Coolants - keeping gemstones cool

Jewelry Discussion
1

This is an age old method of keeping gemstones cool while sizing
rings. Take a potato, yes, a fresh potato, slice off part of it to
make a flat surface on top and bottom. Leave as much potato as
possible. Cut a slit or carve a small area out, depending on size of
stone. Do this dead center so there is as much potato as possible on
sides and bottom. Bury the stone into the slit leaving only the area
to be soldered protruding. There is a great deal of water in a dense
material that will keep the stone cool. You still need precise heat.
I have soldered emerald and opal rings this way. Then you can plant
what’s left of the potato !

2 
 This is an age old method of keeping gemstones cool while sizing
rings. Take a potato, yes, a fresh potato, slice off part of it to
make a flat surface on top and bottom. Leave as much potato as
possible. Cut a slit or carve a small area out, depending on size
of stone. Do this dead center so there is as much potato as
possible on sides and bottom. Bury the stone into the slit leaving
only the area to be soldered protruding. There is a great deal of
water in a dense material that will keep the stone cool. You still
need precise heat. I have soldered emerald and opal rings this way.
Then you can plant what's left of the potato !

I wanted to thank you and it does work. I am working on some
multiple stone pendants, and at the last one I found a weak solder
joint. Tried the place it in water trick (all the gem stone parts)
and could not get enough heat to flow the solder. Went to the potato
trick and viola in seconds at was repaired. Thanks Pauline and for
those of you doubting Thomas’s it really does work!

As a fellow Orchidian wrote …Orchid rocks!
Barbara Smith McLaughlin - Handcrafted Jewelry
166 Portsmouth Ave
Stratham, NH 03885
603-772-2633

bsm@barbarasmithmclaughlin.com