Lapidary help needed (longish)

In My Humble Opinion
1

Hi all,
I like rocks. Always have (inherited from my mother), I studied a fair amount of geology at university and have a decent collection.
My passion however has been on hold for quite a whole due to a severe illness. I am now starting pick up a bit and various people are encouraging me to take up some of my old hobbies. In fact some people are have been so encouraging I feel like sniffling. A couple who knew me as a teen apon hearing of my renewed interest presented me with a fairly vintage rock tumbler and a machine for grinding, cutting and polishing, a fortune in diamond blades, grinding wheels, sanding discs, lapidary grit, some gem stones and minerals. WOW!
I have always wanted equipment like this but the only thing I have ever done with any of my rocks is tap them with a hammer or wash them.
I bought myself a Dremmel (every girl should own one) recently and have discovered I can use it for lapidary type stuff too. Cool!

So finally here come the questions:
Do any dopers out there have any nice simple information , advice hints tips or tricks to do with lapidary. My brain doesn’t quite work the way it used to so I really do mean simple.

I you have some links to really good informative websites I’ love some of those.

Especially for aussie rock lovin dopers: Do you know of any good mail order/ internet based shops where I could replenish my supplies (rocks and fossils too).

I’m having a bash at the rock tumbler at the moment (chalcedony) and I have made a round rock into a pointy rock with the grinder (you never know when you might need a pointy rock)

Any help will be much appreciated.

MRW

2

This one is probably better suited to IMHO, since we’re looking for advice.

samclem GQ moderator

3

Umpteen years ago I was looking for a new hobby and this was one that I considered. I never went so far as to buy any of the tools I didn’t already have, but I did pick up a few copies of the Lapidary Journal.

I don’t know if you would be able to get a subscription where you are, but there is plenty of interesting and useful information online there.

About the only other suggestion I could offer would be to pick up some silver wire and start making some jewelry. It’s relatively easy to work with, excellent exercise for fine motor skills. And you can make pieces as simple or complex as you like.

Good luck and enjoy!

4

Join a lapidary club.

http://www.lapidaryclub.com.au/ClubsShows/ClubDirectory/tabid/54/Default.aspx

You’ll find that they are most willing and helpful to people who are genuinely interested. In my days they used to hold regular workshops and the old timers will help you understand what it is you need to do with your rocks, from tumbling to making a cabochon. Faciting is a little more specialised, but they’ll still give you lots of good advice.