Anyone used bezel setting/claw closing stake tools?

[Unhindered]

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

[ps_bond]

I have a set. All they get used for is pave layout.
Never found them to be effective on either bezel or claw, TBH.

[Goldsmith]

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.



James

[Dennis]

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.

[Unhindered]

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

[china]

If you buy the cheap ones you will most likely have to polish them,

[Aurarius]

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

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.