Regarding the problem of jewelry flying out of your hand
when using a polishing machine, the easiest and safest method
that I know of is to run a strong shoelace or leather thong
through the jewelry, and wear either a leather finger cot,
available at most any supply house for less than a dollar, or
an old pair of leather gloves, the sort that are sold in
hardware stores with a leather palm and a canvas top. This
method is for anything that you can run the shoelace through
such as rings.
For flat pieces, if they are large enough, I simply grip
them very securely, and with all pieces keep the jewelry
below the half way point on the diameter of the buff. For
small pieces which are difficult to hold onto, use the
smallest diameter buff that you can find. In some cases
gripping the jewelry with a ring holding device works, but
you must be sure that the wedge is clamped very tight. I
usually whack the end of it with a mallet to lock it
securely.
When polishing chain, the easiest for me is to wrap the
chain around a wooden mandrel, such as a cutoff broomstick,
but be sure that you do not let either end of the chain
loose. A buff will eat chain faster than you can blink.
Hope these ideas prove useful. I have used them successfully
for nearly 30 years. Enjoy. Karl <@Karl>
aka Xanadu Creations - Goldsmith - Silversmith - Enamelist
