Using a tripod stance for stabilizing jewelry work
By Alan Revere
The truth is, there are not many ways that playing football is like making jewelry—except for one: the importance of stability.
There is nothing more solid and stable than the center on a football team. He lines up in a tripod, with two feet and one arm extended to the ground, allowing him to be perfectly still and unmovable, yet ready to spring into action at the snap of the ball.
A tripod comprises three legs, which provide stability against downward and horizontal forces, as well as movements around horizontal axes. For this reason, you will see everything from 300-pound football players to delicate surveying devices that utilize the same principles. Now let’s apply those principles to making jewelry.
Stability is very crucial to many tasks at the bench. For example, when drilling a hole in a piece of metal, it is often difficult to stabilize your hands and control the tool. But if you make a tripod with your hands to support the drill, the task becomes much easier and more controllable. The key is to use your right ring finger to stabilize the tool on the work (if you are right handed), while your left thumb comes up to form the second leg against the hand piece. The drill bit becomes the third leg. The three legs form a perfect tripod, and drilling becomes more accurate.
Be sure to use a short drill bit for this task, allowing about 10 to 20 mm to stick out of the chuck. If your drill bit is too long, use a separating disc to make a notch and then snap it off.