The Whole Shop · Turquoise Cutting School

Anyone Can Teach You To Cut Turquoise. No One Teaches You The Trade.

Most cutters master one quarter of this trade, the cutting, and wonder why nothing else follows. This is the other three quarters: buying, grading, and selling, taught the same way, live in the shop.

Buy Right → Cut Right → Grade Right → Sell Right → Buy Better
Enroll In The Whole Shop → Explore The Curriculum
$1,497 · Lifetime Access · 30-Day Guarantee
Sound Familiar?

You Can Cut A Stone.
But Can You Make The Trade Work?

There's a big difference between knowing how to shape turquoise and knowing how to make smart decisions at every stage of the process.

😤

Cutting well but never seeing real money follow, and not sure why.

💸

Overpaying for rough without realizing it, parcel after parcel.

🤷

Guessing at a price the second a silversmith actually asks.

📺

Piecing this together from free videos that never touch the business side.

💔

Watching expensive natural rough crumble because nobody explained prep.

🧭

Wondering why some cutters seem to sell everything, and you don't.

If any of that sounds familiar, you're in the right place.
The Whole Shop Difference

Not Just How To Cut.
How The Whole Trade Works.

Real instruction from inside a working lapidary shop. Every stage connects to the next, because that's how the work actually happens.

01 /

Filmed Live In The Shop

Not slides. Real hands, real stones, real wheel work, stage by stage.

02 /

The Whole Trade, In Order

Six modules that build on each other, from setup through selling.

03 /

15+ Years, Direct

From someone who's actually sold hundreds of thousands of carats.

04 /

Lifetime Access

Yours to keep, on any device, for as long as you want it.

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30-Day Guarantee

Go through it, cut with it. Full refund if it doesn't change your work.

06 /

Not Just Cutting

Grading, pricing, sourcing, and selling, taught with the same rigor.

The Full Curriculum

Six Modules.
One Complete Trade.

Each module builds on the one before it. Not just a stack of unrelated lessons. The same way the skill actually develops, from the first day in the shop to running it like a business.

MODULE 01 Lapidary shop fundamentals
Stage 01 / Buy Right

Set Up Your Shop

Lap Shop Fundamentals

Explore the lessons
  • Welcome and What You Will Learn
  • Lapidary Safety Equipment: An overview of the safety equipment used in the shop.
  • Tools and Equipment: An overview of the tools and machines used throughout the course.
MODULE 02 Understanding turquoise
Stage 02 / Buy Right

Learn To Read The Stone

Understanding Turquoise

Explore the lessons
  • Turquoise Identification Crash Course: What good rough looks like, finding the best rough for your money, and how turquoise forms.
  • Examples of Turquoise Types: A live-action look at different types of turquoise.
  • Buying and Cutting Q&A: Questions to ask yourself before purchasing material.
  • Types of Cabochons: An overview of different cabochon styles.
  • Examples of Cabochons: Consistent thickness, backcut cabochons, and other practical examples.
MODULE 03 Preparing rough turquoise
Stage 03 / Prepare Right

Prepare The Material

Preparing Rough

Explore all 15 lessons
  • Gluing Fundamentals: Products, ribbon gluing, and when to glue rough, slabs, or cabs.
  • Natural Rough Preparation: Sorting natural rough and preliminary gluing.
  • Soaking: When, why, and how long to soak material.
  • Windowing: Why windowing matters and how to approach stabilized material.
  • Windowing Natural Turquoise: Pre-grinding natural rock versus stabilized material.
  • Sawing Techniques: Roller dive, pick-a-line-and-go, hookups, and material differences.
  • Blade Choice: Chinese blades, sintered blades, and pro-slicer.
  • Time to Cut: Live slabbing of stabilized Tyrone turquoise.
  • Slabbing Natural: Cutting soaked natural stones and selecting blades.
  • Slabbing Natural Unsoaked Rocks: Cutting dry natural variscite and understanding the importance of soaking.
  • Production Backing: Products, mixtures, and amounts.
  • Prepping Boards: Wax paper, epoxy, and thickener.
  • Backing Session: A full backing session, including pedestalling slabs and checking epoxy thickness.
  • The Next Day: Removing backed slabs from boards.
  • Trimming: Blade selection and trimming ribbon turquoise.
MODULE 04 Shaping and cutting turquoise cabochons
Stage 04 / Cut Right

Control The Cut

Shaping & Cabochon Techniques

Explore all 18 lessons
  • Holding Techniques: Hiding and taping your fingers.
  • Dopping: Gluing to nails and wooden dowels.
  • Holding Examples: Maintaining pressure against the wheels.
  • Shaping: Freeform versus calibrated cabochons.
  • Live Example of Shaping: Live-action shaping with voice-over.
  • Beveling and Girdle: When to bevel and common errors.
  • Live Action Beveling: The Backlight Gap Method.
  • Setting the Height of the Girdle: Slab thickness, girdle height, and why the order matters.
  • Example of Girdle Height Setting: Live demonstration.
  • Cabbing to Center: Starting a ridge and moving it toward the center.
  • Example of Cabbing to Center: Live demonstration.
  • Rolling the Shoulder: The final stage of cabbing.
  • Example of Rolling the Shoulder: Live demonstration.
  • Leo's 5-Stage Grinding: Never Lose Your Place: The complete grinding sequence and hard versus soft wheels.
  • Putting It All Together: Moving several cabochons through the stages.
  • Dry and Check: Identifying remaining scratches.
  • Soft Wheel Technique: Pressure and technique on soft wheels.
  • Leo's 5-Stage Polishing: Never Lose Your Place: The complete polishing sequence.
  • Polishing: Putting It All Together: Live-action polishing across multiple cabochons.
MODULE 05 Turquoise finishing and quality control
Stage 05 / Cut Right

Finish It Like A Professional

Finishing & Quality Control

Explore the lessons
  • Buffing: Holding technique, charging the wheel, and using the knock-off wheel.
  • Taking Cabs Off of Dop: Torch techniques for nails and freezer techniques for wooden dops.
  • Tending to the Backs of Stones: Flat lap techniques and why the backs matter.
  • Quality Control: Checking for glue, pits, bevel problems, and remaining 220-grit scratches.
MODULE 06 / BONUS Turquoise grading sourcing and selling
Grade Right / Sell Right / Buy Better

Run It Like A Business

Bonus Content

Explore all 12 lessons
  • Turq-o-nomics: Rough price versus cab price, profitable pricing, grams and carats per pound, and examples involving White Buffalo, Royston, and Tyrone.
  • Grading and Selling Cabochons to Silversmiths: Grading, value, selling online, and live sorting of 2,000 carats of finished Royston.
  • Sourcing Equipment: Marketplace, gem and mineral societies, rock shows, and online sourcing.
  • Sourcing Turquoise: Finding and evaluating rough online and offline.
  • Fixing Used Equipment: A 10-inch saw and an older Star 8-inch cabbing machine.
  • Resurfacing Used Soft Wheels: Extending the life of your wheels.
  • Blade Sharpening: Chinese and sintered blades, including tamp sharpening.
  • Gluing in Depth: Star Bond products, fixing holes, pits, and gaps.
  • Advanced Backcutting: Revealing more turquoise and working with island matrix.
  • Ribbon Turquoise: Understanding ribbon, angles, and material yield.
  • Small Batch Backing: Devcon liquid steel and backing smaller batches.
  • Butterfly Sets: Preparing ribbon for matched butterfly sets.
Enroll In The Whole Shop →
More Than Just A Course

You're Not Learning This Trade Alone.

Watching the lessons is just the beginning. When you're working with real turquoise, questions come up. Sometimes you need another set of experienced eyes.

That's why your enrollment in The Whole Shop also includes access to our private Facebook group with live support. A place to ask questions, share your progress, and keep learning as you put the lessons into practice.

  • ✓ Live support when questions come up. Get guidance as you work through the techniques taught in the course.
  • ✓ A private community of fellow cutters. Connect with people who share your interest in turquoise and lapidary work.
  • ✓ Share your work and keep improving. Ask questions, discuss challenges, and learn from the experiences of others.
The Lap School private Facebook group community mockup
The Lap School Private Community
Who This Is For

Wherever You Are In The Trade, There's A Next Level.

You don't need to arrive knowing everything. You need a clear process, the right instruction, and a willingness to put in the work.

You're Just Getting Started

You want to learn properly from the beginning, instead of developing habits you'll need to undo later.

You're Already Cutting

You know your way around a machine but want more consistency, cleaner finishes, and less wasted material.

You Want To Sell Your Work

You're ready to understand grading, pricing, and what professional buyers actually look for.

You Want To Build A Real Shop

You want to make better buying decisions, work more efficiently, and understand the business behind the craft.

The Transformation

More Than Better Stones. Better Decisions At Every Stage.

The goal isn't to memorize a collection of techniques. It's to understand the process well enough to make confident decisions in your own shop.

01 /

Buy With More Confidence

Learn what to look for in rough turquoise before committing your money.

02 /

Prepare Material Properly

Understand soaking, windowing, sawing, backing, and trimming.

03 /

Cut With A Repeatable Process

Follow Leo's step-by-step grinding and polishing systems.

04 /

Improve Your Quality Control

Know what to check before considering a cabochon finished.

05 /

Understand Grading & Pricing

Learn how to assess finished stones and approach pricing more deliberately.

06 /

Understand The Business

Learn about sourcing, selling to silversmiths, equipment, and material economics.

Leo, instructor at The Lap School
Meet Your Instructor

Meet Leo.
The Cutter Behind The Course.

Leo has sold hundreds of thousands of carats of cut turquoise. He's been in the lapidary industry for over 15 years and has dealt specifically with turquoise since 2015.

This course is him handing you the same on-purpose approach he uses in his own shop, from the first stone you ever pick up to the level where your work stands on its own.

15+ Years In Lapidary
Working Specifically With Turquoise Since 2015
Santa Fe Indian Market · 2026

Craftsmanship That Makes Its Mark.

In 2026, a stone cut by Leo was used in a piece that won first place at Santa Fe Indian Market.

The market has a history spanning more than a century and is a major event celebrating Native American art and craftsmanship.

It's a meaningful example of the quality and attention to detail behind Leo's work.

First-place recognition at Santa Fe Indian Market 2026
From The People Who Know The Work

A Reputation Built One Stone At A Time.

Hear from professional jewelry makers who have worked with Leo's finished stones.

“
I've been a very faithful client of Leo Tumamait since I found his page @swaxstone on Instagram. He has always been honest and very consistent in coming through when I request stones from him or buy what he has already cut. He has custom cut a series of Winged Hearts for me. Not only are they consistent in size and quality, but he went out of his way to find and cut unusual color patterns that set my work apart from others. For me, as a buyer, Leo is the exact kind of stone cutter I love.
Angela Swedberg
Angela Swedberg @angelaswedberg
“
I've been purchasing turquoise from Leo Tumamait for several years, and the quality of his stones has been consistently outstanding. As a professional silversmith, I depend on turquoise that is cut with precision and consistency, and Leo's stones never disappoint. The shapes are well-proportioned and the craftsmanship of each cabochon makes them a pleasure to set. The color, polish, and overall quality are always accurately represented, so I know exactly what I'm getting every time I order. Shipping is fast, customer service is excellent, and it's clear they genuinely care about the quality of their work. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Leo to anyone looking for premium turquoise.
P
Peyton Out West Silver Co
The Investment

Learn The Skills. Understand The Decisions.

Cutting is only one part of the trade. The decisions you make before a stone reaches the wheel and after it leaves can matter just as much.

The Whole Shop brings those stages together into one structured education. From evaluating rough to preparing material, cutting consistently, checking quality, and understanding pricing and sales.

Instead of assembling your education from disconnected sources, you get the complete process in the order Leo actually teaches it.

The Whole Shop: Turquoise Cutting School
$1,497

One complete education. Six modules, including advanced business and cutting instruction. Lifetime course access.

Enroll In The Whole Shop →
Enrollment Is Open

Your Whole Shop Education Starts Here.

Get lifetime access to The Whole Shop: Turquoise Cutting School. The complete education in buying, preparing, cutting, finishing, grading, pricing, and selling turquoise.

$1,497
Complete Course · Lifetime Access
  • Module 1: Lap Shop Fundamentals
  • Module 2: Understanding Turquoise
  • Module 3: Preparing Rough
  • Module 4: Shaping & Cabochon Techniques
  • Module 5: Finishing & Quality Control
  • Module 6: Business & Advanced Techniques
  • Leo's 5-Stage Grinding System
  • Leo's 5-Stage Polishing System
  • Grading, Pricing & Selling Instruction
  • Lifetime Course Access
Covered By Our 30-Day Guarantee

Go through the lessons and put the instruction to work in your shop. If the course doesn't change your work, request a refund within 30 days.

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Learn It. Apply It. See The Difference.

Your enrollment comes with a 30-day guarantee. Go through the course, apply what Leo teaches, and put the methods to work in your own shop.

If it doesn't change your work, request a full refund within 30 days of your purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Good Questions. Straight Answers.

Do I need experience cutting turquoise?
No. The course begins with shop fundamentals and builds from there. It's structured for beginners while also covering techniques and business decisions that more experienced cutters can benefit from.
Is this only about cutting cabochons?
No. Cutting is a major part of the course, but The Whole Shop also covers evaluating rough, material preparation, quality control, grading, pricing, sourcing, and selling.
What equipment do I need?
The course includes lessons on shop setup, safety equipment, tools, and machinery. You can review those lessons before deciding what equipment you need for your own shop. Equipment and materials are not included with the course.
Can I learn at my own pace?
Yes. The course is designed for self-paced learning. You can work through the modules in order and revisit the demonstrations whenever you need them.
How long will I have access?
Your enrollment includes lifetime access to the course.
Does the course cover selling turquoise?
Yes. The bonus business module includes grading, pricing, sourcing, and selling cabochons to silversmiths, including practical examples from Leo's work.
How much does The Whole Shop cost?
The complete course is $1,497. This includes all six modules and lifetime access.
Is there a money-back guarantee?
Yes. The Whole Shop comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you go through the instruction, apply it, and find that it doesn't change your work, you can request a refund within 30 days of purchase.
Enroll In The Whole Shop →
The Whole Shop

Don't Just Learn To Cut.
Learn The Trade.

From your first piece of rough to a finished cabochon you're proud to sell, learn the process from someone who's spent years doing the work.

Enroll In The Whole Shop →
$1,497 · Lifetime Access · 30-Day Guarantee
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The Whole Shop: Turquoise Cutting School