23/05/2020 How To Cut And Polish Gemstones By Hand | The Bench

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How To Cut And Polish Gemstones By Hand

17th February 2020 by Cooksongold

Wondering how to cut and polish gemstones by hand? Asking yourself “is it worth investing in tools for
cutting and polishing gemstones”? Well, we’ve put together a selection of methods and tools for cutting
and polishing gemstones without a machine. So whether you’re just getting a taste for lapidary, you’re
trying to introduce it to your business, or your job involves gemstones on an everyday basis – we’ve got
some ideas for you.

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23/05/2020 How To Cut And Polish Gemstones By Hand | The Bench

How to cut and polish

gemstones
When you’re just starting out, try these techniques with
a larger gemstone that has obvious flat surfaces with
minimal dents, as this will make it easier to shape. And
focus on creating just a few, large facets as these are
easier to polish later on.

How to cut gemstones by hand: using sandpaper

A less technical, precise and a more free-hand way to cut and polish your gemstones – leaving out the
tools is ideal for those who are just dabbling in gemstones without looking to sell just yet.

Equipment:

Chopping board
Wet and dry sandpaper in 4 grits – 180, 400, 600 and 1200
Tap water
Tea towel

Method:

1. Lay the lowest grade sandpaper (the 180 grit) out onto the chopping board rough side up. Be sure to
work on a stable surface so the chopping board doesn’t move around – you may want to lay down a

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tea towel underneath the board for further support.

2. Pour a small amount of water onto the centre of the sandpaper.
3. Rub the gemstone over the sandpaper and water to create a smooth facet on the stone.
4. Repeat step 3 to create several facets and form a rough shape for your gemstone.
5. Once all sides have been completed, grab the 400 grade and repeat the previous steps – making
sure that you re-coat the paper and the stone with water in between each stage to avoid cross-
contaminating the grits.
6. Repeat the above with the 600 and 1200 grit paper.

Top tip: Every so often, rub the gemstone in a circular motion rather than back and forth to make
sure you get a smooth surface.

How to cut gemstones by hand: with

a tool
For those who are looking to introduce more gemstone work
into their business but don’t want to invest in a faceting
machine, a Dremel hand tool may be the ideal choice. A
Dremel is a versatile rotary tool that can be used around the
house and in the workshop – and can be used for more
than just cutting.

There’s a vast amount of attachments and burrs that can be used for cutting, sanding, buffing and
polishing. So with a Dremel engraver tool, carving gemstones is easy – but before you go all in with your
precious gemstones, practice on a cheaper alternative to get the technique down first (river stones are an
ideal surface to practice on). Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to cut a gemstone with a Dremel:

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23/05/2020 How To Cut And Polish Gemstones By Hand | The Bench

Equipment:

Cordless Dremel – with cutting attachments

Bench vice or clamp
Fine tip marker

Method:

1. Use a fine tip marker to draw your desired shape onto your gemstone.
2. Secure the gemstone in a vice or clamp to make sure it’s steady and to avoid the tips of your fingers
from getting too close to the cutting wheel.
3. Hold the Dremel tool firmly by the rubber grip before turning it on and choosing a speed that you feel
comfortable with.

Note: If you set the speed higher, it will cut deeper and may damage the stone – so it’s wise to start slow
until you get a feel for the tool.

1. Carve along the marker line by dragging the tip of the Dremel attachment over the design.

Top tip: Don’t hold the tool in one spot for too long as you’ll cut deeper than you intend to and will cause
a hole to form.

Find out more about how to use a Dremel rotary tool.

How to polish gemstones without a tumbler

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Once you’ve cut your gemstone down to size, the next step is to polish it to a mirror-like finish – allowing
the light to bounce off it as it hangs from a necklace or sits in a ring. For a one-off project, you will need:

Equipment:

Your choice of polishing compound – you can also try a metal/glass polish
A clean cloth

Check out our range of polishing materials for more.

Method:

1. Wrap a clean cloth around a chopping board.

2. Add a small amount of polish to the centre of the board.
3. Getting a good grip on your stone, rub the sides into the polish on the board – and repeat until the
whole stone has been polished.

Top tip: Every so often, wipe the excess polish from the stone to check your progress, adding more as
you go if you haven’t reached the desired finish.

But if you already own or are investing in a hand drill tool (powered by battery or pendant motor), you can
purchase polishing accessories that will help to get this job done a little bit quicker. Here’s how:

1. Remove the sanding/cutting attachment and replace with one for polishing, locking it in place.

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2. Apply your polishing compound to the wheel and then buff and polish the surface of your stone until
you’re happy with the finish.
3. Remove any residue of the polishing compound from the wheel and continue to polish your stone
until it’s clean and at your desired finish.

So, is it worth investing in tools for cutting and

polishing gemstones?
Yes, if you’ll use them frequently. And it may also depend on whether you’re creating the pieces to sell or
not – because a higher quality finish may be more achievable when you have the right tools. If you’re only
experimenting and it’s unlikely that you’ll develop a stock offering in lapidary, it’s probably best to stick to
the low-cost alternative. Or if you’ve been asked to produce a bespoke gemstone piece, it may be worth
outsourcing this service as a one-off.

But if you’re looking to introduce gemstones into more of your jewellery designs, investing in the proper
tools for cutting and polishing gemstones is the right way to go – be that a hand drill or pendant motor. As
outsourcing every piece will add up and can get to be quite costly.

Find everything you need for your next jewellery making project at Cooksongold – from jewellery tools to
bullion.

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