Getting 99 crafting has been my white whale for three years now. Every time I start planning my route, I get overwhelmed by all the different methods and their costs.
This granite and gem cutting estimator just simplified everything for me. Instead of spending hours with spreadsheets trying to figure out how much stuff I need, I can get accurate estimates in seconds.
Why This Tool Exists (And Why You Need It)
Let’s talk about the real problem with crafting training. You want to know exactly how much XP you’ll get and how much it’ll cost BEFORE you commit to buying thousands of gems or granite blocks.
I learned this the hard way when I bought 10k sapphires thinking I had enough for a certain level, only to realize I was like 500k XP short. Had to make another shopping trip and pay higher prices because I didn’t calculate properly the first time.
This calculator prevents exactly that scenario.
You tell it your XP goal, select what you want to cut, pick your inventory setup, and boom. It shows you exactly what you need.
The Inventory Layout Thing Is Genius
Most crafting calculators completely ignore how you actually play the game. This one gets it right by asking about your inventory layout first.
Full Chisel (27 items): You’re banking the chisel every trip. More items per inventory but slower banking.
Half Chisel (13 items + 1 chisel): You keep chisel in inventory. Less items but faster banking since you don’t withdraw/deposit chisel.
No Chisel (28 items): You’ve got chisel in tool belt or you’re using some other method.
I always used to assume “more items per trip = more efficient” but that’s not always true. Sometimes the extra clicks to manage the chisel eat up the time you save from extra items.
Quick question: Do you actually know which inventory method is faster for your playstyle?
Most players don’t. They just pick one and stick with it. This calculator lets you compare different approaches with real numbers.
Granite vs Gems: The Eternal Crafting Debate
Here’s where I’ve spent way too much time overthinking things. Granite is cheaper XP but slower. Gems are faster XP but cost more. Which should you choose?
Granite cutting experience: Did this for weeks trying to save money. It’s mind-numbingly boring but dirt cheap. The 5kg granite blocks give decent XP and barely cost anything.
Gem cutting experience: Way more engaging and faster, but your bank account feels it. Cutting diamonds is satisfying but expensive. Cutting opals is cheap but tedious.
The calculator shows you the exact trade-offs for each option. You can see precisely how much more expensive gems are compared to granite, and how much time you’d save.
My Personal Journey Through Each Method
Granite 500g blocks: Started here because they were super cheap. Realized quickly that the XP rates were painful. Good for early levels when you’re broke.
Granite 2kg blocks: Better XP than 500g but still pretty slow. I did this method from like level 40 to 60 crafting. Not terrible but not exciting either.
Granite 5kg blocks: This is the sweet spot for granite cutting. Decent XP, still cheap, and you don’t want to quit after 30 minutes. Used this from 60 to 75 crafting.
Opal cutting: First gem I tried cutting in bulk. The profit margins are tight but the XP is noticeably faster than granite. Good middle ground option.
Sapphire cutting: This is where gem cutting starts feeling worthwhile. The XP rates are solid and the cost isn’t completely insane. Did probably 200k XP worth of sapphires.
Emerald cutting: Getting expensive now but the XP is good. I mixed this with other methods to break up the monotony.
Diamond cutting: Only did this when I was rich and impatient. The XP rates are excellent but it’s definitely a luxury method.
Dragonstone cutting: Never did this in bulk because the cost is ridiculous, but it’s there if you want maximum XP per hour and don’t care about GP.
The XP Goal Feature Changes Everything
Before this calculator, I used to just buy random amounts of materials and hope for the best. Buy 5k sapphires, cut them all, see where I ended up.
Now I set specific XP goals. Want to go from 70 to 75 crafting? The calculator tells me exactly how many of each gem type I need.
This prevents overbuying and underbuying. Both are expensive mistakes that I made constantly before having proper calculations.
Real Cost Comparisons
I tracked my actual costs using this calculator for different methods over the past few months:
Granite 5kg (level 70-75): About 800k total cost for 500k XP Sapphire cutting (level 75-80): About 2.2M total cost for 650k XP
Emerald cutting (level 80-85): About 4.1M total cost for 800k XP
The calculator predicted these costs almost perfectly. Maybe 5% variance due to GE price fluctuations, but incredibly accurate overall.
Inventory Management Reality Check
Here’s something most guides don’t mention: your inventory setup affects your XP rates way more than you think.
I tested all three inventory layouts on sapphire cutting for an hour each:
Full Chisel: 52k XP per hour, constant chisel management Half Chisel: 48k XP per hour, but way less clicking stress No Chisel: 54k XP per hour, smoothest experience
The “no chisel” method won by enough to matter, but only because I had the smithing level for tool belt. Your mileage may vary.
Budget Planning Made Simple
The calculator shows total costs upfront, which helps with budget planning. I can see that getting from 80 to 90 crafting with emeralds will cost about 8M GP.
That’s information I can use to plan my money-making activities. Instead of randomly training crafting when I have some spare cash, I can save up for specific goals.
Recent example: Wanted to get 85 crafting for elite diaries. Calculator showed I needed 3.2M GP worth of emeralds. Spent two weeks doing Vorkath specifically to fund that goal. Much more organized than my usual chaotic approach.
Different Approaches for Different Situations
When I’m rich: Diamond cutting for speed. Life’s too short to cut 50k granite blocks.
When I’m poor: Granite 5kg blocks. Slow but steady progress without going broke.
When I’m in between: Sapphire or emerald cutting. Good balance of speed and cost.
The calculator lets you compare all these options with YOUR specific XP goals and budget constraints.
Market Price Considerations
One thing I’ve learned is that gem prices fluctuate way more than granite prices. The calculator uses current market estimates, but you should still check GE prices before making big purchases.
Pro tip: I usually calculate my needs, then buy gems in smaller batches over a few days. Prices can swing 10-15% in a week, and that adds up when you’re buying thousands of gems.
Integration with Other Crafting Methods
This calculator focuses on cutting, but it fits into broader crafting training strategies. Maybe you’re doing superglass make for levels 60-75, then switching to gem cutting for 75-99.
The calculator helps you plan the gem cutting portion precisely, so you know exactly when to make the switch and how much to budget.
Why I Trust These Calculations
I’ve double-checked this calculator’s predictions against my actual results probably 20+ times. The XP estimates are spot-on, and the cost estimates are accurate within normal GE price variance.
The inventory calculations seem to factor in realistic banking and cutting speeds, not theoretical maximum rates that nobody actually achieves.
My Recommendation
If you’re planning any serious crafting training involving cutting, bookmark this calculator. It takes 30 seconds to get an estimate and prevents expensive planning mistakes.
Specifically useful for:
- Planning your route to specific crafting levels
- Budgeting for diary requirements
- Comparing cost efficiency of different methods
- Avoiding over-buying or under-buying materials
I wish I’d found this tool two years ago when I first started serious crafting training. Would have saved me probably 2-3M GP in inefficient purchases and poor planning.
Bottom line: Stop guessing with crafting calculations. This tool gives you precise numbers so you can make informed decisions about your training methods and budget.