First attempt/test run

[JBK]

Couldn't wait to put something on a dop stick and have a go for the first time.


Start - Black Spinel, (#1000 top lap and #3000 mixed diamond powder on copper lap for now)

[fossickeract]

 Looking good Joe, Black spinel hmm you may have trouble seeing scratches when you reach polish stage, when you think its perfect check it with 10x in bright sunlight! 100,000 diamond on your tin/lead will give a perfect polish.        Cheers Ted

[JBK]

Thanks Ted, will do 👍. Haven’t seen #100000 in the box but there is definitely 60k in there. Will give it a try this evening 😊

[Faceting Frank]

Looks great and I know how exited you must be cutting your first stone. 1,000-3,000 and polishing with 60k diamond is perfect for what you’re cutting there. I’ve never used 100k diamond, so can’t comment on how much better the polish is going to be. I suspect your not going to tell the difference. You can get pre-cut pieces of CZ in all the colours from GemCuts for a very reasonable price, they sell them in 3 different sizes. A piece of clear medium size CZ weighing between 65-95ct will set you back $7.

[RoughCreations]

Great to see your fantastic new machine and steady progress cutting your first stone on it. I have had a black spinel dopped and ready to go for several months, I should give it a go myself.
RC

[JBK]

Looks great and I know how exited you must be cutting your first stone. 1,000-3,000 and polishing with 60k diamond is perfect for what you’re cutting there. I’ve never used 100k diamond, so can’t comment on how much better the polish is going to be. I suspect your not going to tell the difference. You can get pre-cut pieces of CZ in all the colours from GemCuts for a very reasonable price, they sell them in 3 different sizes. A piece of clear medium size CZ weighing between 65-95ct will set you back $7.

Thanks for the tip Frank😊. Sounds good re:CZ pre-cuts and cheap enough if I stuff things up.

[JBK]

Great to see your fantastic new machine and steady progress cutting your first stone on it. I have had a black spinel dopped and ready to go for several months, I should give it a go myself.
RC

Cheers RC- lol I wasn’t game enough to dop anything better as I haven’t done any alignment what so ever , just cleaned the machine a little and oiled the mast . I used a bit of superglue not knowing if the stone would stay on or not. So far ok

[JBK]

Looking good Joe, Black spinel hmm you may have trouble seeing scratches when you reach polish stage, when you think its perfect check it with 10x in bright sunlight! 100,000 diamond on your tin/lead will give a perfect polish.        Cheers Ted

I see what you mean Ted, by magnification I can see the scratches. Yes

[MALACHI]

Looks like your starting to have some fun there. Hope all the polishing advice results in a near perfect finish and your machine will not require any alignment tinkering.


 You've now got me wanting to resurrect mine; haven't touched it since pre covid. 

[JBK]

Looks like your starting to have some fun there. Hope all the polishing advice results in a near perfect finish and your machine will not require any alignment tinkering.


 You've now got me wanting to resurrect mine; haven't touched it since pre covid. 

Cheers mate, yes having fun. It’s first practice stone😊 has a crack which I couldn’t see ( being black ) but I’ll perceive to the end . Next prepolish and polish.

[MakkyBrown]

Does the crack run down over the star? If not you might be able to cut some or all of it out when you do the table. First glance at your stone and everything looks nice an even so you probably have a nice machine Congrats

[JBK]

Thanks MB, crack is running across the table and into the crown. All good I'll probably stop polishing it now. Next one will hopefully be ok ..
"https://youtube.com/shorts/4fyhI4EaAoU?si=aA1l2AWSr-VKl0uO"


Haven’t figured out how to add YouTube link to the video file🙃, but that’s the link 6 sec video.

[JBK]

Test subject now complete. From 10ct rough to 6.05ct cut. Shopping list( some new polishing powder) 😊

[Faceting Frank]

Looks good, will have to get a gemstone box to put all your stones in. I still have my first stone, a standard round brilliant in clear quartz.

[JBK]

Good idea Frank, I can see this becoming my nightly ritual.(very addictive)