Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
|
Post by Tom on Mar 2, 2014 9:31:00 GMT -5
Mornin' folks, A couple firsts with this post, first tube set, first time using mobile uploads to photo bucket, first time giving you pics done with Iphone (its good but no Nikon) Its a Champain colored CZ, 5mm, 5.5mm thick wall sterling and 14g half round sterling, all Rio purchases. I can see from the images it needs more burnishing, sanding, polishing but I will likely just leave it alone so I don't make it worse. The ring looks better to the naked eye, the close ups show every flaw LOL. First I made the ring and soldered closed with hard solder. Then I filed a half round 14g size cut on one edge of the uncut tube, doing this I think made the ring look better than just soldering the tube to the top of the ring. I measured the stone from table to cullet and added 1mm to the caliper length. Coated the end of the tube in black sharpies and then using the caliper scored a mark in the sharpie to get the proper tube length. This is all shown in the video link provided below. Using third hands and what nots I placed the ring in the filed groove. I placed the soldered part of the ring in the center of the tube as I removed this piece anyway. (REMOVE THIS BEFORE SETTING, or it will have to stay which is not so bad really. Cut the seat and set the stone as per this Youtube vid: Thinks learned: The stone fell out several times after I thought I had a good seat. lesson learned, it takes more force than I thought to set stone. Don't use a man's hairy finger as a background for pictures:) Make sure your bezel setting tool is centered before striking, mine was not quite right and I cut the silver on the first strike, it sort of healed with burnishing and it is what it is. If you want to set the stone so the table is level (and you do) its essential to get your seat cut level, that part of mine turned out excellent, or at least pretty good. It was a fun experiment and I think I will make another couple today.
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Mar 2, 2014 11:11:44 GMT -5
YAY!!!!! You did good. I like the bezel edge, it looks scalloped. Thank you for posting this. Doing a tube setting is very, very high on my must learn list. So, do you think that video was adequate?
|
|
Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
|
Post by Tom on Mar 2, 2014 13:32:28 GMT -5
It sure helped me. (the video) I am going to go make another one right now. I lost this one:( It was on my pinky finger and it was big for that finger, it likely went down the drain or in the garbage I did check all the garbage, yuk:). Hope its not bad luck to loose the first of something. Maybe it will turn up, time to make the wife another before she gets home LOL.
Actually relooking at those images the iPhone takes pretty good shots, it DID look nicer in hand because you could not see all the flaws.
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Mar 2, 2014 14:28:08 GMT -5
Oh man, sorry you lost it. Maybe it'll show up. I have never bought tube before and I don't know what tools I would need, either. What do you think is the most important- can't do without- tool, which one wouldn't necessarily have on hand? Did that make sense? I am wondering what I need to ad to my rio cart. Good thing I just sold some stuff.
|
|
Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
|
Post by Tom on Mar 2, 2014 15:18:47 GMT -5
Hi Tela, well if you are asking me I have only finished my second tube set LOL. but I bought these: www.riogrande.com/Product/LYNX-Setting-Burs-Set-of-24/344396?Pos=4Will do up too 5.5mm stones www.riogrande.com/Product/Stone-Setting-System/113221?Pos=43you can set by hand but this is a very nice have IMO You need some kind of drill, your Foredom should work, I have a small drill press with a milling attachment. Its accurate, but I need it as I have some hand tremor. U will need some kind of tube cutter, I have one from work that is a mini, mini pipe cutter style. It will work down to say 3mm tube and would not be to expensive at a tool store or eBay. The tube cutters that you use a saw will are pricey, but look really good. I am pretty sure you won't be able to hand saw the tube and get it perfect but maybe with some filing. Cheap hobby miter box or something. HEAVY WALL TUBING, the Rio site will tell you what size stone to get. I went with 5.5mm tube and 5.0mm stones (ordering some stuff for 4mm) You may want to get a set of ball burrs, I screwed up and bought the set that is too small, I have ordered the bigger set (tool addict) I just used the setting burr and it seemed to work fine. If you buy get THIS SET www.riogrande.com/Product/LYNX-Round-Burs-Set-of-14/344340?Pos=7 or better. People will chime in and tell you what to get that I screwed up on, I would think you have everything else you need. Thats about it, experience will chime in so don't be hitting the order button on my advice ROTF...
|
|
steelandstone
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2008
Posts: 500
|
Post by steelandstone on Mar 2, 2014 16:30:25 GMT -5
It sure helped me. (the video) I am going to go make another one right now. I lost this one:( It was on my pinky finger and it was big for that finger, it likely went down the drain or in the garbage I did check all the garbage, yuk:). Hope its not bad luck to loose the first of something. Maybe it will turn up, time to make the wife another before she gets home LOL. Actually relooking at those images the iPhone takes pretty good shots, it DID look nicer in hand because you could not see all the flaws. Damn Tom, I thought it came out pretty good for the first time, I don't see why you felt the need to toss it in the trash
|
|
Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
|
Post by Tom on Mar 2, 2014 20:24:18 GMT -5
Thanks for the compliments I guess it was ok for the first one, fun to make too. I think the second turned out better. It might turn up, it was not in the garbage but may have went down the drain, maybe I will pull the trap out and see. It's not a super big loss other than it was my first one.
|
|
|
Post by pghram on Mar 3, 2014 9:19:08 GMT -5
Nice ring, I hope you find it.
Rich
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Mar 3, 2014 14:32:25 GMT -5
Thanks Tom, I'm gonna bookmark this. I see I'll need a few tools.
|
|
Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
|
Post by Tom on Mar 3, 2014 20:14:33 GMT -5
Well my wife came home gave me a kiss and found the ring on the floor! go figure, I pawed through coffee grounds and other fun stuff and she finds it in 60 seconds:)
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Mar 4, 2014 13:05:25 GMT -5
Well my wife came home gave me a kiss and found the ring on the floor! go figure, I pawed through coffee grounds and other fun stuff and she finds it in 60 seconds:) I guess I'll be the girl to go out on that limb and say that that is how it usually happens with men and women. If my husband can't find something.... he doesn't ask me for help, because I'll find it. LOL!
|
|
Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
|
Post by Tom on Mar 4, 2014 13:20:43 GMT -5
Oh its no limb you are on Tela its totally true! This is the honest truth, I actually had in the back of my mind that she would find it after she got home. But 60 seconds, and that was with my daughter my grandson and 3 big dogs running around. Amazing really
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Mar 4, 2014 14:04:25 GMT -5
Yeah, it is true, much to the chagrin of many. Another thing DH can't understand is how I can read or respond to an email, talk on the phone, respond to conversations in the room and work at the same time. He used to think he didn't have my attention, but he knows now that he does.
|
|
|
Post by connrock on Mar 6, 2014 15:23:12 GMT -5
Very nice job Tom and I'm glad you found the ring,,,or I should say your wife found the ring! An old trick I use,,,,I toss something on the floor and tell my wife I can't find it.She finds it immediately and I praise her for it! LOL It always makes her feel good and you ALWAYS want to keep the cook happy! LOL connrock
|
|
Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
|
Post by Tom on Mar 8, 2014 21:56:55 GMT -5
Thanks everybody
|
|
39don
starting to spend too much on rocks
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DonsLapidaryArts
Member since February 2012
Posts: 225
|
Post by 39don on Mar 8, 2014 23:48:37 GMT -5
I just run up on this posting.
Excellent ring Tom, you did a super job for your first faceted stone.
Gosh I don't need anymore tools at my age but I would like to try it.
39don
|
|