Nechamkin 9 Piece Starter Chasing Tool Set #1

The Nechamkin Starter Chasing Tool Set #1 gives students and professionals the essential tools needed to begin learning the art of chasing. This 9-piece set draws directly from the Nechamkin 25-piece Core Set — the same tools, at a more accessible entry price. The nine tools included here represent the foundational half of that core set; the companion Starter Set #2 contains the remaining 16 tools. Together, both starter sets form the complete 25-piece core collection.

For years, students and professionals have gone without an accessible commercial source for ready-to-use chasing tools. Best accounts suggest the last time a set of this type was available commercially dates to the mid-19th century. Liza Nechamkin developed this collection over several years, drawing inspiration from her personal antique collection of over 2,000 individual chasing and repoussé tools — pieces previously belonging to generations of Tiffany & Co. and Gorham chasers. The result is a thoughtfully curated core set designed to span a wide range of chasing requirements, with particular strength in Western-style jewelry and silver chasing as practiced by Tiffany & Co., Gorham, Kirk Steiff, and Danish silversmith Georg Jensen.

"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

Features

• Formed from W1 tool steel with tips heat treated in a controlled environment for consistent Rockwell hardness
• Square shanks provide precision and control superior to round shanks
• Chamfered corners and satin finish for comfort in hand
• Long, balanced tapers for excellent sightlines down to the working face
• All tool faces precisely shaped and polished to travel smoothly across metalwork
• Each tool individually numbered for easy identification
• Personally final-polished and inspected by Liza Nechamkin

Specifications

What's Included

• A2 — Medium Length Straight Liner/Tracer
• A3 — Intermediate Length Straight Liner/Tracer
• B2 — Medium Length Curved Liner/Tracer
• B3 — Intermediate Length Curved Liner/Tracer
• C2 — Intermediate Rectangle Planisher
• D1 — Intermediate Square Planisher
• E1 — Medium Oval Planisher
• H1 — Medium Oval Embosser
• I2 — Intermediate Oval Embosser

Notes

Style Range: These tools are best suited for Western-style jewelry and silver chasing — low to moderately high relief, outlined from the front and embossed with repoussé, then final-chased and modeled. A respectable degree of high relief repoussage can be achieved using the embossers in this set. Japanese high-relief chasing requires a different tool style.

Tool Modification: Modifying these tools voids their warranty and should only be attempted by experienced metalsmiths. For slight re-shaping of faces, use a 3M light deburring wheel or medium-grit emery paper, then a compressed felt buff with steel polish. Do not allow the tool to overheat, as this compromises the temper.

Care and Maintenance:

• ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION when using these tools.
• Regularly file or grind off any mushrooming at the striking end — if left, it may break off under a hammer blow and cause eye injury.
• A fine lacquer coat has been applied to inhibit rust during storage; this will wear with use.
• Keep tools clean, dry, and stored in their container when not in use. For extended storage, lightly coat with machine oil.
• Remove minor rust with steel wool, fine sandpaper, or a coarse synthetic scrubby pad.
• Maintain polish on working faces with green rouge or steel polish on a small soft buff. Do not over-polish — delicate tools may be reduced to stumps by careless polishing.