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 . . .
Metalsmith: Using Miniature Hardware And Tools
There are two ways for you to use miniature hardware in your metal art project. If it isn’t important to thread the hardware into your piece You can just drill the holes with a 1/16″ drill bit (available from hardware stores) and pop the hardware in. The hole will be just a tiny bit too […]
Metalsmith: Torch Comfort
Most metalsmiths hold their torches differently than I do. They set up their torch head so that the tip is opposite the control knob. Check out the first photo accompanying this post. Setting up the torch tip this way means that adjusting the flame requires a deft little move involving the joints of your thumb […]
Metalsmith: Breaking the Rules
As a silversmithing instructor, I spend a lot of time explaining to students how to get the perfect solder join. “Clean the metal. Use flux. The join must be perfect. Solder must touch both sides of seam. Both sides of seam must reach soldering temperature at the same time. Capillary action. Supports are heat sinks. […]
Metalsmith: Mini Anvil
Need to hallmark or center-punch your piece of metal? It’s such a simple job when your piece is flat. Just lay the metal down on a flat, hard surface and whack away. But what if the piece isn’t flat? As long as there’s enough room underneath the piece to set it on an anvil, you […]
Metalsmith: Antique Tools
I’m sure that if I had been a seamstress I’d save meaningful bits of fabric, or if I had been an engineer I’d collect antique slide rules or something similar. The fact is that I’m a metalsmith and a bookbinder. I collect antique tools made for those trades. They’ve come to me in various ways; […]
Metalsmith: Studio Use For Metal Planters
You never know what you’ll find at the nursery or a thrift store that will be perfect in the studio. These metal planters are a great solution for storing heavy, sharp sheet metal. They’re durable and some have handles that make transporting heavy metal from one place to another much easier. I’ve used mine for […]
Metalsmith: Binding Wire Wizardry
It’s a beautiful design, a ring bound by another ring, which spins freely. They’re great for people who like something to fiddle with and it’s a fantastic design element. Whatever you call them, when one breaks, it can be a challenge for a jeweler to fix, especially if what fails is the solder on the inner ring. […]
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: Straighten A Crooked Balled Rivet
Balling up the end of a wire for rivets, findings or decorative elements is one of the first things a metalsmith learns. It’s a fun and rewarding activity, though there’s a bit of a knack to it. The wire needs to be in the hottest part of the flame. You can’t dwell too long or […]
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.
Metalsmith: Kitchen Tools In The Studio
The sweeps drawer under my bench used to be a mess. I had tools mixed in with metal scrap, used sandpaper, leather pieces, broken saw blades, and lots and lots of metal shavings from sawing and filing. It was a major undertaking to clean it and a job I avoided. At a local store I […]
Metalsmith: Twist to De-Bur
After drilling in metal there is often a large bur around the hole. It’s unsightly, dangerous, and can throw off how your piece goes together. Eliminate it easily by using a drill bit that’s larger (by far) than the hole you’ve drilled. Chuck the large bit up into a pin vise. Place the metal, […]
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.
A Tip That Protects You When Using A Saw
While stringing a saw frame most people use their sternum to compress the frame while tightening. This can be dangerous and painful if you have bird bones like mine. Staple a piece of leather to your shop apron and you’ll have some protection.
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.
Metalsmith: Old Gold
I love a new challenge and this one was a blast. My friend Lauri and I decided to take some old gold jewelry and turn it into sheet. I had a couple of pieces of 14k gold jewelry that I knew I’d never wear again so we studied up, melted it down and rolled away. […]
Metalsmith: Hardening Sterling
Great question in my email this morning: Natalie: I recently ordered a wood base steel bench block from you, and am so in love with it! I’m now looking to upgrade my hammer for wire hardening, as I’m finding that the finer wire (28 gauge and smaller) is not hardening well with my current plastic mallet. Would your […]
Bookbinding: The Thomas Hoard
A couple of weeks ago I taught a class on Gothic-style book furniture/hardware. My student, Kath Thomas, did amazing work! In spite of having a cold, and having never worked in metal before, Kath was quite prolific and produced what I like to call The Thomas Hoard. I have to say, Kath’s energy is inspiring! Great […]
Metalsmith: Keep That Iron Tip Tinned
Kris sent me some questions about stained glass soldering this morning. I’ve had similar questions in the past so I thought I’d cover it here too. Q. Years ago I bought a Weller 100 soldering iron and always had a problem keeping the iron hot enough. It would start out great and after a short […]
Metalsmith: Oyster Knives And Bacon Cooker In The Studio
Part of the fun of being a metalsmith is collecting and customizing tools and containers for your own use. Besides the obvious, such as measuring cups, spoons, and the ubiquitous creme brûlée torch, how many kitchen items do you use at the bench? Here are a couple from me. Fold-formed metal opener: Opening up folded […]
Metalsmith: Beveling Metal
Susan Robson Tobin writes: I was wondering if you carry a piece of equipment or a tool that helps one to create a beveled edge on metal? I want to put a beveled edge on some of the metal I bought from you but have no clue as to how to go about it. Is […]
Metalsmith: I Love A Torch That Only Takes One Hand To Use!
When heating non-ferrous metals, oxides form on the surface and prevent the flow of solder and just generally make a mess. This is because three things are present; metal, oxygen and heat. Eliminate any one of those three things and oxides won’t form (or at least they’ll form much more slowly). An oxide-inhibitor (anti-ox) is […]
Metalsmith: Bench Pin Customization
The bench pin is a metalsmith’s best friend and its design can be very personal. Many people use pins as they come but they can be real workhorses if you customize yours for your work style and the things that you make over and over. Grab your saw, a drill, and a wood file and go to […]