Would you use a "HSS", or a "156C" bur? When & where will these burs be used? => 24 photos

  For every bur there is a reason, in this essay, I'll be explaining the best qualities of each.  My experience indicates which are 'good', or 'best'.

 "156C" the letter "C" is an abbreviation for "Carbide". These burs are softer than the High-Speed Steel bur, both look the same, but are so different in their uses.

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 Let's start with the "156C" (Carbide bur) the difference between the "156C" and the "HSS" bur is what makes them interesting.

(I know that you've seen many of these photos in previous essays, but many of these same burs may have multiple uses.)

 The "156C" bur have their "cutting teeth" created close together. The HSS bur has its teeth created further apart, these burs can even be repaired if the cutting teeth are worn smooth. This 'repairing process' cannot be done to the '156C' bur, if those mini-teeth are worn or damaged they should be just discarded, as I do on many occasions.

  You can see just how close each of the teeth are for easily crafting claws in very small claw settings. These are the best burs in creating seats for 'cluster rings'. My choice of photos being shown further in the essay demonstrates this fact.

 I have ample supply of these 156C burs for any eventuality in case a bur gets worn too fast and is unable to be used again.

 I always keep duplicate or triplicate numbers of the same sizes. I never force the issue in keeping a damaged 156C bur. If it is worn, or damaged...GOOD-BYE!

 I found through my experience that the smaller 156C burs get worn very quickly, pity! Don't attempt to keep it, as a 'damaged bur' is not wanted anymore in doing precision work.

  Here are my (favourite) HSS burs, they have a stronger steel composition not like the softer Carbide steel. Even as the angles are similar to both styles, the difference ends there. The HSS are reliable and can be recut & repaired at the 'setters bench', the Carbide burs cannot be recut as the teeth are too close together.

  Here is a prime example of the 'tooth construction' of the 156C and the HSS bur. 

 In the process of repairing the worn teeth on the HSS bur, I made a choice to repair each tooth or accept the fact that a damaged bur shouldn't be used again.

 These burs are not cheap, for this option I can make each bur last for many 'repairing'.

 I repair each tooth by using a 'separating disk' to do the individual 'tooth repairing'.

 For the finer demands of gem-setting, I would gently use the 156C in 'Gypsy-Flush setting'.

 This is a 156C bur that 'has seen better days', there are chances that this bur might be good for only a few more claw settings. These 'damaged' teeth are showing signs of irreversible wear.

In preparing a 'cluster-top', only a 156C bur can be used in these delicate situations.

 In using this High Speed Steel bur, I would use this particular bur only in cutting a seat for  the Engagement setting rings. This great photo displays the spacing of the teeth.

 The 156C could be used on 'cluster rings', but not for the Engagement rings. 

 Here is the great example of where the 156C bur should be used at all times. We are dealing with precision metal cutting against the small claws. 

The HSS burs haven't the precise cutting ability, these 'seats' must be drilled in exact dimensions that of the stone. 

 Which bur should be used for the larger diamond? I chose the HSS bur to do the metal-cutting, The HSS bur have the very same shape & proportions as the diamond, I found that the 156C hadn't the overall shape of the large diamond.

 I used many shapes & sizes of burs to set these gemstones. NO SHORTCUTS ARE PERMITTED.

 Remember, that this ring WAS NOT CREATED WITH CAD, 'Computer Aided Designing'. Precise metal cutting was done everywhere using these two styles of burs.

 I elected to create 'seats' inside of the newly created claws by using ONLY the 156C bur. I demanded precise cutting against very (delicate) claw, unfortunately (the fantastic) HSS bur hasn't that option.

 (Prior to any setting of the many stones, I recut the little 'bur contacts' as seen here.)

Here is another example of using the 156C bur instead of the HSS bur. Delicate claw-carving had to done with the greatest of care. 

Two burs of the same size, can still have two different results. 'Experience' is the best teacher.

 Here is a much closer photo of the '156C' bur preparing the many seats for the small diamonds. You can easily see the 'new seat' for the unset gemstone. I'm only 'touching one claw' at a time.

=> The 156C bur only 'touches the metal', but never digging into the claw. <=

 This is the style of HSS bur I will use in preparing the claw setting for this stone. (But of course much smaller bur will be used.) 

 I used this large bur only as a display, as a smaller bur wouldn't be easy for a picture.

 Can you imagine if I chose an aggressive cutting HSS bur? The damage that would occur would be catastrophic, I preferred to undercut only one claw at a time.