Gem Faceting Machine TBVECHI 110V Jewelry Rock Bench Polishing grinding machine Bench Lathe Polisher Tools

Because I am new to lapidary, my review is based on machine use. I have had polisher for several months with no problems.

BUYERS BEWARE. The unit I got came with a 6-inch flat lap plate and a 6-inch 360-grit disk. The machine can hold an 8-inch plate, but DOES NOT come with an 8-inch plate, as the description says. The description is inaccurate and misleading.I had to buy an 8-inch lap plate and 8-inch polishing disks separately for $65 USD more.These Chinese-made units in multiple listings all look alike because they are all manufactured in the same factory. The manufacturer makes a decent machine, which spins without a lot of wobble and allows you to use 4-, 6- and 8-inch laps interchangeably, provided that you have a backing plate of the same or larger size. If the machine has an 8-inch lap installed, the disk would almost fill the entire plastic splash guard with only a 1/2-inch gap from the edge.HOWEVER, the photos in this listing shows the 6-inch lap, which is almost 2 inches from the guard.THIS BRAND does NOT come with 8-inch accessories.In hindsight, I see now that there are other listings of the same machine with 8-inch laps in the photos. You can tell by the narrower 1/2-inch gaps between the disk and the guard. If you want an 8-inch lap, you will need to buy an 8-inch plate and disks. Otherwise, you should try one of the higher-priced listings where the lap almost touches the guard.You will also need to get a water drip reservoir and a longer drain hose than the 7-inch hose it comes with. The powder coated, cast iron platform has holes drilled and tapped for M8-1.25 screws, where the post for the indexing quill attaches to for faceting. I use those holes to mount the reservoir, since I’m not using it to facet. It’s not pretty, but it is functional. It does come with a basic quill with coarse angle adjustments for basic faceting of large stones. However, I’m not sure I would use the included alignment tool for stones under 25 mm, as the index wheel and arm piece shifts laterally by 2-3mm on the protractor. It would work for a beginning faceting student. Just KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING.

I had been using the grinder for a month about four times a week when the motor started to get loud, very loud. Now it is unusably loud. I want to replace the motor, maybe upgrade it.

Bought this to use with borosilicate glass, not gemstones, and i will say that it is a great value for the money. I can see how this would be less accurate than more expensive faceting machines, but for a hobbyist I am very happy with my purchase.

it is different from the video that shows on amazon there is no water connection

Pieces broken andmissing

I was a little dissapointed that it came with a 6" base wheel not an 8" as advertized but I baught my own 8" laps and it works good with them...I am also very disappointed that the manipulator doesn't come with an angle stop that is a big deal so that you don't grind your stones too far. I use vice grips on it which work but I also have to use a seperate angle finder to find the correct and precise angles then clamp the vise grips on its angle guide to stop it. The angle guide that comes with the machine manipulator is not accurate either, so you will want to buy your own angle finder anyway.. with all that said, I researched for months to find an inexpensive faceting maching because i am not wealthy, and this is that, so with some tweaking it does work. Just wish they would have been more forthcoming about was does and does not come with the machine. It would have also been nice to have a variable speed button instead of off and then wide open fast. But it is smooth and quiet so I can use it indoors in my studio room without disturbing my family. I hope this helps some new person who doesn't have thousands (or even hundreds) to buy a machine...I am satisfied for the most part with everything else on this machine and I can make it work for what I am doing.

Dislike that no water pump or anything for water for this machine.