Some gem stones could be pressed instantly into the clay. As soon as the clay is dried, it’s fired both with a jeweller’s torch or in a kiln. The silver clay sinters into steel and shrinks barely (round 8 to 10%) and it’s the motion of shrinking which holds the stone in place.

Nonetheless, not all gem stones can face up to the warmth of the firing required to sinter the steel clay.

Pure gem stones are mined and have pure cuts and fissures in them. When the stone is heated, the warmth expands in these cuts and that may trigger the stone to crack. Additionally, some gem stones are warmth handled to offer them their color. If you happen to warmth them once more they lose that beautiful color.

So how have you learnt which stones to fireside in place and which is able to should be set one other approach?

There are lots of gem stones which could be set and fired in place with steel clay. Nonetheless, there are others which may’t face up to the warmth of firing although, so it’s essential to know which of them could be fired and depart these that may’t be fired to be set through conventional stone setting strategies as soon as your piece has been fired.

It’s additionally essential to notice that there’s at all times a sure diploma of danger when firing stones in place. Pure gem stones typically have inclusions or inner flaws which may’t been seen, which will in flip have an effect on the steadiness of the stone when firing. Due to this fact its essential to err on the aspect of warning when you can’t afford to lose the gemstone you’re working with.

Man-made stones comparable to Cubic Zirconias are extra steady and constant than pure gem stones, however there’s additionally nonetheless a danger of the stone cracking or discolouring if it will get too scorching.

One tip is to place any stones you need to take a look at in your firing brick/soldering block and warmth them up for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Go away them to chill naturally and as soon as you’re certain they’re cool, examine them rigorously. Are they the identical color? Are there any cracks or points with the stone? It’s higher to check your stones earlier than you utilize them in a jewelry design.

For the gem stones which could be fired in place with steel clay, we suggest firing your work in a kiln reasonably than utilizing a jewellers torch. This can guarantee the warmth is unfold evenly throughout the piece and cut back the chance of damaging your stones.

Because the Cool Instruments information beneath will clarify in additional element, some stones reply higher when being fired on the open shelf within the kiln, and others are higher when carbon fired (that is when the piece is buried in carbon to guard it from oxidisation). Some gem stones may also be torch fired if you’re assured in preserving the piece evenly heated.

It is best to by no means crash cool your piece as soon as fired with the stone in place – by this we imply placing a scorching piece into chilly water. Going from scorching to chilly rapidly dangers damaging the stone. Go away your piece to chill naturally – it normally solely takes round 10 minutes. You possibly can cool it down just a little extra rapidly by inserting it on a metal block.

Whether or not a gemstone can face up to the warmth of firing is determined by the distinctive chemical composition of the stone and the one approach of figuring out which of them could be fired has been by testing them.

Stones which have been examined and identified to resist firing in steel clay are these comparable to Labradorite, Moonstone, Ruby, Peridot, Sapphire, Spinel, Tanzanite, Rhodolite Garnet and Zircon.

You’ll discover that individual varieties of stones comparable to these from the Quartz household, can’t be fired. For instance, Amethyst, Agate, Black Oynx, Chalcedony, Carnelian and Citrine that are all from the Quartz household can’t be fired. Different varieties of stones comparable to Hearth Opals, Emeralds and even Diamonds can also’t be fired.

Lab-created Diamonds, Amethysts, Sapphires, Rubys, Spinel and a few Topaz may also be fired. And a few stones comparable to Alexandrite, Olivine CZ and Corundrum Citrine could be fired however could darken barely as soon as fired. See the Cool Instruments information beneath for extra particulars.

We extremely suggest having a look at this thorough information to firing gem stones from Cool Instruments. It goes into numerous element about which gem stones can and may’t be fired, how they need to be fired, in addition to at what temperature they need to be fired.

The listing accommodates these gem stones which have been examined not solely by Cool Instruments, but additionally by Rio Grande. If you happen to don’t see the gemstone you want to fireplace in place on the listing, then we suggest not trying to fireside it.

www.cooltools.us/v/vspfiles/belongings/photos/Article-Gemstones_In_Metal_Clay.pdf

In fact, if a stone can’t be fired in place it may be set onto your steel clay piece after firing utilizing conventional strategies together with bezel setting, claw setting, flush setting and so on.