FINAL TOUCHES
I hope you kept everything pretty
clean as you went along! The initial
polish is the least fun step.9a
Start with a grey rubber
wheel in your fl ex shaft.
Smooth out the solder where the
earring post meets the ring, and
make sure there are no sharp edges.9b
Move on to a polishing buff
and compound. Get every-
thing shiny, then wash it well.
The most fun step is setting the
stone, and it’s next. You’re almost
done!10
Secure your piece in some
kind of vise. I use a ball vise
and heat-moldable plastic, so I don’t
have to worry about anything. Use a
bezel pusher to gently fold the bezel
over the stone. Work from opposite
directions at fi rst, and then go
around in a circle a few times until
810
9a
11
9b
the stone is secure and there are no
gaps in the bezel. If you’re fancy like
me, go around the top of the bezel
with a burnisher or graver to give it
a little extra sparkle. Remove it from
the vise or heat-moldable-plastic.11
For the fi nal polish, use a rubber
wheel or extra fi ne fi le to go
around the top of the bezel and take
out any marks from setting. Then
give it all another go with a polishing
buff and compound.
Use an ultrasonic (or toothbrush
and dish soap) to clean it, and you’re
all set!NINA RAIZEL HARTMAN has been making
jewelry for as long as she can remember. Since earn-
ing her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design
in 2014, she has been pursuing a career in jewelry
based on conscious design, craft, and sustainability.
She lives and works in Seattle, Washington. You can
learn more about her at https://nina-raizel.com.Pyrite
in Agate
SMOKIN’ STONES
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