Aaaaaargh! what am I doing wrong?!

[enigma]

Im at my wits end trying to set a couple of inset 4mm round stones.
I watched the Soham video on youtube on flush setting and it all looks so simple!
So I drilled the holes out, set the seats with my stone setting burr and hey preston both stones picked up off the bench first time so according to Soham my work is almost done!
However, not so! 2 hours later and Im still trying to go round the edges and persuade them to hold the stones
No matter what I do the silver just doesn't seem to be going over the stones and fixing them in place

[Aurarius]

The stone needs to be at a critical depth all round in a hole just wide enough (and no more) to take the stone. Get these two details right and you can rub over the metal with just about anything and the stone will hold.
Can you show us a picture?

[enigma]

Thanks Aurarius
I don't think its too wide/narrow as it picks the stone up and holds it ?
Depth wise I thought it was right but clearly something is wrong so maybe that
Ive given up and put it in a bezel now so can't take pics, sorry.
Good job Im booked on a stone setting course next month as I think I need some hands on help
The last few I did worked out ok but today even my solder has been going everywhere except where I want it too, should have stayed in bed I think

[Gemsetterchris]

You really must offer stones to the hole, not the other way around.
It`s impossible to do that method on some designs & bad form.

Pressing an amethyst down on a steel workplate is hardly a good idea either

You`ll do well going to the course to get on the right track, flush setting "can" be dead easy, but it does require a fair bit of skill & accuracy especially for the burnish only method which I try to avoid when possible.

[Petal]

Thanks Aurarius

The last few I did worked out ok but today even my solder has been going everywhere except where I want it too, should have stayed in bed I think

Although I can offer no help with stonesetting Sarah, we all have days when things that normally go right, go very wrong. We've all had to start something new and never stop learning imo. I've had things ping off the bench and disappear and try as I might they couldn't be found. I found the piece a few days later, but know now that trying to doggedly keep going with something when things are not going in my favour doesn't help me.

Have a break from your stonesetting for a few days and I'm sure you'll get there in the end.

[enigma]

Thanks Jules

Chris, are you talking about the Soham video? you disagree with his techniques?
I did wonder about pressing down that way so did mine on a thin soft cloth as one stone was an aquamarine.

May I ask what method you use? is there a tutorial anywhere?

Thanks

[camalidesign]

I'm also interested Chris, and you will have to be patient with us novices!

This tutorial by Alan Revere seems good when dealing with hard stones such as diamond, ruby and sapphire etc. that won't break when applying a little pressure: http://www.jckonline.com/2010/07/19/...tting-diamonds

I was taught to cut the seat first with a setting burr the same size or very slightly smaller than the stone (use a flame or round to cut bulk first to save the setting burr), then cut a small groove on one side with a bearing cutter (hart burr?) again smaller than the hole/stone, then put the stone sideways in, push it into place and burnish (the Revere tutorial tells you to cut the groove all the way around which I like the sound of).

Chris, do you push metal over by gently tapping with a hammer then or which technique do you use to secure the stone? I was shown the "hammer technique" and thought that seems more secure than just rubbing with a round burnisher...

Carin

[Nick martin]

I had real difficulty flush setting for months whereas now it's twigged into place so to speak.

I tend to stick with fairly small stones no bigger than about 3.5mm. Be very precise with measurements, drill slowly and accurately with a well lubricated drill bit / s, followed by a ball burr and finally a stone setting burr of the appropriate size for the stone.

Then carefully use a homemade beading tool ( I cut a nail down, set it in a handle, then tapered to a point and highly polished it ). Then slowly but firmly start burnishing over at points of the compass, then at 360 degrees. Finally change to a more acute angle and repeat.

This and other techniques, as I'm constantly finding, require lots of hours of practice.. And cockups in my case!

Hope this helps,

Nick

[enigma]

Thanks very much Nick

The last two were 3mm and went much better although Im still not entirely happy with my end result-the stones are secure and its neat enough to the eye but I can see under the microscope its not perfect.
Hoping the hands on help next month will sort it, I think its to do with the angle Im holding the burnisher.