Cutting agate

[PennyG]

I believe this is an agate. Either way, I wanted to cut it. When using my dremel rotary tool , there were sparks and brown burn marks left on rock. Is that all part of the process of cutting in to a stone this hard?
I'm still in the learning process and advice would greatly be appreciated. Thank y'all [emoji4]

 

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[stefen]

Best to cut any stone using a constant water bath...try using a tile saw...the water keeps the saw from heating up...besides the blade will most likely by diamond impregnated...

 

[PennyG]

Thank you Stefen.

 

[gunsil]

Hi Penny, never grind stones while dry. The resulting dust can cause irreversible lung damage and harm the stone and your tool. It definitely looks like a nice agate but a dremel isn't the best tool for the job. You don't say where you're from, but many areas have gem and mineral clubs whose members gladly teach beginners proper lapidary techniques and they usually have all the proper tools to teach you with. If no clubs near you try to find a lapidary shop, most lapidaries, myself included love to teach others how to make cabochons on our machines. Dremels usually run at too high speeds for most lapidary work even in a water bath, and you will need diamond tips for you dremel or any other tool for agate, it is hard stuff. Folks do use corundum wheels and tools but diamond cuts faster and better, but still must be used in a water bath. Tile saws with diamond blades will work to cut your agate but a real stone saw with a vice to make perfect parallel cuts is much better. Google lapidary or gem and mineral clubs in your area and hopefully you can find one not too far away and get some hands on help.

 

[PennyG]

Thank you . I always wear a respirator mask, full face shield, and always work with wet stones. However, it's not a continuous water source and I think that's the biggest problem.
I'm currently living in East Illinois close to Lake Michigan.
I will look in to local clubs.
Thanks again.

 

[hvacker]

Understand when cutting anything you need to use something harder than what you want to cut.
It doesn't matter if it's wood or stone.
Many stones are so hard they will challenge the cutter even a diamond after time.
So in using a diamond wheel with a coolent of at least water and going slow you can cut anything.
I'd suggest finding a $ 40 on line with a diamond wheel. Not a 10K saw but it works. And figure a way to make a rock vice
so your cuts are accurate.

 

[DDancer]

Dremels are good for polishing hard stuff and cutting soft stuff. One reason a water cooled, lubricated, cutting blade as mentioned is needed is 1: to remove heat and 2: remove particles as the blade cuts. If heat and particles are not removed this will litteraly fuse the particles and/or melt the blade which clogs the cutting abrasive of the blade and will eventually destroy the base metal of the blade. Heat will also damage the stone causing it to crack and fracture unpredictably which is a danger in itself. For small stones sometimes just grinding will be enough but lubricants are often used here as well for much the same reasons.

 

[PennyG]

That y'all very much . So much to learn and so blessed to have y'all to help me along the way .
Mother Nature provided me with one this afternoon I don't need to cut . Just turned around bcz I thought I heard someone say my name , and there she be. [emoji4]

Along with a few other great finds due to the erosion in the beach uncovering them.

 

[Eu_citzen]

The dust stays in the air for days. Use water for coolant. I've done carvings in agate with a dremel, but you need to get a good diamond paste and a set of burrs.
The paste is for later stages, like pre-polish and polish.

I made my own: Diamond powder and vaseline gives you a nice diamond paste to grind with.

 

[Tigger]

From what you post, I think that you are a GREAT candidate for a lapidary class. I just took one, and it opened up a whole new world of fun for me. I love cutting into a stone that I found, or polishing a pebble into a cab. Some clubs have machines you can use once you've been trained, so you don't have to invest in your own. Then there is the possibility of field trips with knowledgeable folks... I highly second gunsil's suggestion!!

 

[PennyG]

My daughter took me to the Elmhurst lapidary museum today. Loved it! Signed up for my first class this Saturday. As a Mother's Day gift I received a tile saw. Things are coming together. [emoji4]

 

[Mrdigz]

Awesome!! And Good luck with your cutting

 

[meMiner]

Wonderful Mother's Day gift. I bet you meet some interesting people and learn a ton at your class. A tile saw is perfect for what you are doing. Good luck with it all.

 

[PennyG]

Not many understand my obsession with rocks . It will be nice to meet like minded individuals. The geologist said I can bring rocks in for identification. I'll spend my week figuring which, out of hundreds and hundreds, to bring with me. I'm so excited !!!