File: 20260118_225911480.jpg (1.5 MB)

1.5 MB JPG

I started cutting gemstones a while ago. I don't know if anyone is familiar with this?

Anyways, I am unemployed and struggling to find work, so I am spending my time trying to be somehow "productive".

I used to go to the gym a lot, but as I am getting poorer by the day, I am spending most of my time on my faceting machine which is getting old. I'd love to get a new one sometime soon.

I am posting here out just for the hell of it, wondering if this will catch interest.

>>2971621
Youd be surprised gems is an entire ecosystem that people dont even think about. Your hobby could be a job.

Sex bots are engineering somewhat but form takes precedence over function.
I think how can i do this so it can be more aesthetic rather than how can i achieve this so it’s more efficient.
I bet someone like steve jobs would coom at the process more so than the computer machine which most people dont really care how it looks like.

>>2971623
Thanks.

I know a little about companies in the gem industry. Some are really interesting, however there are a lot of shady actors too.

I'd love to work in that field but it would have to be discreet. I'm a little weary of some the actors working in there.

>>2971641
Can you directly sell your cut gems to collectors and independent jewelrymakers? I don't know how it works.

File: 65233.png (2.9 MB)

2.9 MB PNG

>>2971574
>ceramics
I gotchu senpai, what do you want to know? We do it all here at [redacted] ceramics, from boxes of brown goop to finished, glazed, and illuminated pieces.

File: 65232.png (2.6 MB)

2.6 MB PNG

>>2971705
i sure do love my very hot cylinders

File: 65235.png (2.4 MB)

2.4 MB PNG

>>2971706
They be....... Gnomin' around

>>2971708
Those definitely look better than the other handmade ceramic Christmas trees I've seen.

How's getting into ceramics? Is the beginner tier all boring mold-pouring?

File: 65244.png (2.1 MB)

2.1 MB PNG

>>2971718
My grandma started this shop in the 70s, and back then, it was all about buying molds to pour and paint and so on... The market seems to have shifted though, because all of the mold companies have either shuttered or been bought up, and there's only really one company doing them anymore.
So these days, it's about buying Bisque, or Bisk, or just, unpainted ceramics, since I guess it's also easier since you only need a kiln and even then only if you're doing glaze.
Also, these gnomes kinda suck, since I did them, the good stuff was from before grandma had her stroke, pic related

File: 65246.png (1.5 MB)

1.5 MB PNG

>>2971721
most of our stuff seems to be animals and Christmas, a large chunk of our few thousand molds seem to be Christmas ornaments (a lot of very small molds) and damn near every building you could think of for making one of those Christmas village scene things

>>2971621
Back when I had more money, I would buy fancy crystals and send them out to get faceted. There was a guy in SoCal who did really great custom designs, made a hexagonal cut on a piece of Nd:YAG for me. That might be a viable business for you anon, since I think all those guys are prolly old and about to retire or kick the bucket.

>>2971746
Thank you I appreciate this suggestion. Truth is I don't feel like making money out of this, unless working for someone.

I am not a good seller, more of the discreet guy who does this as a hobby.

>>2972083
Yeah, nobody does this as a "real" business, more of a "support my hobby" kind of deal. No real money unless you charged many thousands per stone since overseas lapidaries probably have CNC grinders that do all the basic cuts.
Anyway if you ever decide to do it for other people let us know.

>>2971724
Are they judging me?

>>2971621
i am helping out for free at a friends' instead of going to a fitness studio. i call it "work out". tomorrow i bring snacks. so we have a "eat out", too.
he has many books to carry. i help him for free and when a book catches my eye, i can take it.

>>2974519
samefagging.
my original idea to work out was about day laboring. construction work.
best muscles. makes sense and everyone benefits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnYFaJdozFQ
("is now all dead?" - "idk..." - "psst! be quiet... i believe... i believe... IT IS BEING WORKED AGAIN!!!"

>>2973087
Yes. Have you been a friend to the humble frog?

>>2971621
>>2971656
search for specialized facebook groups, or maybe just post there in some local market group

File: PXL_20260127_235035349.jpg (2.2 MB)

2.2 MB JPG

>>2971574
I do a lot of band weaving in cotton, wool/silk, and silk. I tried linen once, but it wasn't tightly spun enough for the high tension and it snapped a couple inches into weaving it. ): The most satisfying bands I've woven were both with silk, one a silk knitting yarn that's super soft, the other in antique silk sewing thread. That one was a bitch to weave...it's super slippery so tying it onto the loom, even a short length, was a challenge. The end result is super cool though, the patterns are so finely detailed.
I'd recommend starting a short band and weaving backstrap style, using cotton crochet thread, because it's pretty cheap that way, and if you decide you like it you can splurge on an inkle loom and some nicer yarns.
Picrel is my current band in cotton.

>>2976705
Looks cool, anon. It must take some thinking which threads to weave under and over based on the pattern you want to make.

File: IMG_1477.jpg (438.4 KB)

438.4 KB JPG

>>2971574
Was trying to collect a sterling kitchen set but melted it down to do some metalworking. Now Ive got more than 500usd in tools and silver did a 3-4x in price. Aside from paperweights and jewelry theres not much thats practical to make out of silver. Im glad i didnt get into investment casting at least. It would take hundreds of dollars to just make a setup big enough for 4 inch (+10cm) figures

>>2976722
Thanks! Yeah, pattern drafting is not my strong suit, and I'm just now dipping my toes into it thanks to a program. Luckily there's a wealth of free patterns on pinterest.
>>2976733
Metalworking sounds really fun. What were you planning to use the silver for?

>>2976752
Thought a tea set would be fancy but the work to clean and use for just myself was a bust. Now ive got a kilo of sterling to make fancy hair pins and chunky necklaces

>>2976705
I've done tablet weaving/card weaving before, good effort
I only did very simple patterns, I'd like to see how one does more elaborate ones that look good..

File: aa663e3636db3f6787276d2ec5db4296.jpg (62.5 KB)

62.5 KB JPG

>>2971574
I do wood joinery and the like but that is a topic for its own dedicated thread
One thing I've always wanted to do is stained glass windows of some kind. Buy sheet glass, cut it, make a hardwood frame, and replace an existing window somewhere.
Though I live in Florida and the insurance company would surely find out it's not impact rated, still I remain determined to do this.

>>2977486
I'm literally waiting here ready for you to post any possible violation of your insurance policy.

>>2971621
can ypu make them out of glass?
ive been hoarding these colored glasd bottles ive been thinking of shit to do with them
kinda want to make a crucible or whatever and melt them down
???
profit
idk

File: Screenshot_20251009_211218_Gallery.jpg (1023.5 KB)

1023.5 KB JPG

I do stained glass! Lately I've sadly not been able to make anything since I've been so busy with work. I really want to learn stained glass painting. There's glass and there's painting. That's how all the old church peices are made. It's a shame all the good brushes are so expensive!

File: 20260213_115938.jpg (3.1 MB)

3.1 MB JPG

The clay marble thread became schizophrenic so I'm moving to here. I make chainmail and lately wrapping marbles in as many different weaves and I can figure out.

>>2977486
>still I remain determined to do this.
Put it just inside an impact-rated clear window.

>>2978167
These are so nice. I would pick some up at like a street fair.
>>2977825
Same with this.
>>2976705
Same with this. Either a belt or guitar strap, something.

Keep up the good work, fellas.

>>2978167
>dat moorish rose

>>2978319
Based knower. Would you believe that's one of the easier ones to make?

>>2978320
In that lineup, yeah.