2009, Spiral
162 pages
$57.75
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| A Sphere Maker's Craft |
A Systematic Review of Sphere Cutting
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 Language: English
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Author: Robert F. Ritchie
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Spheres have played an important role in human history as symbols of our perception of our world, its parts, and its companions in space. We have attributed great powers to these shapes by their inclusion in scepters, crowns and adornments. In earlier times artisans laboriously carved orbs of stone, many of great beauty.
Modern means to produce these objects have only been available for a very few decades yet they are within the reach of most hobbyists and commercial craftsmen.
However, unlike other crafts which make use of the earth’s rocks and minerals, little has been put to paper beyond short paragraphs or the occasional brief musings of lapidarists. This book is an attempt to present an organized assembly of facts, observations and information, collected from personal experience and that of many others in the lapidary arts. Included on the pages are “how to” notes which to some will be elementary yet to others brand new ideas. Folks new to this craft will find much that is not available elsewhere. For those
who have been “sphere cutters” for years, there are sections with which they may disagree. All to the good!
We cannot make progress without amicable disagreement and discussion. It is hoped that all readers will find information of use regardless of their experiences and inclinations.
Because the topic can be viewed from many aspects, organization of this book has been a challenge. Unlike
a cook-book approach or standard how-to manual, writing about this topic with so many alternative
approaches to every step, I found, after several attempts, that the only format that would be comprehensive, readable and helpful, would be to break the topic into individual aspects of sphere cutting and discuss each with all the alternatives. For example, differences in rock type, sphere cutting cups, abrasives and polishes, workers experience and worst of all, unexpected difficulties that can arise, left only this one format to be considered. This requires two major differences from other books of this type: the INDEX and heavy use of cross-referencing. In an effort to make this book manageable, the Table of Contents uses a notation
system often used in science. This logical approach, chosen after some time, is undoubtedly one of many
and may seem difficult to some readers. It is fairly extensive for this very reason; because one reader’s logic is not another’s.
The pages contain many details, yet some will inevitably have been missed. Within the description of
methodological possibilities the reader will see that often there is no clear-cut path suggested. In the section describing individual rock types there are many images; but not nearly as many as I would like to have included. The aim of these illustrations is to show that using the methods described, satisfactory results can be attained. Nevertheless, what constitutes beauty is often cloaked in the debris of eons of geologic breakdown and remains unseen until released by efforts of a craftsman who sees its possibilities.
Another aim is to show the beginner and the accomplished cutter that great beauty can be found in
commonplace rock suggesting it would be well worth the effort to cut and polish materials of humble
beginnings. Perhaps this is unusual, however, comments directed to working stone that many find as trash, or not been considered worthy of the effort to cut and polish, may convince adventuresome readers to reconsider.
The hope is that all readers will be able to enhance their skills by sharing in those described herein. In truth, none of us is really expert in the eyes of another, but together we can add to the knowledge of us all.
Bob Ritchie
11/8/2008
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