Jade Faceting machine

[rockytop]

Does anyone have any experience with a Jade faceting machine? See below.....

www.amazon.com/Grinding-Manipulator-Faceting-Adjustable-Positioner/dp/B07R2NJJJM/ref=sr_1_11?crid=NEZMUWIP553I&keywords=gem+faceting+machine&qid=1556503576&s=gateway&sprefix=faceting%2Caps%2C163&sr=8-11


I found a more expensive model at:

pt.aliexpress.com/item/Gemstone-Faceting-Mechanical-Arm-jewels-playing-angle-flat-mill-polishing-stone-angles-wheels-handle-Gem-Faceting/32965560979.html?spm=a2g03.10010108.1000016.1.607643c6wNfzFH&isOrigTitle=true

I am new to gem cutting and polishing and was wondering if either of these would be a good lower cost first try at a faceting machine. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

[flminer56]

I know that a member of the us faceters guild bought one but he never gave any feedback about it. These don't seem to have a radial index adjustment also known as a cheater.  One of these might cause you more grief than its worth.

[rockytop]

Thank you for your input.

[slomoshun]

It can repeat facets more accurately than a jam-peg setup, but don't expect meet points.

Consider what is missing. If you factor in everything else needed to cut stones with it, you would be money and time ahead buying a used faceting machine from eBait or Craigs.

[pauls]

That is only a small part of the faceting operation.
You need dops, laps, transfer jig, and an actual lap machine to mount that on. To my thinking that mast is far too flimsy for good work.

Far better for your first machine to buy a good second hand machine, they aren't cheap but hold their value so if you decide it's not for you you can sell it for pretty much what you paid.
Join a club and have a go of their machines, put out feelers for a machine, people get old and their eyesight deteriorates so need to sell up.
A good second hand machine from someone you know in your club will often come with hundreds of dollars worth of accesories.

[QuailRiver]

The mast design appears to be based on the old LEE machine mast. Several years back Daniel Lopacki attempted to have a line of machines based on the LEE design manufactured overseas and from what I remember they never could get the accuracy machined quite right. That said a skilled faceter can adapt and cut a good stone on most any machine. However, it can take that same faceter MUCH longer to cut a quality stone on a machine with poor repeatability than on a good machine. And also it could be frustrating for a beginner trying to learn to facet on a machine with poor accuracy. Another consideration is that most of the Asian made machines use 6mm diameter shaft dops, so finding dops to fit this machine here in the U.S. might be a challenge.

Larry C.

[rockytop]

Thanks to everyone for the input. I appreciate the insights. I believe finding a good used machine would be a better idea.

[pauls]

If you are new to faceting check out "Amateur gemstone Faceting" by Tom Herbst.
There are two books but volume 1 is all you will need to get started, vol 2 covers some pretty advanced topics.
They are quite cheap and for technical books very easy to read, the author has a way of explaining quite complicated stuff that will have you absorbing it easily.
I got mine on Amazon, it was here in 4 or 5 days in Australia.