Here is a tip for when you are soldering bezels to your baseplates from @sweetbellajewelry - “If you’ve ever soldered a bezel upside on your backplate you know the frustration (not that I ever have 😬). To avoid this simple mishap I mark the tops of my... more
Here is a tip for soldering a larger bezel onto a ring from @ladypearljewelry -“Head and shank tweezers: Ideal tool to hold settings and shanks together for accurate soldering. However, if you have a bigger setting, simply add a piece of cooper to... more
For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I wanted to discuss a basic tool, owned by most jewelers: a prong pusher! Prong pushers are definitely on my list of beginner’s tools as they work really well to push down bezels. The problem is they come with some... more
Here is a tip for creating bezels with points (pear shape for example) from @moonandforge - “Bezel setting stones with points can be challenging, and if you ask 12 smiths to do it, you’ll get 12 different ways to tackle it! Here is a way that I’ve... more
Here is a hexagon bezel making tip from @theloveleighlocket - “I bought hexagon diamond cabochons to make stud earrings a while back, they are pretty tiny. I needed a tiny mandrel to shape the bezels for them...but the one I had was too big at... more
Here is a work holding tip from @hendersonstudiosjewelry - “Use hot glue on a metal plate, peg vise, or engraving ball to hold your work temporarily for stone setting. First use just enough hot glue to secure your setting without completely swallowing... more
Here is a tip for when you are checking a stone in its bezel from @stonefruitsilver - “I love using this UHU tac for removing stones from bezels when checking fit (as long as they're not in too tight). There are different brands and types, which can... more
Here is a tip for positioning work while you solder from @amypetersstudio - “I try to stay away from 3rd hands when possible. They pull heat away, they can concentrate heat on what it’s holding and most tweezers don’t last long and I hate throwing... more
Here is a tip for working with gallery wire from @didirosejewelry - “I cut the gallery wire at a point where it'll look like part of the design after soldering, then solder it with a small flame. A micro torch is my go to. Then I wrap the border wire... more
For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I’m showing off my @grstools MicroBlock XL (Part # 103.773 @ottofrei1930) I have had experience on all of the vises from GRS and I can confirm this is the perfect size between the GRS MicroBlock and the GRS Standard... more
Watch in IGTV for closed captions! For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I shot a quick demo video using an Artifex Wheel from @ottofrei1930 while they come in both 4” and 6” I use a FOREDOM Benchtop Lathe and the 4” is the appropriate size for my machine.... more
Here is a soldering tip from @helen_aliye_derici - “I LOVE CROSS LOCK TWEEZERS 💙 Just found a new way to use them 🙃 They’re some of my all the time go-to tools. Brilliant for soldering, for holding ear posts upright with weight for a strong solder... more
Here are several tips from @tkiplinger - “I use museum putty to help visualize dimension in my work. I flesh out a concept using a hybrid sketch with elements of sheet metal or enamels stuck right to the sketch with putty. I also use museum putty in... more
Here is a #diy tool from @jessjewelry - “I saw you story the other day about favorite handmade tools. This is mine. I used an old file tang and sawed it out to make a bezel pusher. The old file is now used to dress my rubber wheels and such.” This is... more
Here is a tip for if you get a stone stuck in a bezel and need to get it out from @exilejewelry - "I use poster tack on my bench top and really sink the stone in, try to rip the setting off like a bandaid. Some people use dop (dop is what lapidary... more
For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I wanted to talk about Bezel Setting Punches. I bought this economy set for myself years ago after having worked for a jeweler that used them in their studio. The idea is you use this tool to set tube settings with a... more
Here is a tip for making bezels for uneven cabochons: take a fine marker and trace a line around the inside. It will give you a visual on where you need to file and sand! *be CAREFUL with porous stones and sharpie. With this stone the marker wiped off... more
#sponsored For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I am showing off the Foredom® Hammer Handpiece #15 (item 850-1270) from our friends at @gesswein.jewelry If you are new to the idea of a hammer handpiece let me break it down for you, this is an attachment... more
Here is a tip for sizing a ring with a stone set in it from @marquisjewelryacademy - "If I need to size a ring after I've already set the stone I use this method for most silver and gold rings. I learned this paper towel technique while working at the... more
Here is a bezel setting tip from @susanfauman - “I love using my graver’s ball from GRS to hold a piece when I’m setting stones. When I need to set a stone in a ring with a simple, symmetrical shank, I basically use the graver’s ball like a vice. To... more
