Here is a soldering tip from @lucywalkerjewellery - She takes 20 gauge copper squares uses them as soldering props! In one example she keep her prongs in place and the copper squares also act as a heat sink while she solders on a jump ring. She also... more
Here is a chain making tutorial from @richdrop.gr - “This is my "how to" on foxtail chain! 1) Fire this silver to get soft. Make the jump rings, tape it and cut it. The more symmetrical the better. 2) I solder them and make them ovale with my round... more
Here is a tip for creating a work area to stamp your work from @lisakatrinap - “I use a short metal stool, upon which I have stacked 3 Rio Grande catalogues, to make a stump for forging work.” 🤣 seriously though, great way to raise your work up so you... more
#SPONSORED For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I wanted to show an awesome kit from @gessweinco their “Grinding, Sanding, & Buffing Accessory Set” (item # 850-0510) It includes 90 pieces: wheels, brushes, mandrels and buffs with 3/32" shanks (the... more
Here is a forming tip from @ginspiredart - ”My favorite bracelet mandrel/personal protection device: a baseball bat!” So smart if you have a bat lying around to use it to help you form larger shapes like bracelets! How do you do it! Let us know, and... more
Here is a prong setting tip from @wendyjonewmetaldesigns - "Although I bought my Pepe Ring Bending Tool for helping couples fabricate their own wedding bands with me—the thicker half round stock many liked was too hard and took too long for them to... more
Here is a metal organization tip from @cindyliebel - “I like to keep my workspaces organized to ease the flow of production while I create. After many attempts in organizing all of my precious metal wire, I finally figured out what has worked best for... more
CONGRATS GIVEAWAY WINNER @gypsyvisionjewels #sponsored Today’s episode features family owned business @newstoneagecabochons run by wife/husband team Rose and Graeme, they source the vast majority of their cabochons from lapidary artists and their... more
Here is a tip to clean your files from @funlolacoker - “It's nothing revolutionary, but it doesn't require having file cleaning brush so it's one less tool to buy. Using a scrap piece of brass, scrape debris downward. Light pressure is usually... more
Here is a tutorial for doming a ring from @tracey_michelle129 - “ Here is how you fabricate your own domed ring band with minimal tools, you will need: 1. fabricated ring blank 2. ring mandrel 3. doming block 4. steel bench block mallet. 1. Fabricate... more
For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I’m showing off my @grstools MicroBlock XL (Part # 103.773 @ottofrei1930) I have had experience on all of the vises from GRS and I can confirm this is the perfect size between the GRS MicroBlock and the GRS Standard... more
UPDATE: a donation of $1200.85 was made 6/9 to the ACLU. I will keep selling and donating ❤️THANK YOU!!! To our wonderful community: Metalsmith Society is about Kindness, Community + Education. For me this has always meant we are inclusive of all... more
Here is a tip for working with gallery wire from @didirosejewelry - “I cut the gallery wire at a point where it'll look like part of the design after soldering, then solder it with a small flame. A micro torch is my go to. Then I wrap the border wire... more
Here is a drawer organization/storage tip from @xaviervondesigns - “Working with so many small tools and tool components, I would get so overwhelmed looking for that one item I needed. I would have to nearly empty a drawer (or a couple) to find what I... more
Here is a production tip for balling wire from @linguanigra - “For some of my work, I like to have balled headpins at hand. Although I'm aware I can purchase balled headpins, it really takes little time to make my own. Because these are for the ears,... more
Here are several bezel tips from @taylorsaleem - “Bezel Hacks! 1. Stone too short? Bezel too y’all? Coil a bit of wire and place it inside the bezel before setting the stone. 2. Bezel a little too snug? Roll it on your bench block with a steel punch.... more
Here is a tip for creating even lines from @solidtreasures - “If you need a grid to work on for measuring our your work, creating even lines with metal calipers is easy. Open your calipers to the desired size, use a flat side of the sheet metal for... more
I created this page to have a safe place where people can share ideas about jewelry making. It has grown to become a large community where the values are being kind, respectful, accepting and supportive of others. We stand in solidarity with black... more
Here is a tip for storing your tumbler media from @melaniegoldenjewelry - “I bought the medium size Sterilite boxes from Amazon to store my tumbling media. I love these because they are low profile and stack so neatly on top of each other and take up... more
Here is a tip for your sandpaper mandrel from @tennessee_rose_jewelry -“Like many silversmiths, I have used the trick of wrapping sandpaper around a split mandrel. Also like most of us, I’ve struggled to figure out a way to keep it there and allow me... more
