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
When I taught a workshop at @thesteelyard last weekend, I noticed the new jewelry bench drawers were lined with non slip rug pads. This not only protects the tools but it also keeps them from rolling around! #metalsmithsociety #jewelrystudio... more
Thank you to every last one of you that responded to my story yesterday (over 50 messages 🙏🏻😘💕) to help a member of our community fit a bezel on a curved ring. The overwhelming consensus was to tape sand paper to a steel ring mandrel. If the ring is... more
I was preparing a wholesale order and wanted to share these little labels I made because they were so dang EASY. They are made by @avery and they have their own website where you can find a template that corresponds to the labels you bought (in this... more
Here are some gemstone organization solutions 🤙🏻 I use this bead organizer and my label maker to print out the size and stone when I have a bunch of the same kind of stone, @a.maria.designs also uses a plastic container but she writes out what the... more
This is from jeweler @apprendre_la_bijouterie her gorgeous blog is written in French but her pictures reveal great tips! Here she has colored coded her mini files and burs in handmade blocks. Anything to make organizing and finding stuff easier!! I... more
I am so impressed by the #diy exhaust system that @strayjewelrydesign made and kindly shared with me. She purchased a can fan (used) from a grow store for $40 and then used aluminum ducting and duct tape. Weekend project anyone? #metalsmithsociety... more
This method for applying an image directly to sheet metal is ingenious! You spray hairspray directly onto your metal and let it dry (do that twice) then take regular stamping ink and a rubber stamp and apply it to the area you sprayed - that’s it! You... more
Moore’s snap on discs are one of my absolute favorite tools for the @foredomelectric flexshaft. They can be snapped on with the abrasive facing up or down making them super versatile. They are my go-to for sprue removal and work great when I have a... more
Here’s another way to clean your steel tumbler shots - take flat @cocacola and tumble for a few hours, then rinse! Thanks for that @vancraftedstudio 🙌 🥤anyone else getting into spring cleaning in their studio? If you are tell us what your rituals... 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 solution for polishing the inside of small spaces from @alastaircallumjewellery - “I braided some very thin string (the string is 3 ply cotton, 0.04in or 1mm thick) and superglued about 1cm of it where the near end would be before I cut it,... more
