The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-12-20

dow They are Split, RUBBED. Polished, aud
Made 20 shine AMI Glitter.

dow They are Split, RUBBED. Polished, and
Made 20 Shine AMI Glitter.
The operation OF cutting diamonds
comprises three phases - splitting,
shaping and polishing. All crystals
possess the property OF easily cracking
In certain directions; In the dia-'
mond there are three distinct
directions. without counting sew
eral secondary ones, and cleavcrs
or splitters call these the threads OF
the stone. A good workman always
knows whore TO find thread, and this
is the way he proceeds: The diamond
TO be clcaved Is fixed In n convenient
position at the end OF short stick by
means OF cement; thon to another
baton. and by the Same process, Is
fastened sharp diamond. Taxing In
his right hand the baton bearing the
sharp point and in his left the one
that holds the diamond to be cleaved,
he rests them at the middle on a box
which is firmly screwed down TO his
table, thus forming sort OF lever, and
then he rubs tho two, one against tho
other. until tho sharp stone has mado
q notch ia the other He uses three
blades. one after the other in tais way.
the first TO make "a groove, the second
10 rogularlze IT. and tho third TO finish;
1t off Ia neat and distinct manner.
Thon. holding in his left hand the
baton on which Is the stone TO be split.
and at the same time steel knife. the
edge OF which Is fixed In the thread.
he hits n good. straight blow on the
back OF his knife with n small iron bar.
and tho diamond Is separated just
where IL was intended 20 be- beforehand.
This cleavage" rs IL Is called, Is not.
always necessary; still lapidaries have
recourse to IL when they wish 10 take
from the crystal its defective particles,
or TO give 1t convenient shape for after
operations. Cleaved diamonds. or
those still In their crude shape. that
have no need OF undergoing this
operation, pass 90 tho "brutage.n that
Is to say, to receive shape or forms
Two crystals are firmly fixed Oh n
piece OF wood aud then they are rub
bed against each other until they both
assume the required form. This
operation goes on over box called
an "egrisolr," because II receives tho
diamond powder. which Is termed
"egrisee" In French. and ,-alch Is
produced by the reciprocal wearing
"A ~ ihn fmA frh. Il T.. L..
are now out OF "brutage.n but they
are still without brllliancy. SO 1t Is
necessary 10 polish them, and this Is
how the process Is carried on: A
mixture OF lead and tin Is prepared;
this is poured into leather mold, and
the stone Is placed on top OF this
metal cement which 'coquille,n as 1t
is called. is then squeezed into kind
OF steel piucers. and placed by the
polisher on wheel or steel milestone
having rotative movement, but in such
a manner that the side OF tho diamond
alono touches IL. The speed OF this
wheel Is about two thousand two hun
dred turns In minute, and 10 IL COW
cred with diamond dust. When one
face has been polished the next face
Is proceeded with. and so on. The
man who does this work must be very
skillful and have a good deal OF taste
and mathematical precision. He mast
know how TO find tho thread OF the,
stone. as otherwise IL would only make
n hollow furrow on tho mill wheel.