[Jewelry making - Article 00520] - Re: [Orchid] Basic Equipment

[nn3_shay]

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Marjorie,

    One of the best -- and cheapest -- resources right at your
    fingertips is the Orchid Archive: 

    http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive 

    and Ganoksin's 'Tips from the Jeweler's Bench': 

    http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm 

    I'm fairly new here myself, but spending as much time as I can
    wading through the thrillingly vast amounts of free info on the
    Orchid site -- many articles are excepts from books (some written by
    fellow Orchidians) so this may also be a good way to see what kinds
    of info you'll find in the various books and which to invest in
    first (there are so many worthwhile, but unless your budget is a LOT
    bigger than mine, you'll have to try to determine the MOST useful
    for early purchase). 

    Go to the 'Tips' page, and you can either Search or go down to the
    table-of-contents area, including the 'Beginner's Corner' -- I'd
    suggest reading everything there eventually (I've made a good
    beginning myself), but specifically, Charles Lewton-Brain has
    written an article on 'Some basic metal working tools for beginners'
    at: 

    http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/btools.htm 

    This is a pretty good overview.  I'd also second Jon's suggetion of
    Tim McCreight's "The Complete Metalsmith" as a first book -- there's
    a bibliography of useful books somewhere on the site, but it's vast
    and overwhelming for one whose benchtop library is only a half-dozen
    books so far.  But I'm getting ideas for my Christmas Wish List! 

    Also, the Rio Grande catalog ( http://www.riogrande.com/ ) is a
    great resource, not only in that you can order their (very good)
    tools, but they also have tips for using them and handy references
    scattered throughout.  So even if you opt for cheaper starter stuff
    or make-do, keep the catalog handy. 

    While taking classes is definitely the best way to learn, if you
    can't afford that, you might also check out your local rock club (
    http://www.amfed.org/ ) (
    http://www.amfed.org/mwf/states/Illinois.htm ) -- often they have
    informal classes or workshops in basic silversmithing.  Be aware,
    though, that many of those teaching are themselves self-taught, and
    may not know the 'proper' or 'best' ways to do things; some are very
    good, and some are blind-leading-one-eyed, depending on the
    membership of the club near you, but they are generally all friendly
    and helpful to the best of their ability.  So I'd look at this more
    as a way to see - use - evaluate tools you may not have yourself yet
    than as a substitute for taking a jewelry course.  Of course, you
    may also be able to learn to cut some of your own stones -- not a
    bad thing, either! 

    Welcome and Good Luck -- there seem to be a reasuring number of
    less-experienced folk here, as well as a blessing of generous
    more-experienced folk who share their knowledge/experience with the
    rest of us.  And even a new-comer can have something to contribute. 

-- Harriet


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