How do you seal a patina and keep bronze, brass and copper from tarnishing? While there is no magic solution, @ritualremains generously shared some of their methods (swipe to see their notes on each) 🙏🏻 “This is a small series of what we use to seal... more
It’s a #DIY flux bottle from French jewelry blogger @apprendre_la_bijouterie - you take a glass dropper bottle and with gloves remove the glass dropper (she assured me that it easily comes off), then create an incision in the rubber top and insert... more
Amazing hinge tip from @elmharris - “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 label, water based... more
Here’s a way to organize ALL THE METAL 😍🤯👩🏭 @salaciousstones uses hanging folders to store her ✔️ sheet metal ✔️ decorative wire ✔️ solder 👍🏻 not sure what’s happening inside those folders but if you also used ziplocks with anti-tarnish tabs you... more
If you are experimenting with wax carving purchase some drywall screens! Thanks for sharing this @gildedpoppyco 😘 - “I’m new to working with wax but I picked up this tip from a Kate Wolf YouTube video. Use drywall sanding screen to flatten out and... more
When you need to throw some earrings in the tumbler and don’t want to spend 20 minutes digging through shots 🤯 @brightsidejewelryco drilled holes into a plastic card, threaded her earrings and tossed into her tumbler 💃🏼 yassssss #metalsmithsociety... more
Here is an incredible prong setting tip from @mirieldesign - “Drill holes in a scrap metal plate (any metal works), and use that to hold prongs when soldering the setting together. Set a caliper to draw a circle first, mark off the distance between... more
I’m so honored to share some of the works created in April for the #metalsmithchallenge the theme was ✨TRIBUTE✨ these members of our community created pieces that honored, or were dedicated to a person or pet 💕 swipe through to see everyone’s and tap... more
Here’s a game changer from @sweetbellajewelry - “There are a few tools that I have purchased in the past that after I get them, I think ‘how did I survive without this’, this Dymo label writer is one of them! There are many different size labels but... more
For those of us that use steel stamps 👀@adornedsmithingco wraps her stamps with rubber bands to make a wider, more comfortable grip that is also more secure! She also marked her metal with sharpie to create a center line so she could place her stamp... more
When you have a thick jump ring it can be super challenging to close them. Pliers can cause damage (you can see in the second image) @lm6d has a genius technique for closing them and maintaining the shape - use your dapping block! Just place the ring... more
In response to my recent story requesting prong tips for a member of the community, I received this awesome technique from @beachyandcreepy - she creates two arches out of wire (these will become the claw prongs) and then files little indentations... more
When your silver pieces come out of the pickle black, it’s time to change out your pickle! There could be several culprits as to why my chain turned black: steel contamination in the pickle pot (which can cause plating but usually it looks red) or my... more
When you want to create super smooth, silver balls (for decorative elements), fine silver is the obvious choice! Amazing tip @jessicajo_designs -“I always have 20g fine silver wire on hand... then I can just measure and cut so I can create evenly... more
Love this technique for giving new life to your soldering blocks from @liveyourangle - “My soldering blocks end up getting so messy and uneven! I’ve also noticed that chemical residues left on the ceramic blocks start turning my metal funky colors.... more
If you are looking to trace an object or stone with an equal distance all around (creating a baseplate for example), then this technique from @lm6d will blow your mind! 🤯 she creates circles of various sizes with holes drilled in the center. She then... more
If you are polishing a pendant at a buffing machine use this amazing tip from @shmick_shmack - “Sling a paper clip through the bail and hang on for dear life!” 😂🙏🏻♥️ thank you so much for sharing! Have you figured out a unique way to hold something... more
If you have a bunch of stones you are preparing for setting and would like to keep them organized, and from rolling off the bench you can borrow the method sent by @mindyourmonsters She uses kneadable art erasers @fabercastellusa (in this image she... more
