Been a professional jeweller for more years than I want to count. Just starting out the engraving side line. I actually enjoy the sharpening part but gee the TIME when working from blanks. Haven't got around to getting a power hone up and working yet which left using my hands on the diamond stones. Fatigue will set in!
Along with being a jeweller, I've also been cutting opals for even longer. I belong to a gem club that have all the gear a cutter would want. Took my blanks in and set to work. Using an 80 grit WET diamond wheel made the pre-form a matter of minutes. Fast, cheap and no heat. Finished by hand with the Lindsey templates. Took a quarter of the time to make a graver this way. I actually got pretty good with the pre-forms. I impressed myself with the accuracy.
Community clubs are varied and have many uses. I just found a new one.
If this is old news, sorry for posting - just got excited.
Bud.
Along with being a jeweller, I've also been cutting opals for even longer. I belong to a gem club that have all the gear a cutter would want. Took my blanks in and set to work. Using an 80 grit WET diamond wheel made the pre-form a matter of minutes. Fast, cheap and no heat. Finished by hand with the Lindsey templates. Took a quarter of the time to make a graver this way. I actually got pretty good with the pre-forms. I impressed myself with the accuracy.
Community clubs are varied and have many uses. I just found a new one.
If this is old news, sorry for posting - just got excited.
Bud.
