Sawing Bench Pin vs Wax Reamer: Which Bench Tool Do You Need?
By Jewellery Tools UK — Hand Tools for Jewellers & Silversmiths | Published: 2026-11-04
Category: Comparisons
A sawing bench pin and a wax reamer solve different bench problems. Compare the V-slot pin and the 9-inch steel reamer, and learn which to buy first.
Quick answer
Buy the sawing bench pin if you cut, pierce or file metal and need a stable, blade-friendly work surface. Buy the wax reamer if you size wax ring tubes for lost-wax casting. They are not substitutes: one supports sawing, the other shapes wax.
The jobs are different, so the trade-off is different
A sawing bench pin is a sacrificial work surface. The hardwood takes the wear from blades and files, and the V-slot lets you support work right up to the cut line. The trade-off is that it does no sizing or shaping of its own; it simply gives you a stable place to saw and pierce.
A wax reamer is a shaping tool. The 9-inch solid steel reamer enlarges and smooths the bore of wax ring tubes from 3 mm to 17 mm, with five ground flutes that cut cleanly through wax. The trade-off is that it only helps with wax work; it will not support a saw frame or protect a bench edge.
Where each tool earns its place
If your work involves piercing, sawing or filing metal, the bench pin is the more fundamental purchase. It fits standard jewellery and watchmaking bench brackets at 6′′ × 2.5′′, and because it is plain hardwood you can file, notch and re-shape it as your work changes. That adaptability is useful, but it also means the pin is a wear item rather than a precision instrument.
If your work involves wax ring carving or sizing wax tubes before casting, the reamer removes a specific bottleneck. Its continuous taper allows gradual, controlled sizing, and the smooth finish from the flutes can reduce post-casting cleanup. The limitation is scope: it is a single-purpose wax tool, not a general bench support.
Buying both: order matters less than workflow
These two tools sit at different stages. The bench pin supports metal cutting and piercing; the wax reamer supports wax modelling before casting. If you are setting up a bench from scratch, start with the tool that matches the material you handle most. If you already saw metal but carve wax rings, add the reamer as a second step rather than replacing the pin.
Trade-offs and decision rules
- Sawing bench pin: wear part vs work surface: Choose it when you need a stable, sacrificial surface for sawing and piercing. Accept that hardwood wears and may need re-shaping or replacement. Check that your bench bracket takes a 6′′ × 2.5′′ pin before buying.
- Wax reamer: precision vs single purpose: Choose it when you regularly size wax ring tubes between 3 mm and 17 mm. Accept that it does nothing for metal sawing or bench support. Confirm your wax tubes fall within the 3–17 mm taper range.
- Budget and bench space: If you can only add one tool now, match it to your current material: metal work points to the bench pin, wax ring work points to the reamer. Revisit the second purchase when your workflow moves to the other material.
Product facts at a glance
- Sawing & Piercing Bench Pin — Hardwood V-Slot Spare, 6″ × 2.5″, Jewellery & Watchmaking: Replacement hardwood pin, 6′′ × 2.5′′, with a V-slot for piercing and sawing. It fits standard bench brackets and gives you a blade-friendly surface that can be re-shaped as it wears.
Sawing & Piercing Bench Pin — Hardwood V-Slot Spare, 6″ × 2.5″, Jewellery & Watchmaking - Jumbo 9" Solid Steel Wax Reamer — Sizing Wax Rings & Carving Ring Tubes, Tapers 3–17 mm: 9-inch solid steel wax reamer with five ground flutes, tapering 3–17 mm. It sizes wax ring tubes gradually and leaves a smoother bore, which can mean less cleanup after casting.
Jumbo 9" Solid Steel Wax Reamer — Sizing Wax Rings & Carving Ring Tubes, Tapers 3–17 mm
Which tool fits your bench?
Best for
- Jewellers who saw, pierce or file metal and need a replaceable V-slot support
- Watchmakers and bench workers using standard 6′′ × 2.5′′ bench brackets
- Makers who carve or size wax ring tubes from 3 mm to 17 mm
Not for
- Anyone expecting a bench pin to size or shape wax
- Anyone expecting a wax reamer to support metal sawing or piercing
- Buyers who need a precision measuring tool rather than a bench support or wax shaper
