Faceting
Examples of Student Work
JUNE 4-10, 2023 WILLIAM HOLLAND
TOM MITCHELL - FACETING
This class is open to faceters of all experiences. If you are new I will be teaching how to select the gem rough, how to attach it to a dop, how to choose a design for the material you cut, how to attach the rough to the dop, how to cut and polish, how to transfer and realign and what to do with the stone when you are finished. If you are experienced, I will help you with any problems you may be having and show you some tricks that can make your faceting quicker, easier and more productive. If you have your own machine and laps, I encourage you to bring them with you so you can learn with them, rather than learning on one that may not be exactly like yours. If you do not have a machine, don't go out and buy one till you have finished the class. I will be providing laps for students to use. During the class, your first stone will be Helenite, which I provide. After that you are free to cut whatever you choose as long as it is not harder than 7 on the Mohs Scale, if you are using my laps. If you bring your own laps you are free to cut anything.
Lab Fee: $65
Estimated Materials Cost: $0+
Prerequisites: None
Bio:
Tom Mitchell - Faceting
I took my first faceting class in 2008, and my second faceting class in 2009 at William Holland School of Lapidary Arts. The instructor of my second class asked me to apply to teach and I taught my first class in 2010. In preparation for teaching I wrote a book for beginning faceters, which is now in its 6th edition. Before publishing my book I asked the President of a local Florida faceting club to review my book. He said "Do you want me to read it and tell you that you did a good job or do you want me to really review it". I asked him to really review it. What I didn't realize when I asked him is that his profession was technical manual editor. Three days later he called me and we discussed aspects of my book that he had issues with. He said he would try my way of doing things, even though he thought they would take longer. Another three days passed and when he called back he asked if I would take over as President of the club that we belonged to because he was tired after being President for 12 years, since its inception. Six months later I was asked to become a Board Member in the United States Faceters Guild. I served in that capacity from 2011 till 2017 at which time I became the President. I served for two terms as President and am now back on the Board and in charge of running the annual Single Stone Contest.