Metal casting with CAD claws => 18 photos

  This essay is added directly from the essay on WAX casting. These photos are what it's like when the wax designs are actually cast in metal. These photos show the synthetic stones being set and what tools that I used.

 These metal samples were not cloth wheel polished, but put into a 'Magnetic Tumbler' just to pre-polish the metal before setting.

 The following castings show just where the problems lay and where the stones will be set.

=================================

1) You can see now in metal the CAD claws how inferior they look.

2) It is quite apparent that many of the mini-claws just won't support a good stone-setting process.

3) You can see that there are 'decoration claws', but around each of them is a rough surface in between those claws.

4) With some of the stones now set, the multitude of stones look much better, agree?

5) These are my basic setting tools, I only want a limited number of tools in my bench tray.

6) In this photo I used an Onglette graver with the underbelly made rounded. Then with this 'graver modification' I can move each claw to hold every stone. I'm only using 'two claws per stone'.

  I will also use my reliable 'Bead Burnisher' to move each claw against the stone. Here are a few photos of what this other setting option will involve.

 These burnishers come in many sizes and it is up to you to 'pick & choose' which size to use.

 When you want to buy a 'set of burnishers', this is what they look like at your favourite tool supplier.

 The chosen burnisher will fit into this tool holder.

 7) What about the 'cornerstone' where only one (visible) claw is being used? The answer is quite easy to answer. I will use one claw but raise one bead against the 'metal wall' to secure the stone.

8) I could rely upon setting 'the stones in wax'. In my experience of 60 years of stone setting, I prefer to set the stones in metal.

9) In this photo. I will show what bur I intend to use. I'm using a "156C, Under-Cutting bur" to create a seat for each stone

 This bur has another name as a 'Bearing Cutter'. "No matter the name, if the bur works for you, use it!"

10) I suggest to you that clean out EVERY STONE SETTING as this will make the opening ROUND. 

 Remember, we are dealing with mediocre-shaped CAD claws.

11) It is very important to make sure that every stone is set correctly and not crooked. Repairing a crooked stone can cause claw breakage.

 12) Before any undercutting of claws, please use a round bur and make each hole completely round. In this picture, you can see some of the settings oval or out of shape. 

 There is no possible way you can set a round stone if the hole is oval. Get rid of any extra pieces of metal.

 

  When I was given this stone-setting task, there were initially 8 disks forming a long necklace.

 Each disk had 4 colours of stones, you do the counting on how many stones there were. (I counted 1,696 stones of RED, BLUE, WHITE and GREEN)

                     "Isn't gemstone setting so much fun?"