Expert: Anne anson - 3/8/2001

Question
I have recently started to fuse earings  and cabachons  I was wondering how to put tiny holes in the earings>  I have seen people wear jewelry like this but I cannot figure out how to put holes in them.  The holes have to be very tiny,  so I was wondering if there was some kind of electric drill or other tool I could use.  Thank-you, your input would be very much appreciated.  Rhona

Answer
HI Rhona,
I'm not a jewelry maker, but I do know that there are a few tiny little diamondcrusted tools that go onto a Dremel too.  I have one that is Not quite really tiny like a pinhole size, but more like ohh, maybe two toothpicks worth.
However there may be other ones smaller than this.Where I got mine was at a place where they teach wood carving, like for decoys. but I'm pretty sure a good hobby shop would have that, too. Another thing you might try, would be to make a hole before it's fired, and then try sticking a piece of pencil lead into the holes. (I used the kind for mechanical pencils...) and I think It will burn out, but not allow the hole to close... try it on something that is not that good.  
I had that work once in something that was horizontal, though I'm guessing you'd have to stick it in vertically. See what I think is that the hole would close around the lead.. and then the lead would keep it open.  I don't know if it would always work, but I was quite amazed when it happened to me... I didn't know it would burn out, and it just left a little white dust.
Let me know if you try this, and if it works.  
Good luck,
         Anne
Well not under water, but what you need is for there to be a way to trap a little water around your "drill bit" (Not techinally a drill, but it's a little thing like a match stick,made out of metal with diamond dust stuck all over it.)
I'm hoping you've seen something like this, because this is a dumb way to tell you what the thing looks like..I dont know exactly what they are called.. but they are in the dremel tool department.  there are a few other tools similar, and I think the bits are interchangeable.
What I do... I don't do this too often, I mean I don't drill holes in glass too often,  but when I do, I make a little ring out of plasticine,( the oily sort of clay for little kids) and put water, or kerosene in the center. Keeping it b\from going dry will keep the glass from overheating, and cracking.  Good Luck, and Hey, thanks for the kind words.
        Anne
PS.