How to Cut Cabochons

Cut and form your own cabochons for making handmade jewelry.

Cabochons are slabs of rock with rounded edges that are formed into different shapes. Cabochons come in oval, round, square, rectangles and odd shaped pieces. These stones are used as focal points for necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Cutting a cabochon is a simple process, but grinding and finishing the stone takes a while. Cutting and grinding a cabochon into the desired shape takes several hours. Once the stone is ground into the shape, the stone is polished for about 30 minutes, so it has a bright, glossy shine.

Things You'll Need

• Rough slab of rock
• Lapidary saw
• Gemstone template
• 4-inch trim saw
• Electric heat gun
• Doping wax
• 1/4-inch-by-8-inch wooden dowel
• Cabochon grinding unit with 100-, 220- and 600-grit sandpaper
• Felt polishing pad for cabochon grinding unit

Instructions

1. Get a rough slab of rock that you want turned into a cabochon. Place the lapidary saw on a flat surface and plug it in. Follow the manufacturer's instructions as you cut several slabs about 1/4 inch thick.

2. Place the template on one of the cut slabs, and trace the design onto the rock using a permanent marker. Cut as close to the line as possible.

3. Plug in the heat gun, hold the wax over the cut slab and aim the heat gun at it. Let the wax build up about 1/4 inch thick on top of the center of the cut slab. Press the stick into the center of the wax. Hold it in place until the wax cools.

4. Lift up the cut slab using the wooden dowel. Aim the flat side of the cut slab towards the grinder. Press the outer edges into the grinder and grind off any excess stone until it is shaped the way you want it. Grind it using a 100-grit grinding wheel. Bevel the edges using the grinder, so it has a rounded, dome-shaped top.

5. Change the sandpaper to 220-grit sandpaper. Continue grinding the stone until you get the desired dome shape. Change the sandpaper to 600-grit, and sand over the stone. This starts the polishing process.

6. Put a felt polishing pad on the cabochon grinding unit. Polish the stone until it has a high gloss.

7. Turn the cabochon upside down, so the dowel is facing upward. Aim the heat gun at it until the wax releases from the stone. Wipe off any excess wax. Heat the wax another time if necessary. Use the finished stone for any type of jewelry.

References

• Gem Society: The Techniques of Cabochons
• Inland Lapidary: Slabs To Cabs: How To Make Lapidary Cabochons
• Studio 182: Cabochon Cutting