Pliers for JEWELLERS & DIAMOND SETTERS => 11 photos

 This is essay is for eveyone in our profession. I've modified each of these pliers for the sole purpose of increasing their ability to hold jewellery with extra care.

 This modification technique was not taught to me, but it was out of my need to 'grip or secure claws, without slipping'.

  These are the basic pliers which I used on a daily basis.

  

  

  "It's not the size of the pliers, but how they are used"

      The seperating disks literally cut 'grooves' into the jaws.

 These are the 'newly cut' grooves in the plier jaws. I even thin out the tips to make these jaws 'ultra-thin'. PLEASE KEEP THE PLIER JAWS 100% CLEAN.

  I use various Emery wheels to keep the plier-jaws ABSOLUTELY CLEAN.

 This is another cleaning method. You should use a "Snap-On-Emery-Wheel". These wheels are of a "MEDIUM" grit.

 

 "LINDSTROM" pliers are great for setters & jewellers to use in any situation.

          These other pliers were found on the internet.

 These pliers can be modified with any "Separating Disk". For my bench of new tools, I'd reshape the tips of the jaws to make them slightly rounded for your own use, as well.

 I would (very carefully) cut additional grooves into these jaws, extending from the tip down to middle of each jaw. This will make this instrument a wonderful tool to work with. WOW!

 These pair of jaws are very interesting, but one thing that I noticed was that when you are holding a ring with them there is one problem. The groove for the ring is not sufficiently polished.

 I SUGGEST IN USING A SERIES OF PUMICE WHEELS. The grit should be #180 and #1,000 to overcome this problem before you start grasping the ring shanks. NOW!

 If you want to use your cloth wheels on your polishing wheels BE VERY CAREFUL as the cloth wheels might get caught and I don't want to know of any problems.

What are "Pin-Shaped BEADS"? => 10 photos

 This essay will explore in the greatest detail WHY these little beads were originally created.

These three little beads were placed in a position for just one reason. They were situated not in any random order, but having the beginning of a serious pattern further on.

 These 'three corner' beads are now the beginning stage for the setter to plan out how the pattern will evolve.

  

 Always scribe with an "felt-ink" pen, to assist you in marking where the new beads will be located.

  I WILL DEAL WITH "BEAD RAISING" IN LATER ESSAYS.

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 What I always do is to plan & select the diamonds in order of size. As in this case, I will be needing numerous sizes in close proximatary to each other.

 Not always will you receive your diamonds selected by size. I will sift them into groups, just to be safe!

              => FROM THIS MASS OF DIAMONDS =>

      

    =>TO THIS GREAT SELECTION OF STONES.

  

 Once that the stone arranging has been completed, the next careful step is to set the small stones.

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 I want to save these beads at all costs. The only safe method is to use the "156C" bur and create little 'steps' into the metal. (As shown below).

 Upon close inspection, I'll use my 'beading tool' and VERY GENTLY 'move' the claw-tips over each stone.

 

 BTW, the 'corner diamonds' should be saved for the largest gems, as this is where the two sides will converge. 

  You can see up close where those delicate pin-beads are. There will be only two mini-claws PER STONE.

  It is customary to start setting the 'border stones' as seen here.

 The very last stone will be the center larger stone. I feel that it is best to put the ring into your "ultra-sonic, vibrator-tank" to check for stability in setting of the small stones.

THE RATE OF DIFFICULTY IS ABOUT 7, on the "10 Scale".

HammerIng & Setting an Oval stone #2, (complete lesson) => 27 photos

    OVAL STONE SETTING JUST FOR YOUR BENCH!

 This is the exact hammer hitting sequence to avoid crooked oval stones.

 (self explanatory)

 Wrong hammer to use on these delicate rings.

  Be careful as the size of the hammer head covers the viewing while hitting.

 Keep the delicate Culet on the mandrel curve.

  Always select the right size of stone for the bezel.

 Don't use a 156C Carbide bur. I prefer the HSS 90degree angle bur. The reason being that the teeth are deeper and cut more into the metal.

 Some setters use a round bur, but the cutting doesn't adhere to the shape of the Pavilion of the stone.

Under closer scrutiny, it appears that this stone IS CROOKED. 

  The next problem is to REMOVE IT, IMMEDIATELY

 When setting an Oval stone, make sure that the Culet is not touching the metal mandrel underneath. Keep the stone well within the groove, as seen here!

 I couldn't allow this ring be completed, as it is not aligned into bezel evenly.

  FINALLY, I found a ring that the stone is 'well set'.

 Keep that Reciprocating Hammer head from touching the stone.

 You should 'move' the bezel metal closer to the stone. Never pound the metal onto the Facets as there could be problems further into stone setting.

 To initially remove any rough casting marks, you should use a #2 grit large file to clean any worrisome remnants of casting.

 Please use an Onglette graver #2 graver to carefully clean the inner wall of the bezel.

 If you use a Flat graver, you could have 'faceting' in the metal when the graver hits every facet of the stone.

 Here you really should use a large file of #4 grit, to file the hammered surface.

It's 'Pumice Wheel' time here. You should use #180 grit for a start.

For finishing, instead of using the cloth-wheel. Kindly use a #1,000 grit, PINK wheel.

 To remove any rough areas on the shank, or hammer hitting areas by accident. I'd use a "MEDIUM" grade "Snap-On" Emery wheel, just to clean up the ring in general.

 

 Last, but not least, inspect every detail of this ring to remove any casting errors.

How to select hammer anvils for Oval settings! (#1) => 5 photos

 Here are two rings that have a problem. Their problem is that the Culets do protude from the bottom of the bezel casing.

To overcome this problem, is to place the culet in line with the mandrel groove.

 These are the hammer anvils that I am presently using. Here are old shortened files that easily fit into my hand & fingers.

Would you believe that there are even 'concrete nails' that are great for grasping. I can shape each of these anvils to my ongoing needs.

 These three anvils are selected for their shape and length.

 Of the three hammers, only one will be the 'winner', that is the 84.9 gram tool.

 Never let the tip of the anvil get too close to inside rim of the bezel. If that happens...."Good Bye, stone!"😢