#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
Here is resizing tip from @fluxjewelrystudio - “How I protect the s*** outta your stones if your ring needs to be sized...sometimes I use this thermopaste stuff, sometimes I submerge the area with stones into wet sand before heating. Always lots of... more
#affiliate 🚨 BIG ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨 @lucywalkerjewellery is launching her Metalsmith Academy today! I sincerely love her classes, she is funny, thorough and the projects are fantastic. Whether you are new to this and want to start soldering or you’ve been... more
#sponsored This mini tutorial about creating a Prong Setting for a cabochon is sponsored by @newstoneagecabochons head over to their page and give them a follow, they are a family run business specially in designer cabochons. They have weekly... more
Here is a work holding tip from @kristalavonasdesigns - “I use Jet Set ballistic with the aluminum t plate that came with my GRS ring clamp to set most of my bezels. This was the first really good piece of equipment I bought outside of a flex shaft... more
