Someone asked me the other day what the most important tool on my workbench was. I laughed and said “my brain” then I said “my hands”. No she said, she meant an actual tool. That took a little bit of thought. I have many different tools, wire cutters, many different types of pliers, curved, flat and round nose, a few pairs with plastic heads, several pair of crimpers, a bead reamer, as well as a few tools that I’m not even sure of the name of. Some I use many times a day, some not as often.
I then decided that the most important tool on my workbench is a sharp diamond drill bit. In my jewelry designing I drill a lot of sea glass. If I can’t drill the glass perfectly or near to perfect I am not happy. I also pay for some of the lovely sea glass I use. English multis and seafoams, sea glass from California and Hawaii. Each piece of jewelry I create is potential income and I don’t want to risk a drilling mishap. Drilling isn’t my favorite thing, but I have found that everything goes better with a fresh sharp drill bit.
So a sharp diamond drill makes for a happy sea glass jewelry artisan, at least in my house.
