Do you use a PIN VISE? => 11 photos

 Many diamond setters use a 'pin vise', do you? Here are photos and many variations of them.

 This particular pin-vise is a combination of two pices that I joined together. (Don't laugh) The handle was actually a "furniture leg" that I found in a hardware store and the "vise-clamp" was what I saw in a tool store.

 REMEMBER, many unusual tools could be seen in other sources. 

  This pin-vise that was seen jewellery supply store has smooth inside jaws and is great for holding delicate jewellery without leaving any marks.

 This is my original "Pin-Vise" that really has pins in it, and is designed to hold anything. 

I've fashioned the tip of this vise to hold mini-earring studs.

 

 These two pins were brass-soldered and had little grooves cut into them. These grooves will eventually hold earring-studs, just below the 4-claw setting.

 

   This combination of 'vise parts' gives sufficient clearance from the peice of jewellery from being bent or....ruined.

 This 'extended Pin-Vise' prevents the constant need of shellac on most of the unusual parts of this brooch.

 I drilled wide grooves into each pin to hold coins, but not endangering the 'face of any wide or thick coin'.

 This is how each brass-pin looks after the modifications. These pins can be adjusted to hold any ultra-wide ornament (as seen above) down to a ultra-small piece of jewellery.

  I will only have a maximum of 4 pins. With these holes I can now change where the pins can be placed.

  I can now rotate even a circular Pave' setting. The brass-pins are designed to hold this circular pin from the inside, instead of the outside. Don't tighten the brass tightening-screw, as they will still leave marks in the metal.

 I'm gently tightening the metal circle, then when the stone setting has been completed, I can again gently rotate the circle once again.

Many times shellac is not wanted, here is one of those times.