Sunflower Design by Billy Bob Riley
Faceted by Billy Bob Riley
Faceted by Billy Bob Riley
Through my background as a machinist I learned the setup and cutting of angles in metals, and the use of index tools for cutting gears. I also have experience using diamond and tin oxide and other polishing compounds for polishing plastic injection molds.
Like many other cutters I started by with cabochons, and with the suggestion of my daughter soon moved into silverwork to provide the settings for them.
Eventually, around fifteen years ago, I acquired two faceting machines and with my background as a machinist I thought they were inaccurate. I began to modify one of the machines, the Facetron. With that experience I built the large faceting machine featured in Jewelry Artist Magazine, April 2008.
Billy Bob Riley