Neat Tool!

At a show recently I saw a jewelry using a stone setting tool. . .
actually for prong binding . . . it was shaped like a small plumbers
wrench . … that is … long handles with the pliers end slightly
bent . … they seemed to work very well… as agreed too by the
jeweler . . . anyone know where I could purchase one??

Jim: I don’t know if this is what you are looking for, but a friend
showed me several years ago how to make a “pull down pliers” out of a
small Channel-lock pliers, about four inches in length. I think
these are available at Harbor Freight here in the US, and probably in
some well-stocked hardware stores. You have to open up the pliers
and grind off the teeth on the jaws, make them smooth. Then you use
a flex shaft or a knife edged wheel to grind a groove down the middle
of each jaw from front to back, about a third to a half the width of
the jaw. Finally polish the jaws. Best thing I have every used for
many prong bending tasks, esp. on basket settings. I wish a supplier
would make a set with delrin jaws, as this would be great for
avoiding scratches on the metal.

HTH,
Roy

The pliers you saw may be channel lock pliers which have the shape
you describe and are available in very small sizes.

KPK

That is an old GIA trick…They are channel lock pliers that we got
from PepBoys…Grind off the teeth, polish and there you go…I think
that they are actually used for carborators…Other auto supply stores
may have them…One of the best things I learned at GIA.

Tom

Roy, there are pliers made with replaceable (nylon, delrin?) jaws.
(from Rio and others) They are not “channel lock” type, but the jaws
can be modified easily. The pliers are available in two widths that I
know of and there may be other styles I’m unaware of.

HTH
Pam Chott
Song of the Phoenix

I bought some craftsman sparkplug pliers at sears, about $10.00 I
think. They are great for certain needs when bending prongs. I
didn’t remove the lines inside the jaws but I use them sideways
allowing the length of the prong to sit in the groove for stability
and to evenly distribute the pressure when the opposite prong is bent
or moved. I am very present in the moment when I use them. The tip
came from a jeweler who traveled with a remount show.

Patty Rios