The Quartzsite Gem and Mineral Club offers faceting classes at both beginning and intermediate levels using 6 Club owned machines with limited space for personal machines. Members desiring to facet will need an Optivisor® magnifying headband or similar device or a 10X handheld loupe to successfully complete their stone. These items can usually be obtained from local vendors prior to the class.
The beginning class is a three ½ day session class with two ½ day sessions on Monday and ½ day on Tuesday of each week. This class consists of a simple stone design to teach the basic process of cutting and polishing faceted gems. All the equipment and supplies to facet the beginning design including the rough stone is provided. Trained faceting instructors are available to provide hands-on instruction and assistance to members enrolled in these classes. The fee for this class is $15.00.
The intermediate class is also a three-session class that is a continuation of the process wherein more complicated designs are introduced. The intermediate class consists of one ½ day session on Tuesday afternoon and two ½ day sessions on Wednesday. The prerequisite for the intermediate class is a completion of the beginning session. The fee is $15.00 per class.
The Faceting annex is available for open faceting on Friday of each week that the shops are open using either Club or personal machines. The fee to use the shop on open day is $5.00 for club machines and $4.00 per ½ day session if a member uses their own machine. A foreman is present to answer questions and assist if needed, however, no formal instruction is offered in the open session. Members may also use Club equipment in an open faceting environment any day including times when Classes are being held if there is equipment available that is not being used for instruction. During January the Faceting shop is normally full for each of the beginning and Intermediate classes so open faceting may be limited
Orientation to understand the faceting process and use of the Club machines are required before taking the beginning class. Orientation is offered on Thursday morning beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Sign-up sheets for Orientation and Faceting classes are located in the Craft Barn. Be sure to sign up in advance to ensure space is available for you.
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