Here is a tip for keeping a heavy gauge ring together while soldering - use stainless steel binding wire! Simply wrap it around and then use a pair of pliers to twist closed. I personally like 20-24 gauge binding wire but you can find uses for all... more
Thank you @persta.paris for this DIY sanding disc tip - “I cut sandpaper discs with a small machine, a hole punch found in a stationery shop, I think all stationery shops sell them :) it takes 1 second to get a perfect round. Very simple and... more
How do you sign your work? I have been searching for some different options for a custom stamp to mark my jewelry and was super excited when jeweler @mollyavellarjewelry told me all about hers from @infinitystampsinc (this sounds like an ad 😂 but I... more
@sunlightsilver post got me thinking about my @foredomelectric flexshaft and curious what everyone else’s favorite mandrels are? I’ve been using the @3m radial polishing discs since I was in college ten years ago! Next time you’re at your bench take... more
Thanks for sharing this helpful tip for soldering earring posts @seattlefindings - “When soldering an ear post, make sure to make a notch where your post will sit. It makes a stronger and straighter joint. We like doing this by hand, with a drill bit... more
Talented jeweler @nadinekieftjewelry shared her favorite attachment for her flexshaft. It’s a diamond drill bill that she uses to carve metal! Her gorgeous earrings (in the last pic) were carved not in wax but in metal. 😍 Thanks so much for sharing... more
Clogged files got you down? @andrewberryuk has your solution- “Push the straight edge of a piece of copper parallel across the teeth. This will easily remove the clogged up material and prolong the life of your file.” #metalsmithsociety... more
If you drink champagne start saving those corks! Thanks for the lovely tip @fwatsondesigns - “Use champagne corks as file handles! Their fat rounded tops fit perfectly into the heel of my palm, allowing my hand to adopt a natural, relaxed curve as I... more
Confession time 😬 when I grind down gold pieces I don’t attempt to save the dust. I literally blow it off my bench pin like I’m blowing out a birthday candle. 🙊 One of my college professors always told us to collect filings on a clean piece of black... more
If you work in wax and are looking for a new tool to invest in you can’t go wrong with this bur. Thanks @songan_jewelry for sharing one of your favorite tools - “This tool is from my massive 2/32 bur collection, its an aggressive crosscut 2mm cylinder... more
Here is a recipe to keep your tumbler clean and happy: run your tumbler with a 50/50 mix of distilled vinegar and water for 20 minutes. Rinse, then follow up with 1 tbsp baking soda and enough water to cover the shots for another twenty minutes. A... more
If you work with tube wax regularly to create rings this Matt Miter Box & Saw saves so much time. I have mine held in a vise and then within seconds I can saw out multiple rings in whatever width I set. I used to saw pieces off of the tube and would... more
Today I rounded up all the amazing tumbler tips from the community. One thing we discussed since my other post about using copper wire to keep pieces together is that by using other materials: a silicon loop @genne_laakso , a tea holder... more
This is brilliant @tte.designs - “You may be looking at this & think ‘what the heck?’ Found this rolling IV pole at my #thriftshop #volunteer gig and thought it would be perfect in the studio for my new #flexshaft !” 🙌🏻 If you are repurposing... more
If you like getting a matte or scratched finish on your work I created this photo tutorial on how to create your own @scotchbrite_3m mandrel for your flexshaft. The supplies you need are one Scotch-Brite general purpose scouring pad, one screw... 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
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
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
