Files are not only an essential tool for filing and finishing jewelry but you can also use them to carve your metal, think of the endless design possibilities! For this demo I used my triangular Glardon Vallorbe needle file from @ottofrei1930 They... more
Here is a tip for file handles from @beautifulfiercewonderful - “An old hack with a bit of a twist - This awesome tip shared by @metalsmithsociety really saves my hands when using small files, and I found a quick and easy way to organise them so... 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
Bench pins are meant to be modified, love this tip from @mklahn - “Another bench pin tip: sometimes you don’t want to hold a piece in pliers or a clamp because it won’t give you good access to where you’re filing. In that case sometimes all you need... more
Wear a mask 😷 Dust collection is ideal as well! In this video I’m taking a flat file with a “safe” edge and making it a little safer by smoothing and sanding a little bit of the cutting tooth edge that was protruding. It’s a good reminder that... more
On the topic of cleaning sticky wax out of a file I just experimented with @googone and my wire wax brush I bought from @riogrande and it seemed to do the trick 🤔 don’t think there will be any negative repercussions from using googone on the file but... more
I will often modify the shape of my silicone mandrels with a file (it’s an old and also cheap file I obtained at a hardware store). In this instance I wanted the mandrel flat so I could work inside my ring but you can create all types of curves. The... more
Love this #diy revolving solder chip holder from @leafandbadger - “Screw a watercolor pallet onto the underside of a surface to get a revolving solder chip holder. It usually has 12 cups which works great for easy, medium, and hard solders for silver,... more
It’s time to talk tools! #tooltalktuesday (sounds so much better 🤣 than Saturday) I wanted to talk about my Miter Cutting Vise & Jigs today. I have owned this one for over a decade and used it countless times. You can place wires, rods, tubing and... more
Here is an awesome technique for cleaning your polishing buffs from @piecesofstarrjewelry (turn your sound on, to hear her explain 😁) she takes her file brush which has small steel bristles and uses it on her polishing wheels when they are in need of... more
Here is awesome technique for creating rivets from @indigenized775 -"You can make a lot of rivets fast with a hand vise. I like using 18 gauge wire for this. First I take roughly 3/4 inch of straight wire and place it in the hand vise with about an... more
Here is a fabulous step by step of getting your bezel wire seam PERFECT 🥰 from @kaypeajewelry - “To get a perfect fit when making a bezel I start out by squaring one end of the bezel wire off by filing it down in my miter jig. Then I tightly form it... more
Here are some amazing, simple modifications for a brand new bench pin, huge thank you to @alexboydstudio for sharing these process shots with us! To modify the pin- “I used a jeweler’s saw with a #3 blade, a half-round file, a round file, and a pencil... more
Here is a plier modification from @meszarosjohn - “A small notch at the end of round nose pliers helps to hold small round components” to create this notch you can get it started with a separating disc and then file it (I would use an old file and... more
Here's an inexpensive solution for making your needle files comfortable to hold without investing in a variety of handles. This Comfort Grip Needle File Handle (Item #114849) is from @riogrande and I love that it has an adjustable collet, which allows... more
Here is a tip for sanding the bottom of castings from @buena_onda_gw - “I just started using Jettset to get the bottom of my succulent castings filed flush and it works so dang well! Prepare Jettset the same way as instructed (heat until clear and... more
Here is a #diy needle file handle from @spindlekate - “I swiped a few of my kitty’s foam ball cat toys as really inexpensive holders for my smallest needle files. ⠀⠀ Choose a drill bit slightly smaller than file shaft and drill a small hole ¾ of the... more
Love this forming #diy tool (and bonus file handles) from @rudeparasol - “It’s been tough finding a short wood form north of 2” diameter for trueing up larger cylinders. A few nights ago I thought ‘a-ha! cheap rolling pins!’ Taking this $9 pin apart... more
Here is a tip to easily transform your file into a sanding stick from @dapontejewellery - just wrap the file with sandpaper and some tape and it can help you get into those hard to reach spots! Thank you fo sharing this with us!... more
Here is a quick video demonstrating FLUSH SETTING from Instructor Jeff Georgantes here he explains how he makes his flush setting tool - “To make the flush setting burnisher. In my home studio I use old burs, but I started teaching flush setting... more
