Metalsmith Society

#sponsored For this #tooltalktuesday I am showing off my John Frei Custom Workbench which was created for me, by @ottofrei1930 😭It is so amazing I’ve actually been worrying this post would not fully do it justice but here it goes. This bench started... more

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Maple John Frei Custom Single Bank Workbench

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 refreshing your hard charcoal block from @sophie.cunliffe.jeweller - “Refreshing an old charcoal block that has worn and pitted over time. Rub on a cement block and you'll get a nice clean, flat soldering suface again. Oh and filthy... more

Here is a tip for those using smaller torches from @silvermaplestudiome - “Since I use a small butane torch, I don’t have a lot of fire power. My son @northcountryblacksmith suggested I use copper sheet to reflect the heat back on my project. It... more

Here is a tip for cleaning your brass pieces after soldering from @dcadefdesigns - “Working with brass? My lovely friend @silverbythebaystudio gave me this tip to make Super Pickle: Mix 1 part HOT🔥 pickle with 1 part hydrogen peroxide. OR use hydrogen... more

#sponsored Sometimes ordering chain, jump rings and clasps can be confusing when you can’t see them in person. I think many of us have ordered something and it ends up being the wrong size sometimes even comically so 😂 For today’s post brought to you... more

This is a review of what was inside the May 2020 #benchtooljunkies box! It had some gorgeous rose cut labradorites from Silver Fantasy Inc. It also included a beautiful Rounded Narrow Hammer from @fretzdesign this hammer is absolutely gorgeous, and... more

Here is a tip for soldering a bezel onto a curved surface from @theloveleighlocket - “If you want to incorporate a bezel into a wide band ring and use the band as the backplate...you will have to file the bottom of the bezel into a curved shape to... more

Here is a tip for getting a nice white look to your silver from @susanmcginnessjewellery - “The uneven coloring called firescale caused by metal alloys separating are always disappointing to see in the final stages of jewellery making. Here is the... more

Here is a great ball making technique from @allieperrydesigns - “When I need multiple balls that are all the same size, this is my favorite way to make them. Start with evenly-sized jump rings. Line them up on a smooth soldering surface; I use a... more

Here is a tip for soldering jump rings from @buenaonda.handmade - “Everytime I close a jump ring I mark the seam with a sharpie. So when it comes time to solder it’s easier to find. I especially love these solder filled jump rings from @riogrande.... more

Here is a tip for your pickle pot from @thewildpine - “ I work with a lot of tiny components and found that I was spending entirely too much time digging around in my murky pickle pot trying to pull every little piece out one by one with my... more

Here is a tip to store your solder from @ceramicshenanigans - “As I was learning goldsmithing, I found when soldering that sometimes I would mix up my solders and couldn't tell the easy or hard gold solder from each other. 🧰 To solve this, I bought a... more

Here is a tip to hold your work together while soldering from @tracey_michelle129 - “I’m using these Stainless steel cotter pins purchased from my local hardware store to keep the tension on these two pieces to solder together. Also great for securing... more

#affiliate For this #tooltalktuesday I want to talk about my beloved @durstontools padded stool (I actually have two of them because they are 🔥) These stools were a game changer because I used to have a chair that wasn’t the ideal height for my bench... 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 tip for polishing tiny bezels from @isabelasopkova - “I would like to share my tip for cleaning small bezels after soldering, it is perfect for white gold especially. I use a interdental brush with polishing paste and it works very good :))”... more

Here is a soldering tip from @hattie.eshleman - “I would love that! Here is a caption- “Use binding wire (or any steel wire) to make a nest and elevate your piece so that you can get heat underneath. Great alternative to having to buy a tripod rig!” 🙌... 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 technique to make your jump rings oval from @maggiejjewelry - “After soldering my jump rings closed, I stretch them into ovals with a pair of Reverse Action Bow Opening Pliers made by Mazbot.” It is simple techniques like this that I love!... more

Tips

#sponsored For this #tooltalktuesday I am showing off my John Frei Custom Workbench which was created for me, by @ottofrei1930 😭It is so amazing I’ve actually been worrying this post would not fully do it justice but here it goes. This bench started... more

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 refreshing your hard charcoal block from @sophie.cunliffe.jeweller - “Refreshing an old charcoal block that has worn and pitted over time. Rub on a cement block and you'll get a nice clean, flat soldering suface again. Oh and filthy... more

Here is a tip for those using smaller torches from @silvermaplestudiome - “Since I use a small butane torch, I don’t have a lot of fire power. My son @northcountryblacksmith suggested I use copper sheet to reflect the heat back on my project. It... more

Here is a tip for cleaning your brass pieces after soldering from @dcadefdesigns - “Working with brass? My lovely friend @silverbythebaystudio gave me this tip to make Super Pickle: Mix 1 part HOT🔥 pickle with 1 part hydrogen peroxide. OR use hydrogen... more

#sponsored Sometimes ordering chain, jump rings and clasps can be confusing when you can’t see them in person. I think many of us have ordered something and it ends up being the wrong size sometimes even comically so 😂 For today’s post brought to you... more

This is a review of what was inside the May 2020 #benchtooljunkies box! It had some gorgeous rose cut labradorites from Silver Fantasy Inc. It also included a beautiful Rounded Narrow Hammer from @fretzdesign this hammer is absolutely gorgeous, and... more

Here is a tip for soldering a bezel onto a curved surface from @theloveleighlocket - “If you want to incorporate a bezel into a wide band ring and use the band as the backplate...you will have to file the bottom of the bezel into a curved shape to... more

Here is a tip for getting a nice white look to your silver from @susanmcginnessjewellery - “The uneven coloring called firescale caused by metal alloys separating are always disappointing to see in the final stages of jewellery making. Here is the... more

Here is a great ball making technique from @allieperrydesigns - “When I need multiple balls that are all the same size, this is my favorite way to make them. Start with evenly-sized jump rings. Line them up on a smooth soldering surface; I use a... more

Here is a tip for soldering jump rings from @buenaonda.handmade - “Everytime I close a jump ring I mark the seam with a sharpie. So when it comes time to solder it’s easier to find. I especially love these solder filled jump rings from @riogrande.... more

Here is a tip for your pickle pot from @thewildpine - “ I work with a lot of tiny components and found that I was spending entirely too much time digging around in my murky pickle pot trying to pull every little piece out one by one with my... more

Here is a tip to store your solder from @ceramicshenanigans - “As I was learning goldsmithing, I found when soldering that sometimes I would mix up my solders and couldn't tell the easy or hard gold solder from each other. 🧰 To solve this, I bought a... more

Here is a tip to hold your work together while soldering from @tracey_michelle129 - “I’m using these Stainless steel cotter pins purchased from my local hardware store to keep the tension on these two pieces to solder together. Also great for securing... more

#affiliate For this #tooltalktuesday I want to talk about my beloved @durstontools padded stool (I actually have two of them because they are 🔥) These stools were a game changer because I used to have a chair that wasn’t the ideal height for my bench... 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 tip for polishing tiny bezels from @isabelasopkova - “I would like to share my tip for cleaning small bezels after soldering, it is perfect for white gold especially. I use a interdental brush with polishing paste and it works very good :))”... more

Here is a soldering tip from @hattie.eshleman - “I would love that! Here is a caption- “Use binding wire (or any steel wire) to make a nest and elevate your piece so that you can get heat underneath. Great alternative to having to buy a tripod rig!” 🙌... 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 technique to make your jump rings oval from @maggiejjewelry - “After soldering my jump rings closed, I stretch them into ovals with a pair of Reverse Action Bow Opening Pliers made by Mazbot.” It is simple techniques like this that I love!... more