Going a New Direction

For the last few years that I’ve written the Bench Tips column, I’ve focused on lapidary topics and projects.

- BOB RUSH

I’m taking a breather and moving on to another of my areas of interest.

For the first few years after my uncle taught me lapidary, my focus was dedicated to making cabochons. After some time, I saw the need to learn jewelry making so I could mount some of the cabochons that were quickly piling up. I took some courses in jewelry making and away I went.

One of the techniques that I loved to do was lost wax casting, but I got frustrated with making settings for my cabs. None of the available waxes would allow me to draw a prong on the side of the cab successfully. The wax either couldn’t build up because it flowed so easily or when I made the prongs, the wax didn’t have the strength or flexibility to let me pull it away from the cab without breaking. Carving the prongs utilizing the available carving waxes was a very difficult thing to do, and I became rather frustrated with the process.