Collet punches and blocks

Dear All,

I am a new jeweller beginning to make pieces and get a workshop
together. Despite looking at several books could someone, anyone,
please tell me what the dickens collet punches and blocks actually
do? Doubtless they do something that’s taking me ages by hand.

Many thanks.
Ailsa

They make collets…

In particular they are used to form the tapered tubes that
traditional ‘prong’ stone settings are made from.

Bill Bedford