Cool Tools & Hip Tips
I’ve been working on a series of pieces using matte-
surface resin, and after sanding the surface of the
plastic, I like using Contenti’s Crystal Kleer renewer
polish (510-415) to even the resin surface, remove
scratches, and create a uniform fi nish. This com-
pound also works for watch crystals, and is so easy
to use: just impregnate a clean, dedicated textile
buffi ng wheel with the compound and run it at
medium speed. Don’t forget to wear your mask when
polishing plastics!
More at http://www.contenti.comatte-
he
ewer
oveSetting
These SmoothSet punches from
FlowStudio Supply are simply the best.
Designed by jewelry makers and made from hard-
ened tool steel, these punches have absolutely
raised the bar as far as tube setting goes. They range
through fi ve cup sizes to fi t some of the most com-
mon calibrated stone sizes, from about 2mm to 8mm
diameter.If you’ve ever struggled to cleanly hand burnish
metal around a teeny little tube set stone, you owe
it to yourself to try a punch instead. All setting
punches are designed to help you set round, faceted
stones the same way. Place the cupped end of the
punch over the top of the properly fi tted stone while
mounted in the tube setting, and strike the punch
with a hammer. Sound dangerous? If the steel is too
soft to hold a nice shape, the result could be broken
stones or mangled metal. No more, though.The most awesome thing about SmoothSet is that
each punch is tempered, hardened, hand-shaped,
and hand-fi nished to a high polish, both inside thecup and outside, to prevent any mishaps caused by
a poorly fi nished or lesser quality tool. The painted
pine bases come in delicious colors so not only can
you store your punches cupped-end down to prevent
dirt and dust, you get to enjoy looking at the set on
your bench and your perfect fi nish. Note: use a brass
mallet with these or any punch to preserve the steel.Another sweet essential from FlowStudio is the
SmoothSet duo acrylic bezel pusher and burnisher
set. I love these because they are so easy to use, and
because they are made of acrylic, they won't mar
or scratch stones or metal. Use them the same way
you'd use a traditional steel bezel rocker or bur-
nisher for metals up to about 22 gauge. Just place
the rounded end next to the metal, and use a rock-
ing motion to push it toward the stone as you work
around the bezel. To burnish, turn the tool perpen-
dicular to the bezel and fi rmly glide it around and
against the stone.
More at https://www.etsy.com/shop/FlowStudio-
Supply and http://www.fl owMKEstudio.com,
pound also works for watch crystals, and is so e
to use: just impregnate a clean, dedicated textil
buffi ng wheel with the compound and run it at
medium speed. Don’t forget to wear your mask
polishing plastics!
More at http://www.contenti.comeasy
ewhenSetttttttttingg
Thhhese SmoothhSeet punchesfrom
FlowwStS udio Supupu plp y are simply the bese t.
Designed by jewew lry makers and made eee from hard-
eneeneddd tool steeel, these punches have absolutelycup and ouo tside, to prevent any mishapaa s c
a poorly fi nissheddd or lesser quality tool. Th
pine bases come in dele icious colors sooo not
you store your punches cupped-end dow16 LAPIDARY JOURNAL JEWELRY ARTIST