1 year, 10 months ago-
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Has anyone tried to set up something like a maker space for faceting? If you’re not familiar with what a “maker space” is, basically it’s a shop space set up with tools and equipment to build anything you can think up. Members pay monthly dues to cover the expenses and to buy new equipment. I was thinking that this might be a way to get younger people interested in faceting, rather than spending thousands of dollars to buy equipment they could pay a small amount monthly to get started.
-MattInteresting idea. Some lapidary clubs have space and equipment for members, but in some areas your idea might bring in enough money to be successful. You’d have to do local market research. Probably this should be sponsored by a lapidary club, with members volunteering to monitor/mentor newbies.
For those who don’t know: At the Houston Gem and Mineral Society club house we have six Ultra-Tec V2 machines dedicated for training new-bee’s. Anyone living in the Houston area interested in learning gemstone faceting can contact Randy Carlson, our “Gemstones & Faceting” section chairman for more information. He is on this Face Book forum. Or come to the Gemstones & Faceting section meeting, which is held from 6:30 to 8:30 PM on the second Wednesday of the month.
When a faceting class isn’t scheduled, these six machines can also be checked out for one month at a time to club members who have taken one of our faceting classes and has been certified by the instructor for their use.James Cockrell
Ultra-Tec factory rep for the Houston areaMy local club, Southern Nevada Gem & Mineral Society (SNGMS), owns eight machines that members who are taking weekly classes can use. Once signed up for a class, a machine is assigned to them but stored in the club’s between classes.
The classes are four hours long and taught by a Master Faceter who does not charge for his time… Weekly class fee is $15.
The club owns enough discs, transfer-jigs, and polishing medium to support eight machines and the fees are allocated to material replacement, etc.
The idea is to allow members to learn the basics before making their own investment in equipment. The eight machines are in use most of the time and there is often a short waiting-list for new students. As we all know, faceting is not for everyone, and the majority of students do not pursue the hobby after their first series of classes. About 10% of students become interested enough to buy their own equipment and continue their education. (Anyone who owns their own machine is welcome to bring it to class, but most don’t.)
Sadly, Las Vegas is not a mecca of faceting.
Hi, Ron Jansson here, I live I Hollywood Florida and I’m a Member of The Treasure Coast Gemological and Mineral Society. We have a small shop with only two Graves Mark V Machines. Any listed Member can use at will but most factors have machines of their own, these are mostly intended for new members and classes. Still, It’s good to have a shop like this to get together and exchange idea’s.
The California club Yucaipa Gem & Mineral Society has a UT V2 and a Prismatic faceting machine for members to use. You need to be qualified or take a class in using the machines and can pay a low fee to use the machines or the other equipment in the really well equiped Rock Shop.
Visit the Rock Shop at 34861 Yucaipa Boulevard, (between Second and Third Street, across from the Del Taco, behind the auto repair shop).
Shop Hours
Tuesday 9 am to 1 pm
Wednesday 5 pm to 9 pm
Friday 5 pm to 9 pm
Saturday 9 am to 1 pm
Sunday 1 pm to 5 pmhi guys i have a three car garage converted to a work shop. i have it set up to do anything in lapidary. the whole gauntlet.
i teach what ever one wants to learn to make what they want. if you would like to see my work shop just email me and i’ll send you the picture tour of it. jeff threesfeld has been here and he’s the historian for USFG.
i have 4 raytech to work on three ultra’s and other faceting machines some that many have not seen.
mike zinski gemmakermz@cs.comGenerally, some Lapidary Guilds/Clubs have machines available to teach on, if your main thought is “where can someone go to learn without having to lay down thousands of dollars first.” Since all your really need is a machine, dops, and maybe a trim saw, it’s pretty specialized for a general maker space–about the only other thing to add would be a computer for designing/searching designs.
Now, if you combined that with cabochon cutting, maybe silversmithing and lost wax casting, etc., you’re right back to a lapidary club 😉
–Eric
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