Make Your Own Stone Setting Tool is an Intermediate Silversmithing class with a difference! Although some jewellery making hints and tips are, of course included in the class, the main focus of the videos is teaching you how to turn a simple steel nail into a wonderfully useful stone setting tool - both a bezel pusher and a burnisher!

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There are plenty of different types of stone setting tools available on the market, however learning how to make your own is a very useful skill as not all standard tools are suitable for setting stones that are close together, or close to other elements of the design as in the case of the ring shown in this video class. A traditional bezel pusher cannot fit between the petals of the flowers and the bezel walls to set the stone, but it doesn't take long to turn a simple steel nail into a tool that does the job nicely. I will also discuss how to turn screwdrivers into useful tool.

Although this video class doesn't cover all the details of how to make the amethyst and flower ring shown above I will recap the basics of ring making and go into more detail of how to solder three elements neatly on top of a ring - and I will of course set the amethyst using the tool I have made! If you haven't already watched them then you will find the classes listed at the end of this class description useful. They cover ring making, stone setting and sawing techniques.

Make Your Own Stone Setting Tool continues with series of Intermediate Silversmithing classes. As you progress through the series I will help you build on the skills covered in the Silversmithing for Beginners series, encouraging you to create more complex projects. I will always take you through everything you need step by step, and include troubleshooting sections where appropriate too. We will be covering soldering, various methods of stone setting, etching and more - and of course, making and adapting your own tools!

The Amethyst and Daisies Ring shown in the class was designed as part of the Ring A Month 2019 challenge. April's prompt was Nature. For more about the challenge visit www.facebook.com/groups/makearingamonth/

Dawn G

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