zapins
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 116 
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Post by zapins on Jul 21, 2017 14:54:03 GMT -5
I know some people have faceter machines here on the forum. I looked into buying one but the price is a bit nuts to get all the stuff needed to cut even a simple gem. I found this while collecting in georgia, it is an amethyst, I don't think it is worth too much but it has sentimental value because I found it with my girlfriend. I want to have it cut into a stone so I can put it in some jewelry. I was wondering if anyone would like to trade services? I do a decent bit of metal casting in silver and also larger castings in silicon bronze, though I can cast in tin, copper, zinc etc if you want. I would be happy to cast something out of silver up to about half an ounce (sterling or fine silver, your choice) in exchange for a "round" cut stone with the facets like the one in the top left of this picture: If you have something made out of wax or really anything that will burn (flowers, leaves, cloth, etc) I can direct cast it for you, or if you want me to carve you something I can do that as well, just message me and we can figure out the details.  The rough I'd like cut is bottom right I think there is a small section of the gem that doesn't have flaws in it, maybe 8-9 mm size.  2017-07-21_02-50-45 by Zapins, on Flickr |
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Dr DG
fully equipped rock polisher
Gone Fishing
Member since April 2005
Posts: 1,848
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Post by Dr DG on Jul 21, 2017 15:38:02 GMT -5
sometimes I facet stones, but it's takes a lot of time. and only trading half oz of silver, less than 16 an oz now, not a good trade for me, someone will trade here, good luck
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zapins
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by zapins on Jul 21, 2017 15:44:26 GMT -5
I don't know much about stone faceting, perhaps you or others can let me know how long & what is involved in faceting a round shaped gem?
I'm more than happy to put in equal amounts of time or materials so the trade is good. Castings for faceting.
From what I understand I can get a stone faceted for $50-80 from a store, which is why I figured about 20 bucks of silver + the investment material that is needed to coat the item, the wax it takes me to carve whatever someone wants cast should be roughly equal?
1 oz is fine too.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2017 17:50:34 GMT -5
Proper custom precision faceting is $125-$150 per stone cut. rockncajun |
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zapins
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by zapins on Jul 22, 2017 0:41:19 GMT -5
Ah I see.
Thanks for the info.
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Sept 14, 2017 18:43:35 GMT -5
Gorgeous bit of ame. Any clubs in your area? Bet you'd find a cutter you could trade for, most cutters I know never get into casting.
I've cut under fifty stones, still takes ten hours or more to cut a stone that might retail for ten bucks, lol.
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Post by fantastic5 on Sept 14, 2017 20:40:30 GMT -5
If that rough is only 8-9 mm, that would make a very tiny faceted stone. You lose a lot cutting.
Nice stones! JXR?
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zapins
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by zapins on Sept 21, 2017 17:38:29 GMT -5
Fantastic5 - the stone is a lot larger than 8-9 mm in the rough, it is probably about 20-25 mm across (2/3 to 3/4") the usable part that looks flawless to me is about 1 cm across, with some losses I think the finished stone would be 8 to 9mm.
Also, scott & fish, I just want to clarify that what I am offering is the expertise and skill needed to make a custom made part of silver. This is not something easy to do, if you went to a jeweler and asked for a custom cast piece of jewelry you'd easily be asked to shell out $125-150. So the trade isn't really about the material cost of half an ounce of silver ($8-10 material costs), but rather the time and skill it takes to carve out a wax in the required shape, cast it perfectly, clean up and chase, then bring to a high shine polish or patina as needed. The cost comes from the skill involved not the material costs.
I have never cut a stone before, but I do know that the amount of time involved in custom casting things out of silver is many more hours than you'd think. In fact, I'd go as far as to say carving a wax, casting, and polishing probably takes twice as long as a stone takes to cut (3-8 hours for a stone from what I understand, and 8-16 hours to cast and finish a piece of silver or more depending on how intricate the object is). The person cutting the stone in this trade would be coming out way ahead here in spending less or equal time to cut and in material costs (silver, wax, investment, multiple polishes/grits/consumables).
If anyone cuts gemstones, and needs something cast, message me if you are interested in trading skills.
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