Lapidary Course – How To Make Cabochons
In this course you will Learn how to cut and shape cabochons from jaspers.
Benefits:
- 25 Detailed lapidary videos for better understanding
- Identifying trouble spot in jaspers
- Get more out of your rough material
- Get better lapidary results
- How to use a trim saw
- How to use a lapidary machine
- Map out cabochon shapes and cut lines
- You will know how to use a trim saw
- Dop pot techniques for jaspers
- Properly using a dop pot and dop sticks
- Repair damaged stones
- Identify the proper grinding wheels
- Making better cabochons
- Polish jaspers to shine
- Better cabochons with polishing componds
- You know how different jaspers behave during shaping
- Fix scratches
- And so much more!
Save time and get better results today!
Learn from Michael Seiler who has 30 years experience and breaks lapidary stone cutting into easy to understand techniques that anyone can follow. He has taught at folk schools helping people quickly learn and removing frustration. he currently has over 9200 followers on his YouTube channel Gotcha Rocks.
The Lapidary Course
Lesson 1 – Welcome to the course
Lesson 2 – Shapes, Patterns & Templates
Lesson 3 – Looking for trouble spots
Lesson 4 – Mapping cuts – Noreena Jasper
Lesson 5 – Mapping Out Rainforest Jasper
Lesson 6 – Mapping out Leopard Skin Jasper
Lesson 7 – Mapping Out Birds Eye Jasper
Lesson 8 – Mapping Cut Lines
Lesson 9 – Trim Saw Basics
Lesson 10 – Trim Saw Cutting Noreena Jasper
Lesson 11 – Cutting Rainforest Jasper
Lesson 12 – Cutting Leopard Skin Jasper
Lesson 13 – Cutting Birds Eye JasperLesson 14 – Trim Saw Review
Lesson 15 – Meet The Dop Pot
Lesson 16 – Dop Pot Part Two
Lesson 17 – Repairing Trouble Spots
Lesson 18 – Meet The Lapidary Machine
Lesson 19 – Lapidary Noreena Jasper
Lesson 20 – Remove Noreena From Dop Stick
Lesson 21 – Lapidary Rainforest Jasper
Lesson 22 – Removing Rainforest Jasper
Lesson 23 – Lapidary Leopard Skin Jasper
Lesson 24 – Removing Leopard Skin Jasper
Lesson 25 – Lapidary Abstract Shapes
About Your Instructor
Michael Seiler is a jeweler, lapidary artist, and educator with a passion for sharing his craft. He co-owns Crown Trout Jewelers in Lanesboro, MN, and has been working in the metal arts since 1995. His expertise has earned him grants from the McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota State Arts Board for his signature lapidary techniques. In 2023, he was awarded a Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council grant to assist artists in developing and marketing their work online.
Michael’s journey began with an apprenticeship under four master goldsmiths, where he honed his skills in fine jewelry craftsmanship. He received specialized training in stone setting from Robert R. Wooding, a renowned author and expert in the field. Reflecting on that experience, Michael says:
“I felt incredibly lucky to have Robert Wooding’s guidance in my career. At the time, I had no idea who he was—his setting shop was in a small, quaint condo. It wasn’t until later that I realized his impact as an author and teacher. The skills I learned from him have shaped my entire career, along with a deep commitment to passing knowledge on to others.”
As an educator, Michael has taught at North House Folk School for over a decade, helping students master lapidary and jewelry techniques. He is also the creator of Gotcha Rocks, a YouTube channel and website dedicated to helping jewelers refine their craft and succeed faster.
In addition to teaching, Michael ran a custom design, repair, and stone-cutting business for jewelry stores in Minneapolis, further expanding his expertise in the trade. He is currently creating custom jewelry in Lanesboro, Minnesota, at Crown Trout Jewelers, where his craftsmanship continues to inspire and serve both clients and fellow artists.