Vevor Gemstone Faceting Machine review

After a few weeks of playing with the Vevor gemstone faceting machine I feel that I have an opinion. So join me as I share alittle of what I've learned since I bought the machine 3 weeks ago, and as I turn this little pebble into a beautiful 1ct faceted montana sapphire
If your intrested in trying this machine yourself, you can use my affialite link below, eventually it will build up for me to get a new tool to review from them!
www.vevor.com/...
#lapidary #machine #vevor #faceting #machine #diy #gemstone #gems #rock #rockhounding #rockhound #review #make #making #craft #jewelry #jewellery

[@TheSilverSmithsBench1]

I have this also. Despite all the limitations this machine presents, it is a tool to learn and blossom with, so I’m grateful, it has the quality, and price so that I can learn.

[@Celestial_Reach]

Couldn't have said it better myself lol

[@ROCKINWHEELERS]

Outstanding. As time goes on You will Definitely manipulate that machine to do what you will it to do. I have seen Mechanics, Machinist do what others in their profession cannot do with their Digital Analog Fancy tools. Your Ingenuity is Astronomical in my view. Keep it up.

[@Celestial_Reach]

Thank you buddy! I'm really happy with this thing, I feel super blessed to have this opportunity. I hope your having a great day!

[@JustinTheJadeCarver]

Hope to see more Faceting videos soon!

[@Celestial_Reach]

Hey, I hope to get more videos on this soon, I have had more struggles then normal with this vevor product then others. It works and all but it has some challenges to producing higher quality cuts that I'm still trying to over come

[@JustinTheJadeCarver]

@@Celestial_Reach Thank you very much for the fast reply and letting me know that before I purchased! Do you know of any other good Faceting machines that aren't vevor for under $1000? I cannot find anything that isn't 2k+

[@Kyokahnn]

@@JustinTheJadeCarver having the same question here, those are rare and far between, even used and beat up

[@jeffegg2]

I have an easy fix for the girdle problem. I put the height adjuster on the top, and put a rubber band to hold the dop holder up. Works well. Also I made the base more level by just sanding it on the 80 grit lap. No need to machine it.

[@konasteph]

thats pretty smart, a rubber band! Here I was stacking washers underneath what a drag. Thanks

[@johnsaucerhunter]

Glad to see it working out for you Tyler. I think the more one gets to know the quirks, the strength's, the what-nots... the better one can perform with what they have. You asked a few questions on fixes, Dr. Patrick Donohue had some fixes he did with his in the video: "I Bought The Cheapest Faceting Machine On eBay for $200".

[@PapasGems]

Great video , so excited for you. Thank you for sharing 🎉

[@SifuGeorgeHajnasrJEETKUNEDO]

Did you use any other disks to get the gem to shine?

[@konasteph]

I saw another youtube production about the identical Vevor machine, where they machined the foot of that "mast" so the mast would become more perpendicular. That does not seem too hard to do if you take a look at the basis of the mast (the piece that is fastened with one screw to the table of the cutting machine) and you do not need a machine shop. If you know how to use files and abrasives you can make the mast more perpendicular fairly easily. The other way to go about it is to place thin washers between the motor and the table to which it is fastened with four screws. You have to open the machine on the bottom, remove the drip pan, the base disk etc, and you can carefully drop the motor down and place shims or washers (thin) before you retighten the screws. This is more difficult than machining the foot of the mast.I also find the machine, while not excellent, still acceptable and workable. Cutting the girdle on the stones is a challenge, I cut various slices from 3/4 in copper pipe and used them, in combination to raise the manipulator to the amount needed to get the girdle to as close to 90 deg as possible.

[@Celestial_Reach]

Yea, that's likely true as far as shaving the mast. Part of the issue is that after alot of messing around with it, I'm still not able to figure out where exactly it's wrong. That said, I have atleast found a way to kind of deal with it. I've done a similar thing with copper pipe for the girdle cutting, I didn't think of cutting several tho, that's a good idea

[@konasteph]

@@Celestial_Reach not too difficult to see whats going on: first, Is the table which the manipulator mounts to, level and is the platen of the grinding wheel also level and parallel with the table? I have a digital spirit level and it shows if the table, the grinder and the mast are all at zero degrees, or 90 degrees (mast). if not how can we make it so? There is the mounting shimming of the motor, and then there is shaving the foot of the mast. But let me say that on my machine the platen was level, so the shimming of the motor fasteners was not needed. That leaves a slight leaning of the mast that can be addresses by sanding the foot on the side that needs it. The shaving can be done on a level hard surface with sandpaper on it (the lip that needs to be shaved is not substantial so it is absolutely doable without a machine shop) Machining of the stainless steel table does not seem appropriate or convenient). Good luck!

[@johanjotun1647]

Stefan Gottswinter has exellent vids for Scraping flat, if your interested in precise tollerances

[@OzoneFineArtVentures]

Thanks for sharing your projects. I hope you can work out the problem with your mast. I'm wondering if you were using water with the diamond on the copper plate (for the 14, 000 I think you showed)? Good on ya for getting the faceting going!

[@Celestial_Reach]

Hey, thank you. I was using water for that part, it just helps it feel smoother. That wrong? I k ow my diamond paste isn't the best quality and that might by why I'm noting a few scratches here and there

[@DonohueLabs]

Most likely, the base of the mast is not level. If you can't fix it with shims like someone suggested (which is a temporary fix and could be a headache whenever you move the mast), you need to machine/mill the bottom flat. Or your best bet is to hold the stone in one place rather than sweeping across the lap. I go from 3k to 50k just fine with sapphire, so you can probably skip the 14k step if you use 8k. Up to you, but give it a shot sometime and see if it makes a difference.

[@Celestial_Reach]

I really appreciate all of this. I don't know if I can machine it any more level then it already is honestly, but staying in the same spot my be possible. I might try to upgrade that part, figure can't hurt, get one with a return policy

[@konasteph]

Due to some faceting I did on the Vevor machine that turned out less than satisfactory, I checked a few things. First I bought a digital protractor, and I am finding that the rather crude protractor thats built into the Vevor manipulator is off by as much as 3 degrees. So, I went to ebay and I found for very little money a small digital protractor that I will mount on the manipulator to get the angles right. Secondly, when the detent is seated on the chosen setting on the index, I was able to twist the manipulator from side to side because the detent was not seated in the notch of the indexer very well, it was rocking left and right. So I went with a fine triangular file and removed the burrs that are present on the index notches, and some burrs were rather significant. Still, if you endeavor to do something as intricate as gem cutting, you are definitely able to correct the problems that go hand in hand with a barely adequate manufacturing process. Still, for the money, the machine is not junk altogether, while the biggest limitation I am finding is the positioning the manipulator for making a good girdle.

[@Celestial_Reach]

This is really great advice. I will give these a try, I was considering a new mast assembly but I'll try this first. I have some ability with my jeweler bench. Thank you for the tips

[@RyanWeishalla]

Truing up the mast may depend on exactly what the issue is. Is the upright mast straight or does it have a slight bend? If it is straight, you may be able to get some thin shims to put under the between the mast holder and the machine to make it perpendicular, although that may be tough to measure if you don't have the right equipment. The other think that could be off is the spindle of the lap wheel may not be parallel to the mast. That could make it off, too. A lot of different variables.

[@jeffegg2]

I had tried shims, but thought, well it is a lap grinder. So I just put it on a 80 grit lap and got it pretty level. Having fun with my entry level machine.

[@Kyokahnn]

nice demo, also, nice vape. For how the reddit faceting community speaks of these machines, you'd think they're useless. My first machine, and I doubt I'll ever need more.

[@Celestial_Reach]

Oh I know right. I will admit it wont do what I need from it. But they are plenty good to figure out the basic process and cut some.more simple designs. Mine n Might be a it flawed too. But 100x better then how reddit makes them.sound for sure, and for the price it's not to horrible

[@mattsadventureswithart5764]

Online photography communities are just as bad about any cameras that are not "pro" models, so I'm not in the slightest bit surprised.

[@konasteph]

I have to say, there are lots of things that could be wrong with a gem cutting machine, but the Vevor machine (the one with the adjustable speed) has accomplished a very reasonable compromise and solution. With the table of stainless steel that is fairly substantial if not perfectly plane, but reasonably so. The mast of the manipulator needs to be fixed by the owner of the machine through sanding on one side or the other to make it perpendicular with regard to the grinding wheel. If you know how to cut gems you will certainly know how to shave that foot to make the mast more perpendicular. And one annoying problem is the leaky control valve on the water drip. Other than that, for the price.... no complaints.

[@Celestial_Reach]

After anout 4 months I agree. Still fighting the mast, but I can cut stones well enough for the price. I think machine could be revolutionary, and part of me hopes.i got 6 more months before I upgrade, cause I wanna have the base line to judge from. What's that extra few grand getting me, if you know what I mean

[@johanjotun1647]

I know nothing about faciting, but if your mast is off, buy a feeler gauge set and brek off whatever one brings you to perpendicular and sandwitch it between the vise when you lock it down (idk if then nomenclature is anvil table, vise ect.)

[@FRENCHXPLORER]

Hello Tyler, I have some raw gemstones (garnet, saphires and rubies) that I want to facet and polish and I am then interested in buying this type of machine. The gemstones are however very small (much smaller than the ones you show in your videos. I want to know how you load up the gemstone on the tool so it stays in place safely ? Thanks in advance.

[@Celestial_Reach]

Hello, I use super glue. It's a struggling tho for sure, I find this is a challenging machine to work with on smaller stones, I might need to throw money at the problem for once lol

[@FRENCHXPLORER]

@@Celestial_Reach Thanks for your return 👍 I bought this machine already. Lets see how its gonna be haha. It will be my first time doing this so I will probably train with other bigger stones before and work on the smaller and more premium ones after I get used to it. Cheers !

[@backwoodheathen]

I found a machinist and had him fly cut the bottom of the mast so it was level. Didn't cost me much to have it done, just took a while to find someone to do it

[@Celestial_Reach]

Thank you for the advice. Did you manage to get it to have less play on the index by any chance?

[@backwoodheathen]

@@Celestial_Reach I really didn't have that problem with play on the index like others have had

[@jeffegg2]

I have changed from rubber bands to a spring.

[@ROCKINWHEELERS]

Oh BTW THEM STONES ARE GORGEOUS AND ROSIE SAYS NICE FACETING. Maybe soon I can take lessons and visit you when I go on our Road Trip to see a Gold Claim in Montana. Also want to do some Sapphire Mining and RED BERYL MINING. Talk to You Soon You Blessed and Wonderful Person and NO I AM NOT BUTT LICKING- hehehe

[@Celestial_Reach]

I thank both of you, amd Your deffinitly welcome to stop by my friends. I so so want a nice red beryl for myself some day! Awesome stuff

[@snowstephenanderson801]

I would just call Vevor...I just got this same machine, I hope mine isn't uneven! I need to get a set of flat lap's and some diamond paste or diamond grit....corundum because it's hard and adds to the grit??? thank's wow, I got the 180W 6inch Vevor which looks just like your's I am practicing on cheap stuff before I try anything of significant value but I was having a problem with the height to cut the stone into a barrel or the girdle facet's before doing the crown or the pavilion....I was trying the 9, or 18 facet's instead of the 8 with 16 just on the girdle cut's not to mention the rest....anyways thank's and I got this machine right from Vevor's website for $249.- where Amazon wanted $318.-

[@Celestial_Reach]

Always best to go from vevor directly when possible. So, I need to do an update to this video, there are perks to this machine, mainly price and I think it's wonderful to learn with. But I find it hard to get high quality stones on it, which should be obvious. Still a great item to learn on and use as a hobby machine while you work your way up.

[@chrisstrobel3439]

Wouldn’t you be better off getting something like a V5 or Facetron that would be easy to flip in case you decided faceting is just not for you? You know a buy once cry once kinda thing? 🙄

[@Celestial_Reach]

You don't seem to understand. I have a bad mobility disability. 4 years ago I was basically homeless, started with nothing. I know it just sounds so easy, come up with 6,000$ to just throw at something. Ot all of us have that privilege. I've spent 4 years teaching myself how to make jewelry from harbor frieght and vevor tools. And even with them being so cheap it takes me months to save up 400$ for a new tool like this. Sorry if I come off sounding agitated. I've heard this.line over and over, been told all the tools I got wouldn't let.me.learn what I've learned. Just save up money they always say. As if it's possible for everyone. Some of us have to make these poorer level tools work

[@chrisstrobel3439]

@@Celestial_Reach Good for you getting back on your feet and saving up 👍

[@jameshurley224]

You base on the mast is uneven, try to shave off the high end with some sandpaper or grinder.

[@shahidkhan-vs6ut]

Hey its ur new Subscriber 🫶🏻🥹

[@tommcelroy6975]

Problem with that machine is repeatability.

[@Celestial_Reach]

Can never cutthe same stone twice except by fluke?

[@nwmetalbug]

I have the same machine its crap.

[@Celestial_Reach]

i can deffinitly see some flaws in it for sure. tho, its absolutly doing better then no machine at all i gotta say