Here is a #diy jig for cutting wires of the same length (and with them you can make balls the exact same size or other elements) from @riosagradojoyas - “Make different size holes with a drill bit on a piece of wood. If you want to make same size... more
For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I’m happy to finally discuss a topic I’ve been asked about frequently - LIGHTING - I recently upgraded to the Arbe LED Task Lamp with USB Port, and for those in need of lighting or perhaps looking to improve their... more
Here is another method for creating an earring wire jig from @thistlehandmadejewellery - “It’s super easy to throw together, and I’m kicking myself for not having made it ages ago given the crazy number of ear wires that I’ve made both in my shop and... more
The theme for the August 2019 #metalsmithchallenge was Hidden Detail. Thank you to everyone who participated!
KINDNESS ❤️ COMMUNITY ❤️ EDUCATION ❤️ Would love to hear your stories of connecting with other jewelers through this community. That is truly what it’s all about so tag that Insta jeweler friend of yours that always has your back! I’m a few weeks away... more
Here is a #diy torch holder from @voidtoform - “Super simple and they work well, I learned how to make one my first day at a new bench in a trade shop I once worked at, start with 5/8” copper pipe and cut a piece off to work with. Near the middleish... more
Here is a great way to turn a wire hanger into storage for your pliers and tweezers from @refraction_manufacturing - “Using a wire coat hanger you can maximize space on your work bench. Bending a small circle to start gives you an anchor point to... more
Here is a storage solution for your needle files from @wishfishjewellery - “Here is my solution for separating files and preventing them from scratching each other - simple USED (because we reuse 😊) plastic straws cut into three parts are long enough... more
Here’s a simple guide to understanding SAW BLADES from @riogrande! I think something any experienced jeweler can agree on is investing in quality saw blades is worth it. So when I was presented with an opportunity to show off Laser Gold Saw Blades, I... more
For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I wanted to show the extremely versatile Bench Anvil Ultimate Kit from @seattlefindings. This kit gives you two bench pins, a small flat anvil area for stamping, two bracelet mandrels (oval + circle), a standard ring... more
In this episode we have a variety of stones including some jade and boulder opal from lapidary artist @jadecoastjewelry and some beautiful ethically sourced rose cuts from @hausofstones - the purpose of Gem Talk is to connect members of our community... more
Here is a fantastic hinge tip from @fsgmetal - “Cut your tubing away in the middle of the two outside hinges only half way, leaving a bridge. When soldering put the bridge part up to make it easy to cut away, while keeping the hinges perfectly... more
Here is a tip for when you end up with an accidental mark, solder recession or other imperfection on a piece from @rsalley - He simply adds texture or a pattern! I think this is so helpful, especially for all our beginners out there! If you can... more
*Please read the comments on this one- Here is a tip for applying tension while soldering from @oneanachronism - “Instead of binding wire here’s an easier way and far less damaging. You can close the gap as tight as possible without the risk of it... more
Here is a little bench pin modification for sawing jumprings from @youmnaelsabry - “I hate sawing jump rings, and I usually use 4mm wide jump rings, so I cut a 4mm wide dent in my bench pin, I made it as deep as I want the jump ring to sit comfortably... more
Here is a technique for getting chain untangled from @some_phenom - “I use some old burs/the smooth end of small drill bits. Make sure they are smooth so they won’t gnar the chain. The idea it to insert the bur into the tangled section and hold it... more
For this week’s #tooltalktuesday, I’m showing off a polishing compound available at @riogrande—LUXI! These silica-free polishing compounds are free of animal fats, contain no hazardous materials, and are made of an alumina oxide abrasive in a... more
Here is a tip on how to prep a brand new cotton buff, prior to polishing from @piecesofstarrjewelry - “So when prepping a new buff (that is a cotton buff), I like to attach the new buff to the polishing machine and rake the buff (I use a metal file... more
Here is a tip for your pickle pot from @BeadzillaJewelry - “I found an all plastic coffee filter that I trimmed the upper edge off so it fits perfectly into my pickle-pot. And now I have a strainer and can pickle larger and small things all in one... more
Here is a little tumbler hack I’ve been testing for a few months that I wanted to share! To keep my chain from tangling in my magnetic and rotary tumblers I use a Bobino Cord Wrap! I got this bad boy for $6 off of Amazon and it has been working... more
