Mike, I found this video thanks to your post in the USFG forum. My first Ultra Tech machine (VL) should arrive this week and I'll be ordering the saw attachment you demonstrated today! Two years ago, I cut a 30+ ct Trillian and your demo made my mouth water. LOL Thanks for the informative video and adding Joe's comments to your USFG post.
Hi Michael, Well done on the Trillian Design. It's always good to watch the Ultra Tec in action. It seems to be one of the USA's premier machines. I haven't seen too many of them in Australia, but there are a few gem cutters in my faceting group that have them. I assume they have some modifications converting to a different power supply. Aussie machines tend to be over engineered, but are accurate. As for the glue, most epoxies have a expiry date and CA glues last longer refrigerated as they will also fail. I've found Devcon will solidify when stored long term. Oh yeah, I got laugh out your squeaky Alligator called Jaw's. Happy faceting......
Cliff, Thanks. Yes, the Trillian turned out great, Bopie told me that the couple is very happy with their pendant. I am happy to have created something beautiful that, hopefully, will be passed down for generations. Regarding Ultra Tec machines, I learned to facet on an Ultra Tec and have never used anything else, so it’s hard for me to do comparisons between different machines. I discussed your comments with Joe Rubin (Joe was an aerospace engineer before buying the Ultra Tec company back in the early 70’s). Joe told me some interesting things about Ultra Tec in response to your comment that I will share below: - There are MANY Ultra Tec machines in Australia. Mostly V2s from years ago when the US Dollar and Australian Dollar were about equal value (currently the Australian dollar is worth 67 cents U.S. and this makes U.S. goods more expensive to Australians). At one time they had enough monthly order volume to justify shipping Ultra Tec machines by sea, instead of air, which further reduced shipping costs. - Ultra Tec does have a representative in Australia. Mr. Brent Jackson of Sydney. His e-mail is jackson254@optusnet.com.au - In regard to electrical power supply - (220 VAC in Australia) - Ultra Tec faceting machines operate with 110 VAC or 220 VAC. The user doesn’t have to do anything other than plug into the source - the machine’s electronics recognize and adjust for the source. Joe also confirmed your comments about adhesives by saying: “Regarding faceting adhesives - we did a study which led us to focus in on using Loctite 404 - and that’s what I use. Yes, it has a limited shelf life - when I get a new bottle I put a date on it - and I keep it in the refrigerator. When it gets to be a year old I replace it (yes, painful - the bottle is still half full - but that’s what should be done). As Cliff pointed out, epoxies have a shelf life too (they usually tell you).” Finally, Joe corrected me on a comment I made in the Madeira Citrine Video about the Ultra Tec facet-saw and how I thought it could be used on pretty much any faceting machine. Joe said “Now, most “other“ machines have a small Platen size (like 2”) - too small to offer adequate support for the 6” blade. Ultra Tec has a 4” Platen - so, only 1 inch of blade extends - stiff enough to not bend and “wander off” as would happen with a small Plate.” So, I stand corrected about thinking pretty much any faceting machine could use the ‘facet-saw’. Check before buying. Finally, about the squeaky Alligator. Glad you got a smile! It is only a minor point/hint to the evolving mystery, but it’s a Croc not a Gator. - Cheers!
@@BOPIESDiamondsFineJewelry I wouldn't mind a Ultra Tec that's for sure. The way the Aussie Dollar is at the moment it's out of my price range. Sadly, there is not much on offer currently in Australia. What is available takes way too long to manufacture. There seems to be a huge demand, however suppliers just cannot get there orders out fast enough. Cheers Cliff
Hi michael, thanks for all the good info, sorry for the catastrophe. I have heard epoxy has a shelf life , i think it is 12 months. I have had new epoxy fail, it was gorrilla brand . I believe that jeanne ridolfi of rock peddler.com has jeffs designs for sale. But thanks very much for the archive info, ill surely check it out. happy faceting.
Hi Brent, Thanks for your comment! I am a big fan of your Gem Cutting videos at “Gems By mbk” on RUclips. Thanks for making Gem Cutting Tutorial videos…we need more!! For everyone else who may not know, Brent sells the stone he cuts on Etsy! So, if you fall in love with one of the stones Brent creates on RUclips, RACE over to his etsy store, called Gemsbymbk at: www.etsy.com/shop/Gemsbymbk?ref=seller- and BUY IT! ….and I do mean RACE over as his exceptionally well cut stones using unique designs don’t sit very long on his virtual store shelf. Some of the amazing stones Brent sold on Etsy include a 257 carat Portuguese cut gemstone and a replica of the Hope Diamond that he cut. WOW! Where else are you going to find stones like that??? Brent - yes, I also had a problem with Gorrilla Brand once and I was going to mention in a video to avoid this brand. But then I saw a fellow faceter using Gorrilla Brand and praising it. Proving again that there is no ‘one way’ to do anything when cutting gems. You just have to go with what works for you! It is good to know that Rock Peddler.com has Jeff’s designs available. Looks like the site is down for a few weeks while Jeanne recovers from surgery! I wish her a speedy recovery! I would suggest there are other reasons one may want to climb aboard the Wayback Machine and explore Jeff’s old site other than for the great designs Jeff gave us. Other reasons include, for example, access to all of Jeff’s articles on Gem Cutting (he wrote tons of articles to assist other cutters and especially new cutters) and the Wayback Machine is also useful to see what rough was selling for at any time in the past (What has skyrocketed in price? What has plummeted?), and not just at Jeff’s site, you can go to ANY website.
When you reset the gemstone after it came off and it was not flat would you rotate the quill until it was flat or would you adjust using the cheater until it was flat?
Great video! awesome gem! was "Jaws" in the intro a referance to the channel "Vintage Time"? And yes, I do also go through that speedy cutting process!
Thanks for the comment. About Vintage Time, I really enjoy watching the videos created by Cliff…and his World-famous Producer/ best friend. He cuts some fantastic gems, and like all Australians, Cliff, has a great sense of humor…and a cool accent. Sorry, but I can’t reveal the mystery of my Crocodile at this time (other than to point out that, outside of cartoon land, there are no Australian Crocodiles in North Carolina, thank goodness!). 😊 Stay tuned and, in time, the mystery will be solved…all with good, friendly Gem Cutter’s fun and humor!
Thanks for the information. I can live with that. Generally I go through my epoxy w/in a year..especially since I now use it for larger projects which require more epoxy...I currently use UV light activated super glue for smaller stone.
Yes, the super glue I used to use, Loctite, and the UV activated Superglue I am currently using are both strong. No issues w/stones falling off the dop.
Hello Jacob. I find that the sponge greatly reduces the amount of water that spills out of the splashguard (the rubber pan that surrounds the lap in the machine). When cutting the girdle, the splashguard has to be lowered so that the mast can contact the lap at a 90 degree setting. Without the sponge, water spill through the part of the splashguard that has been lowered. On the latest Ultra Tec machine, the VL, I understand it comes with a “anti-splash sponge” and clip to attach the sponge to the splashguard. When I first started cutting, this ‘discovery’ of using a sponge was not widely known, at least I did know about it. It works for me, so I pass this ‘discovery’ on to other cutters. I did not invent anything related to faceting and all the techniques I use, I learned from others and if I knew who invented or discovered the ‘sponge’ technique I would gladly give them credit…and THANKS! If anyone knows who first started using this technique, please share!
Sorry to hear that...it happens. Fortunately it happens less and less frequently as you gain experience in dopping your stone and learn the right amount of pressure to apply to your spindle/quil as you touch the stone to your lap. Good luck!
My experience is that Amethyst rough generally sells for a higher price than Citrine rough...so if someone is heating more expensive Amethyst to get less expensive Citrine...aren't they kind of losing money?
@@BOPIESDiamondsFineJewelry I know that I bought a bunch of them in Tucson from Graves. Since Graves is no longer in active business ( not saying it is closed just not active ) I would suggest you have a machine shop make a run of them for you. Just take in a dop from your machine and a spec drawing of a trillion dop; I'm sure they will be able to make them. This is from the Graves site ( do not order - you'll never get them ) and attached is a picture of one. Hope this helps. Elayne Trilliant Dops SKU: 02-031 These dops are made specifically for the triangle trilliant cuts. Cone dops may work but the time spent aligning the stones can be frustrating. A triangle depression is cut into these dops making the process much easier. 1/4 inch shank. Price: $8.90 Select Size (Inch) Attachments area Sorry pic did not attach. go to the site and get a copy of the pic there. Elayne
Your videos are such a treasure for new faceters ✨
Thank you!
Just found you! Amazing video edit, amazing demonstration and very well spoken. Much appreciated good sir!!
Thank you very much!
great video, so much knowledge spilling out my little brain can hardly maintain. Thank you 🙏
Thank you very much!
thank you so much for showing how to find Jeff's old designs. it means a lot to me as someone getting into gem cutting.
You are welcome. There is a treasure trove of good information there.
Mike, I found this video thanks to your post in the USFG forum. My first Ultra Tech machine (VL) should arrive this week and I'll be ordering the saw attachment you demonstrated today! Two years ago, I cut a 30+ ct Trillian and your demo made my mouth water. LOL
Thanks for the informative video and adding Joe's comments to your USFG post.
Thank you John. Let us know how you do with your VL. Post a video if you have time, we would all love to see a VL in operation!
Hi Michael, Well done on the Trillian Design. It's always good to watch the Ultra Tec in action. It seems to be one of the USA's premier machines. I haven't seen too many of them in Australia, but there are a few gem cutters in my faceting group that have them. I assume they have some modifications converting to a different power supply. Aussie machines tend to be over engineered, but are accurate. As for the glue, most epoxies have a expiry date and CA glues last longer refrigerated as they will also fail. I've found Devcon will solidify when stored long term. Oh yeah, I got laugh out your squeaky Alligator called Jaw's. Happy faceting......
Cliff,
Thanks. Yes, the Trillian turned out great, Bopie told me that the couple is very happy with their pendant. I am happy to have created something beautiful that, hopefully, will be passed down for generations.
Regarding Ultra Tec machines, I learned to facet on an Ultra Tec and have never used anything else, so it’s hard for me to do comparisons between different machines.
I discussed your comments with Joe Rubin (Joe was an aerospace engineer before buying the Ultra Tec company back in the early 70’s). Joe told me some interesting things about Ultra Tec in response to your comment that I will share below:
- There are MANY Ultra Tec machines in Australia. Mostly V2s from years ago when the US Dollar and Australian Dollar were about equal value (currently the Australian dollar is worth 67 cents U.S. and this makes U.S. goods more expensive to Australians). At one time they had enough monthly order volume to justify shipping Ultra Tec machines by sea, instead of air, which further reduced shipping costs.
- Ultra Tec does have a representative in Australia. Mr. Brent Jackson of Sydney. His e-mail is jackson254@optusnet.com.au
- In regard to electrical power supply - (220 VAC in Australia) - Ultra Tec faceting machines operate with 110 VAC or 220 VAC. The user doesn’t have to do anything other than plug into the source - the machine’s electronics recognize and adjust for the source.
Joe also confirmed your comments about adhesives by saying: “Regarding faceting adhesives - we did a study which led us to focus in on using Loctite 404 - and that’s what I use. Yes, it has a limited shelf life - when I get a new bottle I put a date on it - and I keep it in the refrigerator. When it gets to be a year old I replace it (yes, painful - the bottle is still half full - but that’s what should be done). As Cliff pointed out, epoxies have a shelf life too (they usually tell you).”
Finally, Joe corrected me on a comment I made in the Madeira Citrine Video about the Ultra Tec facet-saw and how I thought it could be used on pretty much any faceting machine. Joe said “Now, most “other“ machines have a small Platen size (like 2”) - too small to offer adequate support for the 6” blade. Ultra Tec has a 4” Platen - so, only 1 inch of blade extends - stiff enough to not bend and “wander off” as would happen with a small Plate.” So, I stand corrected about thinking pretty much any faceting machine could use the ‘facet-saw’. Check before buying.
Finally, about the squeaky Alligator. Glad you got a smile! It is only a minor point/hint to the evolving mystery, but it’s a Croc not a Gator.
- Cheers!
@@BOPIESDiamondsFineJewelry I wouldn't mind a Ultra Tec that's for sure. The way the Aussie Dollar is at the moment it's out of my price range. Sadly, there is not much on offer currently in Australia. What is available takes way too long to manufacture. There seems to be a huge demand, however suppliers just cannot get there orders out fast enough. Cheers Cliff
I Live next tô Uruguai, Brazil.. i find these citrino... i Love them
Yes, very nice! I wish I could find some!
Great video. Have subscribed and clicked on notification bell.
Thank you!
I loved this video . I am going to buy your epoxy glue as I have serious issue with the epoxy I have .
I have also heard that Devcon epoxy works well. You can try that also.
Great video, happy faceting!
Thanks.
still looking forward to learn how to cut stones
What brand of faceting machine are you going to get?
Hi michael, thanks for all the good info, sorry for the catastrophe. I have heard epoxy has a shelf life , i think it is 12 months. I have had new epoxy fail, it was gorrilla brand . I believe that jeanne ridolfi of rock peddler.com has jeffs designs for sale. But thanks very much for the archive info, ill surely check it out. happy faceting.
Hi Brent,
Thanks for your comment! I am a big fan of your Gem Cutting videos at “Gems By mbk” on RUclips. Thanks for making Gem Cutting Tutorial videos…we need more!!
For everyone else who may not know, Brent sells the stone he cuts on Etsy! So, if you fall in love with one of the stones Brent creates on RUclips, RACE over to his etsy store, called Gemsbymbk at: www.etsy.com/shop/Gemsbymbk?ref=seller- and BUY IT! ….and I do mean RACE over as his exceptionally well cut stones using unique designs don’t sit very long on his virtual store shelf. Some of the amazing stones Brent sold on Etsy include a 257 carat Portuguese cut gemstone and a replica of the Hope Diamond that he cut. WOW! Where else are you going to find stones like that???
Brent - yes, I also had a problem with Gorrilla Brand once and I was going to mention in a video to avoid this brand. But then I saw a fellow faceter using Gorrilla Brand and praising it. Proving again that there is no ‘one way’ to do anything when cutting gems. You just have to go with what works for you!
It is good to know that Rock Peddler.com has Jeff’s designs available. Looks like the site is down for a few weeks while Jeanne recovers from surgery! I wish her a speedy recovery!
I would suggest there are other reasons one may want to
climb aboard the Wayback Machine and explore Jeff’s old site other than for the
great designs Jeff gave us. Other
reasons include, for example, access to all of Jeff’s articles on Gem Cutting
(he wrote tons of articles to assist other cutters and especially new cutters)
and the Wayback Machine is also useful to see what rough was selling for at any
time in the past (What has skyrocketed in price? What has plummeted?), and not just at Jeff’s
site, you can go to ANY website.
@@BOPIESDiamondsFineJewelry Thanks very much michael, those words were extremely kind of you.
Looking for advice On where to go for a used faceting machine Any advice would be greatly appreciated thank you so much really enjoy your videos
I would go on Facebook to the page called "Faceting Machines Buy and Sell"
Legal
Thank you!
When you reset the gemstone after it came off and it was not flat would you rotate the quill until it was flat or would you adjust using the cheater until it was flat?
In this case I would adjust the cheater.
Great video! awesome gem! was "Jaws" in the intro a referance to the channel "Vintage Time"? And yes, I do also go through that speedy cutting process!
Thanks for the comment. About Vintage Time, I really enjoy watching the videos created by Cliff…and his World-famous Producer/ best friend. He cuts some fantastic gems, and like all Australians, Cliff, has a great sense of humor…and a cool accent.
Sorry, but I can’t reveal the mystery of my Crocodile at this time (other than to point out that, outside of cartoon land, there are no Australian Crocodiles in North Carolina, thank goodness!). 😊 Stay tuned and, in time, the mystery will be solved…all with good, friendly Gem Cutter’s fun and humor!
BOPIE'S Diamonds & Fine Jewelry Yay! A mystery! I can’t wait to see what it is! Anyways, have a great day and keep up the awesome work!
Concerning the epoxy and its age, I have found it stops hardening after about a year of storage
Thanks for the information. I can live with that. Generally I go through my epoxy w/in a year..especially since I now use it for larger projects which require more epoxy...I currently use UV light activated super glue for smaller stone.
@@mikesackos2208 Do you find the regular super glue to be just as strong as the UV super glue ?
Yes, the super glue I used to use, Loctite, and the UV activated Superglue I am currently using are both strong. No issues w/stones falling off the dop.
What's the sponge do?
Hello Jacob. I find that the sponge greatly reduces the amount of water that spills out of the splashguard (the rubber pan that surrounds the lap in the machine). When cutting the girdle, the splashguard has to be lowered so that the mast can contact the lap at a 90 degree setting. Without the sponge, water spill through the part of the splashguard that has been lowered.
On the latest Ultra Tec machine, the VL, I understand it comes with a “anti-splash sponge” and clip to attach the sponge to the splashguard.
When I first started cutting, this ‘discovery’ of using a sponge was not widely known, at least I did know about it. It works for me, so I pass this ‘discovery’ on to other cutters.
I did not invent anything related to faceting and all the techniques I use, I learned from others and if I knew who invented or discovered the ‘sponge’ technique I would gladly give them credit…and THANKS! If anyone knows who first started using this technique, please share!
Funny thing, I was cutting this same design, and my stone popped off.
Sorry to hear that...it happens. Fortunately it happens less and less frequently as you gain experience in dopping your stone and learn the right amount of pressure to apply to your spindle/quil as you touch the stone to your lap. Good luck!
This citrine actually is heated amethist.
My experience is that Amethyst rough generally sells for a higher price than Citrine rough...so if someone is heating more expensive Amethyst to get less expensive Citrine...aren't they kind of losing money?
There are trillion dops available.
Where? From whom?
Thank you for sharing that information Elayne. Please let us know where we can obtain ‘trillion dops’ as I don’t know of any sources.
@@BOPIESDiamondsFineJewelry I know that I bought a bunch of them in Tucson from Graves. Since Graves is no longer in active business ( not saying it is closed just not active ) I would suggest you have a machine shop make a run of them for you. Just take in a dop from your machine and a spec drawing of a trillion dop; I'm sure they will be able to make them. This is from the Graves site ( do not order - you'll never get them ) and attached is a picture of one. Hope this helps.
Elayne
Trilliant Dops
SKU: 02-031
These dops are made specifically for the triangle trilliant cuts. Cone dops may work but the time spent aligning the stones can be frustrating. A triangle depression is cut into these dops making the process much easier. 1/4 inch shank.
Price: $8.90 Select Size (Inch)
Attachments area
Sorry pic did not attach. go to the site and get a copy of the pic there.
Elayne