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.
0 Comments
This enameled piece has a lot of wonderful texture and eventually I will design a nice setting to fit it.
|
Archives
September 2023
Marilyn CookI am anArt Clay Senior instructor who loves working with all aspects of Metal Clay. Categories |