The Standout Stonesetting Blog
A power-assist engraving machine - often called a "powered graver" or "pneumatic" in the trade - is a power tool that drives a graver or punch without you needing to apply much force by hand. This reduces the physical effort required and increases your tool control. It works by a reciprocal...
Connecting your GRS pneumatic system to a compressor isn't as simple as it should be. I get a number of enquiries every month from frustrated jewellers and setters who are struggling to connect their Gravermax or Graversmith to a compressor - so let's get this sorted!
Note: For students...
There’s an old adage that “if you can’t hold it, you can’t set it”, and if you’ve done much stonesetting before you’ll understand just how frustrating an ineffective workholding method can be, and how much it could be hurting your profitability.
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The ball vise is the most popular choice for setters who work under a microscope full time.
It's possible to use handheld clamps or a Benchmate instead, and each has its strengths and weaknesses, but if you're looking to upgrade your setup and need a workholding method that's versatile and...
The rule of the 3 Ts is the most important concept of learning to set. This post explores the all-important 3 Ts in detail, including how to use this concept at a very practical level.
If you want to be doing professional setting that matches the standard of your fabrication, you need to get...
If you’re like most of the jewellers reading this, your goal is probably to do great setting. That’s an excellent goal to have, and there’s plenty of opportunity out there for those who achieve it. But to actually make it happen, we need to pick it apart and work out what that...
Professional jewellers know the value of good stone setting work. When your stone setting is good, everything about your jewellery is better - it looks better in photos and Instagram, it's more profitable because you can set it efficiently, and it can be more distinctive because you can adapt...
Choosing the right microscope for stone setting can be confusing, and there are many models available. This post is in response to common student questions. Rather than being a comprehensive guide to all possible options, the focus is on the models and configurations most popular and...
Setting stones around a full band is simple and enjoyable work for most setters. While there are different ways to plot the stone positions, this is a quick method I use to get it exactly right the first time - very helpful when the girdles are close!
Firstly, if your stones are to be spaced...
