Bench Pin Customization

By Sir Alexander Danger Boyd IV, Esq.

Are you tired of struggling to hold tiny objects as you work on them? Sick of scuffing
your fresh manicure with files and burs? Are you currently bleeding to death because
your saw blade slipped? Before you call an ambulance take a look at this tutorial. I
recommend printing it out so you have something to read in the hospital while you
receive your blood transfusion. Here I cover how I like to shape my bench pin to hold
various shapes safely and steadily. With a little luck you can be just like me and have a
successful career as a hand model with the occasional side gig as a jeweler.

Tools and Materials

Bench pin

Pencil

Jewelers saw with skip tooth blade (a regular 2/0 blade will work as well, it just tends to
get pinched and doesn’t cut as fast)

0 cut flat file

0 cut square file

Bench Vise

Here’s a fresh bench pin with the GRS Benchmate adapter.

 Here I’ve drawn out my plans for this pin on the level side It’s ready to saw.

The most important tool for this task is a good jeweler’s saw. Here I’m using #2 skip
tooth blades. They cut fast and don’t gum up with softer materials. I love using these
blades when I’m carving waxes as well. They are accurate, don’t gum up and are easy
to control unlike those degenerate spiral blades.
 The easiest way to hold the pin for sawing is to mount in to your bench.

 Here I’ve sawn away all the extraneous material and am ready to finish it up with a little
file work.

To round out this section I’ll first put 45 degree facets on it, then roll the file over the
facets until round. This section will be used to hold rings for easy sawing through the
shank. The rounded edges make it secure and simple to hold.
 Fill this ledge with a flat file. Once I’ve established where I want the ledge to be I’ll place
the safety edge along it so I don’t dig deeper and deeper toward the back of the pin. I
commonly use this ledge to hold rings on their side for easy filing.

 Use a 0 cut square file to carve this groove. Holding the pin in a vise makes it easy to file
straight and flat. I use this groove to securely hold wire and tube when sawing.

The ring shank holder in action. Damn those are some sexy fingers.
The wire and tube holder is one of the elements I use most.
This slot doesn’t see a lot of action, but when I need it it’s priceless.
Another action shot. Notice how the bandaid leaves something for the imagination.
This curve makes holding a ring clamp a sublime pleasure.
Behold! The fresh bench pin ready to get F’d up.

• This is just one of hundreds of ways you can customize your bench pin.
Think of the tasks you perform regularly and imagine ways to alter your
pin to make it easier.

• If you’re left handed I’d recommend reversing the layout.

• Would it kill you to call your mother some time?

• I’m a big fan of the GRS Benchmate System. The pins that fit the GRS
adapter were less than $5 a piece last time I bought some. Buy a few
and experiment.