I have just dusted off my Gemmaster II after five years of inactivity only to learn that the manufacturer is out of business. Can anyone direct me to a source for spare parts? My main concern at this time is the drive belt as mine has sat for so long in one position that it may be best to replace it. Other parts may be also be necessary Your help is appreciated Doug
May be tough to find parts. Maybe watch eBay for an old one to turn up and pick it up to get parts from... May want to also ask on the usfg discussion forum.
There are quite a few that post here that used them, but it is that time of year that Tucson is happening, so may not get a response from some of them until after it slows down.
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Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 8:14 pm Posts: 1383 Location: Royal Oak, Michigan US
And, if Tom is not able to help, though I'm sure he can...
Fellow GemMaster II user named Jeff Gurecky in Toledo Ohio has a collection of parts that he took in just for this purpose.
In addition, Farooq Hashmi is also a collector of Fac-Ette materials and has quite a collection of various spare parts - and may offer them for sale.
And, finally, can contact Wayne Yeager of Savanna Engineering as I believe they are planning on reviving some or all of the parts for aging machines including the Fac-Ette.
There is also a lady named Cindy who posts to the usfgfaceterslist@yahoogroups.com She is a former employee of the last company that made the Facette and just recently posted that she was still available to render whatever assistance she could to Facette owners.
Thanks to everyone for the information. The machine is in great shape other than the belt which is shot and broke after a test run. It was very brittle after sitting unused for so long. I am searching for one so if there is one around I would appreciate a reply. I will also try the suggested sources. Doug
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 8:14 pm Posts: 1383 Location: Royal Oak, Michigan US
Citadelusa wrote:
Thanks to everyone for the information. The machine is in great shape other than the belt which is shot and broke after a test run. It was very brittle after sitting unused for so long. I am searching for one so if there is one around I would appreciate a reply. I will also try the suggested sources. Doug
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 6:49 pm Posts: 2 Location: Geneva, IL
Hi Everyone. I'm super new to the forum and a fellow Gem Master II owner. I have had a GMII for about 5 years and recently noticed I'm missing a few dops. And of course I can't find anywhere to buy them online. You'd think that with Fac-ette closing someone would be making a compatible dop. There has got to be a few of us out there that would buy them. Do you guys know of anywhere I can find them? Or is there a dop for a different machine that fits too?
To find the lady who worked for Fac-ette join the usfg faceters list at yahoo groups. Her post was on or about Feb 09 this year.
There also was a post apparently by the guy who owns the machine shop company that made the Gemmaster and he stated on that same list that he would start making them again and continue to support them. Just check the Feb 2014 messages there.
You can send me a private message for more and better links. I won't post anyone's email address. (Kiki you have to post ten times here before you can send or receive a private message.)
Or contact Fac-ette again and see if they have changed their mind officially.
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 8:14 pm Posts: 1383 Location: Royal Oak, Michigan US
Hi Kiki, The good folks at Fac-Ette have officially closed up shop. The son and daughter of the original owners were unprepared to run the operation, and health concerns have taken their toll as well. And, as you've probably already discovered, the website is no-longer as well as their email addresses. I have personal contact info for the daughter, but do not have permission to relay it to anyone. So going back to Fac-Ette will be a dead end.
At present, there isn't anyone making Fac-Ette specific dops. However, I believe this will change sometime this year. There is a fellow named Wyatt Yeager who is in position to begin building/creating replacement parts for faceting machines in general - but is beginning with parts for the Fac-Ette GemMaster II's.
Myself and a few other Fac-Ette owners are working together and "pitching in" to make a buy of replacement dops from this fellow Wyatt. For us to ask him to begin making dops, we need to come up with some numbers to make it worth his while. So if you have some specifics as to what you are interested in, we can compile a list to get this rolling. *would be helpful to look 5 years out on what you may require then, as I don't plan to ask him every 6-9 months to do another run as this is not his only business.
Regarding the lady who worked at Fac-Ette, her name is Cindy Hine. Can search for her several posts on USFG. She is willing to be helpful and assist you, but please know she would be doing this on her own and is no longer receiving any compensation for anything Fac-Ette related. She has a good heart!
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 6:49 pm Posts: 2 Location: Geneva, IL
Thank you G4Lab and Roger. Sounds like if I'm patient this year could bring some support to us GMII owners. Roger, I'll get back to you on which dops I'd like to see. If Mr Yeager is willing I'd love to support the cause. I love my GMII and I hate to abandon it for lack of parts. So far, knock on wood, it's working beautifully.
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