[Jewelry making - Article 01040] - Re: [Orchid] [Source] Mens signet ring

[Jeffrey Everett]

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>     Jeff - What does this mean, to "file flat"?  Does this give a
>     surface similar to that gotten from a rotating lap?

Hi Tas

    Filing the top of a large signet ring flat means that the surface is
    quite flat like that produced by a lap, but not polished. The natural
    tendency when filing is to rotate the file slightly. Overcoming this
    tendency can take quite a bit of practice. Eventually, the flatness
    of the surface can be "felt" while you're filing. A common approach
    is to switch the direction of filing and to watch the surface of the
    ring. The marks left by the file, when the surface is finally flat,
    completely cover the surface after each file stroke. When filing
    flats tops on large signet rings, we used flat files that were quite
    large. It's been over 30 years, and I don't remember the exact number
    of the file, but the files were quite rough. The signet rings we made
    were far more expensive than investment cast rings (which we also
    made) but the engravers preferred them. I think we had about 10
    styles. Some of the older S.F. jewelers here might remember the
    company. Originally at 110 S. 1st, St. the Meyer Seigel Co (founded
    1888) was sold to Paul Lichtman. I don't know when Paul retired and
    closed up shop permanently, probably in the 80's. 

Jeffrey Everett


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