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I have been looking at these for a while and im wondering whether its worth a go? Cooksons have one...
https://www.cooksongold.com/product_...ix=271&item=19
theres also a cheaper version which is likely to be lower quality from cousins but wondering if its worth a try to see how I get on with it?
https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/be...ing?code=B8342
Or if both are a waste of time id be interested to hear how you got on with them :)
I have a set. All they get used for is pave layout.
Never found them to be effective on either bezel or claw, TBH.
I have used them for bezel setting round diamonds in tube settings in the past, although I used my small arbor bench press fitted with the setting tools for closing the bezels. I was making this Jordanian regalia at the time. The setting tools saved a lot of time, if you do get them keep the insides well polished and the won't mark the bezels, I used a small felt bur in my pendant drill to polish the insides. The last photo shows my arbor press.
Attachment 8934 Attachment 8935 Attachment 8936 Attachment 8938
James
As James has confirmed, they need too much force to close collets by hand and their original intention was for closing claws, I think.
The second problem is that the boxed sets are invariably too shallow to use with cabochons, so you really need deeper ones as below. I use them after collet and tube setting to make them truly round. Dennis.
I would mostly be using them for bezel setting if i were to get them, 90% of the time i use faceted stones, so i may get the cheapy ones to try them out :)
If you buy the cheap ones you will most likely have to polish them,
I've tried them for bezel setting and don't like them at all; you have to use quite a lot of force when using them by hand, which could be disastrous for your stone. For closing bezels I either do it with a small punch and hammer or use an ersatz hammer-action handpiece in the shape of a Dremel engraver. It's noisy and a bit crude, but effective.Quote:
Originally Posted by Unhindered
The hammer action handpiece seems like the way to go. I have been told to learn how to do it by hand first. I have a bezel pusher and with metal 0.5 thick it seems to be OK however 1.0 and above is impossible and I worry about ruining the setting if I burr it to thin. Is it possible to tap the bezel pusher with a hammer?
I have the cheap set and while they will need polishing (ridges inside) I have no problems using them by hand. Slightly harder on gold than silver though!
Yes, but instead of using the hammer directly, you use a setting punch, which is a bezel pusher, but with the handle removed. The other side should rest against a firm bench peg, or your bezel and base will part company. This works particularly well for very large bezels, which quickly become too hard to push by hand.Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Hart
The problem is that its difficult to hold your piece steady while wielding a punch and a hammer. If you are lucky you can get an apprentice to do the tapping, while you move the punch along. Dennis.
With difficult settings I find setting them in Thermo-loc is very useful, much less expensive than a apprentice
Thank you everyone :) I think I will steer clear for now then and maybe get the cheapy ones if i decide to give them a go. I set by hand currently but im doing a lot of bezel setting at the moment so wondered if it would make life easier! I just use a pusher & curved burnisher at the mo. Can anyone recommend a hammer action handpiece for a foredom pendant motor? I think that will need to be saved up for!
This is the handpiece I use http://www.foredom.net/h15.aspx
Personally, I'd still need something to hold the Thermoloc that's holding the bezel. That's where a vice or Benchmate comes in handy.Quote:
Originally Posted by china
I agree I have a small cheapy vice that I have the Thermo-loc on, I am in the process of making a small engravers ball will use that when finished, I will be able to make any attachment required
You could aways try making your own (just one to get the feel shouldn't take too much time). Then see if you like them and go from there.
http://hansmeevis.blogspot.ca/2015/0...nd-stones.html (theres a brief explanation on making them at the beginning.) :)