Post #400587 by Tamapoutini on Mon, Aug 11, 2008 6:29 PM

On 2008-08-11 17:28, surfintiki wrote:
So Tama, this is what I should use for cutting the shape, out of a slab?...

is this considered peripheral?

Also...looking at raw jade on ebay, the Wyoming and BC stuff...any pointers in choosing a nice, semi-low cost piece? End cuts bad? etc.
I saw pieces that were nice and thin, all I'd have to do is draw a design on it, and go right to work. Is it that easy?

To cut your basic shape out of a slab you should use a trimsaw with a diamond blade (like a tile saw) : something like this - but the link you provided does indeed show a peripheral wheel, your main shaping/carving tool.

Jades value basically comes down to quality & colour/attractiveness. The best stone to work is obviously free of flaws/cracks, shape doesnt really matter - often those wee end pieces suggest their own subject matter for sculptures or may yield a few nice steaks if slabbed. Pre-slabbed stone is great! Slabbing is a reasonably time consuming task, but then in its own way its quite exciting too..

Rock on SurfinT!