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
#sponsored CONGRATS @palm__sunday 🎉 Today is America Recycles Day! Did you know you can work with 100% recycled metals? At @stullerinc you can not only find recycled sheet, but they also have recycled bezel wires, decorative wires, sizing stock, ring... more
Here is a tip for soldering on earring posts from @twistedsistersjewelry -“This ceramic pad and pegs help hold things that would otherwise be difficult to position. Used to have to jump thru hoops and hold my head in a particular position to get the... more
Here is a tip for when your paste flux dries out from @tkiplinger - “I like to rejuvenate my HandyFlux in small batches by placing a chunk in a mini mortar and pestle and mixing it with distilled water. In between soldering sessions, I also pour... more
Here is a prong setting tip from @PsArtisanJewelry - “The skamolex blocks make claw prongs so much easier. I go through a couple blocks a month, but they’re only $5 and I make a ton of claw settings for magnifying glass necklaces, so they’re worth... more
Here is a tip to prevent solder from sticking to your soldering stick from @myth_and_stone - “I learned this tip at the New Approach Jewelry School.....dip the tip of your titanium solder pick in a 50/50 mixture of boric acid and denatured alcohol and... more
Here is a tweezer modification from @cherylrydmark_goldsmith - “I love the way this notch prevents small wires from shifting when the flux starts melting. If the tweezer needs to be cleaned up and reshaped I use my belt sander and then start with... more
For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I’m keeping it short but sweet, I’m obsessed with my Automatic Torch Lighter. Is it a luxury? Kind of 😂but it truly saves you so much time at your soldering station and you can light your torch with one hand! I... more
Here is a tip for soldering multiples from @mineralandmine - “Recently I wanted to do a whole bunch of solder joins that required a 3rd hand. I only have one 3rd hand, but I have lots of cross locking tweezers (I use item 115580 on Rio Grande, well... more
Here is a tip for sawing multiples from @daniellerobichaudjewelry - “I have a tip that I use when cutting duplicates/multiples of something in sheet. Rubber cement! Cut at least 2 pieces of sheet (I have even done 4 if I have the right saw blades) and... more
#societychat Today is Episode 3 of my new series: SOCIETY CHAT. This biweekly video series will feature my 15 minute interviews with inspiring jewelers and teachers. Really excited to share my conversation with Angely Martinez of... more
