Favourite and unusual tools

[jayneharrison]

Hi everyone,

As a beginner, I'm slowly building up a stock of tools for my own use at home and could spend hours browsing online and flicking through catalogues looking at them!

My question is - what is your favourite (or most used) tool, and why? Is it something you've made yourself, a tool used for something other than the intended purpose perhaps? I realise that answers will vary widely depending on the style and type of jewellery you create, but I'm curious to see what you all find useful.

I'm currently in love with the 3M radial bristle disks on my Dremel for finishing and have found them to be brilliant - no polish mess on the white walls at home!

[Goldsmith]

I must admit that I enjoy using a piercing saw, I can happily saw for hours and over the years I have built up quite a collection of saw frames. As for tools that I have made, then soldering clamps must rate high, at first I made them from stainless steel sheet and now I use titanium strips.

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James

[BarryM]

Without a doubt my Foredom pendant motor - incredibly versatile and it is used for one thing or another with nearly everything I make. I still have my Dremel 4000 but hardly ever use it now, the Foredom is so much better - the high torque at very low revs is great for use with burrs and drills.

[Dennis]

Some people are in love with gem stones and build up a large hoard. Others have a tool mania and buy everything that takes their fancy.

To me both are useless without a purpose and I recommend you only buy what you need for the project in hand. Dennis.

[caroleallen]

I think that's good advice Dennis. Once you have the basics, just buy what you need for the job.

Over the years I've "needed" a pendant motor, a rolling mill, a kiln, a super duper torch, a hydraulic press, polishing motor, a Jooltool to name but a few. The most used of all is the pendant motor, second is the polisher and third is the Jooltool.

[ps_bond]

I'm more in the latter category, although every tool purchase has to be justified - limited use tools I don't really do (for example, shaped cutters where the break-even point is way beyond what I'd actually make with them). Stones - I have some that are stock (round brilliants in the 2-3mm range) and a couple of specimen stones, but generally I only buy stones for specific projects.

Favourite tools? Airgraver, microscope, Knew Concepts saw and the laser. In no particular order.

[jayneharrison]

Brilliant responses and as expected, some sage advice from Dennis.

James, that's quite a saw collection! Accurate piercing is something that still eludes me, but I'll keep plugging away at it. Do you find that any particular frame is better than others, or does it depend on the job in hand? I have already charged my husband with making some clamps for me using your designs, so I'm looking forward to having a go with them. There are plenty of soldering jobs where a third hand just doesn't cut it.

I agree with you on the Foredom, Barry - I have access to one at college and am always disappointed after using it that my Dremel won't run at the same low speeds. As soon as I have some dedicated workshop space, I expect that will be my first big tool spend.

Carole - a small rolling mill and bigger torch (Sievert, I think) are also on the list for when I have some space. I definitely don't want to be using anything bigger than a micro torch when I'm restricted to working in my living room at the moment so have to save my larger solder jobs for college.

[Goldsmith]

[QUOTE=jayneharrison;80479]Brilliant responses and as expected, some sage advice from Dennis.

James, that's quite a saw collection! Accurate piercing is something that still eludes me, but I'll keep plugging away at it. Do you find that any particular frame is better than others, or does it depend on the job in hand? I have already charged my husband with making some clamps for me using your designs, so I'm looking forward to having a go with them. There are plenty of soldering jobs where a third hand just doesn't cut it.

I have found that the lightweight Knew Concepts saw frames have suited me well now that my hands and arms are not as strong as they used to be, but I think good blades are more important than the frames used. I have used Glardon Vallorbe saw blades for the past 20 years.

[silverlining]

I don't have any fancy tools really. My favourite tool is always my saw because I love piercing out my shapes, it's my favourite part really and I make sure I start every day with piercing! Closely followed by my files. As long as I have them I'm happy!

Always have a stash of stones as well as discounts from Wards are fab.

It's easy to waste on tools though. I bought a disc cutter shortly after I started as the thought of piercing circles seemed taunting. However, it's pretty easy and quick and irregularities are easily filed out so my disc cutter has only been used once or twice nd I hate the thing!

[ajda]

Do you find that any particular frame is better than others, or does it depend on the job in hand? I have already charged my husband ...
Funny how you can mis-read things - I read "charged" as "changed" and thought that's a bit callous, swapping your husband as you might an inadequate saw frame.

And James, I'm not sure that constitutes a collection so much as a fetish...

My most used tool, though really a multi-tool for glass, metals, wood, stone and everything else, is the Dremel - not as good as the Foredom which is on my wishlist, I have the Dremel Stylus, good for being cordless, reasonable range of speeds, poor when it comes to torque. Like you Jayne, my current favourite attachments for it are the radial discs.

My most essential tool for silverworking generally is probably my torch - a Smith Little torch connected up to the oxygen/propane setup along with our glassworking torches. I often use a basic blowtorch for quick annealing, but the Smith is great when I need more heat and/or more control.

My favourite specialist tool, unusual around here perhaps but well known to glass beadmakers, is a gadget for flaring tubing to make silver cores for beads (great for metal-on-metal tube rivets too). My partner makes a lot of European Charm beads (like Pandora, Troll, etc) and contracts out all the coring to me. I don't make as many as she does, but have just cored these 5, sold overnight to a customer in the USA.

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[ShinyLauren]

I always wondered how they got those silver centres in the beads!

My tools that I use all the time are my piercing saw (Knew Concepts one), my Foredom pendant motor, my polishing wheel and my parallel pliers. Special mention goes to my magnetic polisher for just being ace!

[Aurarius]

There's often a rational basis for tool mania: you figure that having that particular tool you haven't yet got will make your life easier. Sometimes it doesn't, but I think you can learn to judge fairly reliably before you buy it whether a tool is going to be a waste of money.

I think the reverse situation - of doing without a tool that may actually be of benefit to you - is a worse error than indiscriminate tool mania. In my other job I made do without several tools in the early years thinking that I could get by quite happily without them. When I did eventually justify buying the tools, I discovered that I'd been spending inordinate amounts of time and physical effort, as well as earning less money than I might have done, because of my guarded definition of what were or weren't essential tools.

ETA: forgot to say that my favourite tool is probably my Foredom Micromotor - it makes so many tasks easy and is incomparably better than the Dremel multitool that it replaced.

[Nick martin]

My favourites are the tools that come with a bit of a learning curve I suppose... I.E. files of various shapes, pliers, piercing saw, and my Smiths Torch.

Having said that, I have just got back into the habit of making items are quite a break!

Cheers,

Nick

[jayneharrison]

There's a lot of love for the Knew Concepts saw so I think that's one thing I definitely need to investigate, particularly as piercing is not my strong point!

[Tabby66]

Grief James.......that is an impressive collection of saw frames.......love that picture :)



I must admit that I enjoy using a piercing saw, I can happily saw for hours and over the years I have built up quite a collection of saw frames. As for tools that I have made, then soldering clamps must rate high, at first I made them from stainless steel sheet and now I use titanium strips.

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James


I find answering your question really difficult......definitely my piercing saw (along with my radio!), then really, I think it is my basics, since I can create so much with them.....files, buff stick, sievert, rolling mill, bench polisher.....definitely with menzerna polish.......I'm also with Lauren in loving my magnetic polisher!!

[Goldsmith]

I know most of the forum members make jewellery, please bear in mind that I am not and have never been a jeweller. I am a goldsmith and my tools are for smithing. I have a lot of saw frames that I have collected over the years in my early days in this trade I would be piercing all day for months, hence I actually wore out the blade grips on saw frames and in those days it was quite cheap to buy a new saw frame, if I remember correctly a standard German saw frame was 10/- or 50p in today's money.

I also have a large collection of hammers, some that I inherited from the craftsmen who taught me and some hammers that I bought cheap and changed their head shape to suit smithing jobs.

These are cheap standard hammers that I have reshaped to suit jobs.
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This is my hammer collection.
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James

[BarryM]

You must be related to Thor! More hammers than an amateur dramatic group.

[Goldsmith]

Another useful tool I use in my workshop are my lead blocks, which I use for hammering the shapes of my flower petals and leaves on. I have posted this before so sorry if I am repeating myself and you have seen this all before. I melt my own blocks into an ingot mold with my Sievert torch, the good thing is that when they are full of dents they can be re melted into a fresh block. If you do use lead blocks just make sure you clean any lead specks off the precious metals before annealling.

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James

[CJ57]

I'm with Jill, I'm not sure I have a favourite as all my basic tools are what I need to create what I do.
I did buy a disc cutter as I use quite a lot of discs, domes and washers and it's like night and day, there is no cleaning up and filing off to do so in that respect its the right tool for the job and saves a lot of time. I did look at a heart cutter fleetingly and then wonder how it would be useful unless that's all you make!
I don't use my Durston Rolling mill as much as I should but when I do it's the best and I fell in love with their domed planishing set more recently. Although much bigger than I thought as it was impossible to get sizes of the 14 stakes from Durston, it has endless uses and I've stopped just looking at its shininess and started using it with lots of ideas in my head for utilising every shape.
I wouldn't be without my Dustmaster polisher although wish it was much smaller in my small workshop. It's possible to get more compact units now but I wouldn't be without the beast. I'm am now realising that a Foredom micromotor might actually be quite helpful having always thought not. Like Mark says you finally give in and realise that life suddenly becomes much easier and new ways of working are opened up to you. I think I can just make room on my bench for it:)

[jayneharrison]

I'm loving this thread and it's definitely given me loads of food for thought - thanks for all your responses!

[vernon]

I know it sounds funny but I have Two. My Smiths Little Torch, just got it and WOW. The other is a fine half round needle file had it forever and it now polishs rather than cuts and for that reason it is used every day to pre polish silver.

[enigma]

So now I want a Knew concept saw frame and a Smiths torch….
I do love my Foredom, definitely a great investment after starting with a Dremel.
Also wouldn't be without my magnifying lamp, I do have a microscope too but mostly work under the lamp and just check under the microscope as its easier.

[Wallace]

So now I want a Knew concept saw frame and a Smiths torch….
I do love my Foredom, definitely a great investment after starting with a Dremel.
Also wouldn't be without my magnifying lamp, I do have a microscope too but mostly work under the lamp and just check under the microscope as its easier.

I have one of the original Knew Concept still about, as I moved on to the lever version. Worth going for the lever if you have the funds.

[enigma]

I currently have no funds as Ive just bought a new house before selling this one… I must not buy new tools…… I must not buy new tools … LOL

[ps_bond]

I have one of the original Knew Concept still about, as I moved on to the lever version. Worth going for the lever if you have the funds.

The lever kit can be retrofitted to the 1st generation saws; I did some R&D with Lee on that.

[CJ57]

I have a first generation as you know Peter, I'd be interested in that

[ps_bond]

I've done 2 of mine - there's some minor surgery needs to be done on the sawframe *and it comes with the upgraded knobs, despite the photo* (hence I have a spare set...). http://www.knewconcepts.com/upgradekit.php

[Wallace]

I've done 2 of mine - there's some minor surgery needs to be done on the sawframe *and it comes with the upgraded knobs, despite the photo* (hence I have a spare set...). http://www.knewconcepts.com/upgradekit.php

I may have to get the lever, seems a shame to leave the frame alone in the attic of despair!

[CJ57]

I've done 2 of mine - there's some minor surgery needs to be done on the sawframe *and it comes with the upgraded knobs, despite the photo* (hence I have a spare set...). http://www.knewconcepts.com/upgradekit.php
Can you remember if that would fit mine Peter? And is the surgery difficult? :/

[ps_bond]

I think so - if you have a look at the instructions, there's some good pics of the older saws: http://www.knewconcepts.com/downloads/KC-Upgrade-Kit-Instructions-Web1.3.pdf
The surgery requires a minute or two with another saw to cut away some of the aluminium, nothing more.

[CJ57]

I might just manage that!

[Sammyjean]

I've enjoyed reading this thread! Often wondered how other people work and what their idiosynctratic tool loves are. I am saving for a motor so am just hand tools at the mo. In a past thread a no 6 file was recommended to me and right now that is what I most enjoy working with, finding it v therapeutic to go through 2, 4 then 6. Mmmm must get back to my bench, damn these school holidays!!

[Unhindered]

Hi guys sorry to jump in but could anyone advise me which Foredom Pendant motor I should go for? It's next on my list to replace - I currently have a very small Draper but it's not really cutting it! Thanks in advance :)

In regard to my favourite tools I love my curved burnisher it really helps smooth over as a finishing touch for setting :) Wouldn't be without my smiths torch either! And my beautiful Oxycon Trevor!

[CJ57]

Hi guys sorry to jump in but could anyone advise me which Foredom Pendant motor I should go for? It's next on my list to replace - I currently have a very small Draper but it's not really cutting it! Thanks in advance :)

In regard to my favourite tools I love my curved burnisher it really helps smooth over as a finishing touch for setting :) Wouldn't be without my smiths torch either! And my beautiful Oxycon Trevor!

Hi Charlotte, you might find this post from a couple of months ago helpful. http://www.cooksongold.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6981&highlight=Foredom+micromotor

[Unhindered]

Hi Charlotte, you might find this post from a couple of months ago helpful. http://www.cooksongold.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6981&highlight=Foredom+micromotor



Thanks I will check it out now! :)

[Stirring Moose]

Interesting thread. Think most people who make stuff have "that tool" that always seems to be in use, but it's probably something that varies from person to person and you find out yours as you go along. Probably the most used tool I have is a little half-round file which has been knocking around since God was a boy and has seen service on cars, 'bikes, model aircraft, model railways, DIY jobs, theatrical props projects as well as jewellery. There seems to be nothing it won't tackle and, if it's ever lost, I will be unable to do any work again! ;)

S.M.

[ajda]

I was watching recently a video of David Basford, a master diamond setter for half a century or so - I expect many people here will know of him and have probably seen the video. A couple of his favourite tools, in constant use since he was a teenage apprentice and still going strong, are a pusher he made from a six-inch nail and a ring clamp that started life as the wooden handle of his mother's garden trowel...
Alan

[Dennis]

Yes there is nothing so satisfying as using tools you have put together yourself. Mine has to be my drawbench, made from a boat winch, some hand tongs, some non stretch rope and a carpenters vice.

The parts are mounted on an old work horse and the whole thing is far superior in speed an convenience to other commercial drawbenches I have tried. This has been in regular use for about twenty years. Dennis.

[Stirring Moose]

Definitely go along with the home made tools idea. All my gravers are made up from reground bits of other tools - files, drill bits etc - that have reached the end of their days in their original capacity. Grind to whatever shape and size I'm after at the time, mount in a handle made from whatever bit of old dowel or bar stock I happen to have lying around and get tapping!

S.M.

[ajda]

Fantastic drawbench, Dennis - I'll be keeping a lookout from now on for a suitable winch...

[Dennis]

Fantastic drawbench, Dennis - I'll be keeping a lookout from now on for a suitable winch...

There you are, it was half that price when I bought it though, from a boat chandler in Covent Garden London. If you ever go this route please PM me for further information.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dutton-Lainson-DL1100A-Plated-Pulling-Winch/dp/B001AJ7NGO

[Patstone]

Just showing my ignorance now, what would you do with a tool like that.

[ajda]

It's for drawing wire (or sometimes tubing) down to smaller diameters - you can see the drawplate held in the vice in Dennis' photo. You can get drawplates with different profiles too - round, square, oval, half-round, etc. I don't have a drawbench, so do it by hand with a drawplate and brute force, but the drawbench allows you to do larger stuff with greater ease... Commercial ones look like this - http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/Drawbench-1400mm-prcode-999-0342 - and are expensive.
Alan

[Dennis]

Yes, if you look at my album (link below) you will see that most of my work is made from wire. So a starting point for any project is to draw down the wire for it.

As for tubing, standard sizes are often not ideal, so I draw down from a bigger size to exactly what I need.

This is also helpful in that you need not carry too large a variety of stock, but you do need a lot of plates. Dennis.

[CJ57]

It's for drawing wire (or sometimes tubing) down to smaller diameters - you can see the drawplate held in the vice in Dennis' photo. You can get drawplates with different profiles too - round, square, oval, half-round, etc. I don't have a drawbench, so do it by hand with a drawplate and brute force, but the drawbench allows you to do larger stuff with greater ease... Commercial ones look like this - http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/Drawbench-1400mm-prcode-999-0342 - and are expensive.
Alan

Oh that takes me back to my College days Alan. I made a lot of tubing, that's one thing I know how to do but will probably never do again!

[ajda]

There you are, it was half that price when I bought it though, from a boat chandler in Covent Garden London. If you ever go this route please PM me for further information.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dutton-Lainson-DL1100A-Plated-Pulling-Winch/dp/B001AJ7NGO

PMing you now Dennis...
Alan

[Tabby66]

I've coveted your draw bench for many years now Dennis!!
I must get round to doing something about it!!

[Patstone]

Presumably it has to be hot first, or is it moulten and poured into a mould.

[CJ57]

You pull your annealed wire or tubing through the holes in the steel plate until you draw it down to the size you want.

These are the various draw plates Pat http://www.cooksongold.com/category_select.jsp?query=Drawplates&queryFromSuggest=true

[Patstone]

Something else I have learned from you guys.

[CJ57]

Something else I have learned from you guys.

You would ideally need a draw bench such as the one Dennis made or a bought one re his Cookson link but they take up a lot of room. It will need a bit of welly to fix the plate in a vice and do it by hand without the use of a turning/ pulling mechanism

[ps_bond]

This takes up much less room in storage - http://www.meevis.com/jewelry-making-class-making-a-hanging-draw-bench.htm
Mine's similar, but I used rectangular tube for the body.

[Patstone]

Think I will stick to buying wire, I don't make enough to justify buying one. Plus of course I work in my spare bedroom.

[Unhindered]

I just use a vice and pull but it's not ideal! I miss my drawbench at uni