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Thread: Does your ring stretcher mark the inside of your rings?

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    Default Does your ring stretcher mark the inside of your rings?

    Hi - decided to invest in a ring stretcher back in February and having waited a couple of months for Cookies to get them back in stock it finally arrived mid May.

    Works great for stretching BUT noticed with the first ring I re-sized that I had marks on the inside, which I thought I had filed/sanded before putting on the ring stretcher, but decided that I couldn't have, so refiled and sanded. No big problem but was annoyed with myself.

    Second ring resized - same issue - and I definitely made sure the inside of the ring was smooth first.

    On checking the ring stretcher spines, they seemed a little bit sharp on the edges especially when opened up, so thinking this was the cause of the marks I sanded them with smoother with emery paper.

    Next ring I did was a little better but still marking.

    I have reported the issue to Cookson with photos, and they have referred the issue to Durston but two weeks later they haven't had a response (although to be fair there's been a bank holiday in-between).

    So just wondering whether significant clean-up is to be expected after stretching. The attached photo is of a test ring I did, 1.85mm sterling, rounded with rawhide mallet after soldering, inside sanded smooth. Then put on the ring stretcher and increased by one size. I used platinol on the inside of the ring just to highlight the marks I am getting - they are quite deep and will need filing to remove.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Thoughts? Is my ring stretcher faulty or are the marks to be expected?

    Thanks, Susie

  2. #2
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    Default

    Hi Susie,
    If it's the Durston one, I've had some light marks, but only where I haven't turned the ring enough, and been too vigorous with each pull down. Tiny increments and regular turning will help.
    Lydia

  3. #3
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    I've not managed to do that with mine. I shall go and try and see if I can replicate it later.

  4. #4
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    I think it inevitable that the inside of a ring will be marked with shiny facets by stretching it on a metal mandrel.

    Normally the effect is very superficial and the inside of a ring is the easiest part to polish with rotary tools. So I just leave the final finish til after stretching.

    That said, the severe indents in your picture are unacceptable and eradicating them would significantly enlarge the size. I should ask for a refund and get another make entirely. Dennis.
    Last edited by Dennis; 08-06-2016 at 07:07 PM.

  5. #5
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by susieq View Post

    On checking the ring stretcher spines, they seemed a little bit sharp on the edges especially when opened up, so thinking this was the cause of the marks I sanded them with smoother with emery paper
    Those marks look fairly brutal. Can you show us a picture of the ring stretcher giving a close-up of the splines? They're perhaps not quite as they were originally if you've taken emery paper to them.

  6. #6
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    Default

    Thanks for the replies - unfortunately I have tried to get decent photo of the ring stretcher splines but been unable to get anything in even reasonable focus. I wonder if I could get a decent closeup through a magnifying glass? Will search it out. The emery only took off the very sharp edges, in much the same way I run emery along the edges of new pliers and the marks before I did this were worse.

    None of the pulls on the handle of the ring stretcher were harsh - in fact it's not yet properly anchored down so I have been very careful and gentle when I've been using it.

    Hopefully Durston will get back to Cookies soon. I do wonder if the reason their ring stretchers have been out of stock for a few months is because Durston have either changed the maker, or have had quality issues?

  7. #7
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    Default

    I am not at the studio until next week but will give it a go and see if I can take a few pics

  8. #8
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    Sep 2014
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    Thats definitely not normal.
    I stretch mine before finishing so there may be very slight marks but nothing like that.

  9. #9
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    OK, I've been able to test mine; I *can* get some fairly deep marks into a ring - but only through going to the full extent of handle travel, which isn't how I normally use it. I usually stretch it a little bit (not even going halfway on the handle), test, flip it over & continue.
    My 22mm bit of copper pipe used as a test is now up at 26mm.

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