Perhaps I'm wrong, but wasn't the original point being made that
the OP couldn't find an oval mandrel with the required ratios for
the oval. 'Oval' is a pretty generic term..
Thom, you read correctly. This device is for producing odd ratio oval
mandrels. Many jewelers have access to, or a friend with machining
capabilities, so this is an option.
To get the best weight from some stones that I facet, making a bezel
or prong setting from scratch, fabricating or revamping and existing
setting to fit these oval shapes, gets old really fast.
Admittedly this is a special purpose device, but my hope was to show
the folks how I am dealing with the issue.
Thanks for the compliment.
Rod
To get the best weight from some stones that I facet, making a
bezel or prong setting from scratch, fabricating or revamping and
existing setting to fit these oval shapes, gets old really fast.
Faceting for maximum weight means that you are not producing a
calibrated gem. Apparently you are convinced that making a mandrel
for each non-calibrated gem is a solution for the time spent making
or modifying an existing setting.
I do not comprehend how spending the time as a machinist is less
boring as you would be making oval mandrels over and over for each
gem unless you are gaining benefit by becoming more skilled as a
machinist and that is what is valuable for your needs.
I usually make tools that are used for processes that are repeatable
or for a one time use when nothing else can be used. I do have to
incorporate the time making a tool into the cost of doing the work.
How do you incorporate the cost of the time you take to make the
oval bezel mandrel into the price of the gem? Am I correct in
assuming each oval mandrel you make is used one time for one gem?
Richard Hart G.G.
Denver, Co.
I hope this is not stating the obvious, but why not form these odd
ovals on a small stake. It is not going to work very well for small
bezels, but I do it all the time for odd shaped stones. Bill Fretz
has a tutorial on his website… think he may have something on
Orchid as well. No, you don’t have to shell out the big bucks for
Fretz stakes… anything hard enough touse as a stake (steel,
hardwood, derlin, etc) will work with a plastic, rawhide or derlin
hammer. Just find something with the radius you are trying to match
and have at it.