Burnishers
Burnishers are hard, smooth bladed hand tools used to manipulate metal in a variety of ways. The highly polished blades are firmly set into comfortable hardwood handles, and must be kept free from scratches, as otherwise any imperfections can result in marring of the surface to be burnished.
Steel
Steel burnishers are commonly used to smooth and polish bezels around stones, and are available with straight or curved blades. Burnishing will work harden the material, and can also be used as a final surface finish that will help to strengthen previously annealed wire, earring posts and brooch pins that do not require further working. It is also used to create a mirror polish to selective areas, such as the edges of intricate piercing work.
Agate
Agate burnishers are suitable for a variety of uses, such as:
- Polishing metal clay: This will help to force the sintered particles closer together, and help to reduce the brittleness of some metal clay objects.
- Keum-boo: A traditional Korean technique where thin sheets of gold are burnished onto heated silver, to make silver-gilt.
- Gilding: Agate burnishers will glide over the surface of gold leaf much more easily than a steel tool.
- Setting delicate stones: Agate is much less likely to scratch the surface of softer stones.
Prong Pusher
The intended use of this tool is to press a claw or prong against the gemstone. However, due to the flat surface it is more suited to pushing smooth bezel settings.
Bezel Pusher
This tool has a groove cut into the polished face, and is ideal for the initial tightening of prongs and beads.
Bezel Roller
The bezel roller has a highly polished, half-round, steel head for easily rolling bezels around stones in simple settings.
Although pushers and rollers are usually made from steel, it is often a good idea to use tools made from brass, copper, plastic, or wood when setting soft stones such as amber. Most newly manufactured tools will arrive with sharp edges that need to be smoothed down. Medium grade abrasive paper should be used to gently round off any sharp corners, followed by a smooth grade of abrasive for a final smoothing off. Abrasive paper can also be used to create a fine tooth on the face of the tool, this can help to reduce accidental slippage.
Wedge Ring Clamp
This traditional tool is used for holding rings during stone setting and final finishing. The inner surfaces of the jaws are leather or felt faced to prevent scratching, and a wooden wedge in the opposite end holds the ring securely in place. Alternative tools that can be used include the engraver's block and shellac sticks.
