Cratex

It's last Friday in April #FreeShippingDay! April Special USE PROMO CODE "CTXSHIP" TO GET FREE SHIPPING AFTER BUYING OUR PRODUCTS ONLINE! Enter the promo code at checkout. Visit LINK IN BIO to shop now *Promo code valid for US and online orders only! #cratex #cratexpromocode #promocode #freeshipping

Polish - This is the part where your cabochon is going to get a high shine and it includes soft polishing pads, such as canvas pads, leather pads and felt pads, and polishing compounds.Most common polishing compounds used in lapidary work are diamond paste (excellent on ruby and sapphire in combination with leather or special pads), chromium oxide (best on jade in combination with leather or felt pads), tin oxide and cerium oxide (best on quartz).

Cabochon Fine grinding. This is where you'll begin to use progressively finer-grit wheels to shape the cabochon and remove the scratches. You'll start with fine or ultra-fine grinding wheel of about 220 or 325 grits and applying light to moderate pressure while regularly inspecting the progress. You'll continue with the same motion, as you'll need to continue to refine the shape.

Cabochons,or "cabs" for short, are small mesmerizing stones most commonly used to make stunning jewelry pieces, such as necklaces, earrings, bracelets or cufflinks. They can be cut and shaped into many different shapes ovals (most common shapes), hearts, squares, rectangles and any other free-form shapes.

Lapidary work is a unique, beautiful art with some serious health risks that mustn't be overlooked. Primary routes by which dangerous substances can enter the body of a lapidary artist are inhalation (breathing), skin and eye absorption. One of the best ways to protect yourself is to be fully aware of the danger of the materials and tools that you are working with.

CRATEX Lapidary Cones, Large Lapidary Wheels, Exclusive Sample Kits, Oblong Dressing Sticks, Lapidary Points and much much more... Visit our website for more lapidary tools!

Gemstone that hasn’t been cut and polished is called a ‘rough’, and gemstone that has been lightly hammered to remove fractured material is said to have been ‘cobbed’. Abrasives most frequently used in lapidary work are diamond and silicon carbide. There are several common techniques used in lapidary work: sawing, grinding, sanding, lapping, polishing and drilling.

Lapidary work involves using a series of grinding wheels and belt sanders usually with water cycling in the system. The most important thing for a beginner lapidarist is to get a start-up equipment that will enable some sort of progression of the grits and to get a handle on the graduated stages that involve grinding, sanding and polishing.

Our Guide to Lapidary Terminology - Rough (rock, stone, or gem that is raw, uncut, and unpolished), Slab (large slice of rough rock), Cabochon (cab) - stone that is cut and polished into a smooth dome; base can be any shape, Preform, Dop pot, Dop stick, dopping wax, lapidary polish, lap... Visit our website for more of great products for your lapidary art!

It's last Friday in March #FreeShippingDay! March Special USE PROMO CODE "FFFDAY" TO GET FREE SHIPPING AFTER BUYING OUR PRODUCTS ONLINE! Enter the promo code at checkout. Visit LINK IN BIO to shop now *Promo code valid for US and online orders only! #cratex #cratexpromocode #promocode #freeshipping

Silicon carbide is used in modern lapidary due to its quality and durability. In case you are looking for silicon carbide abrasives of highest purity, CRATEX Manufacturing Co. offers premium quality lapidary supplies! The bond used in CRATEX abrasives is made of premium grade oil-resistant chemical rubber and two bonds are available: standard and hard bond.

Four basic lapidary art forms are: tumbling, cabbing, faceting and carving. Tumbling is the simplest form of lapidary, as it requires minimal equipment. Cabochon cutting, or cabbing is the most common lapidary art. Faceting is the art form that has most potential to acquire profit. Gemstone carving is the most challenging form of lapidary art, and unlike cabbing, you’ll need to have a highly developed sense for it.

CRATEX - Premium SiC Lapidary Grinding Wheel. Made from purest silicon carbide bonded with premium grade oil-resistant chemical rubber, CRATEX large lapidary wheels found application in numerous lapidary techniques! #cratex #grindingwheel #lapidarywheel #lapidary