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[Pebblehopper]

I understand there is a "grain" in jade.
1.) How is the grain direction determined?
2. For a low relief carving which grain direction should be used?
This is the piece of jade I'll be slicing a slab off of to carve. One picture is of the "end" of the rough and the other is of the "side" (90 degrees from each other)...which way should I cut?
 (End cut)
 (Side cut)


Keep calm and hammer on!

[Pebblehopper]

Well, those images didn't translate too well here, just use your photoshop brain to reduce the glare and increase the green intensity


Keep calm and hammer on!

[Jhon P]

If you have a place on the rock where you can polish three corners you can get an idea what side will take the best polish and cut it so that side is facing the direction of the front.
 There may be a better way but that is the one I know

[Pebblehopper]

If you have a place on the rock where you can polish three corners you can get an idea what side will take the best polish and cut it so that side is facing the direction of the front.
 There may be a better way but that is the one I know

Do you know if getting the grain right is an issue for polishing or a structural function for the carving?


Keep calm and hammer on!

[Jhon P]

I think it is for getting the best polish if you are cutting a cab or carving a slab.
I know just enough to be dangerous. There are others with more knowledge than me

[Redrummd]

It would take a book to explain it all and there are probably a lot of books written.  The problem is explaining it is VERY difficult.  A great deal of Jade can be cut in any direction with great looks; being able to be cut 1/8 inch easily and polishing easily and then there are the swirled pieces that vex you in polishing and schistic ones that vex you in the cutting.

The best thing to do is to do a test cut and polish on two sides.  One will usually look and cut much better than the other on a directional Jade.

[Redrummd]

The piece in the photos looks to have some serious root structures that are often very weakly bonded and a couple of pressure cracks on the outside.  The heart looks good and I cannot see any grain issues from the photos.  Look at the edges where the cuts meet.  One slightly shows and looks "crisp" which is a very good sign.  Schistic Jades usually chip out a lot at the line two cuts make an edge.

[Pebblehopper]

The piece in the photos loos to have some serious root structures that are often very weakly bonded and a couple of pressure cracks on the outside.  The heart looks good and I cannot see any grain issues from the photos.  Look at the edges where the cuts meet.  One slightly shows and looks "crisp" which is a very good sign.  Schistic Jades usually chips out a lot at the line two cuts make an edge.

Thank you, will do...now it's time to just dig in and learn by doing. Thanks for the heads up.


Keep calm and hammer on!