[Jewelry making - Article 00561] - Re: [Orchid] Student's basic tool set

[Julia Potts]

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    as for most of us, we almost all started with a set of second hand
    tools that were none worse for the wear. 

    the very first thing I did behind the bench (and keep in mind I
    apprenticed under my father for years.)  I was sat down with: 

    a saw and sawblades
    an old file (one of the little ones to use the handle as a mandrel.)
    and a section of sterling wire.

    what was I doing?  I was told to make a bunch of little silver
    jumprings. about 100 sawblades later, I had a nice stack of
    jumprings. (this taught me to use a saw) then I was given two pairs of
    old pliers and told to link them all together (taught me to use my
    pliers properly) and then  to my horror I was told to solder each
    jumpring. 

    well needless to say, I melted the first 10 or 20....but I learned
    great torch control.  and in the end I was told to squish the
    jumprings to make ovals and wa-la....I HAD A SILVER LINK NECKLACE! 

    after many exercises like this (one of which I was given a piece of
    paper and told to make a design...this became a piercing exercise
    with a drill, a saw and a flat piece of silver.) 

    now, when I went to STEWART'S INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL FOR JEWELERS a
    year to two later...I breezed the classes...why??  I knew how to use
    my tools and I knew how to control my torch! 

    Your tools don't need to be new or wonderful, they only need to
    work.  and you don't need much to start off with. 

    I would think a basic setup would be: flexshaft (or I originally used
    an old hand drill), mandrel, hammer, round nose pliers, flat nose
    pliers, wire cutter, sawblade and torch I think it would be wonderful
    if all the tool junkies out there (and I should know because I was
    one) would donate some old workable tools that sit in that tool
    drawer to students learning the craft.  (how many of you traded in
    that old chuck flexshaft for a quick change and though you have 3-4
    quickchnge, that old chuck flexshaft is sitting in a drawer, and you
    don't even know where the chuck key is!)  I don't know how this could
    be viable, but you don't need much to learn, and I think it would be
    a wonderful way to give back to the "community". 

-julia potts 
julia potts studios

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