The natural beauty of gemstones and minerals sometimes defy improvement, however, in many cases, careful shaping, grinding and polishing will reveal amazing beauty.

The Club has a well equiped workshop with everything required to cut and polish stones, including saws, grinding wheels, sanding discs, polishing pads and flat laps.

The lapidary workshop is open for use by members on Monday night 7.30 pm to 10.00 pm and Saturday  9.30 am till 12.30 pm. It is also open on Saturday from 1.30 pm till  4.00 pm. Members are required to pay a small fee for using the workshop.

Members wishing to avail themselves of the workshop facilities are required to undertake a course in which they will be taught how to use the workshop equipment. The cost of the course is $20.00, which may be paid when you attend the workshop.

During the course, members will make:

(a)  A standard oval cabochon (Serpentine material supplied).

(b)  A standard oval cabochon (harder material).

(c)  A round cabochon (different material).

(d)  A fancy (teardrop) cabochon.

(e)  A double sided tear drop cabochon.

(f)   A square or hexagonal cabochon.

(g)  Student's own choice, which could be any shape, single or double sided, e.g. a heart.

After completing the course, students may wish to manufacture other lapidary items such as spheres, eggs, butterflies or flat faced material. The help and guidance of the supervisor is available, if required.

It is not necessary to have your own equipment to participate in the course or to attend the workshop as machinery, equipment and materials are available at the Club. It is also not necessary to have previous experience in using this type of equipment for it is found those new members, male and female, young and not so young, are quickly able to produce highly polished items.