Probably my favorite set out of all the Nechamkin Chasing and Repousse Tools Is the Small Pattern Chasing Tool Set.https://nechamkin.com/chasing-tools/small-pattern-chasing-tool-set/ It is a grouping of 10 tiny face tools great for fitting into the little corners and valleys of your chasing patterns. They neatly work together as a team and were made to augment the core set. The question I am asked the  most is; ” I chase jewelry and very small work, what sets set should I buy” .  while I would definitely say you should have a core set of average sized tools, the small pattern chasing tool set is a great addition and you will definitely need smaller tools. These guys are what you need to get your tiny little details onto your tiny little pieces. OH and BIG PLUS; they are made 100% in the USA, mostly by Women toolmakers. Maybe I’ll feature them in my next blog! 

complete 25 piece core set

https://nechamkin.com/chasing-tools/25-piece-chasing-tool-set/

This set is sold all together as shown (25 pieces with the container) or you can purchase a 9 piece set now and 16 later. https://nechamkin.com/chasing-tools/starter-chasing-tool-set-16-piece/

Nechamkin Pistol Grip Chasing Hammer is now Back in Stock. To purchase, go to https://nechamkin.com/chasing-hammer/

This Chasing hammer is finally ready and back in stock. I patterned it after the German style pistol grip hammers my instructor at RIT used. He patterned his after the ones his instructors used, etc.  We now have capacity to make more than we used to be able to make, BUT due to the labor intensive nature of shaping them they are still made in limited quantities.  You’ll be happy you grabbed one. https://nechamkin.com/chasing-hammer/

Chasing and Repousse tools, although very low tech, require basic parameters to perform well. Tons of people ask me what tools they need, which shapes and sizes etc. To me it is important FIRST, to know the basics of what makes a good chasing tool.

  A Length of 4″or so is good for most hands. The shanks should be squared (at least somewhat) so you know which way your chasing tool is facing in your fingers. Completely round stock sort of rolls around in your fingers and I prefer them mainly for round nosed tools like beading tools.

 The corners of the shank should be soft and comfortable to hold. They should not be sharp, bent or deformed in any way.  There should be some length to the taper to the tool face for good line of sight. The faces should be satin smooth or polished shiny. Nothing should be left sharp.

The striking end should be left annealed and the working face hardened and tempered to about an inch back. The old machinists’ handbooks teach that the hammer for the punch is to be hardened to prevent a hollow from developing in the face. Hard steel on hard steel is risky. Slight mushrooming on the striking end of a punch can easily be dressed with a file when needed.

Punches suffer concussive blows with cracking force. For this reason they are traditionally made from solid rolled steel, cut to length and ground or forged into shape. Rolled steel has a long strong crystal structure that resists cracking when correctly heat treated.

That said,  I have come across lots of tools missing all or several of these basics. But now  you have a guide to help you decide for yourself.

All Nechamkin Chasing Tools are made using these parameters. I personally oversee the quality. Every tool has my family name on it.https://nechamkin.com/chasing-tools/

CHASING & REPOUSSE TOOLS

Second Video Chasing Class at NSS

Today I taught the second two hour session of my second video conference chasing class. I am in NJ and the student is in the Boston Ma. area. The fist session went about 3 hours, ( one hour over planned) to get the cameras, on both ends of the call,  just right and figure things out together. We spent time getting to know each other and deciding where she needed to start based on her level of Chasing and Repousse experience..

I had a basic plan and we more or less have had an easy time following it. Although video teaching has its limits with a physical sculptural technique, I am pleasantly surprised at how much we can really accomplish. She is doing great. She has some homework and we meet for the third 2 hour session next Friday.

If you are interested in a on on one video class and want to know more, or schedule sessions, please email me at Silversmith@Nechamkin.com or go to my contact page and message me from there https://nechamkin.com/about-us/contacts-resources/

Hi there Chasers. I have an interesting development. With the https://nechamkin.com/  phones being  quiet I am suddenly getting a lot of my work done. It looks like I will be ahead of my work load soon; and I found  a fun opportunity has just presented itself.

A woman (we’ll call her Mary) called me, inquiring about purchasing some chasing and repousse tools. Last week, a chasing and repousse class she was in cancelled midway through and left her and her fellow students in a lurch.  I decided to offer a free (virtual) quarantine chasing and repousse class on zoom for her and 3 other classmates.

During this time it is important for us to stay connected to our work, our families, friends and colleagues. It will  help us all to remain positive and ease our collective anxieties.  I look forward to the little free fun quarantine  virtual chasing and repousse class with Mary and her friends. We’ll see where it goes. Maybe I will make that a regular thing. Remember to support your favorite vendors and artists during this difficult time. https://www.ottofrei.com/,https://www.echristopherandsons.com/ and https://metalsmithsociety.com/ are 3 of my favorites. Thanks for reading and please subscribe to my quarterly mailing list