Metalsmith Society

Here is a great use for those broken honeycombs from @brackendesigns - “If you've been torching from below with your piece on top of a heavy steel mesh screen, you may want to consider a set up like this when possible.... no huge steel heat sink.” I... more

Here is a technique you can use if you have a cabochon that is rocking a bit (due to an uneven bottom ) in its setting from @quiettimejewelry - “When checking for fit in the setting my stone was rocking back and forth. Which, for me, usually means it... more

Here is a tip for when you need something lined up when soldering from @ckmetaldesigns - “After I file a spot in the ring shank flat, I mark the sides of the ring with Sharpie at the flat part. Then when I am placing it on the bezel plate to solder, I... more

Here is a tutorial for making a split cuff out of wire from @ghosttownmetalworks - “I learned how to make a split band cuff from an old school pictorial instruction manual called "Indian Jewelry Making" by Oscar T. Branson. I have done my own little... more

For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I wanted to discuss Firescoff Flux, for those looking for a minimally hazardous and eco-friendly flux it is a great option! I must credit the Eco Jewelry Handbook by Christine Dhein as a source for some of the... more

Here is a quick way to even out the bottom of your bezels prior to soldering from @persimmonpearl - “I use an Emory board! The grit takes off more metal than my fine sandpaper board, so it’s great when I’ve really got to get a bezel down to size. 😊” 🙌... more

*Please read the comments on this one- Here is a tip for applying tension while soldering from @oneanachronism - “Instead of binding wire here’s an easier way and far less damaging. You can close the gap as tight as possible without the risk of it... more

Here is a fantastic hinge tip from @fsgmetal - “Cut your tubing away in the middle of the two outside hinges only half way, leaving a bridge. When soldering put the bridge part up to make it easy to cut away, while keeping the hinges perfectly... more

Here is a tip for soldering chain or small elements from @pickleypear “When I have something small to solder that is an addition to a larger piece or have to solder chains, I like to use a compressed charcoal block as a heat sink. The block works... more

Here is a tip to consider if you’d like a beautiful, seamless bezel from @sara_kratzer - “Fusing fine silver bezels! I finally have switched to only fusing bezels instead of soldering. I can’t tell you how frustrating it is when a bezel solder joint... more

Here is a tool modification to help you hold work while you solder from @fairbankandperry - “Grinding the tip of this old pair of cross locking tweezers to a fine point worked great for holding and soldering individual links of this 2.5 mm curb... more

Here is a tip for prepping your ring shank to be soldered to a baseplate from @mothersonthemountainjewelry - “I use sandpaper and a tile board. Getting rink shanks nice and flat ensures a no fail solder!” This is super simple but such a great... more

Here is a little #diy heat sink from @notjustredones - “I solder with a small hand held butane torch so heat control can be tricky. Discovering how to use copper heat sinks for soldering was a game changer. The photo shows the use of homemade copper... more

I love this soldering surface that elevates your work from @lierreworks - “This modified mesh makes a great replacement for the nest of steel wire I’ve been using to solder my bezels on. I cut it to the size I wanted with modified shears and used... more

Here is a great tip for identifying your wire solder from @lionandlambstudios - “I learned this trick for distinguishing between easy, medium, and hard solder wire from Joe at @silverajewelryschool: 1 bend for easy, 2 bends for Medium, and 3 bends for... more

#sponsored For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I’m excited to share my @pepetools_usa 4” guillotine shear! If you are unfamiliar with shears they slice through sheet metal in seconds, giving you a nice straight edge and saving you the time it would take... more

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Here is a tip on proper hammer form to help prevent pain and discomfort from @captainmeegleton - “To prevent pain and be able to hammer for extended periods, remember that your elbow should be close to your torso. The more space there is, the greater... more

Here is a great soldering tip from @objectif.bijoux - “Create a nest with binding wire! So that the flame can pass below, I place the jewelry on an 22 gauge iron wire rolled into ball, which I crush slightly afterwards. Thus, the heat spreads better,... more

LOVE this soldering tip from @mandanastudios - “⭐️ I draw the lines on with a sharpie marker so I can make sure everything lines up. The marker burns off when I solder everything together.” This is such a great way to make sure you don’t solder... more

I’m so stoked about this I can’t stop talking about it 😆 in case you haven’t seen this yet: I now have a TIP SEARCH PAGE ! You can type in words like: stone setting, photography, filing, soldering, chain, safety equipment and ANY post from the... more

Tips

Here is a great use for those broken honeycombs from @brackendesigns - “If you've been torching from below with your piece on top of a heavy steel mesh screen, you may want to consider a set up like this when possible.... no huge steel heat sink.” I... more

Here is a technique you can use if you have a cabochon that is rocking a bit (due to an uneven bottom ) in its setting from @quiettimejewelry - “When checking for fit in the setting my stone was rocking back and forth. Which, for me, usually means it... more

Here is a tip for when you need something lined up when soldering from @ckmetaldesigns - “After I file a spot in the ring shank flat, I mark the sides of the ring with Sharpie at the flat part. Then when I am placing it on the bezel plate to solder, I... more

Here is a tutorial for making a split cuff out of wire from @ghosttownmetalworks - “I learned how to make a split band cuff from an old school pictorial instruction manual called "Indian Jewelry Making" by Oscar T. Branson. I have done my own little... more

For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I wanted to discuss Firescoff Flux, for those looking for a minimally hazardous and eco-friendly flux it is a great option! I must credit the Eco Jewelry Handbook by Christine Dhein as a source for some of the... more

Here is a quick way to even out the bottom of your bezels prior to soldering from @persimmonpearl - “I use an Emory board! The grit takes off more metal than my fine sandpaper board, so it’s great when I’ve really got to get a bezel down to size. 😊” 🙌... more

*Please read the comments on this one- Here is a tip for applying tension while soldering from @oneanachronism - “Instead of binding wire here’s an easier way and far less damaging. You can close the gap as tight as possible without the risk of it... more

Here is a fantastic hinge tip from @fsgmetal - “Cut your tubing away in the middle of the two outside hinges only half way, leaving a bridge. When soldering put the bridge part up to make it easy to cut away, while keeping the hinges perfectly... more

Here is a tip for soldering chain or small elements from @pickleypear “When I have something small to solder that is an addition to a larger piece or have to solder chains, I like to use a compressed charcoal block as a heat sink. The block works... more

Here is a tip to consider if you’d like a beautiful, seamless bezel from @sara_kratzer - “Fusing fine silver bezels! I finally have switched to only fusing bezels instead of soldering. I can’t tell you how frustrating it is when a bezel solder joint... more

Here is a tool modification to help you hold work while you solder from @fairbankandperry - “Grinding the tip of this old pair of cross locking tweezers to a fine point worked great for holding and soldering individual links of this 2.5 mm curb... more

Here is a tip for prepping your ring shank to be soldered to a baseplate from @mothersonthemountainjewelry - “I use sandpaper and a tile board. Getting rink shanks nice and flat ensures a no fail solder!” This is super simple but such a great... more

Here is a little #diy heat sink from @notjustredones - “I solder with a small hand held butane torch so heat control can be tricky. Discovering how to use copper heat sinks for soldering was a game changer. The photo shows the use of homemade copper... more

I love this soldering surface that elevates your work from @lierreworks - “This modified mesh makes a great replacement for the nest of steel wire I’ve been using to solder my bezels on. I cut it to the size I wanted with modified shears and used... more

Here is a great tip for identifying your wire solder from @lionandlambstudios - “I learned this trick for distinguishing between easy, medium, and hard solder wire from Joe at @silverajewelryschool: 1 bend for easy, 2 bends for Medium, and 3 bends for... more

#sponsored For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I’m excited to share my @pepetools_usa 4” guillotine shear! If you are unfamiliar with shears they slice through sheet metal in seconds, giving you a nice straight edge and saving you the time it would take... more

Here is a tip on proper hammer form to help prevent pain and discomfort from @captainmeegleton - “To prevent pain and be able to hammer for extended periods, remember that your elbow should be close to your torso. The more space there is, the greater... more

Here is a great soldering tip from @objectif.bijoux - “Create a nest with binding wire! So that the flame can pass below, I place the jewelry on an 22 gauge iron wire rolled into ball, which I crush slightly afterwards. Thus, the heat spreads better,... more

LOVE this soldering tip from @mandanastudios - “⭐️ I draw the lines on with a sharpie marker so I can make sure everything lines up. The marker burns off when I solder everything together.” This is such a great way to make sure you don’t solder... more

I’m so stoked about this I can’t stop talking about it 😆 in case you haven’t seen this yet: I now have a TIP SEARCH PAGE ! You can type in words like: stone setting, photography, filing, soldering, chain, safety equipment and ANY post from the... more