Cutting jadeite rough is a technical task, and the size varies so much that it can be as large as an egg, sometimes as large as a small hill, weighing hundreds of tons, and one wonders how to split it in two. In today's market, there are three main methods of cutting rough stones: wire cutting, sheet cutting and stone cutting.
1. Wire cutting method
The principle used is actually very simple, that is, the use of one-way or reciprocating high-speed moving thin wire to cut jade. The thin wire used to cut is not an ordinary wire, but a diamond wire, which is very sharp!It is mostly used to cut hard gemstones such as diamonds and jadeite.
Today's diamond wire has been able to do 018mm-0.The 25mm thin makes it not cause too much loss when cutting the rough. Therefore, among the three common rough cutting methods, the wire cutting method can best ensure the integrity of the jadeite, the cutting surface is smooth, and there is no waste. However, the disadvantage is that the efficiency is slow, and it is estimated that the larger stones will have to be cut for more than a day before they can be fully loaded. Although it is slow, the main jadeite people have high-quality jadeite rough in their hands, and they still choose to use the wire cutting method. After all, it can accurately preserve the material, but if you can cut out an extra slice, it can be regarded as earning!
Second, the slice cutting method
It is currently the most commonly used cutting method, and its principle of operation is to use a high-hardness alloy steel saw blade to rotate at high speed to cut jade. Compared with the wire cutting method, the efficiency of the sheet cutting method is significantly higher. If it is divided according to the thickness of the saw blade and the scope of application, the chip cutting method can be subdivided into the following three categories. Category 1: Large cutting machines are usually used to cut large jadeite roughs, with a wide and thick saw blade, cutting speed, but large loss of rough stones.
Category 2: Medium-sized cutting machines are usually used to cut raw materials for carved ornaments, with thinner saw blades and cold water for cooling, and less loss of raw stones.
Category 3: Small cutting machines are usually suitable for processing small objects such as brands and handles, and the saw blades used are as thin as cicada wings, and there is basically no loss of raw materials.
3. Stone cutting method
The stone cutting method, a distant term, seems to have faded out of the memory of the times, but it has left an indelible mark on the history of jadeite rough cutting. Nowadays, when we look back at the past in the interplay of light and shadow, we can't help but have a deep respect and reflection on this ancient craft. In the era when machinery was not yet prevalent, the stone cutting method became the main way to cut jadeite rough with its unique charm. At that time, the craftsmen fixed the jadeite rough stone on the "stone" - the stone wheel that polishes the jade, and with the skill of their hands, they rotated and rubbed back and forth, and bit by bit the skin on the surface was consumed. In this long process, time seems to be stretched out, and the efficiency seems to be more and more inefficient. However, it was this persistence and perseverance that made the stone cutting method shine in that era. Today, we live in an age where electronic devices are prevalent and everything seems to be easy and fast. When we are thinking about how to use machines to cut rough stones efficiently, have we ever thought about the complex processes and processes behind cutting?
In fact, modern jade cutting is not an easy task. From material selection and cutting to design and engraving, every link is full of challenges. Among them, the cutting process needs to go through multiple processes and complex technological processes to complete. It requires experienced craftsmen to make precise judgments and delicate operations based on various factors such as the shape, texture and imperfections of the rough stone. In this process, whether it is a machine or a manual, we are pursuing a dedication to beauty and the inheritance of craftsmanship. And no matter how the times change, our pursuit of beauty and reverence for craftsmanship will never change.