Lapidary Cheatsheet
Basic Lapidary Equipment
| Equipment | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Slab Saw | A diamond-bladed saw for cutting rough rock into slabs. |
| Grinding Wheels | Diamond-impregnated wheels for shaping the stone. |
| Sanding Drums | For smoothing the stone after grinding. |
| Polishing Pad | A leather or felt pad used with a polishing compound. |
| Dop Sticks | Wooden dowels used to hold the stone while working. |
Creating a Cabochon
| Step # | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Select a slab and draw your shape. | - |
| 2 | Trim the slab to the rough shape. | Use a trim saw. |
| 3 | Attach the stone to a dop stick. | Use dopping wax. |
| 4 | Grind the stone to its final shape. | Use coarse grinding wheels first, then move to finer ones. |
| 5 | Sand the stone smooth. | Work through progressively finer grits of sandpaper. |
| 6 | Polish the stone. | Use a polishing compound like cerium oxide on a leather pad. |