jewelers balls (i would always tease the salesperson who asked
me to install jewelers balls inside a ring. 'i'm not putting
mine in there!, you'll have to find somebody elses!') are
installed inside a shank to theoretically keep the ring from
turning around on a finger
George, I was out to dinner at a chinese restaurant with
freinds. I ordered shrimp balls, my freind didn’t skip a beat and
replied, “you know the hard part about making chinese shrimp
balls is getting the little boogers to spread their legs” (ha,
ha). Speaking of arthritic finger devices for rings. I have
always used adjusto-shanks, finger-fits and finger-mates. One of
my larger customers wants me to use the super-fit (not sure-fit)
for his rings. Have you ever tried this one? I got a sample and
it seems very well made, the hinge and clasp mechanism are almost
invisible when closed and the shank is solid, allowing future
sizing. Any experience with this? Mark P.
What about “moth balls”? ( I can never resist a bad joke!)
Superfit shanks work very well. We have been installing them,
or on the really tricky ones, having the Superfit company install
them now for 2-3 years and have not had one back that was broken.
Once in a while someone comes in with one that is clogged with
gunk (finger jam). After it is cleaned it works fine. I think
the person who designed them is a retired aerospace engineer
type. The really great thing is that they will work on any
finger. It doesn’t matter how big the knuckle is because they
slip on the base of the finger and don’t have to clear the
knuckle. Finger Mates & Finger Fits have to slip over the
knuckle and only have a 2-4 size difference limit. (difference
between size of knuckle and base of finger where ring fits.) The
size has to be accurate since it is difficult to size them after
installation. I use a plastic ring sizing set that is split to
take the finger size. I often break these sizers, and would like
to find a set that is springy. If anyone knows where to get a
set let me know. (FYI: Stuller just came out with a plastic set
of sizers that have 1/4 sizes). I would recommend this product
highly. ( I am not affiliated with them.)
All the Best
Stephen
I have always used adjusto-shanks, finger-fits and
finger-mates. One of my larger customers wants me to use the
super-fit (not sure-fit) for his rings. Have you ever tried
this one? I got a sample and it seems very well made, the hinge
and clasp mechanism are almost invisible when closed and the
shank is solid, allowing future sizing. Any experience with
this?
hi mark p.
i’ll directly answer your question: no i’ve never used a super
fit (it takes a pen to open and it has a single hinge that
allows the shank to swing away, right?) but… do you believe
in the rythym (sp?) of life? the right things happening at the
right time? i believe in it more after your question! i’m in
need of superfits phone # because i need to use one and nothing
else is going to work on this ring (unless i invent something
and hand fabricate it). i’ve looked in all my book directories
and can’t find their #. superfit is probably a brand name that
doesn’t reflect the co. name that produces them. i’ll bet you
have their number. could i puhleeeeze beg it from you.
i’ve installed all of those other types as well. to one degree
or another, they all cause the upper portion of the ring to
flex, the adjusto shank being the worst. so, if you have a
channel set ring, especially with channels going in the same
direction as the finger, (this is my situation) you have stones
continually coming loose and/or falling out. the super fit
doesn’t cause the ring to flex, and as you know, from that
sample, it doesn’t have any protruding parts like all the others
(except the finger mate).
perhaps we can compare notes before or after we install them.
best regards,
geo fox
ps. that wasn’t such a bad joke.