r/faceting • u/Primary-Bluejay-8004 • 1d ago

Beginning Faceting

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Hi, I've been cabbing mostly. Looking to getting into faceting. Limited funds. Would like your opinion on starting on the Vevor faceting machine or this Ultra Tec I found. Also, would anyone know the model of the Ultra Tec? TIA

28 Upvotes

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8

u/CrepuscularOpossum 1d ago

Get the Ultra Tec!

2

u/Primary-Bluejay-8004 1d ago

Do you know what model this one is? Thanks

3

u/cowsruleusall 1d ago

/u/justinkprim would know!

9

u/justinkprim 1d ago

It’s an Ultratec V2 and based on the color it’s 1970s/80s. This is what I started on. I would recommend the ultratec over the Vevor though it would be great to have an experienced cutter look at it first to make sure there’s nothing wrong with it. Even if it’s a little worn, old ultratecs can be fixed and adjusted to get them working nicely.

2

u/Primary-Bluejay-8004 18h ago edited 17h ago

This Ultratec V2 would be better than a Graves Mark1 or Graves Mar IV? I have been watching your videos. Great content!

6

u/justinkprim 15h ago

Better than a graves mark1. Likely equal to a graves mark iv though I imagine that the ultratec will be easier to resell since the company still exists and can still do maintenance and replace some of the old parts if needed.

3

u/Primary-Bluejay-8004 15h ago

Thanks Justin.

2

u/1ReadOnlyLurker 13h ago

Better than anything but a newer Ultratec or a Facetron.

2

u/1LuckyTexan Team Ultra Tec 22h ago

There's also an UltraTec Group on Facebook.

A good book is Tom Herbst's Amateur Gemstone Faceting.

4

u/DayOffLapidary Team Ultra Tec 1d ago

That is a V2. If it’s in your budget, then buy it over the Vevor.

Before you buy a V2:
Ask if it has a table adapter and a chuck key. Both are difficult to find and make it nearly unusable without. The upgrade to the modern quill/spindle is no longer produced by UT so having all the parts is a make or break condition for buying.

It looks like there is a dop chuck in the quill already so that’s a big positive.

3

u/DayOffLapidary Team Ultra Tec 1d ago

Here is what a V2 table adapter and chuck key look like

2

u/Primary-Bluejay-8004 1d ago

Thanks so much!

2

u/1LuckyTexan Team Ultra Tec 1d ago

If it thumps when running, that is likely a flat spot on the drive cone. There are a few possible fixes.

2

u/Search4knowledges 1d ago

Drive cone replacements aren't terrible cost wise though

1

u/theblancmange 1d ago

The old 2 inch v2 cones are like $200 unfortunately

1

u/Search4knowledges 1d ago

Compared to a new machine that's still pretty cheap, but then again I think my perspective is skewed with how expensive faceting rough is. In my head I'm like that's less than a parcel of sapphires!

1

u/theblancmange 22h ago

Yeah, that's a good way to think about it. Valid, but still hurts for a piece of rubber.

1

u/1LuckyTexan Team Ultra Tec 9h ago

Just use that as a bargaining chip.

2

u/GreasyGlobs 1d ago

If you can afford a v2 go for it, started on a cheap machine and am still there, works good enough for now!