Faceting Machines

[tgump]

Before I begin, I would like to thank my new friends (Dev and Beth) for being so supportive during my recent class at William Holland. I am posting this question in hope of receiving some useful feedback. I am going to purchase a new faceting machine and would like to hear from the experts. What do you recommend? Where/Whom do I purchase from? I do have a budget....I want to get started (turn-key) under 3,000 if that is possible.

Thanks in advance for your input,

Terry

[hambiskit]

 Hi Terry,
Locate your nearest faceting Guild, and check with them as to who has a "set-up" for sale. There is always one there for sale & you can count on it being well cared for. Also when you buy a complete set-up you will get all the dops, powders, laps, and other goodies you will need. The average price for a good used machine set-up is around $1500, and will put you thousands ahead.
 Good Luck ! Let us know how you do....
 Jim

[civil2]

I have an Omni-e with many extra dops, mag dop, transfer jig and every thing that comes with the machine. I have cut about a hundred stones with it and like the machine very much. I'm selling it because I wanted to get into concave faceting and the swing arm on the Omni is not compatable with the OMF, so I purchased a Polymetric Scintillator and there OMF.
I have the original box that the Omni came in and will sell it for $1650.00 including shipping.

[deanpatten]

Hey, I am also relatively new to faceting, so I bought the cheapest, yet, a new machine and I did my homework "Graves" is where I bought my faceting machine and I am happy with it, cost for everything was about 1300.00

[hambiskit]

Terry,
Hi, and that's a good deal on the Omni-e. With what comes with it you are getting about a 3k savings.
 Trust me - the better the machine you get the first time - the better off you will be. I bought a Prismatic the first time - I LOVE it, and now I have upgraded it to the Poly Metric head, and can also fit the concave equipment to my base. I knew where I wanted to go with a machine when I bought the first time, and that was something I could expand on later. I found out that the Father - Son machine designers used a lot of the same same on the designs & hoped that the base's were close enough to interact togather. They were & I scored.
 Now there are some out there that will tell you that you can get a better machine later - but the bottom line is that whatever machine you get - you will fall in love with it & it will follow you for the rest of your cutting career. Had I been able to afford it when I first started I would've bought a Facette - it's what my mentor use's & I liked what he had to say about it - but you can't find a used one (wonder why) and the new ones were out of my budget.
 Let us know what you get!
Good Luck!

[Oscartg]

What model Prismatic do you have, Ham?
I've sent some pictures to Zane in hopes of identification but haven't received any response.
I'd guess that my machine was part of the line that resulted in the Xristal-tec series.
It has the lead screw without a quick-release which is a minor pain in the fanny and a different quill design than I see on the new machines, the cheater is sort of a weak point as this has broken several times over the years and makes me reluctant to even touch it. The motor is a tapered cone drive rather than a belt. It is also a dial indicator, obviously several years older than the first electronic machines.
I'm hoping Santa will hurry up and leave me one of them Scintillators....

[hambiskit]

Helios 79 - it's stamped on the metering plate beside the quill - 11 79, so I would assume that it was produced in Nov. of 79.

 I have tried to contact him (zane hoffman) several times by email, and never have gotten any reply. This is the main reason I don't own a "88" now. No reply = No service. If I can't get any replies for information, I have to assume that I won't get any response to any problems that I might have in the future.

 Shame too - but it is what it is.

[civil2]

I own a Scintillator and an OMF and have never had a problem with Zane getting back to me or the service I have received. In fact I puchased a use scintillator and sent the mast to Zane because I couldn't get the spindle off to change the index gear. He sent it back with that poblem fixed and all of the new improvements that had been made since my used machine was made, AT NO COST TO ME. I have called him many times since at (509) 276-5565 and if he didn't answer I got a call back within two days except once  when he was on a hunting trip with his son.

Give him a call he is very concernd about good service and I can tell you from experience he gives it, so try again. If need be if you still have trouble I will also try on your behalf.
Chuck McCoy

[Oscartg]

There's what mine looks like.
(Oh jeez, instead of adding 10 pounds, the picture added a bunch of dirtiness to my machine...)

[hambiskit]

Your mast is different than mine Oscar.

The rest looks the same, only green.

[Oscartg]

I know, the funky green anodizing should effectively date the machine.
Maybe I'll give it a bath today and see if that color comes back into style....

[civil2]

Does your machine say on it that its a Poly-Metric? The mast looks more like a UT.

[hambiskit]

It's a Prismatic.

[Oscartg]

Thanks civil2, I just got an emailback from Zane this morning.

He's given me alot of options to consider, which I appreciate.
Zane does an outstanding job at this, imo, customer service is very important.

Keeps me loyal.

[jacknj777]

I'm interested in buying a used Faceting Machine. Is anyone selling one or know anyone who is selling one. I am particularly interested in a Facetron or GemMaster II.