Jade & Gemstone Tooling

What could be more succinct than a white board with the 12 steps. If this is all you need then you are ready to go, otherwise check out Deborah’s posts that elaborate each step, and if you want something more hands on, attend one of our symposiums.

Sculpting and carving Jade and other Gemstones requires a different approach than most hard stones. Since 1995 the jade tent has been the place at NWSSA symposiums to learn to carve jade and other gemstones. The jade tent has gone from humble but adequate beginnings at Camp Brotherhood to a full compliment of equipment and expertise at the Suttle Lake and Pilgrim Firs symposiums.

Tools available at symposium for carving jade

There are 5 point carvers, which are horizontally mounted
drill presses with 5 speeds and 1/2″ chucks. With these multi purpose home made
machines you can take a carving from start to finish, first with precutting,
then grinding, next with sanding, then polishing. At the removal stages,
water will be directed to the diamond tool and jade, to extend the life of the diamond tools, and yes it wet and can get messy.

For drilling holes, there is a large drill press with many core drills available, and a small
Foredom drill press as well. 

There are 3 trim saws, and a tile saw, all water fed. 

There are 2 Polar Carver stations in use which provides two 8″ diamond grinding wheels and 2 sanding drums.

Our goal is to have all the essential tooling for jade carving there on the field. Carvers at the symposium enjoy the availability of lots of plated diamond burs to chose from, the tool bench is a sight to behold.

Sanding discs made from diamond cloth will be made up for students to try. They cut down the time dramatically for finishing. And the list goes on!

The jade tent has 3 Foredoms and one Dremel. Rotary hand pieces are an
essential tool for jade carving, and it is wise for students to bring their own if they have one.

For final polishing there is one large hard felt polishing wheel and many smaller mounted felt
wheels that can be used in the point carvers. Polishing compound is
provided so there is little impediment to completing a piece.

See you in the tent, and don’t forget to select your piece of jade.