Here is a storage tip for your wire solder from @cirkel.joyas & @arcano.noveno - “Organizing my solder wire has always been a problem for me because I use Soft, Medium and Hard solder, so I don’t want them to be mixed and all around my bench. I used... more
Here is a soldering tip from @rootsmetals (be sure to check out her episode of SOCIETY CHAT today 😄) - “This soldering tip, which I got from a @riogrande video, has saved so many bezel wires from melting at my hands. It's pretty simple. First, you... more
For this #tooltalktuesday I am bringing back a post from 2019 - SOLDERING SURFACES First we will discuss the honeycomb soldering board. They are lightweight and have tons of tiny holes, they don’t retain heat and cool quickly. They do reflect heat... more
For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I have a special ring mandrel created by @pepetools_usa at the request of jeweler and teacher Jessica Jordan Coté of @rosyrevolver the Flat Back, Open Ring, Forming Mandrel. This mandrel is designed for making rings... more
Here is a storage tip from @littlesilverboutique - “Just a cheap and fast way to organize wire i did it recently in my own studio! Lol. I have found that using command strips not only leaves your wall damage free - but they can be found at local... more
Here is a tip for wrapping bezel wire from @carlson_creates - “On a scrap piece of wood I have wrapped painters tape sticky side up. I secure the wood to my bench with a spring clamp. This ables me to secure my stone as I wrap the bezel wire around it... more
Here is a sawing tip from @littlemetalfoxes - “Having trouble sawing a coil of wire to make jump rings? Try putting your saw blade into the saw frame so that the teeth point UPWARDS rather than downwards. Brace the coil of wire against a pointy tip on... more
#tooltalktuesday Easily shape open cuffs, bangles and hoop earrings without scratching or marring the surface of your metal with @impressart Bracelet Bending Pliers. I especially recommend for shaping decorative wire, decorative wire can easily mar... more
Ever get confused by gauges when ordering metal? For those new to jewelry making it can be a bit confusing! We all were beginners learning this stuff at one point or another ☺️ this visual is one I created a few years back to show different gauges of... more
Here is a tip from @earthbound_silver - “I don't have a great grip in general (opening jars, rock climbing, etc. are my weaknesses). My fingers get fatigued or plain hurt, when I'm trying to grasp/work with silver wire. I thought of using my shoddy... more
Here is a prong fabrication tip from @wendyjonewmetaldesigns - “While fabricating a pair of earrings one day, I decided to use my @pepetools_usa Ring Bender with one of the angle inserts to fabricate my prong settings. As you can see in the photo, I... more
Here is a #diy plier holder from @mageofmetals - I use a rubber-coated wire that can be found in the gardening section at a hardware store. Drilling holes into my bench I inserted the wire and bend the ends.” I love this solution so much! If humidity... more
Trimming 28g (.32mm) bezel wire with Joyce Chen Scissors. When I need to trim bezel wire or a thin backplate, these are my go-to scissors for the job! I have also used them to cut bits of solder or other wires. They are extremely sharp! I found out... more
Here is a tip for oval jump rings from @JewellerybyCorazon - “Iwanted to make oval links from square wire so I put two 5mm steel knitting needles in the vice to wind around - with the help of parallel pliers cos the wire wants to twist. Then I used a... more
Here is a jump ring making tip from @lierreworks - ““Nylon jaw pliers are a great tool to have around the studio. One of my favorite things to use them for is to help me get really smooth, and tight coils with my @pepetools_usa jumpring maker. I get... more
Here is a tip to quickly cut your earring wires all the same length from @rebekahjdesigns - “I made a cutting jig to create my ear wires: I have a tube cut to the exact length I need, then I feed the wire in the tube, with the wire aimed at my belly I... more
Here is a tip to prevent solder from flowing into a texture or design from @mcoledesignz - “Finished my square wire hoop earrings today. A big soldering concern was making sure that the solder didn’t flow into, or fill, the fine details of the... more
This month’s Patreon Q & A is about laying out a studio. It’s going to take multiple videos to cover this topic. In this first one I am simply identifying the main areas of a jeweler’s studio: Workbench: This is where the actual jewelry making... more
Twisting wires with my Whaley Hand Vise from @ottofrei1930 I clamped a copper and brass wire into a vise and then placed the other two ends into the Whaley chuck. Then I just twist. Doing it this way gives me a ton of control! This vise is great I... more
Just wanted to share some of the resources you’ll find inside my book! I tried to include some of the info I’m constantly using when making the basics: calculating a ring blank, calculating a round bezel with thicker wire (when you can’t simply wrap... more
