lighting position - Beginner Questions - United States Faceters Guild

Beginner Questions

lighting position

Posted by carl on March 7, 2016 at 4:51 am

hello everyone,
i have been thinking about changing my faceting set up a little. in particular i am interested in optimizing the lighting in the hopes that this will help me. i am using a facetron machine. i am a relatively new faceter, having cut 40 stones over the last 2 1/2 years. i seem to spend an inordinate amount of time inspecting the facets – especially when looking for persisting scratches while polishing. i am wondering if changing the lighting will help

i am wondering if members would be willing to comment on what position they have the light coming from while faceting to optimize the inspection/visualization of the facets while faceting

carl replied 8 years, 8 months ago 6 Members · 12 Replies
12 Replies

Tom Mitchell

Administrator
March 7, 2016 at 6:06 pm

There are a few things you can try. First, when you are examining the facet, move the stone so that the light reflection is not directly shining back at you. You can see the scratches when the light is at a slight angle from your eye. The way I do this is to arrange the light so that I can easily get a full reflection and then move the stone ever so slightly so that the reflection is gone. The scratches then become visible.

Another thing that I do which helps me see the stone better is that I either hold a dark surface or my finger behind the stone, so that I do not get a lot of light from behind the stone.

Another thing that I have heard mentioned but that I have not yet tried is to replace your frosted bulb with a clear bulb that has the element exposed. This provides a smaller light reflection.

Tom Mitchell
carl

Member
March 8, 2016 at 4:39 am

Thanks Tom, that sounds like good advice. i am essentially doing that although i have not been putting anything behind the stone to stop light coming from the back – good idea.
i am wondering where you position the light in relation the the machine. is it straight above the machine or coming from behind you etc?
gemmakermz

Member
June 7, 2017 at 11:49 pm

hey guys –yup tom your right and yes use a refrigerate 40 watt none frosted bulb will help too.
wilbertfwebb

Member
December 7, 2017 at 6:22 pm

I just received some new energy saving bulbs that Duke Energy made available to me. I tried on in my Facetron setup and was very pleased.

LED 9wA19 Lamp 60 watt equivalent, Omni-directional, Suitable for damp locations
Light Output 800 lumens
Color Temp 2700 K

Bert Webb
Sophia, N.C.
carl

Member
December 9, 2017 at 12:42 am

thanks Bert, any pictures available of where you put the light in your set up.

i am doing better than i was but struggle when inspecting some facets still – especially the girdle
wilbertfwebb

Member
December 9, 2017 at 2:13 pm

Carl

I aim the light and adjust beam for best view. Girdles are a challenge even with perfect lighting.

Bert
wardmonterosso

Member
December 10, 2017 at 1:41 pm

Hi Carl,

I myself like having several lights available to me that I can adjust however necessary. In all of them I use a 40 watt Reveal clear incandescent bulb. My setup is as shown.

W@rd
carl

Member
December 10, 2017 at 3:13 pm

Wow, I like that
John

Member
December 13, 2017 at 12:06 am

I have found that using a penlight at a low right angle to the facet, especially girdle facets, will help show any issues while polishing. Comes in handy when realigning with any facet during cutting.
carl

Member
December 13, 2017 at 1:52 am

Thanks John,
are you holding the penlight by hand?
John

Member
December 13, 2017 at 5:11 pm

Yep When using the loop you move the light around to reflect off the scratches made by diamond or oxide polish. the smaller the penlight beam the better.
carl

Member
December 13, 2017 at 5:34 pm

Hmm, I am trying to figure out how to do this . I need one hand on the stone, one hand on my loupe and one hand On the penlight