Otto Frei is proud to offer Nechamkin Chasing Tools Sets to the Jewelry industry. Finally, a ready to use core set of chasing tools, designed by a professional chaser is available through a top tool distributor. For years students and professionals have gone without an accessible source for ready to use chasing tools. Best accounts of the last time a set of this type was available commercially indicate the mid 19th century. While it is true, there are multiple chasing styles requiring innumerable tools, Nechamkin Chasing Tools™ 25 piece set in its durable container will provide a central core or useful addition to any chasing tool collection.
Nechamkin Chasing Tools are formed from W1 tool steel with tips heat treated in a controlled environment to ensure consistent Rockwell hardness. The 4.25” (108mm) long shanks are square for precision and control superior to that of round. They have chamfered corners and a satin finish for comfort in hand. Each chasing tool is numbered for easy identification. All tool faces are precisely shaped and polished in a manner which allows them to travel smoothly across metalwork. For excellent sight down to the working face, tapers are long and balanced. The durable stainless steel container, an added value, is designed with room for augmentation of your tool set and has a non-marking Delrin™ lid and bottom.
These tools are made to very precise specifications within extremely close tolerances. They are expertly crafted for grace and balance. I personally final polish and inspect each one. A substandard tool will never leave my workbench." Liza Nechamkin A long Overdue Re-Introduction of a Staple "I have not made an improved chasing and repousse tool or invented a new one. I have simply brought back a great thing from the past: Properly designed, well made chasing and repousse tools haven't been sold through distributors for years. I developed this set over several years, inspired by my own antique collection of over 2000 individual chasing and repousse tools previously belonging to generations of Tiffany & Co and Gorham chasers. Choosing which tools to include in a "core" set was a difficult process since no single grouping can satisfy the requirements of all chasing approaches. The tools included in this set are capable of spanning a wide range of chasing requirements".-Liza Nechamkin Care and Maintenance CAUTION: ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION WHILE UTILIZING THESE TOOLS!
- The naturally occurring mushrooming which happens to the striking end of any chasing tool should regularly be filed or ground off or it may break off under a hammer blow and cause eye injury.
- A fine coat of lacquer has been applied to these tools to inhibit rust during warehousing, which will wear during use.
- To keep these tools rust free, use often, keep them clean, dry and stored in their container when not in use. For extended storage, lightly coat with machine oil to inhibit rust.
- If minor rust develops on the shank, use steel wool, fine sandpaper, or a coarse synthetic scrubby pad to remove it.
- Polish on working faces may be maintained with green rouge or steel polish on a small soft buff. Do not over polish!
- Alternately for better control: A piece of flannel with a small amount of linseed oil on it may be rubbed across some green rouge or steel polish to impart the polish onto the cloth. Hold the cloth flat on a work surface and use the other hand to rub the tool face vigorously across it to polish.
- Despite hardening, delicate tools may be reduced to stumps by careless polishing.
Tool Modification
Warning: Modifying these tools voids their warranty and so should only be attempted by experienced metalsmiths!
Worthy of Note: The general range of chasing styles these tools are best suited for fall within the realm of Western style jewelry and silver chasing. That approach being, low to moderately high relief outlined first from the front and subsequently embossed with repousse then final chased and modeled on the front; as seen in the famous 19th and early 20th century chasing of Tiffany & Co., Gorham, Kirk Steiff and Danish Silversmith George Jensen, to name a few. Although Japanese high relief chasing requires a different style of tool altogether, a respectable degree of high relief repoussage can be achieved utilizing the embossers in this set. The possibilities are only limited by ones imagination.
For some approaches you may want slightly more rounded edges/profiles. It is possible to modify them slightly without destroying the temper. For slight re-shaping of tool faces use a 3M light deburring wheel or medium grit emery paper then, compressed felt buff and steel polish. Allowing the tool to become hot will compromise the temper.
