The Art Of Cutting Lapidary Stones
Lapidary is the art of stone cutting and polishing. Lately it has made something of a comeback, as people start to make their own jewelry. Traditionally, flint and obsidian were considered lapidary stones - stones that were fashioned into cutting implements and weapons back in ancient times. In more modern times stones are used more for decorative purposes than for practical ones.
Artists use machines these days to do their cutting. These are machines with simple pulleys that are driven by small electric motors. The pulley is turned by a roller sitting atop the machine. A small rubber or plastic drum is loaded with stones and placed on the machine. Once in the drum the rocks are spun around, and it is this process that grinds and polishes them.
If the rocks turn out to be a little too big for the drums then they have to be shrunk. This is often done by smashing them with a hammer. There's a distinct lack of control when you use this method. For a start you have no control over what shape the rock takes on when you hit it. Additionally, the rocks can develop splinters, which can ruin the stone or make it look unsightly. If you do use a hammer or blunt object then be sure to wrap the stone in a cloth so the splinter can be contained.
Before it is polished and tumbled, the rock needs to be cut. Different artists use different methods. Depending on what material you're cutting, it may be a good idea to use a circular saw, one that is diamond-tipped. These usually have a small reservoir filled with water, which the blade passes through as it spins. The water acts as a lubricant and a coolant for the blade and is a very powerful tool for grinding and for cutting.
The grinding part of the procedure is when the rock is shaped. This is where using a cutter will save you time. It can sometimes take ten weeks to shape the stones but with a cutting tool this can be cut to three. You'll need to have steady hands and be patient, as the job requires precision.
The drum is used in the tumbling and grinding process. Rocks are packed into the drum and then silicon carbide is added to the rocks. The rocks are then covered in water. It's vital to get your measurements right. If you put too many rocks into the rub they will not grind against each other. Too few rocks and they'll end up clashing too hard and not grinding. This can take around 7 days and should result in smooth, well rounded stones.
Once the tumbling stage is done the rocks can be put into the polishing drum. The polishing stage requires the rocks to be washed and dried beforehand. The better artists will have separate drums for polishing and tumbling, so as to reduce cross-contamination with the grit. The actual polish is named cerium oxide, a fine pink powder. It's quite pricey but it can be used more than once.
Lapidary stones are often used for making jewelry that you see in markets. Gone are the days when flint and obsidian were shaped into weapons and tools. However, the industry is thriving because of the quality of the finished product as well as the quality of the stone.
Artists use machines these days to do their cutting. These are machines with simple pulleys that are driven by small electric motors. The pulley is turned by a roller sitting atop the machine. A small rubber or plastic drum is loaded with stones and placed on the machine. Once in the drum the rocks are spun around, and it is this process that grinds and polishes them.
If the rocks turn out to be a little too big for the drums then they have to be shrunk. This is often done by smashing them with a hammer. There's a distinct lack of control when you use this method. For a start you have no control over what shape the rock takes on when you hit it. Additionally, the rocks can develop splinters, which can ruin the stone or make it look unsightly. If you do use a hammer or blunt object then be sure to wrap the stone in a cloth so the splinter can be contained.
Before it is polished and tumbled, the rock needs to be cut. Different artists use different methods. Depending on what material you're cutting, it may be a good idea to use a circular saw, one that is diamond-tipped. These usually have a small reservoir filled with water, which the blade passes through as it spins. The water acts as a lubricant and a coolant for the blade and is a very powerful tool for grinding and for cutting.
The grinding part of the procedure is when the rock is shaped. This is where using a cutter will save you time. It can sometimes take ten weeks to shape the stones but with a cutting tool this can be cut to three. You'll need to have steady hands and be patient, as the job requires precision.
The drum is used in the tumbling and grinding process. Rocks are packed into the drum and then silicon carbide is added to the rocks. The rocks are then covered in water. It's vital to get your measurements right. If you put too many rocks into the rub they will not grind against each other. Too few rocks and they'll end up clashing too hard and not grinding. This can take around 7 days and should result in smooth, well rounded stones.
Once the tumbling stage is done the rocks can be put into the polishing drum. The polishing stage requires the rocks to be washed and dried beforehand. The better artists will have separate drums for polishing and tumbling, so as to reduce cross-contamination with the grit. The actual polish is named cerium oxide, a fine pink powder. It's quite pricey but it can be used more than once.
Lapidary stones are often used for making jewelry that you see in markets. Gone are the days when flint and obsidian were shaped into weapons and tools. However, the industry is thriving because of the quality of the finished product as well as the quality of the stone.
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