{"id":602,"date":"2025-03-13T22:57:41","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T22:57:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/leithlapidary.org.uk\/LeithLapidary\/?page_id=602"},"modified":"2025-03-13T23:00:31","modified_gmt":"2025-03-13T23:00:31","slug":"lapidary-workshops-at-the-leith-lapidary-club","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/leithlapidary.org.uk\/LeithLapidary\/lapidary-workshops-at-the-leith-lapidary-club\/","title":{"rendered":"Lapidary Workshops at the Leith Lapidary Club<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


What is lapidary?<\/strong>
Broadly, it\u2019s working with minerals and stones \u2013 which can be anything from beach pebbles to the finest quality diamonds (although we do not cut those at the Club!) It\u2019s about using saws, grinders, sanders and polishers to slice, cut, carve or produce free form stones that are just for display, or for art, or for practical purposes. What you produce depends on your stone and your preference.

How can I get started and try this out?
<\/strong>The Leith Lapidary Club isn\u2019t just about lapidary, but we do in fact have a lapidary introductory workshop to start you on your journey. We will train you through the entire process of cutting a cabochon, from selecting your stone and shape, to sawing, grinding and polishing. We\u2019ll supply you with a piece of Scottish marble to start with, because it\u2019s a very forgiving stone and can polish to a lovely piece. We start you with a cabochon because that\u2019s the best way for you to master the techniques, which you can then apply to other stone cutting. We aim to give you the opportunity to try as many of our machines as possible, so that you get the feel of them and understand which is best for each project. After completing our workshop, you can become a Club member at a cost of \u00a370 annually and keep developing your skills at our weekly sessions. We recommend that for the first couple of sessions, you might like to make sure that another lapidary member is around to help you if you have any questions or difficulties.

Please be aware that this introductory workshop will not <\/strong>include any teaching on faceting. A couple of the Club members do have faceting experience, and you might be able to agree on some training with them if you join the Club.

How much is a lapidary workshop ?  
<\/strong>The workshop fee is \u00a360. That includes use of our equipment and dedicated one-on-one training and supervision. We supply you with at least one stone (marble) to cut your first cabochon. For your second project, you can use another stone from our stocks, or we can discuss using any of your own stones, and we can agree what you\u2019d like to do to expand the skills you\u2019ve learned with your first stone.

How long will it take \u2013 and how easily will I manage?
<\/strong>We set aside around 4.5 to 5 hours (including a short break for lunch) for the workshop. In that time, you should manage to finish two small projects. It takes some people a while to get used to the \u201cfeel\u201d of sawing and grinding, but we can help you find a way that works best for you.
Please be aware that when using the machinery, you will need to stand, and<\/em> we cannot adjust the height of the machines. If you think this could be a problem, we suggest you visit a workshop before you commit to attending one.
<\/em>The more you practise your lapidary, the easier it gets. Lapidary isn\u2019t quick, because there are several stages to bring out the best in a stone. But not every stone behaves the same, and not every stone is guaranteed to behave at all! Every lapidarist has a small collection of failures alongside their most prized projects.   

When do the workshops take place?  
<\/strong>Because the training is one-on-one, we\u2019ll find a date that suits both you and your trainer. At the moment, our trainers are able to make themselves available on these days:
* Monday or Friday, during the day, usually between 10:30 and 15:00
* Saturdays, usually 10:30 \u2013 15:00, but we can be a little flexible
* Sundays, but we\u2019re tied to the building opening times \u2013 so 12:15-16:30
* It\u2019s possible potentially to discuss a split of training over two evenings during the week, but because the trainers who come through in the evening also work full time, the training on these evenings could probably only be from around 18:00 to 20:45, when the building closes.

How do I book?
<\/strong>E-mail the Club to ask us to set up your training. Please give us a few options for your preferred days and dates, and we\u2019ll then start to link you up with an available trainer. Once we\u2019ve confirmed their availability, we\u2019ll ask you to complete an application form and pay the workshop fee. Finally, you\u2019ll get a confirmatory email or text from us, giving you details of how to get into the building and how to contact your tutor if there are any problems on the day.

How do I get to the Club?
<\/strong>The Club is on Level B2 (parking level) of St Margaret\u2019s House (ScotART), 151 London Road, EH7 6AE. The closest bus stops are \u201cMeadowbank House\u201d on London Road. There is free parking behind the building; entry to that is on Restalrig Road, shortly after the junction of London Road and Restalrig Road, behind Meadowbank House (Registers of Scotland) building. Access from London Road is down two flights of steps. Access from the parking area is step-free.  There is a lift inside the building.

Do I need to bring anything?<\/strong>
We suggest that you don\u2019t bring (or wear) designer clothes or shoes \u2013 lapidary can be messy! It will also be wet, so please make sure you\u2019re your sleeves can roll up to your elbows. We can supply a plastic apron, eye and ear protection, but please feel free to bring your own if you\u2019d prefer.

We\u2019ll aim for a lunch break at a convenient point, so you can also bring a packed lunch (there is a microwave). Alternatively, there is a vending machine in the building for snacks and drinks, and a couple of convenience stores and snack shops close by. We\u2019ll supply tea and coffee.  

Please ask if you have any other questions \u2013 we\u2019d be happy to help.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What is lapidary?Broadly, it\u2019s working with minerals and stones \u2013 which can be anything from beach pebbles to the finest quality diamonds (although we do not cut those at the Club!) It\u2019s about using saws, grinders, sanders and polishers to slice, cut, carve or produce free form stones that are just for display, or for … <\/p>\n

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