Here is a soldering tip for those that use wire solder - insert your solder into a piece of copper tubing (a snug fit is ideal) for better precision and ease of holding. Thank you so much for sending this @ajoiadoleo definitely trying this.... more
I’ve used whiteout for years to prevent solder flow on hinge projects but I never thought to use it this way. Thank you for sharing @hjjewellerydesign - “My favourite tip is to use Tippex (whiteout) as an anti flux while soldering stamped details onto... more
If you don’t own a miter jig (which is an amazing tool btw) but would like an easy way to support a wire while you file it flat - drill a hole in your bench pin! Thanks for sending me this technique @gemmabybp #metalsmithsociety #metalsmithy... more
Went out and got this $4 paintbrush from my local hardware store and now have the perfect tool for cleaning my bench pin and pieces when they get covered in dust, shavings or wax. Thanks for the inspiration @mollyavellarjewelry #metalsmithsociety... more
Today I’m sharing multiple photography methods/tips for jewelry. Thank you so much to everyone who reached out to share! The first set up is mine (it’s taken me years of trial and error to arrive here) it’s an Elviros light box and I take photos on a... more
We should all borrow this tip for cleaning our sweeps, thank you so much for sharing this @sawyerrileyjewelry - “since ferrous and non-ferrous metals should be separated before refining, I keep a magnet inside a paper towel attached to my lamp and I... more
Did you know you can patina your jewelry with hard boiled eggs? I didn’t 🤯 thank you @a.maria.designs for reaching out to me with this awesome #diy patina. In order to do this you hard boil a few eggs and while they are still hot (the eggs being hot... more
Our first #metalsmithchallenge was a raging success! Thank you so much to everyone who created a ⛓ CHAIN ⛓ (which was our theme in March if you are just tuning in!) it was so inspiring for me to see what everyone created! Please take a moment and give... more
Thank you @arreisdesigns- for this genius tip on laying out stamping patterns with aluminum tape! 🤯 “You can find the stuff at any hardware store, and I just cut a piece off with scissors and draw a general shape on when I'm really beginning to... more
Last week I received a subscription box of tools from @benchtooljunkies (😍🙏🏻💃🏼) and it included a sheet of Tuff Break Film (urethane) which I’d never heard of. You can cut it to any size you need to cushion and protect your work from scratching and... more
Loved this divider comparison from @jonmryan - “Alex Tools dividers vs Starrett vs Euro Tool German made dividers. As soon as I had them (Alex Tools) in my hands and compared them to my old dividers I forgot all about the price. The joint at the top... more
I have a thing for handmade tools. Thanks for sharing this @moraghickman - “New work holding tool! As I do more production, I put more thought into saving my hands from cramping and fatigue. In this case, a customized clothespeg holds short rods for... more
Here is another way to hold a chain while polishing, wrap it around a wooden mandrel! Thank you so much for sharing @vancraftedstudio (she originally shared this in her stories, we have such a generous community! 🙌🏻💕🙏🏻) #metalsmithsociety... more
I wanted to share another brilliant chain making tip since there is still a week to join the March #metalsmithchallenge (check my story highlights for info) Thank you so much @goldandjayejewelry - “I was talking to a friend about getting nice ovals... more
If you need to get a ring flat - place it between two steel blocks and give it a nice whack with your raw hide hammer. This works great if the ring is a simple band that you have not added settings or decorative work to (yet) and also works on little... more
If you ever have a ball fall off a piece after you set your stone (🤬🤷🏼♀️😭) @meritmade showed us a way to fix that! She soldered a ball onto a wire, drilled a hole where the ball needed to go (the drilled hole matched the gauge of the wire) then... more
I’d never seen alligator tape used this way! Thank you so much for sharing this genius idea @hannah.lynn.jewelry - “Some jewelers use alligator tape to protect their fingers... fingers heal, I'd rather protect my detailed metal work while setting 💎🔨”... more
Here is another jump ring making hack, a huge thanks to @alastaircallumjewellery for these great pictures that show the process. Take a power drill and insert a drill bit backwards, create a bend in your wire and slip the bent bit between the jaws -... more
If you need to make jump rings (for the #metalsmithchallenge 😉) you can create your own tool by soldering a washer to a rod. The washer will make the rod easier to secure in a vise. From there you can wrap your wire. Also featured in this image are... more
Love this post from jeweler @ksjewellerydesigns which has some great stone setting tips - “I have started to set the labradorite cabochon in my latest Sea Life Pendant and thought I would share some of my 'trusty' bezel setting tools! Firstly, I... more
