(REVISED) "Casting with Gem Stones" =>12 photos & 8 text pages.

  This tutorial essay was published on this blog six years ago. I'm adding new text to each page for easier reading. This is one of the most interesting 8 pages any jeweller or caster can have in their library.

 This company has been in business since 1988. The owner, John Eisinger (R.I.P.), was the original owner of this company.

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 These days, 'CASTING WITH GEMSTONES' is no longer a myth, but an actual reality; it is now a working practice.

 On "Ganoksin", I often see instances where new jewellers need some helpful techniques to get started with their casting.

  

 

The wax pendant is now ready for casting. You can now see where the connection is, it is UNDER the pendant, not against the frame.

 By the way, the 'shrinkage factor' between the wax to the finished piece of jewellery is 6%. Always remember this number.

 I inked where the claws were 'untouched', the remainder of them are missing. If you want to fix then in metal, do so, but not in the wax form, if you do, more claws will break off.

 When you find that some of the claws are missing when you take the wax out of the rubber mold. Redo the injected wax AGAIN!!!

It is advisable to set this pendant AFTER the casting has been done. Your handling of the wax could damage the wax pattern.

These stones are too small, don't even consider using them.

 Even I would prefer to set these stones in the metal and forgo the idea of 'wax setting'.

 In this photo, I was initiating "Bright-Cutting", this technique cannot be done in the wax.

These stones are ready for insertion into the new wax form.

The warm (not hot) wax pen is gently preparing the stone, then the stone will be positioned into the wax.

 These quoted prices have drastically changed since the printing in 2006. Many manufacturers have their own labour prices.

 You have the option to make minor adjustments to the temperatures as needed.

  DON'T QUENCH YOUR HOT CRUCIBLE INTO COLD WATER, ONLY 'AIR COOL'.....please!

DO NOT 'CAST WITH GEMSTONES' IF THE "MOHS SCALE OF HARDNESS" IS BELOW SIX. A Genuine diamond is rated as 10.

View the list of delicate stones that shouldn't be used.

 I've inserted a photo of a 'Synthetic Emerald' showing what happens when a soft stone is used. Here is a white stone that was not prepared for 'stone setting' in wax.

 In this photo, 'was' a decent-looking stone, but the jeweller or operator made an error and placed his green stone into his wax. Here are his unfortunate results! Both the stone and the ring are now no longer usable. Sad to see this!