FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Smurfstuff]

The first question (and after googling I'm having trouble figuring this out) is where to find someone who does custom cut stones/minerals (and/or synthetics) since it seems like the only places that do it locally are household renovation companies for things like marble or granite, and they deal primarily in large cuts without the detailing that I'd want. Would this be something you'd reach out to a private artist to do on, say, Etsy? or are there established sites that cater to these things that I haven't found?


I'm looking to purchase rectangular slabs (not sure this is the correct term), approximately 60mmx90mmx5mm, and having them finished with rounded edges and a slight inlay on the front/back. they would be used as poker plaques. the budget is not that tight but of course cost is always an issue, and i'm sure the sky is the limit for some of the more desirable substances.

As for the particulars, I've been looking at things like calcite which seem to be available in larger blocks without breaking the bank too badly but I'm open to ideas. Are synthetics significantly less expensive, what are the benefits/drawbacks and where would I find them?

[Peter Lemkin]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this forum doesn't deal with cut, polished stones except on very special occassions for special reasons. You need a hobby forum or mineral polishing forum, I think. I imagine some nice members may make some brief suggestions, but when an administrator reads the post, the thread will likely be closed for the reasons stated. We deal in natural minerals and crystals and little in cutting or altering them in other ways. Synthetics are anathema here, and I think you found the wrong forum via a google search for your needs. Take a look at the threads here and you will see they largely are far away from your kind of interest. Good luck.

[kushmeja]

Yeah, this isn't really the place for your questions.

I will say that you should be more concerned about the hardness & durability of the stone that you use. There are lots of inexpensive stones that you can use, but Calcite is fairly soft & brittle, so you probably wouldn't want to use it. Quartz would be better suited for your needs, comes in various colors, and isn't expensive.

[R Saunders]

There are Facebook groups about cleaning minerals and such but unlikely to find someone from your area.

[Smurfstuff]

Ahh sorry about that, I guess that explains why it’s so hard to find details about cutting on here. Thanks about the tip for not using calcite - I thought it might be hard enough since clay chips are generally quite soft and it would be easier to work with. Quartz was a middle ground option but wasn’t sure about workability.

[Duncan Miller]

The folks at the Lapidary Corner: Colored Stones on the GemologyOnline forum may be able to point you in the right direction. Just search for GemologyOnline(dot)com and navigate from there.

[SteveB]

A lapidary club in your area should be able to advise. Lapidary is about cutting and polishing stones. Or a Stone Mason.