Hi everyone.
I am urgently requiring help on the lay-out or procedure to put
together a seven stone cluster.
the centre stone is rectangular (in a tappered 4-claw tube) then
followed by 2 and then 1 stone on either side (making a triangle
shape pointing away from the centre) I need help with sheared claw
positioning, and any other suguestions or easier shortcuts would
realy be appreciated.
Thanks guys
Andrew de Beer
the centre stone is rectangular (in a tappered 4-claw tube) then followed by 2 and then 1 stone on either side (making a triangle shape pointing away from the centre) I need help with sheared claw positioning,
Hi Andrew
This could be quite a long reply so I’ll apologize in advance for
rambling on…
Not sure what U mean by sheared claw positioning, but this is how I
would go about it…
Make 6 x jump rings, out of 0.9mm thick wire, each 1 exactly the
size of the the round stones you are using. Solder the 2 that are
connecting to the centre setting together (lay flat on charcoal
block with joins touching), then solder the other jump ring to the
2, creating your triangle. do the same with the other set. Mark the
level where U want the side stones to lie in relation to the centre
setting. Lay everything out in “plastiscene” (play dough). I use
cheese wax ( the wax you get on the side of cheese). Get your angles
and lines right , cover with investment and have a coffee break.
When investment is dry (warm slightly if using wax) if using play
dough gently pull off, turn upside down , check that there is no
p/dough between the links and the setting (if using the wax, just
melt it out) flux and solder everything together, plunge into
water/ultrasonic to get rid of investment and all that is left is to
add the wires(grin) Take a straight bur and bur in the “V” created by
the “J” rings.Using the same bur very gently bur into the link where
it joins onto the centre setting, on both sides. (you need to bur
just a “nick” into the link) Take a piece of wire and cut a notch in
the middle and bend the wire into a “V” shape, fit it into the
grooves that U have burred in, laying the bottom part of the “V”
against the base of the centre setting. Check everything is aligned
and even and solder, do the same on the other side. Take another “V”
wire and fit to “the between the links” notch and solder, making
sure that the base of the “V” is resting on your other “V”. On the
end link you need to imagine where the next link would join and at
that point bur in on both sides of the link. Use another “V” and
solder.
Nearly there…Now you need to"nick" in with the bur, evenly
spaced (on the links) between the wires that you have soldered into
position, as well as burring in at the base of your setting, to the
depth of the thickness of your wire. Use another “V” and solder into
position…Now do the others…Almost there…
Using a twist drill, drill a hole where all 3 links join and drill a
hole where (or bur) the 2 links join the Central setting. Take a
thicker piece of wire (0.8 or 0.9mm), bend into a “U” and fit into
holes and solder, do the other side. Cut the top of the “U’s” off
and U are done. A few points to remember…
Before placing the wires, bur the J/rings open with a ball bur (use
1 that is slightly larger than your stone) this is just that your
stone has somewhere to nestle into.
Use very, very small pieces of solder Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy…this
is what being a jeweller is all about…patience, skill,
tenacity and Perseverance
Best off luck and any problems e-mail me off-line and I’ll try to
help
Lawrence
(Former S.A. Jeweller) 
Lawrence Saber
Master goldsmith
@Lawrence_Saber_Maste