[Jewelry making - Article 00167] - [Orchid] Written in Stone, Learning how to Carve Gemstone

[BILLIELLIM]

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    Dear Fellow Orchidians, As a goldsmith, I am venturing off the path
    now.  I could blame it on curiosity but let's call a spade a spade. 
    Once again my need to control every aspect of my design has led me
    to learn how to cut my own stone.  If anyone out there is looking to
    learn how to carve, facet or master the art of working with gem
    material....I am going to save you a lot of time finding someone to
    teach you. 

    After much asking around, one name kept popping up.  "Lew Wackler"
    people kept saying.  However, it was usually prefaced with "but I
    don't know if he's accepting any students now."  Yes, yes he is, I
    want to tell you!  If you are serious about learning, he is
    accepting students for private and semi private instruction at his
    studio in Boulder, Colorado.  I had a crammed crash course of
    everything I wanted to know and then some, all into two weeks. 

    Have you ever wondered how you can tell what a big dirty rock will
    polish up to look like?  My first day started with Lew showing me
    how to look at rough and how to buy it.  "Is this a bag of rocks or
    a bag of gems?" I asked myself.  Lew pulls out several parcels of
    rough sent straight from a miner and shows me how to "look" at it
    and how to ascertain it's value in relation to what I am designing. 
    Transforming the rocks into gems, the days are filled with learning
    the fundamentals.  Cutting, Grinding, Polishing, Equipment
    Selection, Laps, Glues, Polishing Compounds, and Tool Making, all
    crucial, but it is soon obvious that they are all backdrops to the
    process.  It's about "seeing" and then the process of taking a stone
    to finished perfection.  We covered everything.  Sometimes even
    veering off to discuss a goldsmithing technique that might apply to
    my overall design.  He has a well lined library that fed fuel to the
    flame.  Never running out of challenges and technique to discuss and
    explore. 

    They say "necessity is the mother of invention."  In lapidary no
    words were more true.  Being resourceful is a necessity.  Many of
    the tools used, you must make yourself.  If you have ever had to
    resort to modifying your tools or equipment to get them to perform a
    specific task, (and I am sure that you have) then you can appreciate
    someone like Lew who has gathered an arsenal of tricks specific to
    lapidary (but useful elsewhere), that will save you time.  All
    things being equal, this translates to the "time is money" theory. 

    Before I close I want you to know, this is not your "Grandpa's
    Lapidary" anymore.  No offense to any Grandpa's out there, but you
    know what I mean.  I'll explain why.  It was obvious to me right
    away.  You couldn't help but notice sitting smack in the middle of
    Lew's "Workshop Wonderland" several antique Rose Engines.
    Refurbished and in beautiful working order, Lew demonstrates how he
    has brought them up to speed, turning out modern works with this
    centuries old technology.  Beyond engraving onto gold and silver,
    Lew has perfected the use of these engines, cutting into wood and
    stone. Combined with his goldsmithing, his turned out works were as
    inspiring to me as were the daily lessons. 

    At one time I was afraid lighting might strike me if I even dared to
    think about altering what was already carved (as if it were written)
    in stone.  Intimidated no longer, I can create or modify any stone
    to complete a design that I have in mind. 

    In my career, I have been lucky to find true Masters along the way
    to teach me what I was ready for.  If you are in need of a Lapidary
    Master, I hope you are lucky enough to get Lew Wackler!   If anyone
    is interested, you can email Lew at Lewackler AT yahoo.com  Phone (303)
    499-7850.  Or you can contact me offline to discuss what was covered
    in my instruction. 

One very happy student! 





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