FACETING: DOP progress, photos

Can't wait for you to break the ice. You may have picked up that the disks should be kept in order with the fine grades at the top.

This is exciting to watch, Pat. I've seen faceting machines in use at local shows but because of lack of time never paid too close of attention, so I suppose I'm as green about this as you were. Please keep updating, it's a great learning experience!

If you know how to dop with wax, you might want to skip this part. I had never seen it done, and still haven't.

I have two dop pots --- one uses a tea light candle (maybe), and the other is a Raytech electric.

First questions I have is how do I shave? the wax off the stick it comes in? How much to use? How long does it take?

Instruction page for the Raytech says it takes about thirty minutes for the unit to warm up. Egads! No hints as to how to shave or slice off the wax into the receptacle. Off to Google.

A good thing, too. No shaving or slicing; takes very little wax and it comes directly off the stick. I can't imagine (yet) why it would take a half hour.

Here are my dop heaters.

1 fullsizeoutput_1576 by Pat, on Flickr

The above is the Raytech. I've already chipped off a lot of the caked, really caked on green wax. I understand that I should use black wax for faceting. The difference is the heat it can stand. I tried to undo the four screws holding the top on, so I could get the wax off and any wax that was inside. Not knowing anything about motors, I am extra careful. One screw out, three to go.

2 fullsizeoutput_1577 by Pat, on Flickr

The above shows exactly which Raytech it is and the extent of the wax used by the former owner. I've chipped away a lot.

3IMG_1582 by Pat, on Flickr

This is the Lortone GDS-1. Looks like it uses a tea candle. It has slots in the back for dop sticks, I assume, but I don't know what the tall thing to the right is for --- biiiig dop sticks??

Anyhow, I've printed out a few things on the subject and will read tonight. One video showed using a clothespin to hold the dop stick to save fingers. Will track one down. Also showed using transfer jig to to center stone on dop. Apparently, it hardens quickly.

I wish I could show you at least one faceted side/face, but it's coming to your local.... : )

Thanks for the walk through with this, Pat. I know zero about faceting, so it's really interesting.

I use a bendable desk lamp with an old fashioned bulb to help heat the wax faster. Also, I use acetone to clean up the mess. Works great.

I use brown wax, and really do like the benefits of being able to adjust to stone if needed. I heat the end of the wax stick until it just starts flowing near (but not in) the flame of a butane torch, then while it's flowing wipe it onto the dop.

I have used superglue on heat sensitive stones before and it worked alright, but I tended to have more failures than with wax.

Cat food tins are good if you can get over the stink of fish when you heat it, the smell seems to keep on coming for ages.

I generally just wipe a small amount of wax onto the dop, just enough to stick the stone.

Pat , a suggestion on cleaning your wax heater (Raytech). Remove the aluminum top (remove the 4 screws and it should pry off upward pretty easily) then pop it into the freezer for half an hour or so. Use a sharp flat device like a small paint scraper to chip the hardened wax off. Repeat if necessary. Acetone will do the job but it's not good to breathe the fumes or get it on your hands. I'm told the toxic stuff, damaging to the liver, is absorbed through the skin.