[Jewelry making - Article 00410] - Re: [Orchid] Speaking of Thermo-Loc

[Helen Hill]

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    I've been using Thermo-loc for a while quite successfully. How are
    you heating yours? I used to heat it dry in a microwave, on a saucer
    but had problems with it burning and sticking to the saucer. Now I
    heat it under water in a microwave on full power for five minutes (at
    which point it's too hot to handle). I then remove it with my brass
    tongs and dry it with paper towelling so that it doesn't rust my vice
    jaws. By that time it's cool enough to handle. I set my piece in it
    with a protruding bit underneath which fits in the vice jaws. It'll
    sit there while I set the next piece in Thermo-loc, by which time,
    the piece in the vice is cool enough to set the stones. I set the
    stones and then put the whole thing including the jewellery back in
    the jug of water. Once all pieces are set with stones and placed in
    the water, I microwave it again for four or five minutes - remember
    you can put metal in the microwave as long as it's under water! Again
    I remove it carefully with my brass tongs, being careful not to mark
    the jewellery and when cool enough to touch, remove the jewellery
    from the Thermo-loc. Yes it's a little like trying to remove chewing
    gum from something, but you can pull most of it off initially and
    then the remnants pick off VERY easily with a fingernail when it's
    cold and has turned hard. 

    I like it a lot. It supports your jewellery very evenly and is solid
    enough to put on a fair amount of pressure when setting stones. Just
    a happy customer. 

Helen
UK
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