Here is a setting tip from @shira_hanna_designs - “When I don’t want to chance distorting the shape of a more delicate piece while setting a stone, I sometimes choose to set the stone right on the mandrel I used for forming rather than using a vice.... more
#affiliate For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I wanted to show of ZAM® ⚡️ (it just sounds cool, doesn’t it?) I got curious about ZAM® after taking an online class with @lucywalkerjewellery and she showed it off to polish a bezel. This compound is an... more
Here is a tip for soldering a bezel to a baseplate from @refraction_manufacturing - “I use binding wire to hold the setting to the plate and then I can scribe a line around where it needs to sit.” I love this extra step because it’s worth it when you... more
Here is a stamping tip from @southboundsmith - “Here’s a tip for making sure your stamps are ending up where you want them. If you’re using a piece of silver sheet, I like to find the center point of each side, and draw two lines for reference. If... more
For the last #tooltalktuesday of the year I wanted to give a huge thank you to the companies that have continued to support the page through sponsorship ❤️Here is a recap of the #topnine2020 for Tool Talks: 1️⃣ John Frei Custom Workbench which was... more
#affiliate This week’s #tooltalktuesday I’m showing off how I make super teeny, tiny round bezels with the amazing Fretz Micro Stake available as a kit (Part # 112.635) or in separate pieces available from our friends at @ottofrei1930 (also stay tuned... more
Here is a wax carving tip from @unmarkedindustries - “The dental floss tip I saw you guys share also works really well in wax! I tend to work in soft wax like wire wax and green sheet when I am building my bezels walls for a piece. I like to build... more
Here is a tip to keep multiple projects organized at once from @carryatorchltd - “I try to work on many projects at a time to be the most efficient I can be while I am in my studio. To help keep my workspace manageable, my pieces organized and my... more
Here is a tweezer modification from @simplee_silver - “I have a pair of tweezers that I have modified to hold a band in place on the back of a bezel cup to make soldering so much easier. Bending them into position is just a matter of using a pair of... more
Here is a tip for applying patina from @ficklemejewelry - “Here’s something I came up with since I use a lot of translucent stones & personally tend to forget to take jewelry off while hand washing, dish doing & other things involving getting my rings... more
#sponsored For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I formed a thick bezel using my Swanstrom Pliers and Cutters Set (Item #: 111026). exclusively available from our friends at @riogrande. If you are a beginner and looking for a set of pliers to get started... more
Here is a setting tip from @marquisjewelryacademy - “When I'm setting a station necklace like this on a rotating vise (GRS Multi-purpose) the chain can get caught up below. I use a spare baggie to hold the chain clear of my Thermoloc ( @grstools ) and... more
Protect your stones while texturing and polishing! Today’s tip is brought to you by our sponsor @turquoise_moose they are my trusted source for gorgeous turquoise, their stones come from over 20 mines and they have freeform and calibrated options. For... more
Here is a technique for sawing tubes/bezels from @marquisjewelryacademy - “When I need to cut down the height of a bezel or trim bits of tube I brace my tube on the corner of my bench pin and saw around concentrically, getting deeper with each pass.... more
Here is a tip for stamping your work from @drugstorecowgirljewelry - “We’ve all forgotten to put our makers or metal purity stamp on a piece and then soldered something to the top, like an embellishment. So annoying! Sure, you could stamp out a tiny... more
Here is a stone setting tip from @marquisjewelryacademy - “You know those cute single serve cheese wheels? We save that red cheese wax for stone setting. This wax starts out a little sticky but after a few days of bench dirt (think, wood, abrasive and... more
Here is a tip to save your fingers while polishing studs, from me 👋 using a ring clamp to secure a stud is a great way to be able to rotate it, and polish your earring (in this case I’m polishing my bezel) without polishing your nails and fingertips.... more
#tooltalktuesday I’m once again showing my @grstools Benchmate System (I have the Encore QCX) I often get asked about mine and I wanted to give those interested an opportunity to ask questions! I invested in mine years ago and have never regretted it.... more
Here is a tool modification from @janet.wise - “As a metal artist with smaller hands I find most tool's hard to use appropriately. Therefore, I used my favorite jewelers saw and cut the end off the bezel rocker creating the perfect size tool for my... more
jeffkleinjewelry is offering our community 10% off his entire Etsy shop (link in my profile) now through 12/16 with code CODE101 you can get unique bezels in brass, copper and silver for your next jewelry project or collection. If you are in Europe... more
