Jewelry: Cutting Jump Rings by Hand
Cutting jump rings can be a challenge. The action of sawing makes the coil move around quite a bit . . .
Jewelry: Cushion Behind A Stone
There are times when a jeweler needs a cushion behind a stone or enamel that’s being bezel-set, whether to raise it higher, or to even out an unevenness such as in the case of a warped enamel. One solution is to use fine sawdust between the piece and the bezel. Some people like to use […]
Metalsmith: Avoid Sanding Low Spots In Ring Rims
There’s a point in every metalsmith’s early career where they realize that they are tired of compensating for their mistakes, tired of making something that is the best they can do, but still not quite what was pictured. There’s a desire to make a piece from beginning to end, exactly how it’s pictured in the […]
Metalsmith: Polishing Inside a Tube
Need to polish inside a tube? Use a piece of rouged jute and a small vice. Run the tube back and forth a few times and you’re done.
Protect Your Findings While Soldering
Sweating solder onto findings: Dig little holes into your charcoal block and then bury tiny findings (butt-side up) into the holes. This protects the little dears while melting the solder.
Tight Space? Use A Barrette File.
For filing in tight places where adjoining areas could be damaged, use a barrette file. Only one side has teeth and the other edges slope away from them. They come in several sizes and every coarseness you could need. They are even included in most needle file and mini-needle file sets.
Two Tips That Make Soldering A Pin Easier
If your shape doesn’t lend itself to being wired for soldering, cut notches in the base-plate. They will be sawed off later with the rest of the excess metal. There are 4 teeny tiny notches around the profile of the bird in this picture.