What would it take to cut diamonds myself?

[wanderlost]

To start, I realize that professional cutters have years of training and schooling to learn how to cut diamonds. I also realize that the availability of rough to the public is essentially nil. Finally, I'm sorry for asking this question in this forum if it's not the right one.... I did not find any related topics in my searches here & I'm just trying to get a little more information on the subject.


I've played with this idea a little and wanted to see if I could get some experienced opinions of what would be the minimum amount of equipment necessary to cut diamonds (and if I could obtain rough, I'm not really thinking of anything beyond high quality boart/basement gem quality). My intentions are not to develop gems for resale or to become a professional cutter... I just find the idea very interesting & would really like to experiment with a few of my ideas on cut (based partially on the information that is already out there (the CutStudy website & resources, various intruments for analysis, and maybe learn how to do things like this site posted by mdx got me thinking about)... (btw - if anyone has some interesting inclusion pics, esp. of 'twinning wisps,' bubbles, recrystalization or anything else, I'd really appreciate them!).

In any case, I appreciate your help & look foward to reading what you can share with me!

Thanks.


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'All that is [diamond] does not glitter
All who wander are not lost'

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[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

If you want to buy th gear I can introduce you to a low cost high quality provider. PM me.
I think he can set you up for about $10k

 

[wanderlost]

Gary -

Thanks for your reply on my thread about cutting. I am somewhat interested in learning who to contact about the industry-grade setup for $10k, however, this is pretty far out of my league (especially if this turns into just a passing fad).

I was wondering if it was possible to obtain & use (essentially) a diamond pad on a belt/disc sander, or if the RPMs needed to make clean cuts are far above what most of these setups are capable of. Likewise, the 35k RPM of (yes it may seem funny, but again this is pre-preliminary experimentation for me) a dremmel comes to mind (fixed in place & using a 4-axis router table with the diamond clamped in place to move the stone to the wheel).

I also was wondering about the 'best' possible scenario that could result from a little practice & using high-quality boart/bottom of the barrel quality gem material (I realize that most of the resulting stones would be in the I-3 neighborhood (would be nicer if they were completely opaque) - but in screening, would I be able to determine if the stones had fluorescence (or is that only seen (or much easier to see) after the stone is already cut).

Finally.... how were OM, OEC, etc. cuts done before electricity, etc.

Thank you for your help.

 

[strmrdr]

If you want to play around you can get synthetic ruby or spinel rough for pennies a ct.
cz is cheap too.

 

[strmrdr]

http://www.facetingrough.com/rough_corundum.shtml

 

[wanderlost]

thanks for the link,..... the site is quite interesting and informative..... thre's quite a few faceters, etc. offered and I will definately be taking a more in-depth look at it soon.

However, they do not have much information on cutting diamonds (vs. the other simulants and gems)... although I'll definately be looking into it as a 'cheaper alternative' - and a VERY good place to start (some of the color shifts would be fun)... I had wanted to do some work on diamonds as well (as I don't believe there is a simulant with the same index of refraction to test my ideas on...) I'm kinda excited about a small collection of fluor. & inclusions as I had mentioned... I'm kinda stuck (and broke) to be starting a new hobby now.... so I'll keep collecting information for the time being.

Anyone else have any other good websites to peruse (btw... the boart & rough I had been looking at are at Diamond Rough)

 

[DiamondExpert]

Go to school - diamond cutting school that is...http://www.diamondschool.com/

 

[DavidEmslie]

hehe,

I would avoide diamond cutting altogether unless your wanting to make it a career, its like goldsmithing or engineering, if your doing it do it to become really good at it and nothing less.
I have a diamond cutter with 20+ years exp I work with that will recut and cut stones for under $100 per stone. It does not make any sence to invest in the equipment for that kind of price and expertise. If your looking for a hobby Cut Colored stones, a decent faceting machine can run from 1k to 2k and simple cuts are not too difficult. I have met more than one hobby cutter that has made some good money from cutting stones in there spare time for fun...and I have met some that have not.
The set up for diamonds is a compleatly different world. Its a science and an art in its own right.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

All true.
Diamond cutting is a different league to colored gems. A big leap.

 

[The Joker]

This faceting machine can cut both diamond and non-diamond gemstones. "Diamante Faceting Machine(cost < $4000)". You can do a Google search to find the distributers. Also most Lapidary clubs offer classes on how to cut (facet) gemstones. IMHO you would want to learn how to facet first, before you invest in the equipment.

Joker....

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

The 10k set up I mentioned has everything, not just the wheel.
Bruters, setters, dops, tangs, saw etc etc.
Diamonds are not simply polished like other gems - most stones are sawn or cleaved and a number of stones cut from the one crystal.

 

[wanderlost]

Thank you for all of your replies....
What I really wish (as was true when I first felt the same sort of interest in microbiology & lab work) was that there was someone in the area that I might be able to look over their shoulder & see if it still appealed to me... and maybe play with the scraps, etc.

Gary#1 (DE) - cutting school might be a possibility (as would joining Eightstar for an apprenticeship) - but taking classes at the local community college would be a preferable next step...

David - I agree... it's the initial investment that is the hurdle.... if only someone in the classifieds needed to liquidate their diamond cutting inventory

!

Joker - I was looking at this piece of equipment specifically & some others that were listed on the faceting rough website (with prices down to $2k as well as the availability of concave faceters for colored gems)... it's interesting and under consideration... do you have any experience with this machine yourself?

CutNut - I've learned quite a bit about the initial process about how rough is divided, shapes determined & multiple stones are extracted from the rough. That information is what started all of this.... it's getting harder to resist the more I learn

. I don'y suppose that the 'etc.' includes any of the raytracing software that would give suggestions on how the rough could be cut to give different sizes, shapes & quality?


I look forward to any additional information anyone might have on this.
Thanks.