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Cool. I am an utter and completely noob to this so when I say "what machine should I buy for the upcoming kit" I literally mean I'd like an answer like "it's easiest on this machine, here's a link" kinda thing. I have no ideas about where to even buy a starter machine, so any and all advice is welcome. I'm still in the research phase but the idea I can cut my own superman crystals is tweaking that shiny goblin mode in my brain.
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Apr 21, 2024 19:08
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Ah gotcha. There is a specific machine that goes with the kit, this one from Vevor https://www.ebay.com/itm/145039310594
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Apr 21, 2024 19:15
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What is up with Vevor? It's everywhere now and it creeps me out
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Apr 21, 2024 22:30
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Awesome! Got it bookmarked, sent a cheap offer in cause I'm on a budget at the moment. Fingers crossed! 🤞🤞
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Apr 21, 2024 23:21
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Soul Dentist posted:What is up with Vevor? It's everywhere now and it creeps me out In terms of the machine itself they are the only ones selling this variant. Similar machines which are apparently from the same factory are available from the usual resellers, but Vevor seems to have listened to complaints and gotten them made to spec to fix some issues (actually twice since their older model was also customized). The changes take it from 'almost workable but needing a lot of modification' to 'almost workable and only needs minor modification.' I personally don't understand why they decided to do this with such a niche product but I am really glad they did.
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Apr 22, 2024 00:40
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They have a ton of jewelry tools (binocular scope, casting kilns, polish hoods, etc) and I don't feel like I could trust online reviews but they are so so cheap
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Apr 22, 2024 00:49
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The faceting machine does still have occasional QC issues, but do far they've all been fixable. For the price it's incredible, they're cheaper than the generic faceting machines and in the US they're shipped free and on your doorstep in like 3 days.
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Apr 22, 2024 01:38
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They have a cheap wheel for ceramics too
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Apr 22, 2024 01:52
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Ok fine I'm on the Vevorwagon
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Apr 22, 2024 03:34
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Do you know when the complete upgrade kit will be available?
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Apr 22, 2024 14:58
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It's available right now on our webstore: https://store.turtleshoard.com/products/cutkit1-faceting-kit-faceting-for-under-500-dollars-all-in
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Apr 22, 2024 15:36
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Oh cool it was out of stock earlier I think. I'll scope it out. So, let me make sure I have this right: - gotta buy the faceting machine -Get the cutkit -Upgrade is optional?
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Apr 22, 2024 15:51
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Yeah, the upgrade just adds a few amenities, a brass knurled nut (a nice upgrade that costs a bit too much to fit in the base kit since we had it custom machined), high temperature wax, an 80 degree index gear (good for d20s and other 5 fold symmetry cuts) and some premium cutting rough. All you need to cut is the Vevor machine, the base cutkit, an alcohol lamp, wd40, paper towels and two buckets for water.
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Apr 22, 2024 16:00
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Weird question but can I cut big items on there or is that a special machine? I'm doodling out a shining dodecahedron/trapazohedron from HP literally and it's like a fist sided ruby crystal. Is that doable on a machine like this or do I need some big other machine for that?
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Apr 22, 2024 18:44
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When Hedron Rockworks tried it he said it didn't have enough torque to cut one of his full sized dice. I am not yet sure what the upper limit is since it chewed through my ruby d20 like a champ. Either way for a super large stone you'd need a specialized setup, probably a 10 inch machine like the Glass Tec. There are further complications in cutting stones that size too (like getting the rough). I do have a ruby that size which a (slightly crazy) friend wants to take on someday though.
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Apr 22, 2024 19:09
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Whoa, big price diff between around 500 and around 8 grand. Rough is easy enough, I can just ask one of the crystal factories a friend uses for a big chunk. I would love a giant natural stone one but I'd imagine finding a ruby that size that looks nice is about the equivalent of buying a new car with cash. Gonna be a BIG price tag on there. I think the stuff he gets cut is k9 crystal or optical grade. Any idea if that works better than glass or quartz or something on the vevor?
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Apr 22, 2024 20:22
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I can say for sure the only reason I have an ultratec is that my car got totaled by a truck about 6 months before I moved to Europe so I wisely spent the insurance payout on an ultratec instead of a car
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Apr 22, 2024 21:06
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Stupid_Sexy_Flander posted:Whoa, big price diff between around 500 and around 8 grand. IIRC K9 is lead glass, so you might want to avoid grinding it and spreading the powder around. Generally quartz can be chippy and it has fairly mediocre optical properties
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Apr 22, 2024 21:55
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Yea the 9 can refer to the lead content. If I cut that it's gonna be while wearing a respirator.
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Apr 22, 2024 22:01
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I have loved lapidary since learning and being around it as a kid and I have been dabbling in it for a bit over a year. I am SO excited that this kit exists because faceting stuff always seemed so out of reach.
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Apr 22, 2024 22:38
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Stupid_Sexy_Flander posted:Yea the 9 can refer to the lead content. If I cut that it's gonna be while wearing a respirator. should wear a respirator with everything TBH, even inert stuff like quartz could give you silicosis (though practically speaking that's usually only an issue with dry cutting those big quartz countertops).
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Apr 22, 2024 23:13
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What would the goon discount end up being on a 10mm LUAG? God help me I'm curious.
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Apr 25, 2024 13:35
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Or an 8mm if 10 is gonna be a house payment or something.
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Apr 25, 2024 21:21
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I just saw that the AGTA gem fair is now banning all lab stones being sold at their show. Kind of wild that no one really felt threatened by lab color until lab diamonds came along, but it really does seem like the rising tide is floating all lab boats. Definitely an interesting time for the trade (and a poo poo time to be in natural diamonds, from every panicked insider I’ve spoken to…)
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Apr 27, 2024 02:07
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Nae posted:I just saw that the AGTA gem fair is now banning all lab stones being sold at their show. Kind of wild that no one really felt threatened by lab color until lab diamonds came along, but it really does seem like the rising tide is floating all lab boats. Definitely an interesting time for the trade (and a poo poo time to be in natural diamonds, from every panicked insider I’ve spoken to…) Anecdotal but in the last year I’ve made two natural diamond rings out of 100+, most people in my demographic of younger ish engagement ring buyers absolutely do not care about natural over lab. I’ve made a few rings with lab sapphires I’ve cut too and people love those, the rising lab tide does seem to lift all boats!
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Apr 27, 2024 16:15
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My anecdotal experience is working for Tiffany and every diamond is mined for sure. I recognize it's mostly just a Tiffany thing though
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Apr 27, 2024 16:36
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Yeah that's fair, I guess it's really going to range depending on the markets. I'm a small time goldsmith and most of my clients are people with small-medium budgets just wanting something nice and locally made, not so much about the center stone. As budgets scale up, I bet the % of people wanting mined stones does too?
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May 1, 2024 01:29
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Makes sense. Some people think the more people needed to suffer, the better and more valuable the stones are.
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May 1, 2024 01:36
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Yeah, to be clear I think the diamond industry is hosed from every single level and always has been, it's just what comes across my bench a dozen times a day. No ethical production under capitalism, in my case.
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May 1, 2024 01:42
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I'll never understand it. I get that shiny rocks are awesome, but diamonds are not exactly super rare. There's way more rare stones in the world, and flashier/fancier as well. People just latched onto that "OMG IF IT'S NOT A DIAMOND THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MINED BY SOME POOR SUCKER IN AFRICA HE JUST DOESN'T LOVE YOU" so hard it's transcended generations now.
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May 1, 2024 01:54
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Also diamonds are lame compared to corundum or tourmaline or literally any other stone
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May 1, 2024 02:09
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