Wooden Wonder
Turn a hardwood dowel into a no-scratch prong pusher
By Helen I. Driggs
There are dozens of handmade alternatives to commercially manufactured hard—and sharp—steel prong pushers that tend to scratch or chip delicate or softer stones. I have made prong pushers from a variety of materials such as plastic and nylon rod, old toothbrush handles, and stout copper and brass wire, but my favorite material for this purpose is a hardwood dowel.