As I look around my studio I realize I'm a collector- of pebbles, bones bits of glass from my travels. Twigs,seed pods, leaves seem to end up in my coat pockets these bits and pieces act eventually as subjects for reference and even make their way into finished pieces of jewelry. I have a feeling that I'm not the only magpie, gathering things that are a particular shape or texture or color and bringing it back to the nest. The puzzle for me is what to do with all of the gatherings- how do these things inform my work? Do they earn being incorporated into a piece? Better yet, what's the best way of trapping or setting a found object?
My first go to tool to measure trace or mark is a pair of dividers. My dividers were my grandfather's and have been with me as a favorite tool for decades. I can trace irregular thickness to determine heights of bezel wire, use as a scribe to mark where to cut my bezel,mark a center point for drilling a hole, or measure exact heights.
They make a sharp exact line thinner and more precise than a sharpie marker.
Pumice wheels for your flex shaft are another great tool to have for unusual objects. They are very soft (look up MOHS hardness of pumice) and won't scratch most objects. Their small size and soft, flexible texture give them the ability to squeeze into tight areas. You can make them squeeze into tight spots even better by wearing them down into custom shapes very quickly and easily.