Aaaaaargh! what am I doing wrong?!

[enigma]

Thanks very much Carin and Chris
Somebody has just ordered a ring with 6 inset diamonds so I guess thats me up till 3 am practising with the CZs and copper for the newt week

[Tabby66]

Diamond cut seems to be the cut-of-the-moment Chris, fetching a premium price.....have you noticed this too....I had no idea that this cut made the stone more difficult to set?!

I'm planning a stone setting course early next year, just waiting confirmation of dates......though I get most of my work professionally set, I would like to improve my setting skills for simpler techniques and gain a greater understanding of the setter's perspective.
Where are you going Sarah??

[enigma]

Im enrolled on the course at In The Studio Tabby , in November.
I would get my stones professionally set but it would take too long to sort out each time I think as I don't know anybody in France so would have to send to the UK then back to me to add the braid etc.
I definitely would if I knew somebody local and could just pop in, the amount of time its taking me atm I would be on 10 times the price of a professional job if I charged by the hour

[Gemsetterchris]

You also find some coloured stones don`t have a nice defined shape (diamond cut), so they are better off in a bezel..

Ok, badly worded...diamond cut is preferable.

[Tabby66]

Thanks for clarifying Chris!!

That's where I am waiting for dates for next year Sarah......I would have gone to the November course, but I am already committed to fairs.....what a shame!! (Will be interested to hear how you find it)

[enigma]

Oh thats a shame Tabby!
I will let you know how it goes, hopefully it will be good.

[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.