Kudos on stone setting video

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hello Gerry,

I want to tell you that after watching your video on stone setting
with four prongs (or claws as you call them), I launched into
setting a large oval amethyst in a 4 prong setting. Yea! The gem
looks great.

I have struggled with using the setting burs to cut notches. With
the leastprovocation, the bur wants to wrap its path around the
prong. grrrr. I had never thought of using a bud bur horizontally
(!) to cut in the notch, then sort of ‘carving’ the rest of the
angle down the prong. It made a huge difference.

Also I followed your instructions to spread the prongs out, even
though thismounting was large enough that there was no impediment to
bur use. By gradually closing in the prongs to grip the stone, I got
a firm seat. In this case because of the large size of the stone, it
was necessary to force the tips down onto the stone and use a cup
bur to round them off.

Thanks for your help. I learned a new and better way to cut seats!
Judy in Kansas, who is expecting a drizzly afternoon with icy roads
tonight. Glad I’m not going out.

2

Judy Willingham

I was taught that method of using a lateral-cutting, bud bur only
about 40 years ago. It stayed with me since then. the thanks I get on
this obvious setting solution, is so-o gratifying. I’m only hoping
others will pick up this setting method.

Remember, “think out of the box”, try something different, if it
works, great! You’ve then found a new setting process. Also, there
are no definite rules in setting, each setter will try something that
will work for him/her. I even use alternate setting tools, if needed.

My teacher said to me, "if you have to use a ‘knife & fork’ to get a
stone set. do so! As long as it works for you. do it that way.

Glad to have helped you. keep watching my video’s, I have so many
more coming this year. Let’s see how it worked for you.

Gerry Lewy