The staking set has 1,000 uses, or so I have been told. The staking set is a collection of punches (stakes), anvils, and cutters which are used in combination with their base. The base has a rotating set of round holes and can also accept the anvils and stakes. The headstock lines up perfectly with the base. The tool is used by aligning an anvil or a stake in the base and another stake in the headstock. The workpiece is placed between the two and the appropriate action is taken.
Some of the most uses for the staking set are:
- Forming a rivet, especially for a balance staff
- Reducing the diameter of a round hole in a plate
- Removing the roller from a balance
- Removing friction staffs from the balance or pallet fork
- etc . . .
Most the time I don’t realize what I need the staking set until an opportunity arrives. Feel free to leave some comments about what you use your staking set for.
My staking set consists of several different kinds of punches. It has
- Flat cylindrical punches
- Cylindrical punches with a hole
- Domed punches
- Domed punches with a hole
- Inverted cone punches with hole
- Various Anvils
- Centering Punch
- Three sided punch (for tightening rollers — but never do that!)
Many staking sets will also have punches for rollers, for stretching metal, & a myriad of other useful things.
My set is a standard Bergeon set, and honestly it is disappointing. The punches are poorly tempered and the tips deform easily. Of the modern sets, I would recommend a Star Staking Set, I have used them and they are nice. Old American staking sets are also wonderful. In my shop I also have an old Kendrick & Davis set which is very nicely done. In addition to the normal staking tools it also has a jeweling attachment for inserting, removing & adjusting friction jewels. When purchasing a used staking set it is best to view it in person. Each of the punches should be symmetrical, polished, and hard without any dings, scratches, or rust. An incomplete set is not a problem because stakes can still be obtained new or used, individually. I don’t know that all the bases accept the same size stakes, but the three I have used have all had the same size stakes. Some of the anvils required using a different setting on the base.
Watchmaking Books on Lulu
10 Comments
I used the staking set for just about everything that needed riveting over, punching out, driving in and more that you couldnt do otherwise.
The fun part is when you had to get someone else to hammer on the punch for you while you held the piece with both hands. Hopefully you got someone with a light touch….luckily I worked with another watchmaker and a couple jewelers so they took directions well.
Correct me if I’m mistaken, but isn’t that the $800 staking set?
I believe the current price is about $800 for the Bergeon set, but as I mentioned I would spend just a little more and get the Star set, it is superior.
I just bought a staking set from ebay .. thought it was something else ,,, a stamping tools set for makeing designs onto silver or gold ….just getting into a hobby making stuff .. and wondered what i can use this staking set for .. what different uses does it have ? i dont feel right returning it to the guy from ebay as its not his fault i thought it was something else .. so I work with SS. and gemstones ,,, sometimes i need to drill holes .. but mostly i wanted this tools set to be a stamping tool…. any ideas what i could use this for ?
figitdigit, What this set is really good for is forming rivets. Perhaps you could rivet some sterling together and make some articulate jewelry. Apart from that, I’m not sure how you could use it.
I’m a gunsmith. I use my K&D set to knock out small pins. I use the #50 with the holes in them…fit a piece of round music wire to the size I need..lay the part on the anvil…and drive the pin out. One hand holds the part..the stake is held in the anvil…and the other hands using a brass hammer drives out the pin.
I have an octagonal stake (various size holes in it) that I use for making rivets. There are also “cuts” along one side. They are angled at about 45 degrees. Could someone tell me what they might be used for? I’ve seen them on other models, so there has to be a use for them.
I’ve just pick up an original star staking set for £12.00 I’m now a very happy!
Nick, I’m Jealous!
I have a jeweler’s inverting staking tool that I use to set rivets and push in or remove pins. With a third hand holding the material in place, I always set the rivets perfectly. Mine is an old FR by M. J. Lampert, US. I work on old telegraph keys and small tool repair.
Post a Comment