Which bur would you use & why? => 16 photos

 I've covered many topics in this extensive blog. One topic I feel is important is the choice and description of BURS! These are literally the workhorses of our profession.

 The burs that I'm displaying are basically for Diamond Setting. Our jewellery manufacturers have different bur requirements. I feel that "MY BURS" are worth mentioning as well, but is fully detailed in the next essay of the same name.

                      ==============================

 This round bur photo is only used as a 'cover' for this essay.

 These 'setting burs' could be used in Tube Setting; whatever you need them for is your decision, but they are there for your own needs.

 This assortment of Round Burs can be used extensively in opening holes for Pave' stone setting.

 Whenever you see a gold band around the bur, rest assured, these are not Carbide steel but a long-life consisting of 'High Speed Steel'. These particular burs can be used in all applications, and they won't get worn too fast, unlike the Carbide, which usually wears out in a very short time.

 This strange-looking bur will cut a flat surface on the metal. This little knob is a guide where the rotating bur will be used. With the correct size of the Pearl, this bur will create a setting for the Half-Domed shape of the Flat surface of the Cabochon Pearl.

 This spear-shaped bur is where the centre stone will sit against the four or six-claw head. The 90-degree angle of the bur conforms to the correct angle of the centre stone.

 There is no other shape of bur that has the same dimensions.

 This 45-degree cutting bur is primarily used in creating a seat for the centre stone. You can see that the teeth of the 90 & 45 degree burs all have one thing in common. The teeth always cut into the metal with the greatest precision, but why not the Carbide steel?

Those teeth are closer together and won't have the capacity to cut DEEP. (The Carbide teeth only skim along the surface.) I know this for a fact.

 The shallow angled bur are not meant for centre stones. No gemstone or diamond have the same (shallow) dimensions.

 If you have a small 4-claw setting, then this bur is your answer in using these closely knit tooth bur. 

The correct name for this bur is "156C", where the letter "C" represents Carbide.

 These unusual-looking burs have one purpose, and that is to "round the tips of the claws". The correct name of this bur is a "77B". The bur is made of Carbide steel! But this steel does not remain sharp; it will quickly wear out.

 This is our 'twist drill' that is used mainly for creating holes in any metal. The width of the bur shaft makes this useful in any handpiece configuration; the dimensions are 3/32" of an inch.

 The very tip of this twist drill can be easily recut or repaired by using your "Snap-On" Emery wheel and re-shaping the angled tip.

 This is called my "Buddy Bur", one of my students gave this name to me, and it suits the purpose. It truly is my 'Buddy' bur! 

 Many of my diamond setting patterns use these burs, where a round bur just doesn't have the tapered point. 

This has a "Carbide" steel construction, and is made in Carbide steel, with the 'tapering design'. I prefer to use this bur as a metal cutting or shaping tool.  

  This complete set of "Bearing Cutters" has just one purpose, and that is to create 'Bearings' for the Girdle of a gemstone.

 These odd-shaped burs have only one use, and that is to create a 'seat' for Cabochon (flat-bottomed) Pearls.

 

 Can you imagine where this unusual '3-toothed' bur is used? If you are a wax carver, then your workbench cannot be without this tool. Instead of using the regular 'round bur' that has multiple teeth that will get clogged up quickly with wax, this bur cuts and discards the wax as the bur is rotating. 

 As the old saying goes, "Never leave home without it".

 If you need further assistance in selecting burs, you may email me at "gerrylewy18@gmail.com".