[Jewelry making - Article 00129] - [Orchid] Sawing Niobium - nasty!

[Mona Clee]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

    Some friends and I fired up the new anodizer one of us had gotten.
    We managed not to shock ourselves and had a great time turning the
    dull gray niobium into an array of stunning colors. My friends
    colored sheet, but I colored wire coils, intending to saw them into
    jump rings. Then the uh-ohs started. The new blade in my trusty Koil
    Kutter bounced off the niobium like a bullet off Superman's chest. I
    then sat down and started sawing the rings the old way, with a
    jeweler's saw, one at a time, but even with a sharp, correctly sized
    saw blade with fresh Bur-Life, there were times when the blade would
    seem to jump off the coil, right into my fingers. After a few cuts I
    finally got it that I should tape my fingers. Did so, and the blade
    jumped to the one spot that wasn't well taped and got me again. 

    At this point, all I can think to do is tape the coil thoroughly
    with masking tape -- although it doesn't need it for stability, as
    niobium is such a rigid metal. Then I can saw through a narrow
    channel in the tape -- hoping it will keep the blade from jumping.
    And tape the *#^$ out of my fingers. Has anyone had a similar
    experience and is there a trick for sawing safely that I just haven't
    figured out? 

Mona


____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________