Best way to hold on to cabochons?

[THAT Guy]

This is probably a stupid question but I've made thousands of pendants over the years and only a few cabochons (A cabochon is basically a pendant minus a top in case anyone doesn't know). I've always held them with hemostats but I've dropped a few and scratched others using them and I'd like to hear suggestions for a better method of holding the cab to polish the final punty mark off the back. What would you guys suggest?

Thanks in advance!

[jr23]

got a hand torch?

[lucky]

break off into a marble mold and polish

[$$$$$$$]

ditto

[tilman]

ill switch punties from the back to the edge (like the tread of a tire) and punty up lightly on the side. then you have a handle to polish the back and only a very little punty mark on the side to polish out. now that your mark is on the side you can grab with tweezers on the front and back and polish off the side.

voila!! done. ive made many cabs for a silversmith to inlay and thats how i do it

[THAT Guy]

Thanks for all your replies, guys!

This is embarrassing...I don't make marbles so I don't even have a marble mold! I've just never gotten one over the years because my wrists bother me enough as it is and I don't want to exacerbate the problem by working on bigger, heavier things.

Tilman, what about the tweezers leaving a mark or scratch when you break off the last punty?

I'm going to give Tilman's method a try but does anybody have any other ideas that don't involve me purchasing a hand torch?

Thanks in advance!

[tilman]

i never get any scratches or marks on my cabs doing it that way. as long as the piece is cool enough that its stiff, you will be fine. your only holding it lightly while you polish off the little scar on the side. give it a try and see if it helps you out.

[THAT Guy]

Good deal, I'll give it a shot. Thanks again!


i never get any scratches or marks on my cabs doing it that way. as long as the piece is cool enough that its stiff, you will be fine. your only holding it lightly while you polish off the little scar on the side. give it a try and see if it helps you out.

[Glass Pyro]

I reckon you should heat the tweezers up a bit too, so as not to shock the glass.

[tilman]

thanks glass pyro, i forgot to mention to warm the tweezers up. i guess i just assumed most people know that. hope it all helps

[Glass Pyro]

Hey man I only know from learning the hard way. Thanks for the tips though tilman.

[THAT Guy]

Thanks Tilman, puntying up to the bottom is definitely the best way. I avoided leaving any scratches by using nippers to remove the punty before polishing. Good call, thanks again!

[tilman]

glad i could be of some help.