Ring Clamps for bench

[JewelleryByMandy]

Looking into future purchases so there will be a few Qs coming up.
Pivoting ring clamps for the bench. You all stone set rings so which clamps do you use? Been searching for some but all that comes up are vices or wooden clamps??? Typed everything i can think of... so, in my opinion, your opinions are best [emoji1303]


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[enigma]

I have one of these :
https://www.bettsmetalsales.com/p-Grs-Magnablock?SelectMaterial=TOO&selectCode=TOOLSGR16M
There is a smaller one thats cheaper which I would think would be fine for stone setting ( I engrave on mine too hence why I got the heavier one )
https://www.bettsmetalsales.com/p-Grs-Micro-Block-Ball-Vice-With-30-Piece-Accessory-Kit?SelectMaterial=TOO&selectCode=TOOLSGRSBV

Obviously you can get hand held clamps much much cheaper which are ok for a lot of stone setting if you aren't working under a microscope- things have to be held absolutely still under the microscope or they go out of focus.
I actually used to pop the ring on the mandrel on a sandbag to stone set before I got the block and thats ok if you aren't using a microscope too.

[china]

I am fortunate to have the Micro ball and the bench mate encore system ( they were a gift) for setting stones in rings I seem to use the bench mate encore more than the micro ball


https://www.grs.com/product/004-831-encore-qcx-basic-package/

[ps_bond]

Couple of microblocks, large engravers block, Benchmate (old style, setters setup), traditional ring sticks, shellac sticks, more modern ring stick (like the core clamp of the Benchmate) - the microblocks get more use than anything else as I find them easiest to use under the scope.
I've got a set of stands I made so that I can bring things into focus when I tilt them (so I don't refocus the scope); similar in principle to the rings that GRS do, although I tend not to use the rings any more.

[JewelleryByMandy]

Fab replies. Thanks. Makes it easier to research things. I dont want hand held. Definitely bench based. Not there yet by a long shot but want to be prepared for when i do. Cheers x


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