[Jewelry making - Article 00198] - Re: [Orchid] Trying gem carving

[John Donivan]

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>     Does anyone have copy of each and can offer a comparison? Second, I
>     have begun to look at the types of burs available 

    Hi, Scott. Stone carving isn't really much different from wax
    carving or any other carving as long as you have the tools. Getting
    a good polish is the hard part. Partly meaning that more books
    aren't going to help a lot - but books are good. I have some of my
    carving here: 

    http://www.donivanandmaggiora.com/ourwork/jdport/coloredstone 

    BTW. Finally got a good pic of the rabbit pendant up.... 

    Crystalite used to make something called the "Full Circle Wheel",
    which was a narrow wheel in various diameters with a radius on the
    edge - used that a lot, both 4" and 1" sizes. Rock takes so long to
    cut that you need tools sized to your work to get anything done, so
    which burs to buy and use depends on if you want a bigger scale or a
    lot of detail. A Henry Moore sculpture needs bigger, more expansive
    tools, and a Netsuke carving will take bigger tools for roughing, and
    then small tips for detailing. Trying to carve a whole 1" size
    carving in agate with 1/8" tool will take a year. Basically balls and
    cones or wheels will remove material faster, and then tools with an
    edge like cones and cylinders will give you hard edges. Trying to cut
    everything with a tapered cone will lose that crisp edge on the bur
    pretty fast - take it down first, and then consider the sharp edge as
    a detail bur. Bottom line is which burs is up to you and your work.
    Sintered is way better, but for starting out you might go plated -
    buy sintered after you KNOW it's something you're going to use it
    enough to pay. A plated set is good to have for when you need some
    bur occassionally but not very often. 

    Sanding and polishing - The Chinese traditionally polished jade
    carvings with bamboo points and grit, and you can't beat it. Make
    wheels out of thin wood, like very thin plywood or split a board or
    use masonite, and spin it on the flexshaft to true it. One for each
    grit or compound. Also toothpicks, skewers and dowels, as needed.
    Plus you can buy stuff, but making it is easy and you get what YOU
    want. Even a toothpick will last surprisingly long with diamond
    grit. Small felt wheels do pretty good for polish, like Linde A,
    which I used a lot with rock crystal....

http://www.donivanandmaggiora.com
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