Rhinestone and Stud Setters GU50 HomePro LR Brisk Set Bedazzler GeMagic Read Review Read Review Read Review Read Review Read Review

ALLSTARCO GU50 Classification: Craft to Light Production

The GU50 is a heavy duty hand setter. Standard dies are purchased seperately for setting nailheads, preset rhinestones, rhinestone rivets, and rim settings. Custom dies can also be built allowing this tool to set virtually anything. It's a solid machine for serious craft work or light production. There is no standard die for tiffany settings yet. For more details click here. You can also view these video demonstrations http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHWey3yNoWE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA3UY05n074 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCrTx8E25Ec

Home Pro LR Classification: Craft

This machine was originally developed for eyelets and rivets, but the manufacturer has since extended the range to include nailheads and pre-set rhinestones. This is a well-made tool that has a solid feel. We only tested nailheads some time ago, and it did a good job attaching them to the test material. The dies have a flexible rubber sleeve that holds the ornament up top, so you can set stones and studs right-side-up. But there's not a lot of throat area for bunching up heavy materials, and the opening between the jars is quite small, making it cumbersome to load the ornaments.

Brisk Set Classification: Craft

This was the one and only true lightweight little craft machine. This is a solid machine for light craft work. Your design is marked on the backside of the fabric, and place it backside up, over the bottom cup of the machine. This tool uses interchangeable dies in a nice range from 4mm to 15mm for rimsets and nailheads. It can also attach tiffany settings up to 11mm. The problem is that only tiffany setting dies are provided with the base machine and other attachments are hard to get. As with any lightweight tool, you have to apply good pressure with your hands to get the job done. Some can find it tiring after a while. Don’t be deceived by machines that look like this but are not Brisk-Sets. This machine has been knocked off a few times, and none of them was any good.

Bedazzler™ Classification: Toy to very light craft work

The Bedazzler has been around for a long time, and probably everyone has heard of it because of the great advertising. Our test Bedazzler came with 4 interchangeable plunger tips marked 20, 30, 34, and 40. The plungers are intended to fit pre-set rhinestone sizes SS20, SS30, SS34 and SS40. These plungers can also be used to set metal studs (nailheads) in sizes 20, 30, and 40. To set, choose your plunger and align the corresponding marking on the rotating setter plate directly under the plunger. Insert your rhinestone or stud in the plunger with the prongs ponting down. Place the fabric face up over the setter plate, then press down firmly until the prongs bend. The prongs are supposed to penetrate through the top of the material and get folded over by the grooves in the setter plate, "locking" them onto the fabric at the back. We were not very impressed with the job our Bedazzler did of attaching stones and studs to our denim. The machine's all plastic construction was flimsy and made it hard to apply even pressure. The setter plate was also tricky to to line up properly. It was hard enough to align the plunger tip with the setter plate even without any fabric blocking our view. With the denim over the setter plate, most times it felt like a shot in the dark. With that being said, there are probably still thousands upon thousands of people who will swear by their Bedazzler. If you are out for some fun the Bedazzler could be your ticket, but with this tool you will certainly have a lot more instances of studs and stones not attaching properly. The Bedazzler infomercial shows off some very detailed work they say was created using the Bedazzler. We have our doubts that such professional work can be done using this device. You can find Bedazzler Refills at our e-store.

More information about Bedazzler Review at Overstock.com http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=5591053 http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061126164028AAbaBR8

GeMagic™ Classification: Toy to very light craft work

The GeMagic was introduced after the success of the Bedazzler and the two devices are indeed very similar. Where GeMagic really shines over the Bedazzler is with their infomercials. GeMagic infomercials are so enticing they even make us want to buy one. Our test GeMagic came with 5 plungers. They are marked 20, 30, 34, and 40 and 60. The first four plungers are intended to fit pre-set rhinestone sizes SS20, SS30, SS34 and SS40. These same plungers can also be used to set metal studs (Nailheads) in sizes 20, 30, and 40. The GeMagic #60 plunger was a nice surprise but unfortunately we couldn't find any stones or studs to fit it just right. Installing the GeMagic plungers takes a bit longer than for the Bedazzler. Before the plunger can be inserted in the machine it needs to be mounted in a 2 part collar that you snap together once the plunger is inside. When the assembly is ready, you insert the whole thing into the machine just like you do with the Bedazzler. To set rhinestones or studs first install the appropriate plunger and line it up to the corresponding marking on the rotating setter plate so it's directly under the plunger. Insert your rhinestone or stud in the plunger with the prongs pointing down. Place the fabric face up over the setter plate and then press down firmly until the prongs bend. The prongs are supposed to penetrate through the top of the material and get folded over by the grooves in the setter plate, "locking" them onto the fabric at the back. Our test results were much like the Bedazzler results. Essentially we were not very impressed. The plastic body being of very light construction, makes it not so easy to apply even pressure of great force. And as with the Bedazzler, lining up the plungers with the setter plate was a little frustrating. When using this device we found a lot of studs not set as securely as they could be. If you want to get some experience and have a little fun, this tool may work for you. But if you want to do some serious work, a tool like this may not be the right choice in the longer run. You can find GeMagic Refills at our e-store.

More information on Gemagic. http://www.associatedcontent.com/video/10735/visual_instruction_for_gemagic_like.html http://www.expotv.com/videos/reviews/5/66/Cathy-Mitchells-GeMAgic/11620