminium oxide compared with other polishing compounds?
• Have you discovered any techniques that consistently produce a high-quality, scratch-free finish while preserving the natural structure of the meteorite?

I believe sharing our experiences and experimenting with different materials and techniques could help all of us achieve better results. If you’ve conducted any tests, I’d be very grateful if you could share your methods, observations, or photographs of the results.

Thank you in advance, and I look forward to exchanging ideas with you all!

Jasper with I believe hematite and quartz inclusions, rhodonite, chet, and another jasper. Currently trying to find a materials source to make these into wearable pieces.

Latest picture jasper cab i just finished. Im glad I cut it bigger and thicker. Was super fun to work on.

This is my first attempt at a reversible pendant. Made from a scrap of Moroccan Agate with a textured silver overlay on the front side. Silver jump ring post with 14k solder and bead.

Also, I'm discovering that it's so hard to photograph cabs - I have a lot of respect for anyone who can capture the color and shine. Any tips are greatly appreciated!