Intro to Lapidary: The Art of Working with Stones
with Jim Magnuson
Experience Level: Beginner, no prior experience needed
Tuesdays September 26-October 24, 6-8pm (5 sessions)

Learn fundamental lapidary equipment, tools, & processes from expert and author Jim Magnuson. Gemstones brought by the participants or provided by the instructor will be used to learn lapidary equipment and operations to cut, shape, polish, and set to jewelry. Participants might also use their completed cabochons in the Paramount Wire Wrapping class.

Participants will learn to use lapidary tools & processes to create cabochons and pendant necklaces, and (if desired) face polished stones for display using gemstones they have brought and/or those provided by the instructor. Lapidary processes of tumbling, cutting/sawing, shaping, polishing, and drilling will be taught. Each course participant will go home with multiple finished lapidary pieces.

It is recommended but not required that participants acquire and review Gemstone Tumbling, Cutting, Drilling & Cabochon Making. This book can be purchased online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble websites, and they may be available at your local bookseller.

What to Bring
For Lapidary Workshop: Working type clothes – i.e. jeans & work-shirt, ball-cap or other lightweight hat, (you will get a light amount of oil or water spray from some of the machines – but it washes out easily), agates or other gemstones at home you want to polish or make jewelry with. Masks and Protective Eyewear are optional, the instructor will have some K-95 masks and protective eye goggles/glasses available.

Instructor Provided Gemstones
· Lake Superior Agates
· African Botswana Agates
· Teepee Canyon Agates
· Crazy Lace Agate Slabs
· Plume Agate Slabs
· Miscellaneous other Rocks & Slabs

Prohibited Gemstones
· Toxicity: Malachite, …
· Value and Hardness/Softness: Turquoise, …

Places for Students to Acquire Gemstones
· Minnesota Lapidary Supply – Store in Princeton, Minnesota
· Kingsley North – online
· The Gem Shop – online

Jim Magnuson Biography
For author Jim Magnuson—rock hounding is a serious and rewarding avocation that helps him connect with nature. He has been an avid hunter and student of various gems, minerals and fossils since his childhood. In addition, Jim enjoys sharing his passion through showing and gifting some of his finds, and through writing, another lifelong interest. And, Jim enjoys making and selling jewelry, and both rough and polished stones.

Throughout Jim’s career as a computer professional, he developed technical writing skills while creating new processes that reduce complexity and improve efficiency. These skills proved to be invaluable when writing guidebooks for beginning agate hunters, and beginner-to intermediate lapidary hobbyists. Jim is a member of several rock and mineral clubs that help him to further his knowledge about agates, gemstones and geology.

To date Jim has authored the following publications: The Storied Agate; The Fairburn Agate of the Black Hills; Agate Hunting Made Easy; Lake Superior Agates – Identify Agates & Imposters (Laminated Field Guide); Emma’s First Agate; Gemstone Tumbling, Cutting, Drilling, & Cabochon Making, Rockhounding & Prospecting – Upper Midwest