Yes it was rather disgusting but I eventually found the missing
diamond in the trash. It had been tossed partially because I stupidly
left it in the one inch baggie that the supplier sent it in. A too
quick bench clean one day and it went AWOL, stuck to a card used for
epoxy.
So I’ll get some large stone papers and repackage all small
items(although bags are nice and easy to see what’s inside, although
its not foolproof as I’ve just seen). And I’ll be more diligent in
the future.
What are some other ways of ‘flagging’ valuable little thingies?
So I'll get some large stone papers and repackage all small
items (although bags are nice and easy to see what's insideI don't
like stone papers
I don’t want to open over and over just to see what’s inside, and
maybe drop things. Why not keep the baggies and staple each one to a
file card? Maybe even bright colored (or color-coded) ones to really
minimize the likelihood of overlooking them.
So I'll get some large stone papers and repackage all small items
(although bags are nice and easy to see what's inside I don't like
stone papers
Just get a pack of parcel papers, and buy a parcel paper storage
box, all of which can be seen here http://www.rubin-and-son.com/
even if you don’t buy from them. Write on the outside, and put them
in categories. Bite the bullet, take care of your stones and they’ll
take care of you.
Just curious, can anyone explain the benefit of stone papers over
little baggies? Years ago, I had some tiny sapphires stored in
papers-- (they came that way) and when I opened the parcel, sure
enough they popped out.
I found a binder designed to hold business cards-- and put my stones
(housed in small -marked baggies first) in them.
Now they can be viewed buy turning the pages and since the pages are
transparent, one can look at the stones though the light. The stones
are securely held, but can be removed with ease.
Bad luck, and well done for finding the lost bag in the trash.
Locating and keeping track of tiny slippery (and sticky) valuable
objects is a necessary skill and time saver.
I think the best way is to have the work area as tidy as possible; a
place for everything and everything in it’s place. For me the
quickest way to find a lost something is to start putting everything
away in its respective place. The respective places must be so
accessable that I can say to myself, “Sure I will need that
tool/thingy again in a minute; it will be in it’s place”, and putting
it there is hardly more difficult than leaving it on the work
surface. Perhaps a slightly longer arm-reach or wrist-twist.
Another aspect for me is to do one job at a time. Everything on the
bench belongs to the job being done including little packets, pieces
of paper, loose stones and even the lemel. When the job is finished
the bench is clear for the next job.
Having said all that I have bad hair days. My bench is a mess,
stones flick out of tweezers, the coffee is cold, and I have to re-do
that bit to get it right grrr… A good tidy up, fresh coffee, take
it out on a diversion like making a place for that annoying
tool/thingy that has no home, or upgrade its existing home.
Cheers, Alastair
PS - I will never go back to the folded gem papers. Plastic bags are
so much quicker, contents are visible, and they cannot spray melee
in all directions when opened.
Just curious, can anyone explain the benefit of stone papers over
little baggies
Anybody can store their stones any way they like, as far as I’m
concerned - just want to say that - it’s not a right/wrong thing at
all.
Parcel papers over baggies:
Papers are triple sealed - that’s why they’re folded as they are.
They are fool proof as long as you handle them properly, too.
Baggies get holes, and there go the stones. Especially at the seams.
Baggies deteriorate over time - especially the zip lock part sticks
together.
Baggies have a “stickiness” that matters especially with melee. Not
sure if it’s static electricity or what. Plus getting past the zip
lock part can be a chore with tiny stones.
Open a parcel paper and there are your stones. Pick one out and
close it back up. That can be done with a baggie, sort of.
I also use baggies by the bushel. I also put stones into them, but
not for long term storage. Parcel papers are neat and secure and
pack quite nicely into a box.
BTW - we do work for Macy’s jewelry. When they send us a repair
stone, they’ll often stick it on the side (inside) of a baggie under
a colored dot-sticker…
This isn’t something to turn into an issue, in my mind. Somebody
wants to store stones in racks on the wall, it’s fine with me. But
there are reasons why the industry works with parcel papers, too.
Dia papers are easier to flip through in a box, they don’t create
static, and you can write on them to your hearts content.
For me it seems to be much easier to throw away, or reuse for the
wrong purpose, a plastic bag that is conveniently right in front of
you.
The problem with dia papers for those who don’t use them often is
opening and closing them properly. Then again, I know people in the
business for 20-30yrs that can’t fold a paper closed.
Forgot to add to my reply to you about the dia papers…But I also
use for melle a 6" x 6" box that has round plastic containers for
holding gem stones. I took out the foam inserts and wrote on the top
with a permanent marker the mm sizes in each container. Stuller has
these The one I have has 25 small round plastic containers.
This isn't something to turn into an issue, in my mind. Somebody
wants to store stones in racks on the wall, it's fine with me. But
there are reasons why the industry works with parcel papers, too.
Surprisingly as it may appear, it is an issue and an important one.
Storing gemstones close to each other causes them to rub against each
other and destroy each other polish. If gemstone is brittle (like
zircon), this effect is especially pronounced.
Paper parcel is designed to minimized this problem (but not
completely eliminate it). Properly folded, it almost eliminates
gemstone movement and prolong their polish and sharpness of facet
junctions.
Also, careful handling of the parcel itself should not be under-
estimated.
The problem with dia papers for those who don't use them often is
opening and closing them properly. Then again, I know people in
the business for 20-30yrs that can't fold a paper closed.
Well I struggle with a fold-out map!
I want to be able to see them at first glance, so I may stick with
baggies. I’ve got them in a 3-ring binder within the pockets of a
transparent business card holder. This way I can see them by turning
pages.
Don’t know about the long-term prospects of the system-- just tyring
it out.