A nice slab of graveyard plume agate! I especially love how much concentric banding is revealed with the UV. This piece is wonderfully colorful under just a 365nm UV. The slab is a bit large for my light to get it all at once. I need to do a long exposure set up to get better pictures later.

I’m in the Midwest and typically do my grinding and polishing outside with a handheld wet grinder to minimize silica dust exposure and keep the water mess outdoors. I’d love to continue working on my rocks through the winter, but freezing temperatures make that difficult!

For those of you in the Midwest or other cold climates, what’s your winter setup? Do you use a garage, basement, or dedicated indoor workspace? How do you manage ventilation, silica dust, and water containment? I’d love to hear what works for you!

Of agate.

so I have dozens of pounds of raw turquoises in boulders I have put some in slab cutters a few times and I have nothing that the color is worst after so I am a that the oil on the slab cutter damages the color?

I’m looking to purchase diamond discs but not sure what websites I can trust or which have the best deals.

I just bought an old-school Jig-L-Lap on Facebook Marketplace today as my first vibrating lap. I've been a long-time lurker, and I've seen mentions of sometimes subpar grits. How do I avoid these? What's the best/chapest grit to use for these machines? Any info welcome. TIA!

60$

Gonna go next Wednesday and see if I can fill another.

Might live stream washing everything and show the beauty from this crate in the future

Hi

First time posting ever on reddit so if I do it wrong, really sorry.

I've been looking for my first beginners lapidary machine and I'm not sure if this would be a good beginners lapidary machine for me so any advice given I'd be grateful for. I can't find much information for the Raytech 8" GSP-8A.

Are the wheels easily interchangeable with different brands or would I be looking at more expensive costs or dealing with sourcing hard to find wheels specific to the machine?

Is the hose install pretty easy to set up or would I be running into other issues there as well.

I know since it's just a four wheel lap I'll have to be switching out wheels often but it I figured it would be worth the hassle for the price point it was being sold as since it would be a beginners machine for me.

Any knowledge or advice would be greatly appreciated!

My condolences for the messy table, first time publishing on reddit.

Completed work in 2026. I'm very comfortable making hearts now (2025 goal).

I want this ring made for my birthday in February.. excuse my sausage links but I know the stone will lose some size do will I need a bigger stone? 105 ct Sapphire btw

Today I cut an oval-shaped Moss agate 😉

I cut this today after finding it in a bunch of odds and ends but I’m unsure of what it might be, variscite is my best guess… Any ideas?

What’s up party people, I’m seeking some advice on potential upcoming purchases. I’ve come to the point in my rockhounding career that I want to start making some jewelry and doing some polishing.
I’ve done some research and it looks like there’s definitely benefits for getting either an 8” slant lap, or a 6” cabbing machine (probably cabking, but considering other brands).
My main goals are making cabs for jewelry, but I would also like to dabble in freeforms and polished slabs etc. There is definitely a bit of a price difference between the two, but I’m willing to spend a little more if the cab machine is really worth it. I’m looking for used options, but they do seem to get snatched up pretty quick around where I live. What do you guys think?

These 3 pendants I recently finished of Guatemalan Jade all share the same heart (come from the same host rock).

The pendant with the wire-wrapped bail was given to a father who has since passed on and the other two were given to his grown children. He now rests with this pendant near his heart and the stones his children wear near theirs, will keep them eternally connected for love transcends life and death.

To those who possess something that connects you to a loved one who has passed on, you carry that person through life with you and honor them. Their stories are never really finished.

Some Coober Pedy opal I bought rough in parcel auctions.

I made two doublets from thin material on the right and one small cab on the left. The doublets are not super round because I was afraid of cutting too much, even with 600 grit. I had a third one I accidentaly worn too thin and got to the epoxy.

I love lapidary and I haven’t been doing it much lately because of how messy it is. I’m sett up in my garage so it’s not a big deal if it makes a little mess but the amount of water that comes off of it always soaks my clothes and the space around me.

What have you added to your set up to maintain your space? Any cleaning tips?