and saw 2 interesting stone picker-upper sticks…implements if you will…and was wondering if anyone has tried them and gad any feedback…
when working with really small stones…ie: 1.5mm…i find that my wax-on-a-toothpick still seems to leave alot annoying wax residue…i have the lick-the-stick method as well, but with little success…
so i am always on the lookout for a better option…
at one time i was looking into the vacumn-picker-upper type unit…but never bought one…
Julie, I have used the following, probably from Rio or Otto Frei, supposedly good ‘forever’. They worked nicely for a while, then lost their stickiness. Basically I’m posting this as a save-your-money caution. I doubt anything is going to stay permanently sticky.
The best solution I have found so far is to use glue-stick glue, either on a toothpick or on some tool like the above. Glue-stick is very sticky, and it washes off with water.
thanks for the caution. i will try the glue stick idea!
i wish i could figure out what the stone setters i see on youtube are using…probably spit!…on what looks like a briken bur tip…flattened…i like being able to push the stone with the stick after placement.
I glue Swarovski crystals - hundreds of them each year - onto Christmas tree ornaments and use polymer clay rolled into a point. It leaves no residue, but you do have to work it a bit to get it soft enough to form. I tried modeling clay and wax, but both left residue.
Glue-stick glue is …sticky. Use a second toothpick (or other tool) to separate the stone from the sticky one and press your stone in place. I use a round toothpick with an end cut off to have a wider, flat contact area for pressing. Other tools would work, but a truncated wooden toothpick isn’t going to harm a stone.
I aways use a little ball of Quakehold (or Museum Putty) on the flat end of a toothpick. Doesn’t leave much residue and lasts forever till it gets too dirty, then I put another ball on. Can get it on Amazon for $3.97.
We are old school in our studio. Tim and I just use a small brass rod and attach a mixture of semi soft wax and charcoal dust. Gouda cheese wax works very well. It is so easy to use. We can alter the shape and size of the sticky bit depending on the size of the stone. The other end is filed and polished to a point to help poke things like mele into the pre cut seats.
