[Jewelry making - Article 00252] - Re: [Orchid] Drilling holes in pearls

[James Miller]

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Hi Helen,

    I have been reading your comments about drilling pearls. Have you
    ever made your own drills? One of the first things I was taught as
    an apprentice was how to make spade drills, which is what we used for
    drilling pearls and many other easy drilling purposes. First buy
    some packets of various size hand sewing needles. Then to make the
    drills. secure a needle in some pin tongs then using some pliers,
    snap the needle squarely at the centre of the eye. This leaves a
    section with two points that is flat either side. Then on an oilstone
    you square off the end and flatten each side of the brohen eye, this
    gives the appearance of a watch screwdriver. Then by holding the
    needle at right angles to the oilstone, and slightly leaning it to
    the right and backwards, you grind the point on the needle, ( easier
    to show than explain ). Needles are slightly wider at the eye, so
    this gives you the clearance when drilling. Then you have a spade
    drill. Good needles are hardened and tempered so they keep their
    sharpness well, and they don't break easy. One of my jobs as an
    apprentice was drilling holes in KBE stars, each star was 1.5 mm.
    thick and had 360 holes to be drilled, then after drilling the stars
    were stuck on a pitch block and I had to chase lines of lozenge
    shapes in the drill holes. I used to buy packets of needles size
    "eight sharps" from a tailors supply shop, needles which were less
    than 1mm in diameter, and I was drilling these holes for hours as we
    used to make at least 60 KBEs each year. One other tip, I use cheap
    white candles as a lubricant for drilling, saw piercing and wire
    drawing, they are clean and ready to hand when needed. I hope this
    all makes sense. I am busy compiling a book at the moment, I have a
    publisher interested in producing a book showing a selection of my
    work over the past 40 years. I must say that I would find it easier
    producing a Faberge Egg, rather than writing this book, so I am
    hoping that this book will be full of photos rather than too much of
    my biography writing. My interested publisher produced the Oppi
    Untracht Jewellery and Metal Techniques for Craftsmen books, so I am
    confident they know what is needed. 

Best regards James Miller
http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/jmdesign.htm
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