Dop for 6x4mm pear shape stone?

[TownsendWolfe]

I’m cutting a series of 6×4 mm pear shape topaz. Who makes a small scalloped dop, and is that really the right type of dop that I want to use for a pear shaped stone? Thank you in advance for your input…

[Alan Balmer]

I use a cone dop for pears. I’ve never seen a dop specialized for pears.

[TownsendWolfe]

This series of pears is a little curious. Two culets and a keel between them, in-line from the center of the big end towards the point of the pear.

Because of this keel a standard cone dop wouldn’t work. I ended up going to Ace and getting a length of 1/4″ brass rod and making a cone dop 3.85mm (for the 4mm widthd) and then using a jeweler’s triangular file, cut a v-shaped notch. Notch ended up bigger and deeper than I thought but it fits right. Using epoxy now. We’ll see.

[Alan Balmer]

Interesting. Is the design available?

[TownsendWolfe]

http://www.facetdiagrams.org/database/files/pc05119.html

[Alan Balmer]

Thank you. I see the problem with dopping. An oversized cone would probably still work, but wouldn’t be ideal. An interesting design by Robert Strickland.

[Gregory Hays]

I recently cut a 14×10 pear shaped Topaz using one of the Long designs. The pavilion on this design to had an offset and a keel that prevented using the standard cone dop. I ended up doing the same modifying a cone with a vee section. A standard vee Dop would have worked but I felt I needed a little more support the cone section of the modified Dop provided. I have never seen a standard produced vee-coned dop.
Greg Hays
The Gem Garden
San Marcos CA

[Jon Rolfe]

I have a series of cone dops that have a “V” milled in one side for pears. Years ago I was um.. Maneuvered..into doing a bunch of pears and teardrops for a charity auction. I actually got to enjoy cutting them.

[gemmakermz]

just use a regular V dop used for emerald cuts thats what most do or live with small cup.

[ozgurertan]

Facetron used to have special dops I have one of them depending on the design it is useful.

[tonyburston]

I have used a standard V dop with a piece of masking tape wrapped around it loose at the top to accommodate the point of the pear and filled it with 5 minute epoxy.
this supports the vulnerable point.
The tape usually peels off as soon as it gets wet.

[Eric Hoffman]

As gemmakermz said, just use a vee dop for stones with keel culets. You can use a cone dop for pretty much anything with a point culet.

Especially if you use wax for dopping, or if you use hybrid dopping with a wax “seat” and the stone glued in with CA (aka Crazy Glue). I don’t want to sidetrack the OP and start Ye Ole Dopping Debate, it’s just one of the advantages of using wax 😉

–Eric

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