[Jewelry making - Article 00636] - Re: [Orchid] Graver Meister Pneumatic Stone setting

[Jewelryartschool]

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    With back to back engraving workshops I haven't had time to respond
    until  now... 

    Pneumatic tools, whether they be GRS or Lindsay's are all excellent
    choices  for anyone who uses gravers on a daily basis. When I
    started engraving in 1969,  there were no such tools. Later when the
    GraverMeister first came out (I own  #273) I purchased one - but the
    handpieces in those days were very awkward. There was also a
    controversy amongst hand engravers back then - as to whether 
    engraving with these new machines was to be considered "real" hand
    engraving.  During the first 5 years that I had the machine I rarely
    used it, and then only  to stipple backgrounds. Since the handpiece
    back then was 7" long, it was far  from "ergonomic" and no one even
    considered them for stone setting. Modern day GRS products have been
    much improved - especially recently. 

    The Lindsay tools have been on the market for a little over 4 years
    now.  Invented and built by Steve Lindsay, who has made his living
    engraving, they  worked perfectly for engraving and stone setting
    from the very  beginning. His tools are capable of up to 30,000
    impacts per minute, so even  under a microscope you will never see
    "chatter" marks. He now has 4 models to  choose from. The newest
    one, the "Bronze Omega" has just been released. We used  the first
    one in a Basic Engraving workshop last week. All of the students
    were  quite impressed. It's an economy model of his standard tools,
    and does not have  the adjustable stroke mechanism that is included
    on the other models. However,  for the beginning engraver or
    stonesetter the price is right - around $500 - and  it works just
    fine. His "Chasing" and "Classic" models are in the same  price
    range as the GRS product. His best model, which has all of the
    controls on  the tool itself, was released a few months back. This
    "Palm Control" model will  cost closer to $3,000, and uses no foot
    pedal. It responds to pressure on the  handle. In the last two
    months it has become my favorite tool on the  bench. 

    The original question as I recall was as to whether these pneumatic
    tools  would help prevent injury. From my own personal experience of
    30+ years - the  answer is a resounding YES! 

    After the first 10 years of engraving and stone setting with hand
    gravers  and sheer force, I had my first carpal tunnel surgery. Over
    the years, because  it took me a long time to accept the use of
    pneumatic tools exclusively, I have  had a total of 4 carpal tunnel
    surgeries. 3 on my right hand, 'cause I'm right  handed, and one on
    the left, 'cause that hand is shoving the engraving block  around
    all day. I've also had 2 elbow release surgeries, and shoulder
    surgery...  I believe that had these tools existed in their modern
    day form - none of this  would have been necessary. 

    The other advantages of pneumatic tools include a 70% cut in the
    learning  curve, much faster/repeatable results, less bloodshed, and
    less time wasted  learning new cuss words...<grin> ALL graver blanks
    can be adapted to  fit either Lindsay or GRS handpieces, but I've
    come to prefer starting with the  square blanks that need no back
    end grinding, just shape and sharpen, slip 'em  in and go. 

    YOU WILL NOT, however instantly "become" an engraver or stonesetter
    by  simply purchasing one of these modern day marvels! You still
    have to acquire the  SKILLS needed to set stones or engrave. Books
    and videos have their uses (I know  this because I have 18
    overflowing bookshelves and over 50 videos:) but there is  nothing
    as good as taking live instruction. You need to learn the sounds,
    and  feel what happens in your hand when you make a perfect cut. And
    you need that  instructor standing over your shoulder to tell you
    that you are trying to do it  upside down....  

Brian P.  Marshall
Stockton Jewelry Arts School
2207 Lucile Ave.
Stockton, CA  95207 USA
209-477-0550  Workshop/Studio/instructor AT jewelryartschool.com
jewelryartschool AT aol.com

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