Best to get the slightly SMALLER size than what you need so that you
can open up the hole to fit the stone snugly. If you use a bigger
size you’ll have the stone rocking around while setting,making it a
pain to get level! or worse. Good to get a few burs of various
sizes, but keep around your stone size to save money! I and many
setters spend hundreds on boxes of different size burs because we
need to be prepared, though i’ve had some years i’ve never used!
When I finish using a worn down “BUDdy”-BUR, I even keep these for
when? For doing some detailing around settings, Azure, or even
smoothing out inside baguette settings. Making a wider cut for a
think girdled stone, re-designing the pattern near an engagement ring
head. How about when you have a 3 stone head and the darn file can’t
reach in between the joined claws. I would use a thin bud bur and let
Nature take its course. I even use some slightly worn down burs and
scrape off the casting surface, as in filing prior to pre-polishing.
What me to throw away burs? Only if the heads brake off. I must have
5-600 (6 full pallets) burs at my ready of all sizes too.:>)
It’s not the number of burs you have to worry about. It’s the
detailed selection you should be concerned with. Out of 1000 burs, if
one bur is all you require at that moment in setting. Then you’ve
made your day. Job is done without postponing the setting till the
tool supplier opens up. I usually set aside three burs; why? Glad you
asked, one for the exact size. One for a tad larger, and another for
opening up the Pavillion of the stone…Hence, three burs for ONE
simple stone!
Even to continue, if I have one used bur, the measurements are then
being reduced…keep it! Use it for a slightly smaller stone. Now you
have a bur that is NOW just in between the “two bur, stock sizes”.
Lets say a spread of 1.75 mm and a 2.00mm now you might have a used
bur of 1.90mm or 1.85mm, great? I only throw away a bur if all of the
teeth are totally worn down. Some tool suppliers may not have a 1.85
or a 1.95mm…but YOU DO NOW!..:>) Also if the teeth are slightly
worn down, I use this bur for a mini-file for in-between beads, or
finishing off of an under section for an Azure area of the ring.
Nothing is wasted on my setting bench, free to use it as
you please…please!..
I took a setting class at new approach school and blaine used
nitric acid to slightly reduce the size of burs just for the
scenario of uncommon stone sizes.. he also said it was helpful to
resharpen worn burs by etching them with nitric acid.
I have some nitric acid and old burs. Would someone mind sharing how
to do this? I’ve always been leery of acid and didn’t feel like
experimenting on my own.
I took a setting class at new approach school and blaine used
nitric acid to slightly reduce the size of burs just for the
scenario of uncommon stone sizes.. he also said it was helpful to
resharpen worn burs by etching them with nitric acid.
I have some nitric acid and old burs. Would someone mind sharing
how to do this? I've always been leery of acid and didn't feel like
experimenting on my own.
About four years ago we had a discussion about bringing new life to
old files and I quoted a recipee from Martin Niemeijer. I have with
success used this same method for old, blunt burs. It makes them
sharp again, but at the same time they come out of the process with a
little smaller dimension.
Here is a link to the post:
Kind regards
Niels Lovschal
Contemporary and Viking Age Jewellery
Classes in Jewellery Techniques
Bornholm, Denmark