Transform a simple pair of ignition pliers into your favorite stone setting pliers in 5 minutes.
It is quick and easy to turn an inexpensive pair of ignition pliers into stone setting pliers. For years jewelry students at TIJT have learned this technique from our recently retired Jewelry Instructor and JA Certified Master Jeweler, Harrel Harrison.
Start with a pair of ignition pliers that you can pick up at your local hardware store for around $10.00.
Use a separating disc to carefully grind down the teeth on the jaws of the pliers. Remember to wear safety glasses because separating discs are brittle and can break easily. One tip is to put two discs on your mandrel to help increase durability. Then, after grinding, use a medium sanding disc to smooth the surfaces and lightly round all of the edges. It is especially important to round the front edge of the bottom jaw so it will not leave tool marks on your prongs. This is what the pliers should look like when you are done:
These pliers work by supporting the back of the opposite prong while gently bending down a prong. The pliers come down on the prong at the same angle as the crown of the gemstone. Here is what that looks like:
parisjc
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Wonderful I am glad to see that we can have tool which help us in sosft way.
Do you have others “trucs” oups! tips to share with us.
Sorry for my English…I’m better in French, but any way I appreciate very much.
A cool tool indeed, especially if you solder on, 2.00 mm brass faces to cover the steel ones. You can file V groves across the brass to grip round rod on the side, hold earring posts for setting etc. or hold flat plate withiut marking between these jaws.
They are smaller then the very smallest of channel-lock pliers and you wont find them near the channel locks. You will find them in the specialty tools and they are called “Ignition pliers”.
We call those Channel Lock piers, and I have to grab a pair for my bench now. I use them a lot around the garage, but never thought of using them at the bench.
I can think of other times those piers would be handy at the bench, now that I have seen this.
Thanks for sharing