icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 28, 2015 19:02:47 GMT -5
With no one else to ask, here it comes: after you've completely fabricated a piece and are ready to set the stones, in whatever setting, do you do the main polishing of the piece before or after setting the stone(s)?
I usually do a light polishing by hand initially, set the stone(s), another hand polish, then the dremel to get as many scratches as I can and make it pop bright, using the red then white sticks, then the little green wheelie things. LOL I know so many proper terms.
I know a lot of people tumble. but shot is so expensive and I'm afraid of ruining my pieces by doing it wrong.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2015 20:45:30 GMT -5
I polish the best and most I can before setting the stones.i think the green wheely thingamabobbers are swifty's.a real jeweler friend of mine just got me hip to those.mine are in the mail.cant wait to make my pieces really "bling"now.
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Oct 28, 2015 23:33:50 GMT -5
I pre-polish the setting with tripoli before setting the stone. I'll final polish with the stone in place.
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Post by Pat on Oct 28, 2015 23:56:13 GMT -5
I polish as much as possible prior to setting the stone.
Depending on the stone, I toss it in the vibratory tumbler with steel shot, water and Dawn.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Oct 29, 2015 8:13:01 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for your consistent input. Now I know what to do. As for those green whirly things, man do those make a huge difference. And they're fun and quick! But with the Dremel I have to use at least 3-5 together. If you only use one small one, it will disintegrate in no time.
As for tumbling, I assume you can only throw in really hard stones like agate, quartz, jasper, etc., right? Is there a list somewhere of what you DON'T put in the tumbler? Obviously turquoise, kyanite, malachite, faceted gemstones, jade are not good choices. And I assume you tumble them for a couple hours?
Thanks guys and gals!
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