Stonesetting tools -- beginner's set recommendations?

Jewelry Discussion
1

I am interested in moving past bezel, tube, and simple prong
settings into some of the more difficult (for me, anyway!) types
of settings. Would some of the experienced setters on the list
recommend a starting selection of tools (gravers, burs, etc) that
would serve a beginning stone setter? The variety of assortments
in the catalogs is dizzying; I don’t want to buy more than I need
at first; but what is a necessary minimum assortment, to be able
to set a variey of stone shapes and sizes in different types of
settings?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Bob Edwards
Chromis Designs
Annapolis, Maryland

2

I am interested in moving past bezel, tube, and simple prong
settings into some of the more difficult (for me, anyway!) types
of settings. Would some of the experienced setters on the list
recommend a starting selection of tools (gravers, burs, etc) that
would serve a beginning stone setter

I’d recommend that you figure out what type of setting you are
inter- ested in persuing before you go out and buy a bunch of
tools that you don’t even know what you are buying them for. What
shape stones? What materials? What style? Wha !? Wha?!

Bruce D. Holmgrain
@Bruce_Holmgrain
http://205.177.16.22
703-593-4652

3

Hello Bob, Assuming you have basic bench tools, get a set of
high- speed setting burs, a set of beading tools and a knife-
edged graver with handle.This is a minimal list but it is enough
to get you going on more advanced work. There is a pretty good
book around called “The Techniques of Master Stonesetting” by
Gerald L. Wykoff. Have fun. Tom Arnold