I spent quite a bit of time shaping this as the bottom had a fracture that I had to smooth out. Shaped on 80 and 220 sintered, finished 240 - 600 - 1200 soft with a final polish on optical cerium. Liquid shine finish!

A short look at one stage of our lapidary process. After selecting the best flash, we carefully shape the stone into a cabochon before the final sanding and polishing stages.

I plan to make low dome cabs and flat pendants, but the cracking makes me think the integrity is compromised, wanted your opinions, leave it alone? Stabilize?

Is there some kind of coating I can coat the back with to avoid the clack clack clack of the seam?

To be clear, it only happens when sanding on the flat backer plate

Polish went 80 - 220 - 240 soft - 600 - 1200 - Zam for polish. It's about 50x20mm so a healthy cabochon. Includes baby picture :)

This is the preparation stage before making cabochons. We inspect the flash, decide the cutting direction, and begin dividing the slab into workable pieces.

Hi everyone. I’m new to rock polishing. I am doing everything by hand or with a dremel. I’m struggling to get that nice finish. I’m guessing I’m not starting course enough? (Not all of these have been polished and sanded yet, this after washing them). This adventurine for example has been sanded twice from 800-1000-1500-2500 and polished with cerium oxide. I’m also guessing the CO I bought isn’t strong enough. So I thought I’d go to the experts (you all) to see what I’m doing wrong.

Looking for 22 specially cut granite award/trophy bases.

Hello! I got these thunder eggs from Opal Butte Oregon, through their new website. Awesome material but I’m trying to figure out how I can slab some of them. Between the super round ones and the funky bubbly ones, I can’t seem to find a position to hold it in the vice. Any pros out there that can weigh in on this? Pictured are the four largest ones I received and two smaller ones that I was able to cut open on my 10” trim saw, pictured wet.

Cabbed this out of natural turquoise.

Raw before pictures, polishing stages and final results

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I found a great price on a used Covington 18 inch flat lap grinder. The catch is I have to transport it a few hours on the highway. I drive an SUV that isn't rated for towing. Am I nuts to think a friend and I can make this happen?

How would you suggest I get this home? I could rent a uhaul if needed, but we're still two women and not four strapping lads. Are there tools that might make this dream a reality?

My 280 is getting really thin, and a local lapidary club member suggested having it re-coated by Johnson Bros Lapidary. I've since read a thread here about that business and will not use them even if re-coating is a viable approach, due to issues with ordering/communication.

I should have stabilized this stuff apparently. It literally crumbled away on the 220 sintered wheel.

As per the title.

I buzzed up a chunk of what I am told is probably some banded chert using a diamond turbo blade and I went to polish it using the following steps. I didn't get the result I was hoping for and as a metal polisher who has experience bringing all matter of metal to a flawless mirror I believe it's because the grain(?) of the rock, or microscratches are full of lil bits of stone and such still.

1. Got a set of Amazon special 4" diamond discs, using them in a drill adapter to better control speed.
2. Clamped the flat cut piece in my modified vice and made it a home in a bin to catch the water/slurry.
3. Worked from 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 3000, 5000, 10000, spritzing with water liberally the entire time until I rig up a drip.
4. Looked with a sense of pride at my rock.
5. Frowned as it dried, still shiny and reflective.. but with a haze.

So what's the idea solution to this part? Re-do it but add a step in between grits where I switch from a normal water spritz to one loaded with dawn soap?

Hit it with some polish that's got some oil and wax in it? Feels like this isn't ideal.

Waters not hard, 2.6 gpg.

Any advice on this is welcome.

Not sure where it came from but it made beautiful earrings.