Author: Nick Alexander / Category: Lapidary / Published: Mar-16-2021

If you have never cut or polished a gemstone before, then a rock tumbler can be one of the best options to start with! It is extremely easy to use, it's hassle-free, and very fun! Rock tumblers give you an idea of how the polishing process works in nature, and at a workbench. The Tumble-Bee Rock Tumblers are an excellent choice for beginners. These machines are well-built and extremely durable. Cutting Edge Supply provides a Starter Rock Tumbling Kit as well as a selection of different tumblers so that you can find exactly what you need to start.

For people who want to do more gemstone cutting than the Rock Tumblers allow, then you will need to upgrade to slightly larger machinery. To begin shaping a gemstone you will need a Flat Lap or Cabbing Machine. For beginners, the All-U-Need Flat Lap is an excellent choice! Made by Hi-Tech Diamond. It takes up very little room and can easily be stored away when you are not using it. This machine allows you to cabochon, shape, and flat lap any gemstone, rock, or glass material. The All-U-Need Flat Lap comes with grinding discs as well as polishing discs so that you can go through the entire process of cutting a gemstone, on one machine! From start to finish this machine will do it all!

The next upgrade for the slightly experienced novice is going to be the CabKing Cabbing Machines. Cabbing Machines are a little different than a Flat Lap because the wheels are round and cylindrical, rather than flat. Cabbing Machines are usually the lapidary artists most used machine. These machines will do everything the All-U-Need Flat Lap does, however it gives you better visibility when you are cutting gemstones and better water systems so that you can cut longer. The CabKing Cabbing Machines are a great blend of industrial and novice. They last an extremely long time because they are built with high quality materials and trustworthy equipment.

CabKing's ship free with Cutting Edge Supply.

A Flat Lap or Cabbing Machine is a must for any beginner lapidary artist. You do not need both, however one is needed in order to be able to shape and polish gemstones. Tumblers come in handy as you cut more because you can tumble finish any cabochons you cut with your flat lap or cabbing machine. Once you have these couple machines you can do almost anything! These are the basics to begin.

As mentioned before, there will be specific tooling needed depending on which category you intend to pursue. If you want to tumble gemstones then all you will need is a Rock Tumbler and a series of grits. If you are wanting to cab gemstones then a Flat Lap or Cabbing Machine is all you will need. For faceting and carving gemstones, there are more extensive tooling. Find this tooling below:

There are many ways to begin in the Lapidary Arts. Start with these few tools mentioned above. Find a gemstone that catches your attention and begin figuring out how to cut it. By starting with these few machines and tools, you will develop a strong foundation and understanding about gemstones, the way they work, and what it takes to get a finished product. For more information check out our other articles under Lapidary Library. You will find great information about the lapidary industry and tips for when you begin cutting.