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Over the years we’ve received a lot of emails asking how to
remove a stone so the piece can be polished or heat hardened. In many cases
leaving the stone in the piece while performing these procedures will cause
damage to the stone. So how can you safely remove the stone from a finished
piece.
Solution – The cabochon
must be removed in such a way that it causes the least amount of damage. Removing
the cab from the front may cause irreparable damage to the piece. Removing the
stone from the back of the piece, however, will hide any damage that occurs.
Using flat nose pliers, grab the bottom of the backing wire
at the point where it bends away from the frame wires (Picture 1).
Picture 1
Gently bend
the wire away from the stone (Picture 2).
Picture 2
Do the same with the top of the same
wire (Picture 3).
Picture 3
You should now have one side of the stone exposed (Picture 4). Do
the same with the second backing wire.
Picture 4
At this point the backing wires should
look like open shutters (Picture 5). From the front of the piece push the stone
out the back.
Picture 5
Now you are free to perform whatever necessary procedures that
you wish (Picture 6).
Picture 6
When you’re ready to reinstall the stone push it into the
piece from the back. With flat nose pliers bend the backing wires back into
place against the stone (Picture 7).
Picture 7
To get the wires snug against the stone tap
the wires with a rawhide mallet (Picture 8). Be careful not to cause any damage
to the stone or the front of the piece.
Picture 8
Please keep in mind that this procedure can only be done to
the piece once. The more you bend the backing wires the weaker they become. The last thing that you need is to grab one of
the backing wires and have it snap away from the piece.
If
you have a problem that you would like answered, let us know - wirearted@gmail.com
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