[Jewelry making - Article 00119] - Re: [Orchid] Idiot-proof way to close tube settings

[Peter W . Rowe]

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>     So the obvious question is, why are the tool makers not making
>     these tools? Smooth cup burs or larger beading tools. It seems like
>     a logical expansion of lines they already make.

    But they DO make them. I've had bezel punches in sets on my bench
    ever since I could first afford a set. Search almost any decent tools
    supplier for bezel punches or bezel closers or bezel setting tools,
    and you'll see tools like these: 

    http://ottofrei.com/store/product.php?productid=13288
    http://ottofrei.com/store/product.php?productid=6831
    http://ottofrei.com/store/product.php?productid=6832

    All three of these sets, available from more suppliers than just the
    site in these links (though most suppliers only have the second
    style, or maybe the second and third still), are tapered cone shaped
    "cups" intended mostly for closing round tube settings and bezels.
    You can also use them sometimes for closing prongs on a round head,
    but frankly, I've never found them quite as good at that, as they are
    with tubes. 

    On one set I had, like the second link I gave, I used a thin
    seperating disk to put one or two slits in the side wall of tubes,
    then a burnisher to just slightly raise a burr in the inside lip of
    the cut. That turned the tool from a strictly burnishing tool, to a
    slight cutting tool, so it could also smooth out a rough outer
    profile by shaving off a little of the upper outer edge. Not at all
    as aggressive as a real cutting bur/cup bur, in part because the
    steel of the tool isn't hard enough for a good cutting edge, and
    there's only the two slits/cutting edges. But it's a useful trick for
    some things, a modification to consider if you have a second set of
    the tools. Left in their original form they're still slightly more
    useful, so do this with a second set, or just with one of the
    punches, before modifying a whole set. 

Peter Rowe
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