Hi Colin,
I started this thread and have had lots of replies, some advocating
the use of bezel punches and some warning against their use.
Personally, I am interested to try them. The pieces I made were made
of tube settings soldered together but at a jaunty angle as it were.
The result is not straight but “higgledy, piggledy”. As such the only
piece I was able to put in my vice was the ring as I could clamp the
shank in nice and tightly and I used a prong pusher and hammer to set
the stones. My control wasn’t too bad as I did it very gradually,
working opposite sides with gentle taps and this process worked a
treat and left no tool marks. However, the other pieces I couldn’t
put in the vice due to the nature of how they were soldered so I had
more difficulty. I ended up using pliers in the end and then
attempting to burnish out any kinks. I think the bezel punches you
describe would have solved all the problems I encountered.
Thanks for your advice.
Helen