For this #tooltalksaturday I wanted to talk about all the wonderful uses of a round ball bur! Including this hot tip from @catpawgems - “For top-heavy rings, I use a round bur on a flex shaft to carve away excess wax. I only do the top and not the... more
Love this tip from @trevorforrester for those that use a setting block! “I use silicone cake molds around my setting blocks. They are flexible and that makes them kind to hands and forearms. They catch filings and dropped stones and are even... more
Here is a solution for keeping larger chains from getting knotted in the tumbler from @loandchlo thread every 10th link ( or so, it’s not an exact science 😁) onto a thin wire and then twist the wire a few times! Thank you for sharing this, I will... more
Fun fact: you can only tag 20 people per post 😂 (I was planning to have 5 more images but will share in my stories!) this month the #metalsmithchallenge had SO MANY incredible, inspiring entries! The theme was HOOPS and you all did incredible work!... more
I just want to share my gratitude for all of you that have supported this page! Not only with your hard earned money but also by showing up everyday to share your wisdom, thought provoking questions and humor. I love to share your images and faces on... more
Let’s discuss some bezel setting solutions! @beachyandcreepy needed to raise her stone inside her setting (instead of making the bezel shorter) and decided to solder a wire coil inside to elevate the stone! What’s your technique? Let’s discuss! Thanks... more
How to make your own sanding discs from @artjewels.ru -“All that you need: sandpaper with the grit that you need (I'm using 1200 or 800 grit), scissors, screw mandrel and a sharp pin. 1. Cut the sandpaper with the scissors to the sizes you need. 2.... more
Here is a simple solution to keep your liquid flux tips from getting clogged from @brandys_crowtotem “Cut an eraser off a pencil and use that as a stopper—it works great to keep it from getting blocked, as long as I remember to put it back on when I... more
Happy #tooltalksaturday this week I wanted to talk about my OptiVISOR! For those that are unfamiliar with an OptiVISOR it is a headset that has interchangeable acrylic lens plates that magnify your work. It’s an essential tool for me when I’m setting... more
Here is just one of the many solutions for setting a bezel in a tight space (stay tuned for more!) from @gildedpoppyco “I made this tiny pusher out of a little stainless steel nail by grinding and polishing the head and mounted it in the handle. I... more
Here is a simple solution for storing drill bits and burs from @monicasquitieri just take a block of wood and drill holes! I like the way these holes are big enough to store a few bits. I also spy a sunsheen cloth on a split mandrel 🤯 so I think we... more
Here is a DIY soldering station built by @dehvaughn “Built my soldering station on an XL lazy Susan, so my third arm can now be easily rotated along with my piece! The metal pan is a steel stovetop cover and it’s filled with river rocks” LOVE THIS!!... more
If you want to secure your sandpaper to your split mandrel use this tip from @karlaurbachartisan - Orthodontic rubber bands! “They are super easy to slip down when you need to tear off the end of used paper!” Thank you for sending this Karla! Such a... more
For all you folks that love to oxidize your work! This tip from @williamcobbjewelry is perfection! “Put your blackner/oxidizer in a refillable brush pen. Really cuts down on mess.” Yesssssss this is a really good one! Thank you for sharing!!... more
Here is a simple tip when soldering bezels that can save you TONS of hassle from @jewelryinstructor “When you get the bezel just the way you want it, mark the top with a Sharpie marker to be sure you solder it on your backplate right side up! Nothing... more
This week on #tooltalksaturday I got to hear about this amazing @foredomelectric Portable Micro-Motor with 3/32" Handpiece from Madison of @vancraftedstudio (she makes jewelry while traveling, often setting up her studio in the woods 😁) - “I charge it... more
If you need to polish in a small space this tip from @refraction_manufacturing is mind blowing! - “Make a super small polisher out of a drill bit and cotton wool bud, great for getting in to very hard to reach places.” This #diy polisher can be used... more
When your torch is crackling and suddenly cuts out with a pop it may be time to clean your torch tips! @moonshinedivineco had this issue and was able to share this technique for cleaning with us - “Just throw them into a pot of boiling distilled... more
Here is another way to store your wire and various sheet metals from @rek.inc what I love about the binder with the clear sleeves is you can check your inventory at a glance and you could also throw some @3m anti-tarnish tabs in there to keep your... more
