Hi all
I am based in the UK and am desperately looking for a setting tool
called a Side Pusher. It is used for flush setting stones without
marking the metal. It looks very much like a bezel pusher, however
one side of the tip is slightly curved rather than a straight edge so
as not to leave an imprint in the metal when you push.
I’ve tried in Cookson Gold, Rashbels, Rio Grande & Walsh and no one
seems to stock them - can anyone help please?
TIA
Hi,
It sounds like you’ve got the design of the tool you want pretty
well defined. It shouldn’t be too difficult to find a suitably sized
& similarly shaped tool to modify to fit your specifications. About
the only tools you’d need to modify an existing tool to your
specifications would be a grinder & a number of polishing wheels.
Both of these are usually found in most jewelry shops.
Sometimes the quickest, easiest & most economical way to get the
tool you’re looking for is to make/modify it yourself
Good luck,
Dave.
I am based in the UK and am desperately looking for a setting tool
called a Side Pusher. It is used for flush setting stones without
marking the metal. It looks very much like a bezel pusher, however
one side of the tip is slightly curved rather than a straight edge
so as not to leave an imprint in the metal when you push. Is this it?
http://www.romazone.com/shopexd.asp?id=27
Richard Hart
I am based in the UK and am desperately looking for a setting tool called a Side Pusher. It is used for flush setting stones without marking the metal. It looks very much like a bezel pusher, however one side of the tip is slightly curved rather than a straight edge so as not to leave an imprint in the metal when you push.
Unless I’m very much mistaking your description, it seems to me you
could very quickly and easily modify one of the bezel pushers to be
what you want. Or just make the tool from scratch. I’ll bet it
wouldn’t take you very long at all, and would save you all that
despiration… Steel tools are very easy to reshape and repolish with
any standard abrasives, ie sanding sticks, disks in the flex shaft,
various rubber wheels, etc, and polish up with the same materials
you’d use for gold or silver. If the steel needs to be actually bent,
then you’d need to soften it and reharden it as desired, but that’s
not hard to do either…
In fact, thinking about it, I don’t think I have a single setting
tool on my bench that hasn’t been modified from it’s “new” condition,
in some way. Some modifications are as simple as cleaning up the
shape and polishing better (the usual curved burnishers are sometimes
a bit sloppy in finish right at the all important tip, for example).
Others started just with a standard piece of tool steel or carbide
and got turned into something I can use. Remember that craftpeople
are not just too users. We’ve got a long tradition of tool making
too. Now some tools, like files or rotary burs, are probably best
left to the manufacturers for their original form, at least for
cutting the teeth. But I’ve got many files (not to mention pliers,
especially, and all those various burnishers and pushers and various
other simple tools) that have been trimmed or otherwise modified.
Don’t be shy about making a tool or changing one. It’s all part of
the job.
Peter
That sounds a lot like a burnisher made from a stainless steel form
tang. Picked up the idea from the Blaine Lewis video on flush
setting. It is easy to make and replace, won’t scratch most stones,
because the stainless is softer than most and it is just
what the doctor ordered for burnishing the flush setting (amoung
other uses)!
If you know what the profile of the tool looks like why not just
make one out of some drill rod?
I THINK the poster is after a bezel rocker/pusher. It has a wooden
handle and the business end of the tool is a sort of "mushroom"
shaped piece of flat steel about 2-3mm thick and as the poster said,
one edge is a 90 degree angle but the other edge is more rounded. I
bought mine from a UK ebay store but I’ve just looked and she is
closing down her store when her stock has gone and unfortunately she
hasn’t got any left!
Isn’t this what you’re after?
http://tinyurl.com/46e7gh
If this is what you’re after, Cookson, Walsh and Sutton’s all sell
them.
Helen
UK
buying a masonry or cut nail as it is sometimes called and grinding
the edges to an easy curve on both ends (widthwise) and then taking
the lengthwise edges off- just slightly, works quite well and costs
maybe 8 cents. get the largest masonry nail available and polish the
face after grinding, then even if it slips over a stone (also for
extra protection/insurance) tape it with a small piece of blue
painter’s or masking tape) no damage results. hope that helps. I have
bnever heard of what you are asking for. curved burnisher perhaps,
but not ‘side pusher’. an agate burnisher also works well for
pushing the metal over the stone’s edge- that can be bought or is
easily made from a tumbled agate and a handle or a thermo-plastic
like jett sett that can be molded to your grip - just embed the
agate (i found a number of handy nature - made shapes, i. e. - curved
to the left, a tapered point, a beveled end, and an almost perfect
blocky rectangle about 30mm wide !!) into the jett-sett, or take a
dowel. slit with a cut-off wheel and cement in place then wrap a few
turns of binding wire or strapping tape around the base to secure it.
Don’t forget the good old adapted toothbrush. Cut the head off, heat
and bend the handle back on itself. It makes an ideal setting tool
for beginners.
mary
Isn't this what you're after? http://tinyurl.com/46e7gh
Hi Helen, no it’s not a bezel roller, it looks more like this:
I think I really need to make one up myself (as so many have
suggested), or try using a burnisher instead.
Thanks though, and thanks to all others that have replied too
Nafeeseh
Don't forget the good old adapted toothbrush. Cut the head off, heat and bend the handle back on itself. It makes an ideal setting tool for beginners.
I have never heard of that before, I might have to try it just for
the novelty value!
Thanks
Nafeeseh
http://www.narah.co.uk/assets/images/Side-Pusher.jpg
This is exactly what the pusher/burnisher made from the stainless
steelfork tang looks like. The steel in the fork tang is softer than
most gemstones (rather than hard steel which can scratch or chip
crown facets), so this burnisher is perfect for burnishing in flush
set stones. It is very easy to make, easy to quickly repollish on
very fine emery (1500) as it gets scratches (burnishes the metal but
it is scratched by the stone, so it needs that quick repollish
often). I first saw this burnisher in Blaine Lewis’ flush setting
video, and it’s become a favorite setting tool as it allows me to
burnish right down tight on the edge of the gemstone, without the
risk of contacting the stone with hardened steel!
A heavier, tool steel version of this shape pusher could also be made
from square steel stock, but this would not be for direct contact
with the surface of most I have one similar, made from
square stock, that comes to a “^” at the end, with one face flat and
pollished and the other face cut away, concave. This leaves a sharp
edged tool with one pollished face, that I use for finnishing prongs
on hard stones only. As it is hard steel it needs very careful use
near any stone surface, but it is a very handy tool that gets a lot
of use.
Don't forget the good old adapted toothbrush. Cut the head off...
yes Nafeeseh, it’s pretty good because it is easily filed and
adapted to suit your needs. I’m sure I got the idea off someone on
this brilliant site.
mary
Hi Nafeeseh,
Hi Helen, no it's not a bezel roller, it looks more like this: http://www.narah.co.uk/assets/images/Side-Pusher.jpg
Ah, that makes sense. That looks like a very good modification to an
inexpensive tool. I may try doing it myself when I’m learning those
settings. Thanks for the drawing. You’re right - I’ve not seen it for
sale in that form either but like people have said, it should be easy
to modify the normal type oneself.
Helen
UK