Jeweler's tools: ring mandrel, third hand, graver and flex shaft

Besides the ones that already have their own entry, these tools turn up in every workshop. Here is what each one is for. The general list is in jewelry making tools.

For holding and measuring #

• Ring mandrel (tribulet): a tapered, graduated steel bar on which a ring is shaped, measured and enlarged. See mandrels and sizers.
• Third hand (tercera mano, helping hands): a stand with reverse-action tweezers that holds the piece while soldering.
• Bench vise (tornillo de banco): holds pieces for filing or engraving. See jeweler's bench.

For drilling, carving and engraving #

• Flex shaft and micromotor (motor colgante, micromotor): a motor with a handpiece that spins burs, bits and discs at high speed. A micromotor has the handpiece built in.
• Burs (fresas): spinning tips of many shapes for carving and roughing.
• Drill bits (brocas): make holes of an exact diameter. See drills and burs.
• Gravers (buriles): steel rods with a sharpened tip and a handle for engraving, raising grains and cleaning up. They come in several shapes: flat, round, knife. See engraving.

For heating #

• Torch (soplete): the heat source. See torches.
• Refractory brick or soldering block (ladrillo refractario): a heat-resistant surface on which the piece rests for soldering or annealing.

For polishing #

• Polishing machine (pulidora, buffing motor): a bench motor with spindles to mount brushes and cloth wheels. It is one of the most dangerous tools in the workshop: tie hair back, no gloves or loose clothing. See polishing.

For striking and shaping #

• Stakes and steel blocks (tases, bloques de acero): steel surfaces to hammer on. See anvil, steel block and stakes.
• Hammers and mallets: see hammers and mallets.