Roller Mill Jam and Stone ID Questions

David_Terao 2003-10-30 05:23:55 UTC #1

I’m a lurker and rarely post to this wonderful forum, but I need
HELP!

(1) I’ve jammed by PEPE Roller Mill: the handle arm no longer moves
the rollers, and I’ve got some silver and pattern material stuck
between the rollers that won’t release…Can any of you
knowledgeable folks tell me how to release and fix this without
going back to the manufacturer? Thanks in advance for your help.

(2) I picked up a lot of estate stones that look like beautiful star
sapphires. How can I determine if they are natural or man-made?
Again, thanks in advance for your help!

Sherry Terao, Art Peace
Silver Spring, MD

spirersomes 2003-10-31 00:59:04 UTC #2

I picked up a lot of estate stones that look like beautiful star
sapphires.  How can I determine if they are natural or man-made?

Since you don’t tell us whether or not you have any gemological
equipment it is hard to tell you what to do to identify the stones.
It would probably be best if you found a knowledgeable gemologist in
your area and pay to have them appraised. On your own , what I can
tell you is that if the stones appear to be perfectly cut (no rounded
bellies, even sizes, 10mmx8mm, 8mmx6mm) and have perfect six rayed
stars, the odds are that the stones are synthetic. However it is not
a guarantee that they are synthetic with these conditions, it is just
that the odds go up. Better to see a gemologist.

Daniel R. Spirer, GG
Spirer Somes Jewelers
1794 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02140
617-491-6000
@spirersomes
www.spirersomes.com

Tony1 2003-10-31 01:22:33 UTC #3

Pepe makes two kinds of gears for their rollers. One has a breakaway
that prevents amateurs from marking the rollers. I had to send mine
back to have the professions gears added to it.

You can unjam it by taking the whole unit to pieces. It’s quite
easy.

Tony Konrath
Key West Florida 33040

7848 2003-10-31 01:26:41 UTC #4

Roller mills are rather simple machines. I would take it all apart
and free the pieces. Sounds like perhaps you may have tried to push
through to much at too low a setting.

Gary_Bourbonais 2003-11-01 05:40:29 UTC #5

Hi Folks…

    I picked up a lot of estate stones that look like beautiful
star sapphires.  How can I determine if they are natural or
man-made?

A quick check on the bottom of the stone(s)… If you find an "L"
there…you probably have Linde synthetic star sapphires, which
were quite the rage years back…

And yeah, the comments by Daniel and others…if the star is too
"perfect" as well as the stone being too perfect in size are
indicators of synthetics also…

Probably worth having a gemologist determine what’s what…

Gary W. Bourbonais

Margaret_Malm2 2003-11-01 05:45:11 UTC #6

Also – why not just turn the handle that controls the roller
separation, to just increase the distance between rollers? i should
come on out then –

margaret