Admitted longshot, but... Anybody know anything about lapidary?

[chaska]

I'd like to make guitar picks out of stone, but don't know where to start. I'd like to know what kind of equipment I'd need to buy, etc., or where I could buy very thin slabs (approx. 1-2 mm) of stone.

[EstimatedProphet]

1. You'll need gem cutting and polishing equipment

which is available in hobby stores. A rotary cutter (similar idea to a meat slicer the delis use) will be able to cut stones in slices like you want. I would figure your best stone to work with would be granite, or another igneous rock, or maybe marble. Others will be too soft or fragile.

[chaska]

2. Thanks, EP.

Any idea how much this equipment would cost? I only managed to get one shop on the phone yesterday, and the person gave me a few phone numbers. I think I'll see if I can catch somebody working today.

[Don_G]

5. You Might Check eBay

You can pretty much find anything there.

[EstimatedProphet]

12. Personally, I wouldn't have a clue.

The only reason I knew any of this is some time I spent sectioning fish spines as an undergrad. That was using all "scientific" equipment-lab stuff that charges 10x or more real value, because they can get it from research institutions.

[Trillo]

3. You can cut the rocks,

whatever type of rock your research indicates is best to use, with a ceramic tile saw--these are fitted with diamond embedded blades with water circulating to the cutting surface to keep them cool. Diamond blades are a available for different materials, sometimes the diamonds are embedded in a softer metal, and sometimes in a harder one, these differing constructions offer specialized benefits in certain materials over others.

These tile saws can be rented or bought. You are limited to cutting smaller rocks. A brick saw is similar, but with a larger diameter blade.

There were certain times when water-soluble oil mixed with water is used instead of pure water, it may have been with the diamond cutting blade--my memory fails me. Water-soluble oil can be purchased at an auto supply house, although its not used as frequently as it used to be. The old timers used to put it in the cooling systems to stop rust in iron engine blocks.

Carbide based grinding wheels can be used for rough shaping of most rocks except diamond, but it's done "wet" with water rather than dry. A true knife-sharpening machine, one that uses water, can probably be used.

Polishing and fine shaping is a different matter. There are a number of different polishing compounds, with different levels of coarseness, some more suitable for certain rocks than others. This is sometimes done with a felt pad and compound or with an animal skin and compound. The compound is usually a white powder mixed with water to be a paste. Some of these polishing compounds may be available at dental supply houses.



I would think that granite would be a poor choice of rock to use, it has many micro fractures in its composition, it's a composite of several different ores. Obsidian might work, but in thin slabs I'd think it might be somewhat brittle as a pick. Quartz might also be brittle. Agate might be used, as long as there are no fractures in it.

You might end up making lots of them out of different types of rocks until you find one that works well thin. Most rocks are not a pure mineral.

[toddzilla]

4. get yourself a good pickguard

gonna trash that finish pretty quick.

this isn't some "tone" quest is it?

[stellanoir]

6. check the Moh's hardest scale of the stones. . .

or you'll be trashing your strings something fierce !

[BBradley]

7. What's wrong with plastic picks?

I can't imagine a stone pick would sound too wonderful. Not to mention the fact that you're going to lose it after a week anyway.

[cheezus]

8. wow. that;s going to be a hard pick

[chaska]

9. Thanks, Simple Trend.

Stone picks are not new. There have been at least a half dozen manufacturers that I know of.

I use plastic picks (Tortis picks by Red Bear Trading are the best $12 each) on acoustic, but I just can't stand the sound of them on electric. I have used metal picks on electric for over twenty five years. The first ones I made from quarters, as there were no commercially available metal picks at the time. And no I don't trash my guitars with them. Why? Because I know how to play.

The only problem with metal picks is that they are conductive. Occasionally there are slight electrical noises that come through the pickups because of grounding issues. I have investigated alternative materials and stone seems the most likely successor.

The rigidity of the material is not a problem at all, in fact it's a bonus. It's simply much more efficient, in combination with a moving string, that the pick not move. The better players generally prefer rigid picks. And having won several guitar contests myself, I include me in that club.

[chaska]

10. Here's a link

http://www.picksandstones.com/guitarpicks.html

I called a guy today about some equipment. He said he was willing to cut slabs for me. Which would save me having to buy a saw, should one prove to be too expensive at this stage of the game.

[chaska]

11. You may ask, why not just buy them.

Well, one, I use a custom shape (a holdover from the days when I made my picks from quarters), and two, I'm cheap, and three, I like to DIY.

[Trillo]

16. It strikes me, since you're "cheap,"

that you might look for a "gem and mineral society" local to your area. It's possible that for a small fee, they might have a fully equipped lapidary shop for access to members. If you can find one of these, it would be significantly less expensive than trying to setup your own lapidary shop.

[Zookeeper]

17. I noticed that you live in California...

I used to live in S.F. and was a member of a gem and mineral group that had a clubhouse, of sorts, with all the necessary lapidary equipment. It was out in the Avenues, fairly close to the ocean. That said, having done some lapidary work, I'm not sure this endeavor would be worth the expense of buying any equipment. If you can find equipment to share or borrow, it might be fun to try.

As other people mentioned, it will be a challenge to find a mineral that can be sliced thinly enough without breaking. Have you thought about trying a rigid plexiglass? It could be cut with a jig- or scroll-saw and is non-conductive.

[toddzilla]

13. if i ever ended up on stage with you..

i'd probably have to strangle you.

[Raster]

14. ROCK ON!

[LastKnight]

15. your tone will be less than perfect...

and any stone will have absolutley no bend, it will just crumble eventuially... waste of time and money, but if you want to, go for it.
it will probably be slightly like playing with a quarter, which i dont like either lol... i use .7mm most of the time and those have enough flex in em so i dont lose my mind. i hate playing with a pick thats too stiff.

-LK