How to set stones in Titanimum

JTknives

JTknives

Blade Heat Treating www.jarodtodd.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Jun 11, 2006
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I am in need of knowing how to set Stones in Titanium. I have Practiced with small ball bearings and it seams to work. What i have tried is milling a hole that is just a hair deeper then half the diameter of the ball bearing. then i set the ball in the hole and take a small punch and punch the titanium around the hole down a bit which causes it to flair out around the ball bearing. I really was just guessing on how to set something like a stone. so any advice would be so much help. the titanium is not flat but curved. Thanks so much
 
Ball bearings are not stones. Your method can work, but you run the risk of breaking stones.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
Ball bearings are not stones. Your method can work, but you run the risk of breaking stones.
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that's what i was worried about as i really don't want to break these stones. what if i made a pronged holder with a threaded stud in the back that threads into the titanium. I would like them to be flush mounted but i guess what ever works.
 
I had been thinking about essentially the same thing as your second idea with the threaded back for pins, tie tacks, etc. a hole just smaller that the stones girdle and kind of a threaded cup in back holding the stone. Do you have access to a flex-shaft and a hammer handpiece? I’ve never tried one on titanium, don’t know if it would work, but may be something to try. Be interesting to see what Stacy, Page and other experienced metalsmiths think
 
There are several setting methods that you could use. Channel, Gypsy, Bezel, Prong etc. It would depend upon which type of look you were going for. Also these take quite a bit of practice as to not break/chip the stone. You did not mention what type of stone you were looking to set. A faceted stone needs to be set at to show off the refraction. If you make up the base piece of jewelery a jeweler who has been trained could set it for you.. oops....STACEY Were Are You???
 
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A C Richards said:
There are several setting methods that you could use. Channel, Gypsy, Bezel, Prong etc. It would depend upon which type of look you were going for. Also these take quite a bit of practice as to not break/chip the stone. You did not mention what type of stone you were looking to set. A faceted stone needs to be set at to show off the refraction. If you make up the base piece of jewelery a jeweler who has been trained could set it for you.. Tracy Were Are You???
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thy are round ruby's and i would like them flush set so thy don't stick up.
 
I use loctite 325 and 324 for the stone scales I do. I assure you it will hold stone to titanium. The one thing you need to be sure of is both the metal and stone are absolutely clean.

I carry a Kershaw Mini Mojo with a dinosaur bone stone insert every day.

I posted before you noted they were rubies - faceted I suspect so the adhesive path is out.
 
Redrummd said:
I use loctite 325 and 324 for the stone scales I do. I assure you it will hold stone to titanium. The one thing you need to be sure of is both the metal and stone are absolutely clean.

I carry a Kershaw Mini Mojo with a dinosaur bone stone insert every day.
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but i have heard that gluing faceted stones is a real no-no as it messes up its refraction.
 
How is the clarity of the stone?? If it is barely translucent then the adhesive would work since refraction is minimal with them anyway. If they are clear and clean then you would want something that has an open back on it. A gypsy set would work. I had a jeweler describe it to me once. Basically you make a hole slightly smaller than the dia of the girdle, Use a heart or stone burr just over the dia and come in from the back. Cut out the material until the stone sit just below the surface. Then crimp from below with a punch. This was his way of doing it and I have not tried it. I have seen a few books and several DVD's on stone setting. You might want to pick one up.

Making something special for the knife model??
 
Can you set some silver into a hole and then set the stone into that? I think the little shiny ring would look quite nice.
 
Its going into a guard and the stones are nice and clear. I just hope the blade will be worthy of having such nice stones set with it.
I had thought about using a normal Snap Tite Earring Settings and then drilling out the hole large enough to just fit the setting down inside. then a drop of glue to the back of it and its held in place with prongs.
 
I have seen a method described using a tube of precious metal, gold silver whatever, and making a setting from that then drilling out the guard and setting the whole mess in place. It is commonly use to set stones in thumb studs on folders. The person I heard it from was Josh Smith and it was quite a few years ago.
 
A C Richards said:
I have seen a method described using a tube of precious metal, gold silver whatever, and making a setting from that then drilling out the guard and setting the whole mess in place. It is commonly use to set stones in thumb studs on folders. The person I heard it from was Josh Smith and it was quite a few years ago.
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That is what I was trying to say :)
 
Hey Jarod,

You just never rest do you? You're on the right track, although would likely crack your rubies that way. There are specific burs that are usually used to create the seat in the hole for the gem.

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Drill your primary hole a bit smaller than the diameter of your stone. Then drill a secondary ream, somewhat like a counter sink, so the girdle of the stone sets a little below the surface of your metal.

Rather than punching to catch the girdle's edge, traditionally a graver (very small carving chisel) is used to pull a shaving of metal up to the girdle's edge. Then a beading tool (kind of like a small nail set) is used to turn the shaved curl into a bead that catches over the girdle's edge.

Check this out for a quick overview: http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/basic-bead-setting.htm.

Good luck and keep us posted as to your progress.

All the best, Phil
 
The tubing method is a good one. You need some heavy gauged tubing (we usually made it with a draw plate) so that you can ream out your stone's seat, in the same way previously described, with a bur or some such bit. Then you burnish the edge around and over the gem's girdle. This would be a nice set for something as rugged as a knife's hardware. The trick will be securing the tubing to the titanium fittings. Typically the tubing is soldered to the base piece. Not sure how you'd do that with titanium.
 
thanks phil that is just what i was looking for.
 
Stone setting is an art. It is not something to be learned while doing a project. Contact a jeweler for your stone setting.
 
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