Choosing The Best Faceting Wax For Your Task

Question

I was wondering, which is the best faceting wax? Black, green, or brown? Are specific waxes better for specific types of gemstones or cutting?

Thank you,

David Creviston

Answer

I have used all three. I think the best faceting wax depends on what you are doing and also personal preference. Like most faceters I know, I use the black wax for almost everything. I've tried the brown wax and liked it well enough. However, I found the black wax a little easier to work with and less noxious smelling when heated. Nevertheless, you can certainly find faceters that swear by the brown wax.

Green is the best faceting wax for very heat sensitive stones like opal. I only use the green wax for this. It melts at a lower temperature but also has a greater chance of allowing the stone to shift on the dop. I have two very bright, hence warm, incandescent lights that I use while faceting.

Regards,

J. Sean Keane