what we do

PRODUCTS MADE AND SOLD BY ADDEXTON

THE ADDEXTON COMPANY

WHAT WE DO

(updated January 1, 2005)

Hi: My name is Ross and I cut cabochons:

Before the first time I retired, I had a shop in my garage where I would spend my spare time. I learned, over a number of years, how to cut and polish most of the common and some not so common materials available to cutters engaged in this hobby. After I retired (the first time) I wanted better lapidary equipment than was available – equipment that would allow me to use my time productively. As a result in 1993 I started The Addexton Company - to take the work out of the fun of cutting cabochons.

I had to take a hiatus after finding professional cutters attending the Tucson Gem Shows were unable to afford to purchase my equipment. But now I have retired again. Although working a desk these past few years I still came up with many new ideas for tools and equipment that I want to develop. I plan to have new tools and machines that will enable you to do your work as a professional lapidary better – to make you more competitive in the art of cutting and polishing precious and semi-precious stones.

1992 – 2000:

Development of the Semi Automatic Cabochon machine followed my use of the machines that had been available and perhaps are still used in some lapidaries today. I found these machines would not provide me with a way to obtain repeatability and frequently would eat up expensive rough. In 1992 when I started cutting a kilo shipment of black opal, I also started developing machines that would be dependable – and machines that would meet requirements of buyers who consider safety an important consideration.

Also in 1992, I developed a small machine for that could be mounted next to a flat lap – a small motor driven device with a chuck for dops with cams to produce rounds and ovals - that some people are use for performing. It was better than what was (and might still be) sold by another company, but use of the Addexton semi- automatic cabochon machine would be a better choice for anyone wanting prepare preforms before faceting. I still have the castings for these machines and if anybody wants I could build more of them. But, with special cutting wheels the semi automatic cabochon machine saves considerable time and can produce preforms that will cut the time cutting the table and tapering the sides on both sides of the girdle - saving not only time but wear on the laps when roughing in before starting to cut facets. In theory the table facet might be finished before starting to cut the first facet - but I have yet to test this “theory”.

In or about 1995 I started thinking about what most cutters feel is necessary if they are true professionals in the lapidary field. But, production of faceted stones, using the tools available to most cutters, can never be done by the lapidary without skills that take substantial time to develop. And unless I can develop the tools that will automate most of the various steps involved, I will never facet gemstones. Developing these tools is one of my goals.

I do he design and am the one that tests the results. In the last twelve years, I have worked with a number of the gifted craftsmen who have found working in and around Sacramento and in the Sierra Foothills preferable to working in the San Francisco Bay Area. These are small and large specialized machine and metal working shops whose clients are companies throughout the country. I have been extremely lucky as I don’t believe there is another place where within a 40-mile radius a combination such as this exists anywhere – at least not in California. In developing equipment for precision work, it is important that the people I work with understand a small difference at one place may mean a large difference when a professional cutter examines the results.

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