Metalsmith Society Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tips

Here is a tip for that gorgeous new piece of silver from @miraizjewelry - “Here’s a little trick on how to prevent unnecessary scratches from forming on your fresh sheet metal while you’re sawing. The only thing you need is painter’s tape! Apply this... more

Here is a technique for sizing a ring from @milestonejewelryllc - “I would like to share an easy way to size a ring larger without having to measure anything! 1️⃣ Here is the ring that needs to be sized larger. 14k yellow gold, diamonds, sapphire 2️⃣... more

Here is a soldering tip from @sourtimes.co - “I use a white out pen to prevent/stop solder from flowing into any stamped area when I solder the ring shank. This works really well in small tight spaces. The pen is great because it is so precise, easy... more

Revisiting how @dangbravegirl preps an open ring band. - “I use my Ikohe belt sander so often that I keep it permanently hooked to a 2nd flex shaft (and to my Quatro dust collector). I can quickly clean up and smooth cuff ends, prep ring shanks for... more

Here is a stone setting tip from @lucywalkerjewellery - “One question I get asked a lot over at the Metalsmith Academy, how do I set two bezels side by side without ending up with a mushy mess where they meet. Well the easiest way is to have some sort... more

Get a straight, centered jump ring everytime! This video was made possible by @haroldstudio who sent me all of their latest castings. I did no additional finishing on any of these, they all arrived perfectly finished and smooth to help increase... more

I love a thick bezel, here are some tips to create corners for your gorgeous square or rectangular stones. Sponsored by @turquoise_moose where I get my rectangular, square and bar shaped turquoise. - Once you have scribed a line where your corner will... more

Here is how @margauxlangejewelry holds their torch. “ I secured my torch to my soldering station with a simple metal broom holder mount from the hardware store. Has been working great for over 20 years! “ 😊 This looks so good! This tip is also a great... more

Amazing hinge tip from @elmharris shared back in 2018 - “I use graphite pencil leads to keep the hinge knuckles in place and to keep the inside of the knuckles “dirty” so solder doesn’t flow inside. I also paint a little rouge or white out (the green... more

Today’s tip is supported by @haroldstudio a small, woman owned business that sells a wide variety of solid 14k yellow gold castings that are perfect for adding a little gold pizzazz to your work without breaking the bank! When I am adding a small gold... more

Now that I’m engraving and setting stones frequently @corkieboltonjewelry I am regularly using this Circle Template from @lionpunchforge in collaboration with @marquisjewelryacademy whether you are stamping, stone setting or soldering and need... more

Here is a soldering tip from our class in Florence, Italy (see my past post ☺️) whether you are working in gold or silver, roll (or hammer) your sheet solder super thin. This allows you to have greater precision and less mess. 👆This project I’m... more

Here is a tip I shared in my book, you can find it in the Stacking Rings Project - I use a miter jig to file a small flat spot onto a ring prior to soldering a decorative component or stone setting. It makes for a quick and easy solder seam! This is... more

Prong setting tips from @kristinabobin - “When you make the shape you want and solder that, you need to make groves for your prongs to fit nicely into your setting. Yes, they have to be fitting, otherwise the heat will move things around, and we don’t... more

Soldering tip: Use a graphite pencil ✏️ to draw into the areas you don’t want solder to flow! Worked really well on this textured ring shank (from @haroldstudio ) hope this is helpful! #solderingtip #graphite #jewelrymakingtips #pencil #solderinga ring

Here is a technique for soldering a ring band that has a gemstone shared by @sarah.jackson.jewellery (have you since changed your handle? please let me know so I can update this post and tag you!)- Here we have a wooden dapping block, filled with... more

Here is a tip with my @sunstoneweldjewelry Orion 150s Pulse Arc Welder, use it to tack a bezel in place prior to soldering! In the instance of this signet ring if it had moved even a little it would be crooked and then I’d have to reheat to try to... more

Here is a great ball making technique shared by the fabulous @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... more

Thank you @juneshin for this share! - "One of my favorite tips from @metalsmithsociety shared originally by @marionwild is using binder clips on cross-locking tweezers to hold an item in place for soldering. Here, I'm using it to solder some earring... more

Here is a production tip from @westry.co - “When making rings, whether I end up with a turquoise stone set in the middle, a small stacker, or one of my graphic art rings, they all start out with a blank ring shank. Which is why I like to make a batch... more