Messages: 26 Location: Canada
Registered: December 2015
Jewel positioning
Mon, 29 February 2016 10:01
Been awhile since I did a job like this. I have a bottom jewel setting from a p.w. Hamilton. Needs to be cut down in size to fit into setting opening. I have it shellacked into flat surface on the lathe ready to cut to size but I am having trouble centreing on the surface after heating and trying to centre. Any suggestions would be welcomed. Thank you Dan.
Messages: 4199 Location: Holland
Registered: December 2003
Re: Jewel positioning
Tue, 01 March 2016 02:29
Hallo Canada Dan,
To be honest, I am not 100% sure what exacly you have in mind. Be aware that you can't remove "something" from a real ruby/ jewel. That "stuff" is too hard.
Messages: 26 Location: Canada
Registered: December 2015
Re: Jewel positioning
Tue, 01 March 2016 08:13
Thank you for your reply. It is the brass setting that I was having trouble centreing on the brass chuck in the lathe to cut brass setting down to correct size. I used a very sharpe peg wood stick,moved the guide sideways, then I used the peg wood into centre of jewel setting. Heated the brass chuck,and slowly turned the lathe on. Once the shellac heated up, the jewel setting ran centre. Did my cutting, removed the setting by heating the brass chuck and then dropped it on the floor. Two hours later. Jewel setting found. I just have one question about removing shellac. What is the best way to boil the shellac off the setting? Thank you Dan.
Messages: 26 Location: Canada
Registered: December 2015
Re: Jewel positioning
Wed, 02 March 2016 08:30
Hello, Thank you for your reply. Yes it does have a steel collet but has a brass piece that you can shellac small jewel settings to be cut down to correct size to interchange for broken balance jewels in pocket watches. By using heat on the brass piece you can centre and cut these settings to correct size. Just had not done any in a long time.Thank you Dan.