𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 while metal prices are high 👇 (aka: how to keep creating and keep your prices feeling sane) 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨 💖 1️⃣: Work in bronze/brass - Perfect when you want to keep practicing stone setting + engraving without sweating... more
Circling back to this clever, inexpensive DIY plier stand idea. Created by @stephanienorrisws! She wasn’t into the wood plier racks out there, so she made her own: an old shoebox cut into pieces, taped together, and covered with sticky cork. The... more
Love this frustration free set up for soldering a split ring shank from @jen_surine “I’ve been loving @reneefordmetals Hold-it. It’s a clay that can be used to hold and position a piece for soldering. After using it, I get it a little wet, knead it,... more
Argentium VS. Sterling Silver? Comment below 👇 which you use! This is SUCH a helpful breakdown from @jen_surine “With Argentium, there was a bit of a learning curve at first, because Argentium acts differently when it’s heated compared to sterling.... more
I absolutely love this thrumming technique from @jinyijewelry_factory . Taking a simple nail and holding a wider strip of fine polishing abrasive that’s been cut into smaller strips to thrum — which is a technique of polishing inside small details —... more
Using a sewing needle 🪡 to sand AND polish hard to reach spots! From @martindenoch “Inventing your own tools is part of the job as a Goldsmith. In my last video, there was a sequence where I used a sewing needle with a bit of sandpaper to clean... more
Storing your gemstones with one of these methods shared by @trailfolkdesigns Important considerations with stone inventory: - Writing down the stone, mine, supplier, cost - Storing so the stones are safe from scratching -Categorizing will save time... more
Love how @susanfauman displays and stores her hammers on a wall by using simple screws. Thank you Susan for sharing with us. If you have a jewelry tool storage tip or images of your studio you’d like to share with our community please email me... more
🚨 SAFETY TIP 🚨shared by @theschoolofjewellery.ie “I’m always very safety conscious – ask any of my students. I’ve heard too many stories (some of them more myth than fact) about accidents in jewellery workshops to take chances. One of my biggest... more
Congrats to @foragedsmith Stuller has reached out and shipped your prize 🥳✨ GIVEAWAY TIME ✨ Want to win your own copy? 📘 Basics of Jewelry by Stuller I love this book for the beautiful diagrams and clear visuals — it’s an incredible reference... more
“DIY washable sanding sticks” made me laugh… but honestly, it’s kind of true. Earlier this week I shared a sanding board I made using 3M adhesive-backed micro finishing film, and someone in this community suggested turning it into sanding sticks. I... more
Happy New Year, friends ✨ Quick studio tip I’ve been using for years: when I’m cleaning up, I spray down my sanding board (adhesive-backed 3M microfinishing film stuck to a plastic board). A little water unclogs it and it’s basically brand new again... more
If you’ve noticed I’ve been quieter… you’re not wrong. This live is a real check-in — what I’ve been up to, why things shifted, and what’s coming next for Metalsmith Society. I’m so grateful for this community. Please give it a watch.
THE ELECTRIC BLOWER 🤯 @foxtailjewelry shared some of her favorite small electric tools. Analog tools work fine, but MAN I’ve been happy to have upgraded to electronic versions of a few devices! (This is not an ad, it’s just some tools that I... more
Create your own custom soldering supports using titanium strips — such a smart bench upgrade. 🔥 This tip was shared by @theresapplegatejewelry, and I love how adaptable it is. Titanium sheet can be cut to whatever height you need, solder won’t flow... more
Using engine valves to flatten rings with @theschoolofjewellery.ie “Do you use an engine valve in your workshop? If not, I think you should — they’re such a great example of repurposing. The hardest part is actually finding one used, since not every... more
Congrats @cindy_engraver winner of this giveaway. I appreciate you so much!! ☺️ ✨ You support my one-woman business all year… so in honor of my 2025 Gift Guide for Jewelers (proudly sponsored by @gesswein.jewelers ), we wanted to celebrate by... more
Wax carving tip from @ratbetty obsessed with this ring 😆 “Ppl ask me about how I carve so here is a snippet of my carving process, I saw similar techniques online and it’s the method I persisted with and enjoy most for its intricacy. I also love... more
On the podcast, @emilieshapirojewelry shared so many gems about production — and as promised, she also gave us some of her favorite storage + organization hacks for managing all the parts that go into creating multiples of a line of jewelry: chains,... more
Soldering a chain end cap onto a delicate gold ball chain can feel a little nerve-wracking — you definitely don’t want to fuse those links and lose the movement! ✨ One quick trick I’ve been loving is packing the chain into a bit of reusable soldering... more
