Finishing Polishing and Cleaning


Our finishing, polishing, and cleaning articles and videos will show you a wide variety of techniques for putting the final touches on your jewelry projects.

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Filing, Sanding, and Buffing: Hand Finishing

Filing, Sanding, and Buffing: Hand Finishing

Ganoksin instructors Pattie Parkhurst and Richard Sweetman offer tips, tricks, and various techniques to finish your project by hand. You...
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Filing, Sanding and Buffing: Using Flex Shaft Machine

Filing, Sanding and Buffing: Using Flex Shaft Machine

The flex shaft machine is one of the most common tools at a jeweler's bench. Watch Ganoksin instructors Pattie Parkhurst...
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Buffing and Polishing Materials

Buffing and Polishing Materials

Almost any metal or hard plastic item can be buffed to a high polish or a satin sheen with the...
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Tips & Techniques for Popular Finishing Touches

Tips & Techniques for Popular Finishing Touches

We asked a number of top jewelers to tell us their best practices, techniques, and tips for creating satin, brushed,...
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Success in Polishing Platinum

Platinum takes more effort to polish, for the simple reason that it does not wear as other precious metals do...
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Perfect Hand Polishing Tips

Perfect Hand Polishing Tips

Though mass finishing procedures continue to improve, it is nearly impossible to match the beautiful polish obtained through hand finishing....
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Basic Polishing Technique

Many jewelers see polishing as a mundane task. However, it is one of the most important operations in the process...
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Platinum Durability vs Scratching

There is a major difference between durability and scratch resistance. Platinum is very durable. When scratched, the scratch actually displaces...
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Practical Guide to Mass Finishing  Jewelry

Practical Guide to Mass Finishing Jewelry

A microscopic and technical view of mass finishing presented in layman's terms. Understanding of mass finishing must start at the...
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Damascus and Pattern Welding

Damascus and Pattern Welding

True damascus steel is made by a casting process utilizing very high carbon steel. The material is held at or...
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Comparing Buff Prep Methods

Comparing Buff Prep Methods

Myth: Singeing buffs to prep them is faster and more effective than raking them. There are as many people in...
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Tumbling Technique Hints

When burnishing very detailed pieces, use stainless pins in your mixed shot. Don’t use them any other time because the...
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Basic Principles for Wet Tumbling on Gold Jewellery

Basic Principles for Wet Tumbling on Gold Jewellery

The correct use of modern, semi- automated finishing processes enables the manufacturer not only to reduce production costs, but also...
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Bright-Cut inside Bezel setting

Bright-Cut inside Bezel setting

This video shows just how the bright-cutting procedure is accomplished. I use only one tool, my "Onglette #2, Right-Sided" graver....
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Polishing Hard to Reach Areas

Polishing Hard to Reach Areas

When it comes to fine jewelry making polishing is a very important step - it can be the difference between...
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Polishing Tools and Tricks

Polishing Tools and Tricks

The mantra of polishing jewelry is the shinier the better - and obtaining polishing perfection takes skill and practice. It...
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Polishing Compounds

Polishing Compounds

I believe polishing compounds are perhaps one of the most misused tools in the modern jewelry shop. Most jewelers are...
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Sneaky Goldsmith Tricks

The best 'Sneaky Goldsmith Tricks' involve taking mundane, everyday items and repurposing them as goldsmith's tools. Two classic tricks that...
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Platinum Finishing/Polishing Process

Opinions differ considerably when discussing the ease or difficulty of polishing platinum, but most agree that when a piece is...
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Mass Finishing of Gold Jewelry

Mass Finishing of Gold Jewelry

Design dictates buyer's choices when gold jewelry is purchased and the quality of the pieces certainly plays an important part...
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The Art of Doublée Making

The Art of Doublée Making

Historically, a wide range of techniques has been used to clad or coat silver or base metals with gold. These...
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#3- Watch-case on shellac

#3- Watch-case on shellac

In this 3rd video, we will use an Onglet #1 graver to do the 'outline' or rough-cutting around the silver...
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Inside Ring Polishing

Inside Ring Polishing

Trying to get a really high polish on the inside of a ring can be frustrating. Because inside ring buffs...
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Perfect Finishing Tools and Techniques

Our castings can be flawless, our assembly precise, and our settings secure -- but let any surface go a bit...
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Finishing Machines

Finishing Machines

This segment from the 2017 MJSA Journal November issue is dedicated to metals, tools, software and more that aids jewelers...
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3M Radial Bristle Discs Proficiency Advantage

3M Radial Bristle Discs Proficiency Advantage

3M Radial Bristle Discs were introduced to the jewelry industry in 2000. Additional discs and end brushes have been added...
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Aluminum & Aluminum Anodizing

Aluminum & Aluminum Anodizing

This article is based on technical information taken from my personal notes and experiences, shared information from the Penland Anodizing...
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Contemporary Applications of Area Inlay

Contemporary Applications of Area Inlay

The use of area inlay, called damascening or woven inlay, is common in the ancient metalwork of Iran, India, Japan,...
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Warrior Power Tool System

Warrior Power Tool System

New patented Warrior Power Tool System kit provides a revolutionary proficiency advantage for bench jewelers and jewelry manufacturers for split-lap...
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Setting a Pear Shape Emerald in a Full Bezel

Setting a Pear Shape Emerald in a Full Bezel

For this demonstration of Setting a Pear Shape Emerald in a Full Bezel I will be setting a large emerald...
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Technical Briefs: Dealing with Firescale

Technical Briefs: Dealing with Firescale

Technical Briefs deals with technical concerns of interest to a wide audience, addressing topics as diverse as vanguard technology and...
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Polishing and Finishing Aids

Polishing and Finishing Aids

For polishing it is recommended to use primarily bristle brushes for most of the removal work and to follow up...
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Toothpicks, Twine Become “Sneaky Goldsmith Tricks”

Toothpicks, Twine Become “Sneaky Goldsmith Tricks”

An ordinary round toothpick becomes a precision polishing instrument in the hands of a bench-savvy goldsmith.
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New Efficient Bench Applications

New Efficient Bench Applications

Pre-finishing, finishing, polishing and re-finishing have all been tasks usually done with a flexible shaft at the bench and/or a...
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Foredom Bench Lathe Kit

Foredom Bench Lathe Kit

Understanding and using updated materials will help you accomplish pre-finishing and finishing requirements professionally and efficiently. Here's a brief overview...
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3M Bur and Polish Wheels

3M Bur and Polish Wheels

3M XR wheels, formerly known as XK wheels are ideal for sprue removal and smooth deburring with minor surface reduction....
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#5, Bright-Cutting with a graver

#5, Bright-Cutting with a graver

With a modified Onglette #2, Right-Sided bright cutting blade, I am now shearing off metal to leave a very bright...
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Testing the 3M FX Polishing Wheels

Testing the 3M FX Polishing Wheels

When AJM asked me to test the new 3M FX Polishing Wheels, I was reminded of a neat factoid: The...
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Drilling Holes in Wax

Drilling Holes in Wax

I need to duplicate a wax form from the original pattern. Here you will see just how easy it can...
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Pumice Finishing and Brass Wire Brushing

Pumice Finishing and Brass Wire Brushing

The first time I saw a machine for pumice finishing and brass wire brushing was at the School for American...
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Finishing the Inside of a Platinum Ring

Finishing the Inside of a Platinum Ring

Jeff Mathews has developed a process for polishing the inside of platinum rings using 3M abrasive technology. To illustrate how...
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Fixing Magnetic Finisher with MF610

Fixing Magnetic Finisher with MF610

After several years of use, the small stainless-steel pins in my magnetic finisher had became dark, were stuck together and...
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Goldsmith Jewelry Finishing Trick

Every bench jeweler has experienced the frustration of trying to sand and polish a nearly inaccessible area on a piece...
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American Holloware Changing Criteria

American Holloware Changing Criteria

The expressions which have come to identify the pre- and post-World War II generations - Me decade, suburban frontiersmen, spoiled...
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Ameritool Inc. Universal Grinder

Ameritool Inc. Universal Grinder

This short video demonstrates how to setup your Ameritool Inc. Universal Grinder. This short demo covers the basic assembly of...
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Modified Split Mandrel for Finishing Round Bezels

A bench jeweler typically uses a split mandrel to sand and finish the inside of a ring. Various grits of...
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Toolmaker’s Tools of the Trade

Toolmaker’s Tools of the Trade

The word "technology" is defined as the totality of the means employed to provide the objects necessary for sustenance and...
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Homemade Flex-Shaft Guard

Homemade Flex-Shaft Guard

Homemade flex-shaft guard using a soft drink plastic bottle, a solution to the annoying and potentially hazardous problem of breathing...
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Preparing to drill holes!

Preparing to drill holes!

Before you start to drill any holes in your new project you 'must' do the following. Completely measure the thickness...
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Kliar E-Coating

Kliar E-Coating

As easy as plating, with colors that rival enamels, this exclusive nano-ceramic electro-coating material delivers the best of both worlds!...
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Oval stone, bur selection w/diagram

Oval stone, bur selection w/diagram

Selecting a proper bur for setting an Oval stone can be difficult. Deciding between H.S.S. & a Carbide bur can...
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Platinum Consideration Factors

Jurgen J Maerz of the Platinum Guild International USA outlines factors to consider when adding platinum to your line of...
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Techniques for Popular Finishing Touches

Techniques for Popular Finishing Touches

Precious metals are beautiful on their own, from the rich glow of yellow gold to the dense white of platinum—and...
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Student setting an Oval stone

Student setting an Oval stone

My student is now hammering the stone in place. He checks that the Bezel-Wall is now laying on the stone...
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Foredom’s New Finishing Products

Foredom’s New Finishing Products

JA Certified Master Bench Jeweler Linda Steinke uses Foredom's new pre-finishing wheels and polishing compound to finish fabricated and cast...
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Make Silver Different Colors by Anodizing

Make Silver Different Colors by Anodizing

How to Make Silver Different Colors by Electrochemical Anodizing. Without using paint you can give a silver surface various colors...
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Vibratory Finishing Method

Vibratory Finishing Method

Chemical and mechanical processing work together to treat the vibratory finishing wastewater at Aro-Sac, increasing production, making the water reusable...
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Post Bright-Cutting on Bezel wall

Post Bright-Cutting on Bezel wall

This is just a short repeat of a prior video on final clean-up..But this is so much needed to be...
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3 Azure video’s

3 Azure video’s

Here is the process on how to cut Azure patterns. These appear underneath the diamond setting portion of a ring,...
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Platinum Finishing 2 – Procedures and Supplies

Platinum Finishing 2 – Procedures and Supplies

In the last issue I wrote about safety issues concerning polishing platinum. In this issue we will continue the discussion...
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Pumice Wheel, 4-Claw setting

Pumice Wheel, 4-Claw setting

Here you will observe all of the steps in using the Pumice wheel. I use only a Flat-Faced #180 grit...
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Easy No Chemical Oxidation Patina

Easy No Chemical Oxidation Patina

Using eggs to antique a silver coin ring. Method can be used on any sterling or copper jewelry. No Liver...
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Azure patterns, w/gravers

Azure patterns, w/gravers

Here I am explaining how an Azure cut is finished. It is created underneath the hole where the diamond is...
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The Contemporary American Custom Goldsmithing

The Contemporary American Custom Goldsmithing

About five years ago, Robert Fairbank, John Reynolds and I created a "living entity" called Goldsmiths 3 in Concord, Massachusetts....
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Bright-Cutting, REVIEW!

Bright-Cutting, REVIEW!

In this brief video, I show once more how the graver just sails through the silver. Almost like carving into...
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Bezel #5, Final-Hammering

Bezel #5, Final-Hammering

In this last of the 'mini-series' on our Bezel setting. I will show you where the hammer hitting will occur....
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“Tools for a Princess”

“Tools for a Princess”

This is a video showing all the necessary tools, just to set a Princess stone. Between the selection of round...
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Designing with CAD

Designing with CAD

It is here I am showing how fantastic CAD is now helping our jewellery trade. Instead of raising beads on...
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Gypsy Setting w/diagrams

Gypsy Setting w/diagrams

In this video I explain Gypsy Setting & the many techniques using the Hammer & Carbide burs. I also show...
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Gypsy Setting-Finish

Gypsy Setting-Finish

In this second of two videos just on Gypsy Setting, I demonstrate Bright-cutting inside of the "Gypsy" circle of metal....
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Correcting cleaning defects

Correcting cleaning defects

If you overlook any errors in your cleaning process, redo as best as you can. Once you go to the...
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Grinding an Onglette graver

Grinding an Onglette graver

This initial preparation consists of removing the "Tang". Then having it be inserted into the wooden handle of your choice....
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Revolutionary PolishPlus Process

Revolutionary PolishPlus Process

The revolutionary PolishPlus process with MiracleMedia is a new mass finishing technology developed by Peter Richardson of Aurum Plus Resource...
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“Gypsy-Start #1”

“Gypsy-Start #1”

In this first of 2 videos, I start the drilling with a 156C Under-Cutting bur to make a seat for...
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Bezel #1 HSS bur

Bezel #1 HSS bur

In this new series of Bezel setting, I am aiming to introduce my well proven methods of Bezel setting. In...
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Tanzanite Ring Part Three

Tanzanite Ring Part Three

Setting stones in tanzanite ring.
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Princess-Final video

Princess-Final video

This is the 3rd video on "How to Set a Princess Stone". In this video, all tools are shown in...
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The Queen of the Night

The Queen of the Night

This video documents the making of a silver necklace inspired by Mozart's "The Magic Flute". The green and purple material...
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“Moving a Hole”

“Moving a Hole”

Supposing a designing hole is slightly off-center, how would you 'move' it? The answer will now be shown without soldering...
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Detail-Finish Problem Areas

Detail-Finish Problem Areas

Every bench jeweler has experienced the frustration of trying to sand and polish a nearly inaccessible area on a piece...
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Process: Fused Dichroic Glass Rings by zulasurfing

zulasurfing is comprised of husband and wife duo, Gil and Irena, based in New York. Gil is originally from Israel...
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Chain Polishing Accident

Chain Polishing Accident

Big Mistake..! I learn the hard way...!
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Mokum Gan Band by AndrosCreations

Mokum Gan Band by AndrosCreations

Here you can see an 8mm mokum gan style band being created from silver strip and mokum patterned sheet. Mokum...
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BBJ 1209 – Silver Accents

BBJ 1209 – Silver Accents

A Beads Baubles and Jewels project. Add a unique twist to your metal clay pieces by creating a two-tone effect...
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#6, Bead-Burnishing, Final Cuts!

#6, Bead-Burnishing, Final Cuts!

In this final video, you will see the stones being finally set. I will be using a Hart-shaped bur..a.k.a. 156C...
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Bright-Cutting extra notes

Bright-Cutting extra notes

It is here I am just going over some extra little notes on Bright-cutting. I might have missed a few....
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Student; Finished setting project.

Student; Finished setting project.

My student has now finished his first setting project. He is so very happy over his first assignment under my...
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Princess-first stage of setting!

Princess-first stage of setting!

Now that you know exactly what tools you need in your bench, we can now start the setting. Here I...
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Retrieving Stones from Ultrasonic

Retrieving Stones from Ultrasonic

Lost a stone in your Ultrasonic? This video tip shows a creative tool you can make for retrieving stones from...
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Examining Graver results

Examining Graver results

Once the Onglette graver is secured in the wooden handle, I will get the 'feel' of the new blade. I...
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Examining cleaning wheels!

Examining cleaning wheels!

In this first video, you will see some of the poor quality of cleaning wheels. Only the best, or new...
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Cleaning Colored Stone Jewelry

Cleaning Colored Stone Jewelry

Many of the Colored Stones we set in jewelry cannot be cleaned with an Ultrasonic or Steam Cleaner. This video...
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Polishing

Polishing

Perhaps a more healthy way to polish with a micromotor. I made a container for the polish compound arround the...
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Introduction to Line-Cutting

Introduction to Line-Cutting

This 2nd video introduces you to "Line-Cutting". It is here we will examine what is involved in basic 'Pre-Cutting' as...
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Princess-second video

Princess-second video

In this second of three setting demonstrations, you will see the following procedure. I am burring out the inside of...
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Pickle Facts with Jewelry Arts Institute

Pickle Facts with Jewelry Arts Institute

www.jewelryarts.com Pickle dos and dont's
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