There are times when I use both at the same time.
The guy I did the setting tuition with had the GRS benchmate on each of his benches - I'd never seen it before and now I REALLY want to get the setters package - it made everything so much easier.
He taught me to use a spitstick to bright cut the inside after pushing down the metal - is that an old fashioned thing to do then Chris?
Website: http://www.laurengracejewellery.com
Benchmates are superb except a microblock is better for microscope work.
You can use whatever you like to brighten up the inside edge, if it works it works.
If doing a rubover collet, you could get that inside edge (the top surface) nicely cleaned up first..then when pushed over you only need to clean up the outside edge.
Hope that makes sense.
You can get half spitsticks (flat one side), both left & right sided for bright cutting..not sure I'd bother with those but I guess they could be useful.
It's just a case of finding or making a tool that gets the result you want.
Alan Revere's Professional Jewelry Making - I bought mine from Otto Frei. I don't think any of the UK stockists carry it?
It's a progression of projects, starting from pretty much nothing on skills through to finishing with making a wire cluster ring (lots of solder joints). Each project brings in a new skill, it uses traditional tools and I don't think I've seen anything used that isn't available from the usual UK suppliers.
It's expensive ($80), it's heavy and shipping is a pig, but it's very, very good.
I got mine from Amazon.com. Beauty of books is they do not incur VAT or import taxes (at the moment) so they do tend to arrive quickly too. My latest one, on the repairs, took less than ten days.
Edit
Just checked amazon out for prices, currently under $50 plus postage (which is subject to the seller, but mine was no more than $15 on top).
Last edited by Wallace; 06-07-2013 at 09:16 AM.
My Facebook page. http://www.sleepingdragon.co.uk
Thank you for that reminder - as it was part of a larger order, I did get billed VAT & duty; I need to claim that back.
I just checked Amazon and it is £60 from UK source. Is the one you have called Professional Jewelry Making: A Contemporary Guide to Traditional Jewelry Techniques by Alan Revere but the one I bought was called Traditional jewelry Repair by Alan Revere which is out of the Ark I think, and is of no use to me.
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