1 month, 2 weeks ago-
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Hey there, First time buying a faceting machine. Im really into faceting but I don’t know which machine is good to buy from. Raytech is cheaper and looks pretty well rounded but the website seems….really dated. Is Westerngem still active? Is the site safe?
Also, where is the best place to buy a bunch of rough gems without getting scammed?
Buying a new Raytech Shaw machine is problematic. Westerngems seems only able to respond when buying expensive replacement parts, but I assume they will make a custom order for a new one if you are willing to wait. Very little available in US hand held machines, but some nice foreign ones are available. My advice would be to buy a used mast machine with a good reputation for servicing. Most rough gem dealers are honest and reliable. I wouldn’t go thru the social media sites but go directly to the various web sites.
raytech is about 3 months behind as rick i guess is working allown. i have 4 machines with students on three. it is a good well-rounded machine and long lasting. if you want the best thats the ultra tec V5. the ray takes getting used to but once you get the actions understood you can cut a stone very fast with it and you have the advantage of picking the cutting hand piece up and having a really good look at the work piece. the raytec and ultra tec are the only two machines i will recommend.
In the last year, I have ordered for my RS machine, a new motor, new controller, belt, several Reytech laps and a saw with two diamond blades. Rick made the saw and it’s a beautiful thing and a joy to use. Two months ago ordered a batch of new dops and another lap which came in good time. Packaging is always outstanding.
It takes time with the orders but if you ask for an update everyonce in a while, he never fails you. I am getting ready to order more dops and some rough from him. Hes a good guy and does come through for you just takes a bit of time.
Oh, I have been using the RS machine for thirty/forty years now and its my go to machine. Using it is like wielding a brush to a canvas. It is the difference between art and science.both ultra tec and raytech are very well built and very long lasting. i have a ultra V2 and a raytech that were both purchased in 1974 while i was working at crystalite and both are still going strong and accurate. and since then I’ve made some parts and improvements for them in 3d printed splash pans and drip buckets, and more. you can’t buy a longer lasting, as well of a supported machine as these two makes.
Hello, I’m a new member. I took a class from Tom Mitchell — an incredible teacher. I learned on an Ultratec machine, and of course loved it — very precise and accurate, a true dream machine. However, my budget did not allow me to purchase one, so I opted for a brand new RayTech-Shaw handpiece machine. Though I learned on an Ultratec, the transition to handpiece I found quite easy. I also find the machine to be quite precise. And although you are limited to 1/10th of a degree, I actually do not find that “limiting” — I merely round-out to the nearest 10th.
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