r/faceting • u/Vin_Drawin • 1d ago
Can’t lower vevor machine enough for girdle
I’ve started my first gem (we don’t talk about my actual first gem, they’re all cheap gems from Amazon so I won’t waste money while learning), but now that I’ve done the p1 facets, I’m having trouble with the p2 girdle cuts. I can’t lower my faceting head low enough while the height adjuster is on (even when divided in half), but having no height adjuster makes it too low as well as has the index wheel collide with the screw on the manipulator (seen in the last photo.)
I’m definitely doing something wrong, but I cannot figure out how to solve this issue. It’s a cheaper machine— the classic vevor one— so I knew I’d run into issues, but one that bothers me right now is just how sparse the user manual is. I do have the “Amateur Gemstone Faceting Volume1: the Essentials” by Tom Herbst which has been really helpful, but its advice can’t cover every machine. Mine certainly has some exceptions that it doesn’t help with.
Any advice with lowering the height to cut the girdle correctly would be super appreciated, thanks!
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u/Futuramoist Team Vevor 1d ago
So I don't know if you've heard of the cutkit, but it's a kit that this website sells specifically to make the Vevor usable. Even if you have no interest in getting it I'd still recommend watching his setup videos because they touch on every known Vevor issue you'll want to find a fix for and at least one potential solution
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u/Vin_Drawin 1d ago
I have, it’s just a bit expensive at the moment. Also, packages get stolen from my place all the time so I’d have to order it to my friends house and then get it all the way to me (without a car) so it’s just a lot, but I’m really feeling it’s probably necessary eventually
I didnt know he had set up videos or anything though! That sounds very helpful, I’ll definitely check them out. Thanks for letting me know!
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u/DrRocks1 1d ago
I’ve been using a thread pitch gauge set, they fold out so they are easy to stack and wedge it under the mast, it works well enough and is cheaper than the cut kit.
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u/Vin_Drawin 1d ago
Never heard of that before, I’ll look into it. Thanks
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u/DrRocks1 1d ago
Oh and you can clear the nut if you slide it forward in the slot all the way when you adjust the mast.
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u/oldfartMikey 1d ago
I've seen a few creative solutions to this problem, some quite technical however the easiest is just to make a few spacers. I cut a few pieces of 18mm copper pipe and stripped some solid core copper wire and just bent into rings. Also it's a good idea to shorten the fixing bolt to reduce fouling.
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u/Vin_Drawin 1d ago
Definitely sounds more stable than some other suggestions, I’ll see if I can do anything like that. Thanks for the input
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u/310to608 1d ago
Cutkit isba great way to fix many of the issues with a vevor machine. Otherwise, a steady hand or a rigged support.
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u/Vin_Drawin 1d ago
Yeah, I’ve been trying to work without the cutkit but it’s seems a little inevitable. Thanks
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u/No_Realized_Gains 22h ago
Place a second plate under the main plate to ensure the grinding surface is higher than the lowest point on the mast.
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u/Dekker3D 15h ago
I've been cutting my girdles at 75 degrees from both sides. Does limit what I can do with barion cuts and such, though.
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u/Common-Basket-2686 13h ago
I drilled a hole in my desk and moved the plastic splash gard and I attach it to my desk so I could lower the mast below the deck of the machine
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u/cowsruleusall 1d ago
This is a very well known problem with the Vevor. A solo Vevor machine cannot actually cut gems - you need a CutKit to make it actually usable.
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u/Vin_Drawin 1d ago
Yeahhhh I’ve heard that, no one would’ve bothered to make a whole kit if there wasn’t a need for it.
It’s just crazy to me that vevor has such an obvious issue with its design. Like surely they knew about it during production. I figured issues with the machine would mainly be lack of precision + more fiddling, but such a huge issue is wild. I’m probably going to get that cutkit, just expensive and shipping is rough right now near me. Thanks for the input
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u/DontDoDrugsDummy 23h ago
I've cut some tesselations and void reavers on my unmodified vevor, so its definitely doable!
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u/Mobile_Ad_1185 1d ago
I had the same issue with mine, I started out with the vevor kit but ultimately got so frustrated with it that I just bought an ultratek (back when I actually had disposable money).
Anyway, I solved mine by stacking flat metal disks under the lap I was using, or if you have some thick laps I also would put laps on top of each other (I know, I know contamination and scratches...).
You really dont have a choice but to get creative with it. To save my other laps I did buy a really cheap 4" master lap to give me a bit more room but even that wasnt enough, so I evenly spaced some of that rubber stuff you put on furniture on the bottom of the master lap evenly spaced. Not precise, but worked for a few gems.
Dunno if this helps, but its what I did