Various ramblings

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi there heres some things I do # Silver- When melting I stir
with a pencil the burning wood helps keep oxygen away and you
also have a carbon rod of sorts.
Bit expensive though a good stir with a chopstick helps keep it
nice. # Beer-Pop a small chilli bean in a few bottles. Fantastic
in the winter you wont notice the first glass but dont drink to
fast this is potent stuff not a great favourite on hot days.

Sanding sticks- I score each edge as im wrapping it around so it
gives a good edge its also easier to tear of strips. Then I wrap
sellotape around the ends to hold it.

Pearls-I use a 2 pot epoxy (good old araldite John) the 5

minuite is exactly the same as the superstrength with a quickset
chemical added it still takes 24 hours for full strength.I wipe
out the drill hole with some glue on a sawblade this gets rid of
dust and ensures a good join. # Valuable pearls-I use a burr to
widen the hole into a wedge shape(wider as you go deeper) Then I
cut a slot into the end of the peg and insert a small wedge, when
you insert the bottom of the hole forces the wedge into the slot
widening the pin. Very tricky to get right so the pearl is
tightYou can use a spot of glue also. To remove you have to drill
througt the pin. The best use for this is the customer who is
always knocking out the pearl.

#pliers- Have made some nice ones by grinding of the ends of
cheap electricians pliers losing the plastic handles and
spring(im old fashioned some of my pliers are 80 odd years old)
and grinding to shape good fun. I have a pair of half round I
made 15 years ago and they are still going strong.

Best wishes Gerald
ARROWTOWN OPALS @ JEWELLERY
PH 64 3 4421288 FAX 64 3 4421488
http://www.netprophet.co.nz/nzsi/opals.htm
(trade site
www.angelfire.com/biz/wholesaleopals/index.html)

2

Sanding sticks- I score each edge as im wrapping it around so it
gives a good edge its also easier to tear of strips. Then I wrap
sellotape around the ends to hold it.

Scoring along the side of the stick is a good idea if you are
using sheets (of wet or dry paper) and instead of tape, you can
staple them to the wood stick at each end on both sides if the
stick is 3/16" thick or more.

Rick Hamilton

3

Wendy

1 I make a wrap around bezel and solder to a base Usually i make
the wrap around fit it over the stone then bend around a
suitable piece to fit tightly inside for the stone to sit on. I
worked with a En glish jeweller once and he could’nt believe that
bezel wire wasen’t readily available here.

2 Yes Im getting bold now be confident quote high do a good job
and people are happy. Most of my quotes are 5% high if the job
is charged at a little less than quoted work will roll in.

Joins When I was an apprentice I was taught to rouge a join
you did not want to run. I usually heat an old needle file apply
to my rouge block and wipe onto offending areas. When thrown hot
into the pickle it is easily removed.

Amber try tin oxide mixed to a paste rub by hand with a
toothbrush do not polish on a wheel it melts to easily. Also I
hear you can polish it with a household cleaner abrasive type
like jif or toothpaste.

             ARROWTOWN OPALS @ JEWELLERY
           PH 64 3 4421288 FAX 64 3 4421488
       Feb special parcel of black opal rough $300. a bag.
   (trade site
   www.angelfire.com/biz/wholesaleopals/index.html)