Stone Setting Techniques

The following supplies will be used for course demonstrations and objectives. A suggested item and/or vendor has been provided below for reference. Click the vendor name (in red) to be redirected to a page where you can find the item. The quantities needed for each item are listed first. If ordering, please be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. We recommend not opening an item's packaging until the day of the workshop. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is strongly encouraged but not required - observers are welcome.

Metal/raw materials:

• 4-6 x 2mm stones - CZ, diamond, sapphire, or ruby
• 1"x2" x 2mm sterling sheet or 2mm x 5mm ring blanks
• 4" x fine silver wire - 12g, 14g, and 16g (Rio Grande)
• 3"x3" x sterling silver sheet - 20g (Rio Grande)
• 1" min. x 3mm heavy wall tube - silver or gold (Rio Grande)
• 3" x sterling silver round wire (Rio Grande)
• 1 x cabochon for tab setting
• various cabochon and faceted stones for bezels

Hand tools:

• 1 x round nose pliers (Rio Grande)
• 1 x flat nose pliers (Rio Grande)
• 1 x snips / flush cutters (Rio Grande)
• 1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)
• 1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 (Rio Grande)
• 1 x burlife / bee's wax (Rio Grande)
• 1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)
• 1 x half round hand file - #2 cut (Rio Grande)
• 1 x rotary tool - flex shaft, micro motor, etc. (Rio Grande)
• 1 x half round forming pliers (Rio Grande)
• 1 x center punch (Rio Grande) 
• 1 x scribe (Rio Grande)
• 1 x ring clamp (Rio Grande)
• 1 x rawhide / plastic mallet (Rio Grande)
• 1 x chasing hammer (Rio Grande)
• 1 x steel block / steel surface (Rio Grande)
• 1 x small steel ruler (Rio Grande)
• 1 x calipers (Rio Grande)
• 1 x dividers (Rio Grande)
• 1 x sanding sticks (Rio Grande)
• 1 x parallel pliers (Rio Grande)
• 1 x bezel mandrel - 1mm to 5mm (Rio Grande)
• 1 x slim burnisher (Rio Grande)
• 1 x screw mandrel (Rio Grande)
• 1 x separating disc (Rio Grande)
• 1 x snap on mandrel (Rio Grnade)
• 1 x sanding discs (Rio Grande)
• 1 x setting bur - 1.8mm (Rio Grande)
• 1 x ball bur - 1.6mm (Rio Grande)
• 1 x drill bit - 1mm (Rio Grande)

Torch setup:

• 1 x fireproof area - steel sheet, tiles, etc. (Amazon or Home Depot)
• 1 x Solderite™ pad / pan with pumice (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
• 1 x torch - Smith mini, Silversmith, or butane (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
• 1 x striker or lighter - Silversmith system has one (Rio Grande)
• 1 x soldering tweezers (Rio Grande)
• 1 x soldering pick (Rio Grande)
• 1 x paste flux (Rio Grande)
• 1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)
• 1 x 6” silver solder - hard (Rio Grande)
• 1 x 6” silver solder - medium (Rio Grande)
• 1 x 6” silver solder - easy (Rio Grande)
• 1 x pickle - sodium bisulfate or citric acid (Rio Grande or Amazon)
• 1 x brass bristle brush (Rio Grande)
• 1 x crock pot or lidded glass container (Rio Grande or Amazon)
• 1 x tempered glass container or sink - for quenching and rinsing
• 1 x small brush - for flux
• 1 x liquid hand soap - for cleaning metal

Other/miscellaneous items: 

• hard work surface
• fan and open window - or ventilation system
• safety glass - for debris and torch if needed
• dust mask
• toothpicks