cutting agates

[john.wells]

Does anyone have an economical way of cutting agates and other rocks that they can share? I have some known agates but no banding showing on the surface, and other rocks that I suspect may be agates and just want to see inside, and other rocks that are just cool looking and would like to open them up as well. Thanks in advance for any info!

[DARK30]

Rock saws are expensive. It would be worth the dough if your gonna be doing a lot of cutting. I would say find a rock shop that would slice um for ya...and way cheaper.

[Connan]

well If you have some that you can tell are going to be real nice when cut and are a good size I would find someone who has a lapidary slab saw and is willing to cut it for you. Check out the Facebook lake Superior Agate collector group. Make some friends and Im sure many people will offer to cut some for free... Otherwise if you just have some small Agates that you are curious about whats inside and not too concerned about how well it turns out; I have used a cheap diamond wet tile saw that i got at Home Depot for like $60. It works ok and does the job on smaller ones... here are some that I have cut open!

[john.wells]

very nice! those were all done using a tile saw? Thanks for the info, folks!