[Jewelry making - Article 00710] - Re: [Orchid] Tricks of the trade

[Todd Goodwin]

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

>     I used to stick a layer of silver under my stones cause they were
>     never quite tall enough and I preferred a certain bezel height. A
>     creative suggestion I read one day was to use those black trays
>     that microwave entrees come in. Well they were perfect! I trace the
>     cab on the plastic, cut around and viola! Slipped between the stone
>     and the back plate, it brings it up perfectly. 

    I hope you are disclosing the use of microwave dish plastic in your
    work. I know a lot of people would be bothered with this practice of
    they knew. Your Sterling idea was better, but you could have used
    coiled wire instead of sheet. Heck even the traditional use of
    sawdust seems better to me. Cardstock even. I use dried Sage (salvia
    officinalis) as it has a tradition of being a spiritual cleanser and
    theoretically would be metaphysically neutral. 

    And now for a tip. 

    I make small earring components. When it comes time to polish them I
    tie them with light copper wire and hold onto the wire backing the
    piece with my forefinger. I learned this after shooting many of them
    into the unknown. I even do this with pendants. Anything small with a
    bail or hole. You still have to be very careful not to have the wheel
    grab the whole thing, yank it from your hand and do untold damage to
    your body. if you use light enough wire, the wire will break before
    becoming a whipping flail and just send the piece into the Unknown.
    This method seems to allow better control and greater reach and
    prevents a lot of flying parts. 

    USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Polishing can be dangerous. 

TL Goodwin
Lapidarian/Metalsmith
http://thepacifikimage.com
____________________________________________________________________
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
____________________________________________________________________