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If you're interested in the art of lapidary and faceting, then you've come to the right place. Here, we've compiled a list of guides, tips, and instructions to help you get started and improve your skills. 1. Lapidary Basics: A Beginner's Guide This guide covers the basics of lapidary, including the tools and materials you'll need, safety tips, and step-by-step instructions for cutting and shaping stones. 2. Faceting 101: A Comprehensive Guide This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about faceting, from selecting the right equipment to polishing your finished gems. It also includes tips for troubleshooting common problems and improving your techniques. 3. Tips for Choosing and Cutting Gemstones Choosing the right gemstone is crucial for lapidary and faceting projects. This guide provides tips for selecting the best stones, as well as advice for cutting and shaping them to bring out their natural beauty. 4. How to Polish Gemstones Polishing is a critical step in lapidary and faceting, and this guide provides step-by-step instructions for achieving a flawless finish. It also covers different polishing techniques and tools for achieving different results. 5. Troubleshooting Common Lapidary and Faceting Problems Even experienced lapidary and faceting enthusiasts encounter problems from time to time. This guide offers solutions to some of the most common issues, including chipping, cracking, and uneven cuts. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced lapidary and faceting enthusiast, these guides, tips, and instructions can help you improve your skills and create stunning gems that you'll be proud to show off.

It is important to understand the use of equipment, the types and sequence of diamond tools, the problems that may arise during the polishing process, and how to solve these problems. Use of equipment When processing jewelry tools, it is necessary to first understand the use of equipment. Common equipment includes electric grinding heads, electric grinding discs, manual grinding heads, manual grinding discs, and grinding wheels. These devices are easy to operate, but safety should be taken into consideration to avoid accidents. Types and sequence of diamond tools Diamond tools are an indispensable part of jewelry tool processing. Different types and grades of diamond tools should be selected according to different processing needs. Common types of diamond tools include files, grinding heads, grinding discs, and grinding wheels. The grades are divided into coarse, medium, fine, and ultra-fine. Coarse grinding is suitable for preliminary trimming, medium grinding is suitable for fine processing, fine grinding is suitable for polishing, and ultra-fine grinding is suitable for high-gloss polishing. Problems that may arise during the polishing process During the polishing process, the following problems may occur: 1. Scratches: may be caused by using too coarse diamond tools or applying too much pressure during polishing. 2. Burrs: may be caused by using too fine diamond tools or applying uneven pressure during polishing. 3. Bubbles: may be caused by using inappropriate polishing agents or polishing for too long. How to solve problems The following solutions can be adopted for the above problems: 1. Scratches: select appropriate diamond tools and grades, control the applied pressure, and avoid excessive wear. 2. Burrs: select appropriate diamond tools and grades, apply even pressure, and maintain a stable polishing speed. 3. Bubbles: select appropriate polishing agents, control the polishing time, and avoid excessive polishing. Conclusion Beginners in jewelry tool processing need to understand the use of equipment, the types and sequence of diamond tools, the problems that may arise during the polishing process, and how to solve these problems. Only by mastering these basic knowledge can they better carry out jewelry tool processing and create more exquisite jewelry works.

Share With Other Rockhounds! If you’re thinking of starting a new hobby and have a knack for collecting pretty stones, why not try out lapidary? Lapidary is the art of shaping, cutting, and making jewelry out of semiprecious or precious gemstones. Dealing with gemstones involves a lot of tools, so before dipping your toes into lapidary waters, you need to be familiar with the needed equipment. We prepared a guide of the best lapidary equipment for beginners, as well as all necessary accessories and tools. Related: Where To Buy Used Lapidary Equipment Lapidary Equipment for Beginners (The Essentials) Just like any other hobby, having a designated space for the tools and equipment will help you stay organized, and enjoy your time. Most of the equipment is loud, so make sure to pick a place where the noise won’t bother your neighbors. Read more on how to make a rock tumbler quieter here. 1. Organization – A Place to Put Everything Setting up a workbench (or a couple) for your tools should be your first step. It doesn’t have to be a fancy workbench, you just need a sturdy table, preferably with drawers to keep your small tools in and a large surface area. As your precious rocks collection grows, you might want to invest in divided containers to keep matching rocks together, and away from other harsh stones and crystals. 2. Trim Saw or Slab Saws Not all rocks and gemstones are sized equally, so when it comes to cutting your rock collection, there are two types of saws you’ll need; a trim saw and a slab saw. A trim saw has a small, thin blade, that is made for cutting small stones into smaller chunks, or for creating a flat edge for a cabochon. Hi-Tech’s Diamond Trim Saw is a good starter option. A slab saw has a larger and thicker blade, making it suitable for trimming down rough rock slabs, or large stones that won’t fit into a trim saw. This slab saw option has a vise to help you trim the rock safely. 3. Rock Tumblers A tumbler is one of the must-have equipment in your workshop. There are two types of tumblers: rotary and vibratory, but both serve the same purpose of polishing and rounding rough stones. Rotary tumblers are barrel-shaped and rotate slowly to polish the rocks inside with the help of other rocks and abrasives. We recommend getting a single barrel beginner-friendly tumbler like Lortone 3A Single Barrel Tumbler. Vibratory tumblers (or vibes for short) take much less time to polish up stones and maintain the original stones’ shape. Vibes have a container that shakes the rocks rapidly, the shaking causes friction which in turn polishes the rocks. If you’re interested in trying out a vibe, Raytech’s Vibratory Tumbler is a good start. Tumbling Filler When working with a small number of rocks that don’t fill up your tumbler’s barrel, you’ll need to use filler. You can use ceramic fillers or plastic fillers, both provide cushioning and extra polish to your stones, without damaging them. This kit here has enough filler and grit for the 4 stages of your tumbler. 4. Cabbing or Cabochon Cutters If you’re opting for rounded cabochons fit for pendants and accessories, then you’ll need a cabbing machine. Cabbing machines consist of a station that has one or multiple grinding wheels with different grits. Some may even come equipped with a saw to make the cabbing process easier by giving stones a flat back. However, you can always get a machine with one grinder wheel and have a belt for each cycle. You’ll mainly need grinding belts and a polishing belt. Machines with multiple grinding wheels can be a bit pricey for beginners, so we recommend getting a simple slanted cabbing machine. 5. Faceting Machines These machines consist of a mechanical arm, lap, and a water cooling system. The mechanical arm is where you fasten your gem and adjust its angle according to which type of cut you’re going for. The lap is a disc that can be changed out according to which grit you need and is kept cool using a water drip system. This option by TBVECHI is a good option for beginners, however, it doesn’t come with a drip system, but you can easily work around this by using a wet sponge on the lap disc before faceting. If you want to cut down on equipment costs, you can use a faceting machine to make cabochons. However, you can’t use a cabbing machine to make facets. 6. Flat Laps These are the budget-friendly alternatives to faceting machines, and some people even make flat laps at home. A flat lap is a grinding disc on top of a spindle, usually with a setup water drip system. Laps can be ergonomic to make the grinding process easier, or horizontal. The grinding discs have different levels of abrasiveness for each phase of faceting. A coarse disc is used for the initial shaping, which is swapped out later on for a finer-grit disc for polishing. Some discs are available in a magnetic form to be easily swapped out. However, we don’t recommend using magnetic discs at high speed as they could fly-off. A good option for a flat lap is Hi-Tech’s All U Need Machine, which comes with multiple disc options for you to try out. 7. Rotary Tools and Dremels Carving intricate shapes and details onto stones will require a rotary tool or a Dremel. Most models come with different attachments for carving, grinding, and even polishing to touch up your pieces. Rotary tools are perhaps the most flexible of all the tools because the bits and burrs can be easily swapped out. You can opt for a diverse set like the Dremel Rotary Tool Kit, this kit has all the different accessories you could need, along with a handy LED light. 8. Dop Sticks and Wax These are a must-have if you’ll be cabbing or faceting your stones. Dop sticks are essentially wooden sticks with globs of wax on one end. Different Types Of Quartz Crystals [Advertisement] Your video will begin shortly When heated, the wax becomes malleable enough for you to stick your stone’s base to, and once you’re done shaping your stone you can simply heat it again to release the stone. However, you can also use a wooden dowel and wax or 5-minute epoxy to fix the gem in place. They prevent injuries, as well as provide a grip on your stone for easy shaping. We recommend watching a tutorial to understand how they work. Read More: Dop Wax Substitute (No Dop Wax? No Problem) 9. Polishing Tools Even after buffing and polishing your rocks with the different attachments your equipment may have, they might still need an extra step to make them shine bright. Burnishing powder or polishing powder is often used in tumblers to give an extra shine to stones that may be covered with fog or water residue. The amount of burnishing powder will depend on how many stones you have per batch. Some types of stones will only require some buffing with a polishing cloth or even a piece of denim. Buffing and polishing belts, wheels, and bits and burrs are also readily available as accessories for grinders and rotary tools, so make sure to take advantage of them and make those rocks sparkle. Ultimate Guide To Lapidary Polishing Compounds 10. Lapidary Accessories A workstation isn’t complete with the appropriate accessories to help you with making the best out of your gemstones. These a few more additions to your cabinets to make your lapidary experiences a breeze: A colander to wash your stones off before using them A magnifying glass or loupe, also known as jeweler’s eye, is your best friend when examining your collected specimen for damage or patterns. Read my article about the jewelers loupes that I recommend. Cabochon templates, are plastic or metal stencils of different shapes and sizes of cabochons to guide while cabbing and help you create uniform shapes Safety First Dealing with saws, grinders, and stones needs the proper gear to keep you safe and sound, here’s a list of some essentials you’ll need: Safety goggles to avoid any flying shards or stone dust A finger guard or finger guarding tape. These are optional but help with avoiding blisters while cabbing or faceting Safety gloves, this is a must when using any type of saw or drill bits This list is mostly for guidance, but you should follow the full safety regulations while working with power tools. This includes electric, mechanical, occupational, and chemical safety. Keeping your work area well ventilated, properly lighted, and comfortable are also important considerations. Lapidary Books to Get You Started If you’re looking for good books to polish up your knowledge about lapidary, we’ve got you covered with our list of beginner-friendly books and guides. Gemstones and Minerals Identification and Uses Collecting Rocks, Gems and Minerals: Identification, Values and Lapidary Uses We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Curious as to what types of stones are out there? This illustrated guide will help you identify the different stones you collect, as well as what type of technique suits them. If you’re looking for a handbook on all things rocks and minerals, the Smithsonian Handbook: Rocks & Minerals is also a great read. How To’s and Guides Gemstone Tumbling, Cutting, Drilling & Cabochon Making: A Simple Guide to Finishing Rough Stones Join The Rock Seeker Community! - Access the private Rock Seeker Facebook group! - Receive The Rock Seeker Newsletter - Never Miss New Content! - Connect with like-minded rockhounds! SIGN UP NOW! I consent to receiving emails and personalized ads. This https://www.lapidarytool.combook has all the different lapidary techniques covered and provides detailed instructions for each technique. Not only is this suitable for beginners, but it’s good to keep around for any needed memory jogging. The Art of Gem Cutting is a valuable addition to your reading list when starting out. Guiding you through the entire process from buying the stones to the final polish. The Art of Gem Cutting: Including Cabochons, Faceting, Spheres, Tumbling, and Special Techniques

Emery cloth is a fabric that is covered with a range of grades of abrasive material and is used for "sanding" down to either smooth a surface, remove deep scratches, remove an oxidised layer, or form a shape or angle. In plastic pipe systems, it is most commonly used to remove any oxidised layers from older pipe which is being re-used (such as oxidising from sunlight) and keying the pipe surface before cementing.

Lapidary Equipment for Beginners Whether you are a rockhound, gem and mineral collector, jewelry maker or simply someone who appreciates a beautiful gemstone, you are sure to encounter the field of lapidary. Have you ever wondered how to shape, smooth and polish gemstones or semi precious stones? In a nutshell, that’s what lapidary is. It’s the process of shaping and putting a nice finish on a stone. Although some lapidary processes require high levels of technical skill, expertise and the use of complex equipment, there is almost no barrier to entry for the beginner. Getting started in lapidary does not necessarily require a workshop full of fancy equipment. A lot can be achieved with a minimal amount of tooling. Let’s take a look at some basic lapidary techniques and equipment available to beginners. The fundamental principal of progressing through a series of increasingly finer abrasives applies to all of these processes yet each process employs a unique set of tools and equipment. Polishing stones in a tumbler These colorful stones were shaped and polished using a tumbler. Tumbling can be thought of as a way to mimic nature breaking down stone through erosion. Have you been to a rocky beach or walked through a dry riverbed and observed that the stones in these places are rounded and smooth? These stones have been naturally tumbled smooth. If you have never made this observation, now is a great time to take a hike and go look at some lovely, smooth river rock. Over time, water flowing through the river channel forcefully agitates the stones causing their sharp edges to wear down. The same thing happens on the beach with repetitive pounding of the waves. And this is also what goes on inside the barrel of a tumbler except we get to add a little twist to speed up the smoothing process. By combining the rough gemstones with hard abrasive grit and mechanically shaking or rolling them around in the tumbler we re-create the action of the beach or the river on a human scale instead of waiting for a geologic eternity. One thing the river hasn’t figured out yet is how to polish the rocks after they’ve been tumbled smooth. But we humans are clever and we follow the basic principles of lapidary. We know that by changing out the abrasive periodically to progress through grits from coarse to extremely fine, we can put a polish on those stones high enough to see our own reflection. Tumblers are great for beginners because they are mechanically simple and require virtually no dexterity or finesse. Just load up the tumbler, close the lid and away you go. Depending on the stone material and the type of tumbler used, it can take many weeks to polish start to finish. Patience is a key ingredient for tumbling. But once the tumbler is loaded and started it does all the hard work automatically and you can pay attention to other things. There’s no sound quite like the soothing rumble of a tumbler gently rolling in the background. There are two types of tumblers to choose from, rotary tumblers and vibratory tumblers. Rotary tumblers A rotary tumbler has a cylindrical barrel that rolls horizontally on a drive shaft. It tumbles the rocks inside the same way that clothing gets tumbled in a clothes dryer. Lortone tumblers are easy to use and great for beginners. We now carry a line of rotary tumblers from Covington. Take a look in our shop and you’re sure to find the right model for you. Vibratory tumblers A vibratory tumbler comprises a hopper attached to a vibrating mechanism which rapidly shakes the hopper and it’s contents. This clip shows a LOT-O tumbler in use. Generally, rotary tumblers are better at taking rough stones down to a smoother, more rounded shape. They take longer than vibratory tumblers which work much faster for polishing but are not ideal for achieving rounded shapes. A beginner might start out with a rotary tumbler to get some hands on experience. Then, by adding a vibratory tumbler later they can enjoy the best both tools have to offer. Cabochon cutting on a cabbing machine For some beginners, the patience it takes to wait for a batch of stones to finish tumbling would be agonizing. Fortunately, there are other lapidary activities that take less time. Cabochons can be made of nearly any gemstone material. This is a beautiful example cut from dendritic moss agate. Cabbing machines Within the field of lapidary, cutting and polishing cabochons on a cabbing machine is the ultimate form of instant gratification. A nice cabochon can literally be made in under an hour and a beginner can take to it right away. Demonstration of a cabbing machine at a gem and mineral show Typically, a cabbing machine has an array of six grinding and polishing wheels arranged next to each other on a long shaft. The shaft may be directly attached to a motor or it may be mounted on bearings and attached to a belt and pulley drive. The abrasive surface is on the cylindrical perimeter of the wheels. Each wheel on the shaft employs a different mesh size abrasive and the wheels progress incrementally from coarse for shaping to medium for smoothing to fine and extra fine for polishing. A water drip system or splashing system keeps the wheels wet and a shroud catches water flung from the wheels as they spin. The coarse grinding wheels are often metal with diamond grit either sintered or electroplated to the grinding surface. The fine abrasive wheels are often composite materials with some cushion and the grit is bonded to the grinding/polishing surface with resin. Sometimes a leather disk charged with polishing compound such as cerium oxide is mounted on the end of the machine for a final buffing finish. The 6″ Cabbing available in our shop is a great cabochon machine to get started in cabbing. Watch out, it’s so much fun you may never want to stop! Trim saws This trim saw has been used to cut amber. Some scrap pieces remain on the table which would polish up nicely in a tumbler. Paired nicely with a cabbing machine is a trim saw for cutting out cabochon blanks. Trim saws are small, wet operated diamond saws with a table to support a thin stone slab. The saw blades are usually in the range of 6” to 10” in diameter and are meant to be operated freehand. Learn more about the various types of lapidary saws. With no other tools but a cabbing machine, a trim saw, some dop sticks and dop wax, a beginner can learn how to turn a slab of stone into a finished cabochon in one sitting. And Covington makes a combination unit that includes the saw, grinding and polishing wheels all in one machine. It’s a great way to save space and comes with everything you need to get started. Go for the diamond model. It’s available in our shop. Carving gemstones with a flex shaft tool It takes a lot of talent and practice to carve a fancy intaglio or intricate shapes into a gemstone. However with some persistence, carving basic, free form organic shapes and curves is doable for a beginner. And, this really can be an inexpensive and space saving way to get a start in lapidary. This talented craftsman is carving green jade using a hand-held rotary tool. Flex shaft rotary tools A Foredom flex shaft tool or a Dremel tool with a flex shaft attachment, along with a handful of bits, burrs and a water drip system is the basic set up for lapidary carving. The work should be kept wet while carving to keep the burrs and the stone from overheating and also to prevent generating dust. To keep things wet the work is done under the stream of the drip system or alternatively dipped frequently into water. Carving is done freehand with the flex shaft handle in one hand and the stone in the other. A dop stick attached to the stone can also be helpful for holding on to the work. Coarse shaping happens first with coarse grit diamond burrs followed by smoothing with finer grit burrs. Pre-polishing and polishing is achieved using buffing wheels and shaped felt or wooden bits charged with the appropriate polishing compound. The only limits to the shapes that can be made by carving are from the materials. Some materials are more brittle than others limiting the carver to simpler shapes. Some materials are more forgiving and invite more adventurous designs. A carved animal figurine made of lapis lazuli Cutting and faceting on a flat lap machine A beginner can graduate to more advanced faceting by learning the basics with a flat lap machine (also just called a flat lap) on which simple faceted shapes such as pyramids, cubes and crystal forms can be cut freehand. Cabochons can also be effectively cut and polished on a flat lap. With a little practice, pyramid shapes can be cut freehand using a flat lap. Flat lap machines The grinding and polishing surface of a flat lap is on the planar side of a disc-shaped wheel (called a lap disc or just lap) which rotates on a spindle. Some flat laps are oriented at an angle for ergonomics and others are horizontal like a record player. As with other lapidary equipment, a water drip system keeps the grinding surface wet and a shroud with a catchment system keeps the water contained. This flat lap machine is oriented horizontally. The water drip system is a simple gravity feed controlled with a valve. To progress through the series of abrasives, the coarse lap must be removed from the spindle and changed out for the next finer lap. To save time, some people use a magnetic backed lap disc that grips a steel platen on the machine making it easy to swap them out. The Flat Lap comes in two magnetic versions as well as the original “swap out” version. They are high quality machines and we offer all the models in our shop. Faceting machines Worth mentioning here are faceting machines even though they are more advanced, more expensive and not usually where a beginner would start out. However, some mechanically minded beginners would naturally take to mechanized faceting techniques after learning basic flat lap techniques. Fundamentally, a faceting machine is a flat lap machine that incorporates a mechanical arm with an indexing dop stick holder. This arm, attached to the machine body, accurately guides the gemstone to contact the lapping surface at various angles in relation to the machine platen. Australian gemstone cutter Cliff (Vintage Time) demonstrates how to facet step by step. What makes a faceting machine an option for a beginner? Any manual move that can be made on a flat lap machine can also be done on a faceting machine. It can be operated freehand without using the mechanical arm. In this way, the beginner can learn the basics and then advance without acquiring more equipment.

Polishing and the tools for polishing are a bit like your favourite pair of jeans, you tend to wear them as much as you can and sometimes even buy the same pair. This is very much the case for polishing tools, after trying different materials and tools, in the end you stick with the same tools and materials for years, which never let you down (Unlike those jeans!) Here is an insight into the best tools and materials to start polishing your jewellery. 1. Dremel/Pendant Motor If you don’t have the budget to buy a large bench polisher, then a Dremel or pendant motor is the tool for you. Dremels or pendant motors are a highly versatile tool as they can be used for polishing, engraving or texturing your silver and even stone setting. This tool will not only give you the best start to polishing your jewellery but also let you experiment in other areas. 2. Rubber Burrs Rubber burrs are an unexpected game changer for polishing jewellery. You can use a medium rubber burr for quickly softening sharp edges or an extra fine rubber burr to go over the surface of a piece to help get rid of any scratches. (Think of them as burrs of emery paper which you can use with a Dremel/pendant motor). 3. Emery Paper Emery paper is a great tool for jewellers and is often used for the first stage of polishing. Working from Grade 500, 1200 and then 2000 creates a scratch free surface, simply rub your piece onto the emery paper with some pressure 4. Mop Heads Mop heads can be multifunctional, both polishing your pieces and saving you extra work later in the process. For example a Calico mop head is great for giving a perfect polish but is also the best mop head to use to quickly get rid of stubborn fire scale and if paired with a leather mop head any light scratches left on the piece will buff out really well all while keeping the shine! 5. Rouges Rouges can be your best friend and enemy at the same time, for example Luxi Red Rouge makes for a messy work space but can be forgiven as the shine it gives the silver is perfection. However, Luxi Blueis much better at getting rid of fire scale, much cleaner and also lasts much longer, also very little dust is produced and pieces polish a lot quicker with Luxi Blue. 6. Polish Cloths The final stage of polishing comes when you buff up your pieces and see it come to life in the polish cloth. Two separate cloths are ideal- the first plain cloth to get rid of any excess rouge and a second polishing cloth to use before the pieces go into their box for one last buff. Hopefully you found out about some tools and materials which could help you on your polishing journey!

by Donald Clark, CSM IMG Missed Index One of the most common faceting mistakes we make is not setting the index correctly on our faceting machines. If you miss it by just one notch, it’s enough to throw off the entire design. Here’s the diagram for a meetpoint oval being cut with a 64 index gear. You should cut the shaded facet at 44.7° and I 7, (followed by I 25, 39, and 57.) Now, say you make a mistake and cut it at I 8. If so, you should cut symmetrical facets all the way around, using indexes 24, 40, and 56. How do you determine that? The Solution Simply add and subtract the proper number from your top and bottom index settings. This index gear has a setting of 64 (or 0) at the top and 32 at the bottom. We started with 8 from the top. Therefore, subtract 8 from 64 and you get 56. Add and subtract 8 from 32, the bottom center, and you get 24 and 40. Your gem will look like this (with the new facets shaded).

If you’re new to the jewellery making crowd, you may have come across the term – but what is lapidary? Putting it simply, lapidary is the art of working with gemstones. There are many different ways that lapidarists work, but one of the most rewarding ways is to make jewellery with gemstones. Either as a pendant or as a setting in a ring or bracelet, there are a variety of different ways you can incorporate lapidary work into your projects. Find out more about the various techniques and lapidary tools below. What are the different arts and techniques of lapidary? So, what are the different arts and techniques of lapidary? The main three are: tumbling, cutting and faceting. To help you understand what each means, we’ll talk you through the processes involved and the outcome of each technique. Tumbling Just starting out? This technique could be for you. Requiring the least equipment and minimal effort, tumbling is a great place to begin your lapidary journey. Simply place any rough gemstones you have into a tumbling machine, use for the required amount of time and your gemstones will emerge polished. So remember to keep an eye out for any gemstones the next time you’re at the coast – as these can make beautiful jewellery pieces! Top Tip: Make sure you check whether or not the stones you’re working with are suitable for tumbling as some softer stones could be scratched or damaged by the tumbling process. Cabochon Cutting Also known as ‘cabbing’, cabochon cutting is one of the most common forms of lapidary art. Taking slightly longer to master, this technique is used to enhance and display the natural pattern of a gemstone that may otherwise be hidden. Cabochon cutting is usually used on softer stones where faceting wouldn’t be suitable. If you’d like to find out more about this technique, read our what is a cabochon cut gemstone blog. Faceting And the last in our lapidary techniques list is faceting. If you haven’t heard of this before, faceting is where a gem has a number of flat surfaces, or facets, in order to reflect the light entering the stone. Most jewellery makers use a faceting machine to create this effect. Commonly used on diamonds in wedding and engagement rings, faceting is one of the most profitable lapidary techniques. Lapidary tools and equipment Interested in giving one or more of these techniques a go? You’ll need to pick up a few key pieces of equipment first. The basic lapidary supplies for beginners include: Gemstones or rock slabs. Depending on whether you want to start from scratch or not. Burnishing powder. To give your stones that extra shine once they’ve been polished. Silicon carbide. In a similar way, silicone carbide is great for making your stones super smooth and free from coarse scratches. Safety glasses. If you’re sawing any of your rock slabs or cutting gemstones, always remember to wear safety glasses. A trim saw or slab saw. For smaller rock slabs, use a trim saw and a slab saw for larger pieces. A colander. If you’re planning on tumbling your stones, you’ll need a colander to rinse them through once the process is complete.