GEM CUTTING by John Sinkankas,
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0442076118 /ganoksincom-20
GEMCRAFT by Quick & Leiper, and
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0801962420/ganoksincom-20
INTRODUCTION TO LAPIDARY by Kraus.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/v/ganoksincom-20
My real “best” suggestion is one already made by several other
posters on this topic - find and join a local rock club which has a
lapidary group in it! We are at a real turning point now, as clubs
shrink and disappear many “tricks” of the lapidary trade are
disappearing with the aging of the folks who know them. Surprisingly,
those of us in our 50s are often part of a young cadre when we join
older clubs. My wife and I joined the club near our new home, and (in
our mid-50s) are almost the youngest members!
Find a club, and ask for help! This is the best single step in
learning lapidary arts.
I’m 55 and in good health. I’ve been silversmithing for two years
and selling me work for a year. I am also a pharmacist with two
part-time pharmacy jobs (one of which I am the pharmacy manager). I
also do bead weaving, sewing, painting, knitting, etc. I have no
arthritis. My eyes and ears are good.
This thread kind of shocked me. I’ve never even considered that I
might be too old to start and do anything I want to do and I don’t
think I ever will. This thread has only made me more aware of how
important it is to keep “starting” whatever appeals to me. It’s when
you start asking yourself if you can that your subconscious may come
up with reasons why you can’t.
I teach a lapidary class, in this case cabochons. One of my
students, a 84 year old man enjoyed it so much he purchaed new $1500
machine and had fun. I still teach and am now 83 years old so hang
in there.The majority of my students are 50 and older.
I need to know: Is 50 too old to learn how to cut/facet gems?
I cut my first stone a couple of weeks ago and I’m 52 (there, the
secret is out). Fortunately I have good closeup vision for my age,
though still used the loupe constantly. If you can see it, you can
do it. I plan to do many more things in life. 52 is seriously young
in my opinion.