Check out on lapidary equipment; particularly interested in cutting and polishing equipment. Thanks in advance you for your time.
Thank you. How do I contact @BrianBaldwin? Is this a user that I can send a message to on X? I am not very familiar with X.
As far as I’m aware, an SOP has not been created to give checkouts on the lapidary equipment & there has not been a plan to do so, at this time. I apologize that we aren’t able to offer this to you & other members in our community.
Heather, you stated that there is no standard procedure for checking people out for the equipment in the lapidary area. Your reply says: we have lapidary fabrication equipment, but no ability to make it available to new or existing members who would like to use it. Only the people currently using it can use it. This response raises 2 questions:
1. If that is the case, then why is the group supporting it as part of our
offering to our members and prospective members?
2. If there is no checkout procedure, how did you and the other members
currently using the lapidary equipment get checked out to use the equipment?
As the manager for the section, is it your responsibility to develop the checkout procedure for the equipment in you section? If not, who is responsible for developing the checkout procedure? Why has no procedure been developed over the years?
How can we tell members and prospective members that we have the equipment for them to fabricate jewelry and not have the ability to make it available to members?
At the meeting on Oct 30th there was a discussion on how to attract and keep new members, which we need to continue to exist. It is my understanding that without new members, we may not be able to continue to exist as a group or maintain the space and equipment. the inability to get members checked out on equipment in a timely fashion is a real disincentive to becoming a member or staying a member. this seems to be a problem that exists in all areas. Do you have any ideas for how to improve the ability to get checked out in the jewelry and other areas? I am willing to help resolve the problems with the checkout procedures.
I can be reached at : Mike.Fraleigh@Fraleighlaw.com
Your Reply to the Checkout Request:
As far as I’m aware, an SOP has not been created to give checkouts on the lapidary equipment & there has not been a plan to do so, at this time. I apologize that we aren’t able to offer this to you & other members in our community.
Hi, Mike! I understand your concerns. I will try to answer what I’m able to. Please remember that all our volunteers & volunteer staff, myself included, are…& have been…volunteering countless hours of our personal time. We each care about the LMN community, it’s growth & it’s survival. Many are dedicated to continue making this creative space possible.
That is correct; there is not a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the lapidary equipment. It has been removed from the area. No one is or has been using it…not even myself. The lapidary equipment was to be an adjunct to the jewelry/metalsmithing area. It is not needed to fabricate jewelry or to fabricate other metalsmithing projects. Our jewelry area is quite well equipped & available for the members to use. Some tools do require a checkout, & some tools are currently for teaching classes; such as, the kilns & the casting equipment.
LMN does have a procedure & system in place for creating new SOP’s. It does require time, work & volunteers to do this. If you would like to help w/ creating new SOP’s please message @brian.adams for more information.
Most areas have multiple people who can give checkouts. As volunteers, we do our best to accommodate checkout requests as quickly as possible. I’m not aware of anyone not being able to be checked out in the jewelry area, concerning the jewelry equipment.
If you are interested in volunteer opportunities, please message @Evelyn for more information on where we need help the most.
~Heather
Hi heather,
What is keeping there from being a checkout process and sop on the lapidary equipment? It’s been there quite a while. Is it broken, or not suitable to use for the space, or is it just a lack of time and resources for writing them?
The lapidary equipment is advertised as for member use on the website. That should be updated.
https://www.lansingmakersnetwork.org/our-tools/
@Bmarkham I am sorry for the confusion.
Nicole has officially taken over as the volunteer coordinator. I didn’t know her talk site handle, though.
However, I’m happy to help as I can
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Hi, James! The main issue is, we don’t have an area manager for the lapidary equipment.
I took at look the list & see that we have 2 lapidary saws listed…& not the cabbing machine. That’s the main component for lapidary equipment as it grinds, finishes & polishes stones & cabochons. Whereas the saws are for cutting & trimming slabs & rocks. I can also see how this could cause confusion to our some of our members & prospective members.
~Heather
Do the saws have a checkout process and are available for members to use? They did ask for a checkout on the saws as well.
All lapidary equipment has been removed until we have someone who can manage it. The list will be updated as soon as possible. Please have patience w/ us.
I’m just trying to figure out what is going on, sorry if I came across as antagonistic. Thank you for clearing it up
Ohhh James…no worries! I apologize if I came across as curt. I would love for all of the lapidary equipment to be set up & available for our community. I wasn’t ever meant to manage it; even though, it was intended to be set up in the back of the jewelry area. I can see how that would be confusing to our members & understand why there are questions.
All: I have been following this thread with interest. I’m new to the Lapidary hobby and was looking for a place nearby where I could cut slabs(slab saw), trim them if necessary(trim saw) and polish them(not necessarily into cabachons). I understand that you are not set up to do this now. The nearest place I have found is in Howell. Is anyone aware of a nearer place?
Also, if we did find someone willing to manage the Lapidary equipment, is there an inventory of all equipment to see how complete it is? Or could I see the equipment when I come in and make a full list? I will likely come in Monday PM for the woodworking area checkout.
Thanks
Brian Markham
Hi, Brian! I think the Livingston Gem & Mineral Society is the closest place that offers lapidary equipment…that I’m aware of. I learned yesterday, at the Michigan Silversmith guild meeting, that LGMS is located in Hartland w/ a Howell address.
The lapidary equipment at LMN: Lapidary trim saw, lapidary stone saw & a an older style cabbing machine. I’m unsure how complete the cabbing machine is. I believe both saws were tested & work. I’m unable to meet this evening; however, @Maria may be able to meet with you. She’s currently working on updating our inventory list.
I apologize for you being mislead about the lapidary equipment & any confusion that has followed. I did not realize it was being offered during tours or otherwise.
~Heather
@Heather do you know where the machines are?
@Bmarkham if we can find the machines maybe we can check them out and, if they’re all working, figure out SOPs for them. (Editing to add - I’ll be there monday 6:30PM on going over inventories for some other areas)
I don’t know what the procedure for adding new SOPs / checkouts is - @Heather, I guess as area manager maybe we’d present the SOP/checkout to you, then if you think it’s good to go we train some volunteers to do the checkouts. Does that sound right?
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Thank you!
Maria: Monday, as in today?
Thanks
Brian
Hi Brian - yeah, I’ll be in today 6:30 pm. We can find another time if tonight doesn’t work, though