[Jewelry making - Article 00088] - Re: [Orchid] hammer handpiecs

[Dave Stephens]

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>        it would be nice to know exactly how and what for these things
>     are used.  I keep hearing about them.  I fabricate, make my own
>     bezels from 26 or 28 Gauge fine silver.  I haven't a clue how I
>     could use this kind of handpiece. 

    If you're just doing fine silver bezels a hammer handpiece probably
    won't be much use, fine silver is too soft and you really only need a
    hand burnisher for that. Once you get into gold though, or do heavy
    bezels in sterling then you'll probably be glad to have one. You can
    actually make an inexpensive hammer handpiece for very little that
    works quite well out of a Dremel electric engraver. Basically its a
    hammer action with an adjustable impact dial. All you do is unscrew
    the setsccrew that holds the carbide tip in and make your own setting
    tip out of 1/8 inch brass rod. Even this thing is overkill for fine
    silver bezels. I bought the Badeco hammer handpiece and yep the
    documentation on it sucks. I've not been able to find any real
    documentation of hammer handpiece use in any book, I wish Foredom or
    someone would make a short video showing its use. I use mine as the
    last part of 14kt gold bezel setting as this stuff is hard as heck to
    burnish over by hand. I push the bezels in and use the hammer as the
    last step forcing the top of bezel down almost straight down til its
    tight against the stone; I'm not real sure if this is even the correct
    way but it seems to work but with lots of cleanup afterwards. The
    handpiece is also really good for riveting which I use it for alot.
    The Badeco has gotten really expensive but I'm told by those who do
    heavy production work that it outlasts the Foredom substantially.
    Maybe some of you pro-hammer handpiece users could explain in detail
    how you do bezels and prongs with these, somewhere I have an email
    from Peter Rowe on this but I'd like to hear others experience as
    well. Dave  

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