sophia13
spending too much on rocks
RIP Jason Strickland, AKA sophia13
Member since March 2018
Posts: 327
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Post by sophia13 on Nov 22, 2018 10:04:01 GMT -5
I see where people have shapes "carved" or cut into the back of bezel cups for cabachons. These animal shapes and other shapes allow the back of the cab to be featured as well and makes a neat design. Is this done with a machine or by hand or both? It looked so laser precise. Also, is there an engraver for those cups to neatly write words or phrases in the backs as well? Sorry for the newbie question I'm learning. Happy Thanksgiving:)
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Nov 22, 2018 10:42:50 GMT -5
You use a jeweler's saw and saw blade to cut out the designs. Basic steps are to transfer your design to the metal (you can draw it or paste on a cut out of it), drill a little hole to fit the saw blade wherever there is a part that needs to be cut out, thread the blade through the hole and saw out those parts and then refine the design by filing uneven or rough spots.
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Post by Pat on Nov 22, 2018 10:53:36 GMT -5
For simple holes in the backplate, you can use a punch/disk maker.
You can also do simple prong settings. Just cut out a turtle shape to fit the rock.
When you learn to solder, you can use a stepped bezel. I like seeing the backs—- polished or not.
Good luck! It’s do-able.
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Post by Pat on Nov 22, 2018 10:55:47 GMT -5
Re engravers: Michael’s sells a thin engraver. Looks like a fat pencil.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Nov 22, 2018 11:03:58 GMT -5
As far as writing or words on the back of a piece, there are a couple of options. There's the very expensive option of engraving machines used by some jewelry stores and jewelers. I suspect that what you're referring to was done with individual letter stamps, which come in various sizes and fonts. That takes some practice.
If you have decent handwriting or lettering, with a fair amount of practice you can approximate engraving with a Dremel tool or flex shaft and a very small ball bur at high speed. Takes lots of practice though before you do it to the actual piece — to which I can attest.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Nov 22, 2018 11:26:53 GMT -5
Here's another thing you might want to try: making your own simple shape stamps. I had a custom pendant request that also called for a heart shape on the reverse in addition to a message. The message didn't leave a lot of room, so I decided to make my own heart stamp. Not a hardened and tempered tool steel stamp, just a quick and easy stamp from a nail or any old steel rod. I cut a length and clamped it in a vise. Using just files I fashioned a little heart shape that did the job.
You won't get 10,000 impressions from a stamp like that, but it should do at least a several hundred or more. I'm away from home or I’d post a photo of the heart.
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sophia13
spending too much on rocks
RIP Jason Strickland, AKA sophia13
Member since March 2018
Posts: 327
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Post by sophia13 on Nov 22, 2018 11:27:03 GMT -5
You folks are so awesome. Thank you for taking the time to answer on the holiday.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Nov 22, 2018 12:22:34 GMT -5
Jewelers saw as mentioned above. Here are a couple pictures of mine. This one is a Drummond Island profile because that is where the stone was found. My Petoskey stones get the lower Michigan cut out. Cuhck
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Post by Rockoonz on Nov 22, 2018 12:35:04 GMT -5
Cutting shapes out with a saw is referred to as piercing, not sure who came up with that. There are some good youtube videos on the process.
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Post by Rockoonz on Nov 22, 2018 12:40:18 GMT -5
Listen how different this sounds, amazing they weren't breaking blades. Lube wax is your friend.
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 1, 2018 2:19:47 GMT -5
Listen how different this sounds, amazing they weren't breaking blades. Lube wax is your friend. They’re piercing copper though. Material and thickness will both produce different sounds, which reminds me that you’ll need to choose an appropriate blade for the thickness of your metal with a rule of thumb iof >3 teeth in the thickness to reduce snagging. There are some very experienced purring jewellers I know that don’t use lube. It’s each to their own...
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