Soldering is a delicate and sometimes difficult process especially when you need to solder very close to a previous solder seam. Without extra care, you can easily melt that prior seam and dislodge the parts. One solution is to drop down a temperature…
A welcome addition to the literature now coming out for bench jewelers, Making the Most of Your Flex-shaft by Karen Christians is an informative compilation of material for anyone who takes tools seriously. Everyone with a flex-shaft understands…
Many fine books have recently been published for the serious student of metalsmithing. Tim McCreight’s new book is a tasty smorgasbord of diverse and varied metalsmithing skills. At first glance, the book is clearly an important new…
One of the most important types of closures used in jewelry is the box clasp. This clasp and its many variations are usually built into jewelry such as bracelets, necklaces, and chains. However, as an exercise, this project demonstrates the…
One of the most difficult types of construction in jewelry is assembling a cluster of settings supported by a wire cage or basket. In this project, a marquis shaped center stone is surrounded by twenty two diamond melee with a total weight of…
Let’s face it, not every snippet of solder winds up in your work. Some pieces fly away during clipping, while others jump on the floor or fall into your catch pan, never to be found again. You might even accidentally spill one tray of solder snippets…
There are hundreds of different types of chains, each with its own system of assembly. Most chains are assembled from individual links. In some chains, such as the foxtail, the links are individually soldered closed and then assembled. In…
One of the most difficult aspects of soldering is to heat the piece properly so that the solder will flow. For jobs involving small items, such as soldering the seam on a jump ring, this entails concentrated heating in a localized area, Most times,…
Mention German craftsmanship, and we think of diligent Black Forest elves making precision cameras and automobiles. Ordinarily, “precision” connotes accuracy, quality and attention to detail. Precision need not constrict…
One of metal’s unique qualities is its ability to be shaped and formed without breaking – its malleability. The hollow ring project demonstrates the fabrication of a shell structure, a type of construction used frequently in goldsmithing…
This ring has become so hard to get on and off, but when it is on, it is loose and spins around my finger. My knuckles have gotten so big – another of your middle-aged customers with the same complaint…The fact is that as we age, our hands and…
Arthritis is a common malady which affects many people as they age. People with arthritis often have enlarged knuckles which make it difficult to wear rings. A ring that barely squeezes over an arthritic knuckle may be so loose on the finger…
Originally published under the title: Selecting the Correct Saw Blade This article provides and describes useful tips for selecting the correct saw blade by Alan Revere including some important things to consider for blade selection.…
While many jewelers work directly in precious metals, many also work with wax, carving models for casting in silver and gold. Working with wax often requires tools specialized for carving, sawing, filing, and finishing material that is softer…
At the counter, you remove the tape with a sharp blade and then slide the ring up a man-drel. Next, you measure Mrs. Moder’s finger with a set of ring sizers. Comparing her finger, size 5 1 / 2, to the ring, size 6, confirms that the ring should…
Your customer brings in a silver colored ring marked 925 with a broken shank for repair. You measure the customer finger as size 6.5 and assure her that the ring will look ‘greatly improved’ when she returns to pick it up in a few days. Back in the…