Just a few weeks ago some posts were made about diamond setting and
the list of tools. I chuckled reading the list ~ thinking before I
opened the attachment that there would be some ‘Magic’ set of five
tools that do the job, LOL! I sweat bullets every time I have a
diamond even in my shop! I just set 30 diamonds in a new mounting and
I think I worried about it more than the time it took to do the
repair. (What a baby.) I feel like I am reinventing the wheel every
time I set a faceted stone (and having a mental crisis to boot while
I do the work.)
There were some DVDs of gem setting mentioned: anyone got a good
list of faceted stone setting DVDs? A variety of different
instructors would be great… I learn well from these as its hard
for me to travel across the country to take a class.
diamond even in my shop! I just set 30 diamonds in a new mounting
and I think I worried about it more than the time it took to do the
repair. (What a baby.) I feel like I am reinventing the wheel
every time I set a faceted stone (and having a mental crisis to
boot while I do the work.)
When I have a job to do that I am really concerned about having
trouble with, I go over the steps I need to do over and over,
imagining each step in sequence in as much detail as I can, and
where I need to pay the most attention to not make any mistakes so
the finished piece comes out to my total satisfaction. This process
really helps me, it is like I have a sense memory while I am doing
the work and I feel more comfortable while I am doing the work.
Sometimes I might go over the procedure 20 or 30 times over several
days.
I have suggested Blaine Lewis’ two DVD’s to several folks either
just learning to set, or wishing to hone their skills setting more
difficult gemstone shapes. I own both, and even with over 35 years
at the bench I still like to go back and review his films.
I believe the titles are: “Bezel & Flush Setting”, and “The Art Off
Setting Princess Cuts”. Between those two videos you will discover a
lot of suggestions that apply to nearly all setting jobs.
When I have a job to do that I am really concerned about having
trouble with, I go over the steps I need to do over and over. .
I do the same thing, then I find that when I do the job it’s not a
big deal and all goes smoothly. I’m never sure if the hours of
working it out helped or if it was just wasted worry and I should
have just plunged right in and done the work. I remember when I was
working for the goldsmith that trained me, I found that I was
dreaming about challenging work I had coming up. I asked him if he
would pay me overtime because I was working in my sleep.
If you truly have 30 diamonds a day, or even a week in the shop then
I would highly recommend the Foredom Allset Master kit. I think it’s
one of the most useful setting tools out there and a very wise
investment- particularly if you are unsure of yourself. I have an
Ikhoe, a couple of setting arbor presses, and of everything out
there to buy -The Allset is the thing that will save you time, create
perfect settings every time, reduce the time involved by at least
2/3 over a job with hand tools, or even if you were using a power
graver, etc. (gravermax, etc. ) and other tools in tandem to
accomplish your tasks.
It is available in a number of forms- with an extra #30 handpiece (
presuming you already have one),with a milling table or just a
prongs kit, channel kit or otherwise removing or adding components to
the basic set. But the Master set is the best deal s everything
you’ll want is there. I have no association with Foredom, except that
I have some of their products but I would promote this tool and
endorse it. If you shop around you can find a reasonable price.
Beware of fakes as a couple of imitations are out there from China
that are not precise, and at least 100 less. It’s a fast learning
curve, and I would by an extra “l” bracket if you want to keep one #
30 set up all the time. - if you don’t need that degree of
flexibility it takes about 15 minutes to set up start to finish
…there is no setting that won’t benefit from the use of this tool if
you are going into stone setting a bit nervously. If you have any
trouble getting one let me know and there may be a way i can help
with Foredom directly. . contact me off list in that case please. rer
If somebody is going to buy a special tool for every task, you need
to buy a lot. To my opinion, it’s better to learn a job by a pro
untill you know the steps and tricks blindfolded. There is no better
tool then you’re own hands togehter with a good based training by a
pro or school. I’ve seen extreme beautiful work from people making
jewels with straight forward ordinary tools. Proffesion do not come
with buying tools but by doing, repeating untill you start dreaming
about it.
Do be save for the ones who’re thinking that I’m starting a tool
war, well, I’m not. If you believe that you do a better job by buying
a tool then go ahead and spend your money. However you will be
dependable to this particular tool. … to the day that you learn it
the different way.
For this reason i’m so keen to learn from all of you even being in
the trade for many years. I whould spend my money for a week in James
Binion atelier making notes and learn from him. I gladly whould pay
for having conversations with Leonid even when I not alway’s agree
with his point of view -). Just to name a view amongst the many well
trained and knowledgable people in this forum.
Buy what you want but believe in your best tools. …brains and
hands.
Currently the very best DVDs about stone setting on the market are
from Berlins (Germany) Vitalij Kricuk. I have three and I highly
recommend them. You can search for trailers on YouTube by using his
name. You’ll get what you see there (no talking, pictures and music
only). But it takes practice, a lot, to get all setting jobs done.
I was miss understood or did not proof read my own post. I don’t have
30 diamonds a day to set in my shop or even in a week. I had one
repair that had30 diamonds to set - one of those kinda old fashion
wedding rings with a larger diamond center and smaller diamonds
circling it in several circles tolook almost like a flower. I was
having a meltdown just thinking about setting all the little
diamonds. It actually went fine but I still need instruction. I often
turn down these kinda of repairs and that is just plain silly to see
money walking away because I am under educated. Thanks to all for any
more DVDs out there re: stone setting
joy kruse