How to set a square stone into a 4-claw setting? => 17 photos

 This essay will address ONLY the "preparation of the stone" for a 4-claw setting and not the finishing.

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The stone that you eventually choose shouldn't be larger than the 4-claw opening. This ensures that the claws remain almost vertical.

  These claws are 'spread out' only to give the burs more access to the claws.

   Major OOPS! This stone cannot be used as it has a defect in the right corner of the stone.

 How do you determine the round bur size for drilling into the claws? This is an easy question; the size should be exactly the width of the Girdle of the stone. There is no guessing here, only the visual assessment.

  Here is the assortment of round burs that will be needed and finally used in this process.

 Before any stone setting, it is imperative to clean any casting 'errors' remaining, before the next step.

Rotate the stone and check if the bur that you chose will do the claw preparation.

With the selected round bur, you may now start the drilling. BUT HOW FAR DOWN THE CLAW WILL THE DRILLING TAKE PLACE? The depth should be 1/3rd from the tip of the claw to the base of the 4-claws.

 HOLD THE MANDREL EXACTLY AT A HORIZONTAL POSITION. The next step is to drill 1/3rd into the claw; this is where the corner of the stone will eventually rest.

 If you go deeper, then there will be a chance of the claw tip falling away.

 In using a smaller round bur, it is imperative to cut a downward groove from where the point of the claw will rest. Why is this?

 This downward cutting will enable the edge of the Pavilion to rest. INTERESTING, process?

  I would extend the 'downward cutting' further, just in case the stone doesn't have the opportunity to be free of the claw.

  Our next important step is to align the stone into the claw setting.

 EXAMINE EVERYWHERE THE CLAW WILL BE TOUCHING THE STONE.

 The next steps are so important that this is "15, on my 10 Scale".

  Keep all of the 4 claws at an equal distance from each other.

=> I can see that the bottom left corner and top right side of the stone aren't in line with the claw. FIX THIS NOW!

 With a pair of plier jaws that have been serrated for the 'gripping' action, you can bring two corners together. The action is 'corner to OPPOSING corner', NEVER SIDEWAYS.

Ensure that the Culet of the stone is in the centre of the 'claw basket'.

None of the claws should be crooked or bent, as seen in this photo.

 With your Emery disk of a 'Medium' grit, reduce the height equally on all 4 claw tips. Being careful not to damage any facets of the stone, thus ruining the stone. 

THIS CAN HAPPEN SO EASILY!