I love this tip for those with a limited budget for tools from @hausofmonarch - “f you have a one sided dapping block, just flip it over and use the back! It’s a bit smaller but will get the job done for stamping, work hardening and texturing! I... more
Here is a technique for safely drilling multiple items from @mothersonthemountainjewelry - “When I have a lot of pieces to drill holes in and don’t want to take all day-I use a square of scrap wood and tape them down to drill them one after another... more
#sponsored For this week's #tooltalktuesday, I am showing off my BurLife® Lubricant Portable Base from @riogrande. I love this because it's perfect for keeping near my bench pin while I saw, drill, set stones, or any other job requiring lubricant. In... more
Here is a different technique for tumbling those chains without getting them tangled from @mgdcasualjewelry - “I use plastic cards for embroidery floss. I tumbled over 20 necklaces within an hour and NO TANGLES!!! One thing I wanted to suggest is to... more
Here is a tip for soldering chain or small elements from @pickleypear “When I have something small to solder that is an addition to a larger piece or have to solder chains, I like to use a compressed charcoal block as a heat sink. The block works... more
Here is an awesome ultrasonic tip from @fsgmetal - “You can raise the work a little bit by screwing the vinyl coated hook into the side of the champagne cork. A regular cork does not have enough buoyancy to hold up large rings” 😄 Love this!! Thank you... more
Here is another use for those pipe deburing tools 😍 from @mi.chi.mi - “I use the deburring tool for any circle cutout in metal. In this case I cut out circles in a wide cuff with my saw. The deburring tool makes cleaning the edges faster than using... more
Here's an inexpensive solution for making your needle files comfortable to hold without investing in a variety of handles. This Comfort Grip Needle File Handle (Item #114849) is from @riogrande and I love that it has an adjustable collet, which allows... more
I love when this community takes an idea and takes it to the next level! Sometime ago, @dangbravegirl generously shared the wooden pastel boxes she uses to organize her gem stash 😍 (ever since they have been listed on my website’s #tooltalktuesday... more
For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I wanted to show off an option for achieving a satin finish on your polishing lathe - Technique Bufflex Satin Wheels! I received these wheels from @ottofrei1930 and they have three different options: TF (Very Fine -... more
Love this tip from @laurelandlime to keep your wire and solder stock organized and identifiable! - “I have very limited space and admittedly produce a lot of “creative chaos” while I’m working. I always flag all of my wires right out of the box with... more
Here is a tip for soldering gold bezels to silver from @susanfauman - “Soldering a gold bezel to silver: Start by closing the bezel with medium or hard gold solder. Check to see the bezel fits the stone well. Sand the bottom edge to ensure good... more
Here is a clever technique for referencing your stamp collection from @ghosttownmetalworks -“"A tip for organizing all those metal stamps? An index card catalog- and all you need are your stamps, a pad of ink (I use black archival ink by Color Box-... more
Here’s a tool for when you are sanding small, flat areas or around bezels and curves–Sanding Boards from @riogrande (Item #: 337458)! I know what some of you must be thinking: “that looks like a nail file”, and you are absolutely right. You can... more
Here is another storage solution from @strongmedicinestudio - “I found an old belt at a thrift store to be turned into something artsy, and it sat and sat. I rearranged my studio, bringing in a new bench and wanted a place to put my large tools.... more
Here is a #diy jig for cutting wires of the same length (and with them you can make balls the exact same size or other elements) from @riosagradojoyas - “Make different size holes with a drill bit on a piece of wood. If you want to make same size... more
For this week’s #tooltalktuesday I’m happy to finally discuss a topic I’ve been asked about frequently - LIGHTING - I recently upgraded to the Arbe LED Task Lamp with USB Port, and for those in need of lighting or perhaps looking to improve their... more
Here is another method for creating an earring wire jig from @thistlehandmadejewellery - “It’s super easy to throw together, and I’m kicking myself for not having made it ages ago given the crazy number of ear wires that I’ve made both in my shop and... more
The theme for the August 2019 #metalsmithchallenge was Hidden Detail. Thank you to everyone who participated!
KINDNESS ❤️ COMMUNITY ❤️ EDUCATION ❤️ Would love to hear your stories of connecting with other jewelers through this community. That is truly what it’s all about so tag that Insta jeweler friend of yours that always has your back! I’m a few weeks away... more
