Hi! Have you ever fired a gemstone into a metal clay piece and afterwards if turned out damaged or an ugly color?
Here is how you can remove them and either add a new stone or setting to the area on your piece. Here is a bangle I made out of 960 silver. It is representing a bent twig. I embedded Rubies and Amethyst CZ's. The CZ's faded to an ugly blue grey as you can see. Tools needed A spring loaded Center Punch found and any Hardware or big box store. A mandrel or a sturdy wood backing block Your metal clay piece Safety Glasses (Very Important) A sharp pointed metal piece (ice pick etc)
Use the nail setter and punch the stone on the side of the setting. I found three time in different sides did the trick. It will shatter the stone.
Once shattered, the pieces of the stone can be picked out and the resulting space ground for re embedding a new gemstone or you can use clay and paste to fill the void in order to set a bezel or prong embeddable setting. See above the three indentations where the nail setter punched stone?
Empty setting ready to be cleaned up
Here is the finisher bracelet with rubies in bezel cups which replaced the nasty faded CZs.
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September 2023
Marilyn CookI am anArt Clay Senior instructor who loves working with all aspects of Metal Clay. Categories |