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What are these tools used for?

#1

What are millgrain tools? Beading tools? I keep seeing them in
the catalogs, and I can’t figure out what they are for.

#2

Mill grain tools are for puttin a texture on jewelry. The
texture is like the side of a coin or the edge of some wedding
bands. Beading tools on the other hand are used for bead setting
of stones. First you use a setting bur to cut the seat in a flat
piece of metal then you use a graver to lift up a piece of metal
and then the beading tool to push over stone and turn metal into
a bead shape.

Kerry

#3

What are millgrain tools? Beading tools? I keep seeing them in
the catalogs, and I can’t figure out what they are for.

Sandy, The beading tools are used in flat setting and or pave’
setting diamonds. After the prong is raised and pushed over the
stone, the beading tool is used to round it off. A millgraining
tool is used for making a beaded edge on a bright cut. The larger
ones are used on the edges of wedding bands. Ken

#4

What are millgrain tools? Beading tools? I keep seeing them in
the catalogs, and I can’t figure out what they are for.

Milgrain tools have a tiny wheel with concave impressions in its
surface, and are for rolling a decorative row of beads when doing
flat setting. They come in various sizes. Beading tools are also
used in setting- they have a concave tip that rounds off the
engraver cut prongs in bead or flat setting. Richard D. Hamilton

Fabricated 14k, 18k, and platinum Jewelry
wax carving, modelmaking, jewelry photography

http://www.rick-hamilton.com
@rick_hamilton

#5

What are millgrain tools? Beading tools? I keep seeing them in
the catalogs, and I can’t figure out what they are for.

Hi Sandy,

Beading tools are used to round over the beads or grains in, for
example, pavee settings; the millgrain tools are tiny wheels
turning on the end of a shaft, with a row of semicircular
depressions around the circumference, and are used to make -
guess - milligrains (French millegriffe - a thousand beads),
which is a line of very small beads on the edge of settings, by
rolling (and pressing down) the tool over the sharp edge. Used
extensively in traditional diamond jewellery. Hope you got an
idea, Markus

#6 
What are millgrain tools? Beading tools? I keep seeing them in
the catalogs, and I can't figure out what they are for.

Sandy,

Millgrain tools are used to produce a beaded edge often seen on
antique jewelry especially plat. It is produced by cutting with a
graver along the edge to produce a knife like edge which he
millgrain tool is then rolled along.

Beading tools are used to round the beads that are holding the
stones in place with pave’ or bead setting of diamonds. The bead
that is pushed (raised) with a graver is then rounded after stone
setting. This is done by placing the beading tool on the bead and
spinning it withe preassure.

very classic tech any good setting book should show you
examples. Frank

#7

hi sandy,

millgrain tools or threaders or roulettes are used in hand
engraving and pave work. it is a wheel with ‘dimples’, concave
hemispheres going around it’s circumfrence. one rolls it along
the edge of the metal (or on a preprepared engraved double line)
and it will impress a very neat row of tiny beads. a beading tool
will round up the flat looking bead that is raised to usually
hold a stone in place in pave work. one can also use it in
engraving applecations. commonly for backrounds. beading tools
have other uses, but these are what i commonly use them for.

best regards,

geo fox

#8

I though Millgrain tools were used for putting a texture on wire.
Richard
UK

#9

Also used to ‘Burnish’ the end of prongs to a degree

Jim

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