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 Post subject: Opinions please :)
PostPosted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:08 pm 
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I am a new cutter with 10 SRBs done so far. I am planning on cutting some very light garnet this weekend. I would like to stay round, but I am not sure I want to go SRB with them. Any opinions on a good "next design" for a beginner that would work well in a garnet that has low saturation?

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 Post subject: Re: Opinions please :)
PostPosted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 9:06 pm 
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I've always liked the "Simple Jack" design available on the USFG website, complete with detailed cutting instructions:
http://www.usfacetersguild.org/gem_designs/simple_jack/

It can be a bit of challenge to get all of those pavilion facets to come together a the culet just so, but overall it's a forgiving design & great for beginners.

peter

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 Post subject: Re: Opinions please :)
PostPosted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 10:53 pm 
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Mitch's Beginner Blossom is a nice one in garnet, I didn't change anything. (mine was a deep blood red) 8)

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 Post subject: Re: Opinions please :)
PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:41 am 
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Light garnets are nice because they look great in almost any design. I say just find something that appeals to you and won't be too challenging. I like Jeff Graham's designs because he usually has a note at the bottom that says how hard the design is to cut.

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 Post subject: Re: Opinions please :)
PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:12 am 
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I cut a few garnets in a design called Old Mine Cut. It is a square cut quite simple to execute. It works well with lightly saturated materials and has quite a dazzling scintillation.

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 Post subject: Re: Opinions please :)
PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 2:38 pm 
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I'd say, cut the square in the book that came with the 5XL.

But I'm guessing you've already discarded that option so I suggest this:

http://www.faceters.com/designs/easy_does_it.shtml

It is nice in anything from Quartz to Corundum and it is truly "easy".


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 Post subject: Re: Opinions please :)
PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 3:01 pm 
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I have cut that pattern and it really is a nice looking stone when you are done!

Andrew


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 Post subject: Re: Opinions please :)
PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 3:26 pm 
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Hi, MrBill,

If you want to stay round, my Amaryllis 1 works well in light colored garnet. It is not difficult. But you need to pay good attention to the pattern.

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 Post subject: Re: Opinions please :)
PostPosted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 8:48 am 
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Thank you all :) Now I have plenty of ideas for this weekend. I am leaning towards Mitch's suggestion. That looks like a fun cut that will teach me quite a bit, as well.

I finally bit the bullet and ordered a camera setup I think will do a better job at capturing gems. Now I will not be able to rely on my little point and shoot to hide my flaws!!

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 Post subject: Re: Opinions please :)
PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:43 am 
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I thought of another one to consider, Greg Glenn's Mini-Portuguese

http://www.usfacetersguild.org/gem_desi ... niport.pdf

Edit - add 1.5 degrees on the 40, 43, 46 (41.5, 44.5, 47.5) should be a fair quartz stone. It will have a tilt window with that big table in quartz.

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 Post subject: Re: Opinions please :)
PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:46 am 
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Ooo, that is perfect!! As I was pondering which stone to cut this weekend I heard my mother's voice in the back of my head reminding me to "do the things you have to do before you do the things you want to do". I have a pair of topaz 8mm stones due for a friend's wife on April 9, so I started those last night. I am hoping I get through them tomorrow so I can cut what I want on Sunday :)

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 Post subject: Re: Opinions please :)
PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 11:51 am 
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Do you know about the angle offset you need to do with topaz? You should be 7 degrees off of the cleavage plane or there will be swear words heard over your machine.

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 Post subject: Re: Opinions please :)
PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:16 pm 
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I do. I had a veil running through the rough that looked like it was somewhere in the 7-10 degree range. I sawed through the veil and used that as my crown for the first rock. The cleavage plane is quite obvious on the second stone and the the way it is formed makes the table naturally 5-10 degrees offset.

The tough part has been that people tend to pick out a setting, then a stone. The rough I am working with would easily make a 10mm stone, but it is what I have. Cutting metered pairs has been my biggest challenge so far.

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 Post subject: Re: Opinions please :)
PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:53 pm 
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A tip, if you have long rough. Dop it and cut the pavilion at the bottom and include the girdle. Set the stone up for transfer. SAW the stone in half so that you can cut a pavilion and crown on the stone that was first attached to the dop. On the transfer dop, you finish the crown. Both stones are the same size.

Edit - I think that was mentioned in the Johnny Tew speed cutting videos. Look for gsellis in Youtube. FFF2, Johnny Tew.

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 Post subject: Re: Opinions please :)
PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 1:39 pm 
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Here’s another tip, because there is more than one way to skin a cat.

I think this cat means not the furry four-legged animal but the catfish… :P

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