Introducing

Overview

-- Makes it easier to use all Graves Mark IV and Mark I faceting machines --

-- Breaths New Life into Old Faceting Machines --

-- Speeds up Cutting --

-- Improves Cutting Symmetry --

-- Improves Depth of Cut Repeatability --

-- Improves Angle Repeatability --

Gems by John Soft Stop retrofitted on a Graves Mark IV faceting machine

Features

COMPACT DESIGN neatly fits all Mark I & Mark IV Graves faceting machines

HIGH CONTRAST black index lines on large white face dial

SMOOTH TRACKING spring loaded needle dial indicator

DURABLE lightweight aluminum construction securely mounted to faceting head

Benefits

Converts any Graves Mark I or Mark IV faceting machine into a Soft Stop machine

Makes it easier to use any Graves Mark I or Mark IV faceting machine

Needle directly follows cutting progress giving continuous visual feedback

Allows cutting to be stopped with more precision and with greater repeatable

Faster cutting by eliminating the repetitive Cut-Stop-Look, Cut-Stop-Look process

Aides visual monitoring of cutting progress and amount left to cut to reach the target angle

Gems by John Soft Stop mounted on a Graves faceting machine

Ordering

Normal turnaround time is five working days to complete the work needed to mount and calibrate the Gems by John Soft Stop accessory to any --old or new-- Graves Mark I or Mark IV faceting head.

To order your Gems by John Soft stop, mail the faceting head (only) from your Graves Mark I or Mark IV faceting machine.

Remove the faceting head from the machine and mast.

Do NOT send the mast assembly.

Do NOT send the complete faceting machine.

Pack only the faceting head in a well padded box.

Mailing Address: Gems by John LLC, 4101 Tates Creek Centre Dr, Suite 150-195, Lexington KY 40517

Include your return address, phone number, email address, and full payment in the amount of $195 dollars.

Accepted payment methods are cash, bank check, or PayPal to JohnWright@GemsByJohn.com

Gems by John Soft Stop Retrofit Accessory mounted on a Graves faceting head

First stone cut with the Gems by John Soft Stop Accessory,

1.25 carat Peridot

The Story Behind the Gems by John Soft Stop

 
         Graves hard stop faceting head                              Gems by John Soft Stop accessory on Graves faceting head

In the summer of 2009 when John was giving a faceting lesson at his studio in Lexington, Kentucky, one student seemed to be over-cutting facets. The student could not tell when to stop pushing on the stone. She was using a Graves Mark IV faceting machine. John observed how difficult it was for the student to determine when she reached the target depth of cut or target angle. Hard stop faceting machines such as the Graves Mark IV require the cutter to listen to the cutting sound to die down.  Then when the cutting sound slows from a constant grinding grrrrrrrr -- to just a whisper, pssst, pssst, psst  -- the facet is cut and it's time to stop and move on to the next facet.  On a hard stop machine, depth-of-cut is limited by a stop-block. The stop-block is set at the target angle and then the stone is pushed into the lap until the quill hits the stop block and cutting stops.

IN THEORY cutting should stop when the quill contacts the angle stop block. That would be true IF no pressure were applied to the quill or to the stone after the quill contacted the angle stop block.

IN PRACTICE however, a cutter unknowingly continues to push the stone into the lap because there is NO VISUAL FEEDBACK warning when the quill approaches or contacts the angle stop block. This situation causes facets to be over-cut.  And that happens due to flex throughout the machine.  Flex in the faceting machine allows the stone to be pushed past the target set angle.  Flex occurs between the stone and glue, glue and dop, dop and faceting head, faceting head and mast (on mast-type machines like Graves), and mast and base faceting machine. So, it is rather easy to push the stone past the target angle -- deeper into the cutting lap -- after the quill hits the stop-block.

Unfortunately John's faceting student just didn't know when the quill hit the angle stop-block. And, she is not alone. As a professional gem cutter, John has the same difficulty. So, John thought other cutters might be having the same problem with their Graves Mark I and Mark IV faceting machines.

This inherent problem with hard stop machines got John thinking about a solution. The problem with using a hard stop is lack of VISUAL FEEDBACK.  Relying on audio feedback ("cutting by ear") listening for the sound to stop is slow and not very easy to repeat.  Or, cut-look, cut-look, cut-look constantly lifting the stone to monitor cutting progress is a slow process indeed. 

One of the keys to faceting is REPEATABILITY.  So how useful might it be to add a repeatability control device (Soft Stop feature) to the Mark IV Graves faceting machine making these old workhorses much more repeatable.  And, easier to use, speeding up the cutting process. After all, soft stops work great on other faceting machine.  Why wasn't there a soft stop feature for Graves faceting machines?  So, John developed this much needed Soft Stop feature to add on to any Graves Mark I or Mark IV faceting machine.  Then after he got the soft stop working on his machine he thought maybe other faceter with old Graves Mark I or Graves Mark IV machines might like to add a soft stop to their machines too.

After field testing the prototype Gems By John Soft Stop, John was convinced this accessory would be very useful for other cutters.  When another student used the same Graves Mark IV faceting machine retrofitted with the new Soft Stop, he commented “I don’t know how I could have cut the stone without the Gems By John Soft Stop".  And, his first faceted stone, turned out beautifully.

That's The Story Behind the Gems by John Soft Stop and the reason behind why John developed it as a retrofit accessory for all Graves Mark I and Mark IV faceting machines. 

Gems by John LLC - Product Warranty

The Gems by John Soft Stop product is warranted for 90 days from the date of purchase for material and workmanship. Gems by John LLC, maker of the Gems by John Soft Stop retrofit accessory for all Graves Mark I and Mark IV faceting machines, is in no way affiliated with The Graves Company, maker of the Graves Mark I and Mark IV faceting machines.

Every Gems by John Soft Stop (Product) is warranted to the original purchaser only to be free from defects in material and workmanship. Subject to certain exceptions, Gems by John LLC will repair or replace any part on the Product which, after examination, is determined by Gems by John LLC to be defective in material or workmanship for a period of ninety (90) days after the date of purchase. Return the product and a copy of proof of purchase to Gems by John LLC, freight prepaid and insured. This warranty does not apply to damage that Gems by John LLC determines to be from repairs made or attempted by anyone, misuse, alterations, abuse, normal wear and tear, lack of maintenance, or accidents.

Warranty Registration is not necessary to obtain the applicable warranty on a Gems by John Soft Stop Product. The manufacturing date of the product will be used to determine the warranty period if no proof of purchase is provided at the time warranty service is requested.

Gems by John LLC does not cover freight or labor charges associated with the inspection and testing of the Product that are found by Gems by John LLC not to be a valid warranty claim. A valid warranty claim must be substantiated by the discovery of defective material or workmanship by Gems by John LLC.

ACCEPTANCE OF THE EXCLUSIVE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT REMEDIES DESCRIBED HEREIN IS A CONDITION OF THE CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF EVERY GEMS BY JOHN LLC PRODUCT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THIS CONDITION, YOU SHOULD NOT PURCHASE THE PRODUCT. IN NO EVENT SHALL GEMS BY JOHN LLC BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY COSTS, ATTORNEY FEES, EXPENSES, LOSSES OR DELAYS ALLEGED TO BE AS A CONSEQUENCE OF ANY DAMAGE TO, FAILURE OF, OR DEFECT IN ANY PRODUCT INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY CLAIMS FOR LOSS OF PROFITS. THIS WARRANTY IS EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS, WRITTEN OR ORAL, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, GEMS BY JOHN DISCLAIMS ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE OR PURPOSE, AND ALL OTHER WARRANTIES.

This warranty applies to product sold in the U.S.A. only.

I’M LOCATED IN
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY
HORSE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD


MAILING ADDRESS
Gems By John LLC
Suite 150-195
4101 Tates Creek Centre Dr
Lexington, KY 40517

PHONE NUMBER
(859) 539-2407

E-MAIL
JohnWright@GemsByJohn.com

       
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