[Jewelry making - Article 00431] - Re: [Orchid] Polishing around tube settings

[Peter W . Rowe]

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>     I use the 3M radial discs. It is so easy to damage them
>     accidentally when polishing nearby. I have started protecting them
>     some with adhesive tape while polishing close to them. Anyone else
>     have any good suggestions? 

    While the 3M radial discs are wonderful tools, they are not a gentle
    abrasive when it comes to most stones other than diamonds. So use the
    radial disks as you wish before setting, but switch to the older,
    tried and true materials after setting. White diamond tripoli if
    needed, and then plain red rouge. You'd be surprised, if you've not
    used them for a while, how quickly even red rouge can cut out fine
    scratches when used on the right tools. Small bristle brushes run at
    fairly high speed work wonders. If you've properly prepared the work
    before setting, and don't mess it all up during setting, you
    shouldn't need to polish out too much afterwards, so you shouldn't
    miss the unique qualties of the bristle disks for polishing just the
    settings. Neither white diamond tripoli or red rouge will affect any
    but the softest stones, and those are usually materials cut as
    cabochons, so a little buffing of the stone then doesn't hurt. If
    you need to do more substantial trimming and adjusting of the metal
    after setting, too close to the stone to be safe with all tools, use
    a good quality pumice rubber wheel. These are also safe around most
    stones. 

    And for when you still just want to use the bristle disks (they ARE
    cleaner to use, after all), the edge of a fingernail, I find, is a
    quick and easy way to cover an exposed stone's table while brushing
    nearby. Not so useful with the buffing motor sizes, but adequate with
    the flex shaft sizes. 

Peter
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