GRS BenchMate
GRS BenchMate
A versatile bench-mounted holding fixture for engraving, setting, and finishing work
The GRS BenchMate is a bench-mounted workholding fixture manufactured by GRS Tools, a division of the Glendo Corporation of Emporia, Kansas, USA. Designed primarily for hand engraving, stone setting, and fine metalwork finishing, the BenchMate provides a stable, adjustable platform that secures jewellery pieces, bezels, ring shanks, and small metal components during close-tolerance bench operations. It occupies a practical middle position in the GRS product range — more capable and ergonomic than a simple ring clamp or pitch bowl, yet less complex and less costly than a full engraving block or a pneumatic-assist system such as the GRS GraverMax.
Design and Mechanics
The defining feature of the BenchMate is its ball-joint head, which allows the workpiece to be rotated through 360° and tilted to virtually any angle relative to the bench surface. A quick-release lever or knob mechanism enables the engraver or setter to reposition the piece rapidly without fully dismounting it — a significant practical advantage when working around a complex design that requires frequent changes of approach angle. The base is intended for permanent or semi-permanent mounting to a bench top, providing a rigid, vibration-resistant foundation that is essential when applying controlled graver pressure or hammer blows.
The fixture accepts a range of interchangeable jaws and accessory holders, allowing it to accommodate flat stock, ring shanks of varying diameters, pendants, brooch frames, and other irregular forms. This modularity is central to the tool's appeal: a single BenchMate unit can serve multiple workholding functions across a busy bench without requiring the craftsperson to maintain a large inventory of dedicated fixtures.
Applications
In professional jewellery workshops, the BenchMate is employed across several disciplines:
- Hand engraving: Bright-cut, bright-cut relief, and decorative surface engraving all require the workpiece to be presented at precise angles to the graver. The ball-joint head allows the engraver to follow curved lines and letter forms without awkward repositioning of the hand.
- Stone setting: Bead setting, pavé, and channel setting benefit from the ability to tilt and rotate the piece so that each seat or bead can be worked from an optimal angle. The secure grip of the jaws prevents the piece from shifting under setting pressure.
- Finishing and polishing: Small components that are difficult to hold safely by hand can be mounted in the BenchMate for controlled filing, burnishing, or preliminary polishing passes.
Position in the GRS Range
GRS Tools offers a hierarchy of workholding and power-assist equipment. At the simpler end sit manual gravers and basic clamps; above the BenchMate sit the GRS engraving blocks — heavier, more precisely engineered ball-and-socket systems intended for sustained professional engraving — and at the top of the range, pneumatic and rotary-handpiece systems such as the GraverMax and GraverMach, which combine power delivery with sophisticated workholding. The BenchMate is therefore best understood as an entry-to-mid-level professional tool: fully adequate for a production setter or an engraver whose volume does not justify the investment in a full engraving block, and widely used in trade schools and training programmes as an accessible introduction to controlled workholding.
In the Trade
The BenchMate has achieved broad adoption in English-speaking jewellery markets, appearing regularly in bench-skills curricula at institutions that teach hand engraving and stone setting. Its relatively modest price point, combined with genuine functional capability, makes it a common first workholding investment for bench jewellers moving beyond improvised holding methods. Compatibility with the wider GRS accessory ecosystem means that a craftsperson who later upgrades to a full GRS engraving block can often carry forward jaw sets and accessories purchased for the BenchMate, reducing the effective cost of progression.