Stoneworking/Lapidary Arts?

Auzzie-Phoenix · #1 05-28-2010, 08:21 PM

Has anyone done this type of work before? I've done some lapidary work on gemstones when I was in highschool, since the tools were available, but haven't been able to do so in over 12 years.

Really enjoyed working on lapidary tools. It was oddly relaxing, and I'd lose track of time completely. I know that many artistic people have a preferred specialty that they like working on, be it metalwork, photography, sketching, digital graphics manipulation, CAD/AutoCAD, woodworking, etc...

However I really haven't heard of that many people that mention stoneworking/lapidary.

So, has anyone tried lapidary in the past or currently works with the medium?

Dirk Diggler · #2 05-28-2010, 10:56 PM

Have you ever tried to make an arrowhead? It's harder than it looks.

No pun intended, you watch Alan Alda on PBS and he makes it look so easy. I have great respect for stoneworkers, I know it's just a different way to work with different yet similar tools. I could imagine there's plenty of time to think while chiseling on a big stone.

Rock on!
Alright that one was on purpose. Hah!
Dirk

Auzzie-Phoenix · #3 05-29-2010, 07:13 PM

I'm in the process of obtaining stoneworking and polishing bits for my dremel. I am a bit disappointed they don't have some form of footpedal for the xpr multi-speed series. I haven't decided what gemstone I want to work with. I've worked with amethyst before, and still have some left over from highschool. I was thinking possibly aquamarine or lapis lazuli.

And the answer to your question is no... I have never attempted to make an arrowhead. I do all of my shaping using the grinding method vs. chiseling or hammering method. I would like to obtain a small jeweler's saw though, for cutting out small slabs from the rough cabbing. It'd save a fortune on grinding wheels.

Just like luthierie, it's a hobby that can eventually pay for itself... and the tools honestly don't cost that much in comparison to other shop-type hobbies.

Auzzie-Phoenix · #4 06-03-2010, 06:11 PM

Just wore out a diamond saw blade for my dremel over 2 hrs. Was attempting to cut the rough shape for a nut out of a block of aquamarine. All that work (plus the sawblade), all for nothing. A hidden occlusion was in the stone... and the rough ends up snapping in half.

Conclusion: this batch of stone has too many occlusions in the large block. If I'm going to cut out a nut from stone, I need a type with fewer occlusions (ie: bloodstone, lapis, moonstone, etc...).

I did however have a bunch of small pieces that I can easily grind into inlays, etc... Still waiting for my silicon carbide dremel bits to arrive though.

Auzzie-Phoenix · #5 06-06-2010, 08:35 PM

First successful project complete (well... sort of). Made a pick roughly 2mm thickness from random stone found while walking. A little on the small side, but functional. No clue what type of rock it was... definitely not slate or granite though. Diamond bits I ordered work wonders.

Have to order some nice larger stock stones, and get a larger diamond blade. I'll post a pic of the pick if requested... otherwise, we all know what a pick looks like. I do need to buy some blue polishing compound though. The polishing rouge discolors too much and doesn't give a finish that is as nice. Some finer grit finishing bits would be nice too.

hbarcat · #6 06-06-2010, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

Have you ever tried to make an arrowhead? It's harder than it looks.

That's called flintknapping although that's not what the OP is referring to.
http://www.flintknapping.com/

hbarcat · #7 06-06-2010, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auzzie-Phoenix

Just wore out a diamond saw blade for my dremel over 2 hrs. Was attempting to cut the rough shape for a nut out of a block of aquamarine. All that work (plus the sawblade), all for nothing. A hidden occlusion was in the stone... and the rough ends up snapping in half.

Conclusion: this batch of stone has too many occlusions in the large block. If I'm going to cut out a nut from stone, I need a type with fewer occlusions (ie: bloodstone, lapis, moonstone, etc...).

I did however have a bunch of small pieces that I can easily grind into inlays, etc... Still waiting for my silicon carbide dremel bits to arrive though.

Is this a craft where you're going to be spending a lot of money on tools that need to be replaced all the time?

Auzzie-Phoenix · #8 06-07-2010, 12:58 AM

Actually no... the sawblade wore out because I attempted to force the progress a little too fast for the mohs rating of the material I was working.

As for the pick, I made that using my new diamond bits for the dremel... similar to the silicon carbide, but stronger. Now that I have those, it will be a lot easier to work on the materials. However I still need a larger diamond sawblade. The one I bought was too small for the rough block I attempted to cut out. Really about the only things I need now are clamps, proper polishing compound, and a better workspace than the bathroom countertop.

I don't have room or money for the big tools, as much as I wish I did. The disadvantages really are more time expended, and lack of dust removal via waterflow. But essentially I will be finished buying tools once I get that larger sawblade, some polishing tips, blue polishing compound, and a few ultrafine grit tips to remove small blemishes.

I can do all steps until I hit the really fine work for finishing with the tools I have now. As for replacing tools... I don't know how long the diamond bits last, but after the 3 hours I spent working today, there was no noticeable wear on the bits. So I'm going to venture a guess that they'll last me at least a year each. The bit kit itself didn't cost much, so even if they last 4 months on average, the price would be negligible.

As with all craft type hobbies, the materials will need to be replaced. Polishing compound is one of the materials that is consumable. Gemstone or normal rock material gets used up with each project. I buy gemstone material in what is considered bulk quantity (amounts over 1-2 lb's varying carat weights depending on material). Normal rock however, can be obtained from almost anywhere... so it's virtually inexhaustible in supply.

sloasdaylight · #9 06-07-2010, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hbarcat

That's called flintknapping although that's not what the OP is referring to.
http://www.flintknapping.com/

Yea.

Flintknapping can however be absurdly difficult.

Auzzie-Phoenix · #10 06-15-2010, 09:16 PM

Oh I don't doubt that flintknapping can be very hard to do. It is actually still a form of stoneworking if the material used is mineral or stone. Bone arrowheads are a bit different in terms of classification.

So I finally uploaded pictures of the stone pick. Been using it for my guitar, since I play fingerstyle bass.

It would be much easier to make things with a lapidary grinding wheel, but for using a dremel w/snake tool by hand, it's not bad. A bit shorter than a standard pick, but functional.

Auzzie-Phoenix · #11 06-28-2010, 01:46 AM

Just bought some dowel rods to make dopping sticks, and a dop station wax melter with green dop wax. Need to cut the dowels into 4" lengths.

Obtained these new materials: Smoky Quartz (almost a 1lb. chunk), 3 nice sized chunks of amethyst, nice chunk of lapis lazuli.

Bought a toolbox/organizer to hold/organize my dremel and all of its parts.

Found some really, really old images of a stone turtle I was working on back in 1997/1998 (scanned via old flatbed scanner from same year), not the best pics, but could be worse.

Made that back when I had access to the actual stoneworking tools in hs art class. Sent the final result to a friend after it was done. These 3 pics are the only ones left over the years. Man do I miss those stoneworking tools.

Working on a water supply/dremel snake holder to make a makeshift slab saw for cutting small blocks from a larger chunk of material. Now the problem is to find a better workspace other than the bathroom sink.