Setting pearls

[allyclaret]

Morning all.

Looking for a little advice. I'm looking to set some pearls and have tried in the past without success. What adhesive would you recommend? I have been roughing up the post and tried araldite. I've also tried pearl cement but it has set before I've had time to adhere it to the post!

Any advice would be appreciated
Ally

[Dennis]

There should be no problem with Araldite mixed thoroughly but except for tiny pearls, you need a cup too. This is just a domed disk, small enough not to show from on top.

For studs, the rest of the post passes through the cup to act as an ear post on the other side.

The adhesive is fed into the half drilled pearl with a saw blade or pin and the pearl held in place until any trapped air has escaped, because that would push the pearl off again.

If you are very worried, you can notch or roughen the post slightly.

Normal Araldite takes about eight hours to harden, so because I am impatient, I buy rapid or 5minuten epoxi. Dennis.

[CJ57]

I'd agree with all Dennis has said and to get the air out of the hole I wiggle the saw blade in and out of the glue before I put whatever it is on the post, that usually releases the air. Rapid for me too, mixed correctly it should give you just enough time to do what's needed

[caroleallen]

That ring I referred to the other day came back. The post hadn't snapped but it appears that the glue failed. There is still some 5 min epoxy around the post and where it's attached to the ring so I don't think I can do any more soldering to it, or can I? I was hoping to be able to solder a little cup into it.

[Goldsmith]

Carol, if you can't get the epoxy off, put the ring without the pearl in some Nitromors paint stripper and the epoxy will soften and can be peeled off, if you left it overnight the glue will dissolve.

James

[CJ57]

Can you not just burn off the remaining epoxy,you might have to take a brass brush to it if it leaves residue, pickle and then solder in a cup? Remember it'll get a bit smoky!

[caroleallen]

Thanks James, I'll try that

[caroleallen]

Sorry Caroline, I didn't spot your post. I'll try the Nitromors and if that doesn't work, I'll have a go with heating it.

[pearlescence]

Hi
We've been using gel superglue for the last six months and it's been working really well. Very controllable and we've had no failures at all. Has to be the gel though, not the runny.
You don't need to work the glue into the hole with anything, just put a tiny blob on the post and work the pearl up and down a few times. The post should fit the hole with no gaps at the side. No need to rough it. Glue works by creating a vacuum, so the tighter the fit and the smoother the better. Make sure that there is some glue on the cup as well. wipe off any excess as you go along
Carole, just 'ping' the set araldite off with a needle point or with your needle point pliers and drill out any in the hole in the pearl with a fine drill (don't enlarge the drill hole though and make sure you hold the pearl steady so the bit doesn't snap off)
Supersneaky trick for pearl cup for setting -use a stud earring finding. We do
drill through or nearly through the shank so that the ear post will fit in. Drill a shallow countersink to allow some of the cup to sit on the shank. Trim off the ear post of the finding so the whole drops into the shank. Solder.

[CJ57]

We should have all left it to the expert
I'll give you that you wouldn't need to rough up a post but on any larger area I was taught to score or roughen up the surface of the metal. I've done a lot of inlay work over the years and if it goes into a completely smooth surface it can with the slightest bit of flex pop out. Usually it's the one I've done properly that needs taken out again and doesn't want to come because it's so well stuck!