Surface Manipulation


Covers a wide variety of surface techniques from plating to patinas and much more.

HomeJewelry MakingSurface Manipulation
Photoetching Metal Using Photocopy Transfer

Photoetching Metal Using Photocopy Transfer

Photoetching metal is simple AND FUN! Etching can be used for printing processes, as an artifact of art, or for...
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Metal Engraving Tools Explained: How To Choose And Prepare Gravers For Jewelry Work

Metal Engraving Tools Explained: How To Choose And Prepare Gravers For Jewelry Work

Many industries have need of specialized engravers, for instance those who make dies, who cut stones and glass, and others...
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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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Electroplating Jewellery

Electroplating Jewellery

Electroplating is a method to put a metal coating onto an object, in our case a piece of jewellery, by...
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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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Keum-Boo Technique

This Korean technique for applying 24k gold to silver is in fact widely used in various cultures; Japanese, Chinese and...
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Liver of Sulfur 101

Liver of Sulfur 101

Liver of sulfur, a stinky jewelry studio standby, can be used to create beautiful patinas on Silver, Silver Precious Metal...
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Easy Etching Step by Step

Easy Etching Step by Step

This technique involves the transfer of an image to metal using a material that will "resist" the dissolving action of...
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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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Recent Electroforming Developments

Recent Electroforming Developments

Electroforming is an old, established technology and, in its original form, it was a bit cumbersome to use. However, as...
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Electroplating Safety Precautions

The "General Safety Rules for Tools" article applies here too, as with all power tools. Read the instruction manuals and...
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Reticulation – Ridges and Ripples

Reticulation – Ridges and Ripples

Reticulation is not difficult, but it does take practice, concentration, and a deft torch hand. Also, the pattern and appearance...
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Electroforming Step-by-Step

Electroforming Step-by-Step

Electroforming is the process of controlling the metal deposit from an anode metal, through electrolyte solution, onto an electroconductive surface....
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Metal Salt Etching, Resists and Resist Removal

Metalsmiths and enamelists have used ferric chloride for several years as a safer alternative to nitric acid for copper and...
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Using Liver of Sulfur

This is a mixture of potassium sulfides which has traditionally been used to darken or 'antique' silver and bronzes. This...
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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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Iridescent Patina Recipe

This is the basic recipe for the iridescent patina. This patina is most effective on highly textured pieces, such as...
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Patina Formulas

The surface of metals may be colored, a patina added either chemically or with heat. Patinas are generally achieved by...
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Basic Filing Techniques

Over the years, bad habits creep into our work procedures. Periodical review of our techniques is needed to assure us...
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Engraving Methods and Techniques

Engraving Methods and Techniques

As important as the gravers are, it is hard to understate the importance of the devices used to secure work...
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Inlay Work

Inlay Work

There are many techniques in which contrasting metals are placed side by side. Those that can properly be called inlay...
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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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Patination Safety Considerations

Jewelers use so-called -oxidising- solutions to darken metals like silver, copper, brass, nickel silver, bronze and, with specialized mixtures, on...
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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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The Foundation of Japanese Patinas

The Foundation of Japanese Patinas

Niage is an important Japanese patina, and one of the most basic. It has been used as the base color...
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Kliar Vibrant Colors for Metal Jewelry

Kliar Vibrant Colors for Metal Jewelry

Adding vibrant colors to jewelry can involve any number of methods -- from careful enameling by hand to the high-tech...
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Niello Metal Mixture

Niello Metal Mixture

Niello is a deep black metal mixture that is fused onto metal for decorative effect. Though worked on three-dimensional objects,...
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The Basic Techniques of Shell Inlay

The Basic Techniques of Shell Inlay

To learn the art of inlay, its best to start with the basics. This project will walk you through the...
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Copper, Brass and Bronze Advanced Etching

This method of etching uses a prepared ferric chloride solution which also contains hydrochloric acid. This 'etchant' is not a...
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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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The Costs of Learning Hand Engraving

When you've made the decision to learn hand engraving, you have basically 3 options: Spend little or no money but...
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Introduction to Japanese Alloys

Japanese artists have contributed significantly by using their unique alloys in innovative combinations. Perhaps the best example of this is...
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Brief Notes on Shakudo

As with most Japanese metal coloring methods the techniques are metallurgically based rather than solution oriented; in the West we...
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Testing the Rhodium Plating Technique

Testing the Rhodium Plating Technique

Plenty of information has been published about how rhodium plating solutions should behave under ideal conditions-but little data and real-world...
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A New Platinum Sterling Silver

A New Platinum Sterling Silver

It took about two months of experimentation to get the formulas for Platinum Sterling Silver just right - Robinson created...
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Goldsmithing: Etching on Metal

Goldsmithing: Etching on Metal

Etching uses chemical corrosion rather than mechanical force to selectively remove metal. Simply put, the idea is to cloak parts...
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Depletion Gilding Notes

This is an academic paper, not a technical 'how to' guide. Many of the procedures described are unsafe in practice....
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The Ancient Art of Fire Gilding

In the twentieth century there can be little doubt that electroplating is the best way to develop a gold coating...
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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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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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Etching Options for Champleve

Etching Options for Champleve

I have found through may research on metal etching that there is a plethora of information out there. I hope...
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Aluminum: Welded and Wearable

Aluminum: Welded and Wearable

The purpose of this paper is to acquaint the reader with the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing aluminum as a...
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Process of Cleaning Metal Surfaces

For all metal coloring and electroplating a clean metal surface is essential. The cleaning process must remove mineral oils, organic...
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Testing Japanese Patina Solutions

Testing Japanese Patina Solutions

It is important to understand that many variables will affect patina results. Our tests were made on smooth, rolled metal....
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Cupric Nitrate Patination of Metals

This patination solution gives you a range of greens, olives, browns, black, turquoise and yellow-greens on many metals because it...
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Electroforming Workshop Preparation

The size of the bath must correspond to the rectifier. You cannot have a huge bath and a small rectifier....
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Pat Pruitt’s Wolf Belt Sander

Pat Pruitt’s Wolf Belt Sander

Using 1 inch by 11 inch belts with a 4.25-inch working surface, this sander fits onto a flex-shaft with a...
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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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The Seven Korean Metalsmiths

The Seven Korean Metalsmiths

Five thousand years of Korean goldsmithing was interrupted from 1913 to 1953 due to the Japanese invasion and the Korean...
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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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Japanese Special Patinas

The rich history of Japanese patinas is the result of hundreds of years of experimentation, innovation and tradition. This article...
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Resists and Electroplating to Create Patterns

Resists and Electroplating to Create Patterns

With the ever-higher cost of precious metals, many jewelers are increasingly working with non-precious metals such as stainless steel, titanium,...
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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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Electroforming for Innovative Design

Electroforming for Innovative Design

There are four principal methods of producing jewellery today: Hand making, using traditional craft skills, Investment (Lost wax) Casting, Pressing...
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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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Patination by Copper and Copper Alloy Fuming

Patination by Copper and Copper Alloy Fuming

Patination is a technique which has become popular for some kinds of fashion jewellery in recent years. Usually a patina...
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Reticulation Technique and Procedure

Reticulation Technique and Procedure

Reticulation produces lovely textured surfaces that appear very 'natural' and can be controlled to produce specific patterns with practice. Used...
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Photoetching for the Studio Jeweler

Photoetching for the Studio Jeweler

In photoetching a photo transparency defines the area of a metal plate to be etched. The transparency is the control...
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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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Homemade Engravers Ball

Homemade Engravers Ball

There are several methods of obtaining the smooth rotation of a piece of metal necessary for engraving on it. Many...
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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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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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The Patina Studio

The Patina Studio

It is impossible to pretend that a single description of tools, materials, and equipment will suit all needs. Obviously these...
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Transparency Making for Photoetching

Transparency Making for Photoetching

This article, "Transparency Making for Photoetching",  is the first of two parts written by Allan Liu and Carol Webb. Check...
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Basic Milling Technique

Basic Milling Technique

In working on jewelry there are many tasks that seem simple - you just do it and don't think about...
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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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Champleve – Photo Etching with PnP Paper

Champleve – Photo Etching with PnP Paper

The use of PnP paper-originally designed to create printed circuit boards-to meet the artistic needs of metalsmiths, jewelers, and enamelists....
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Vermeil Jewelries

Vermeil Jewelries

Considering metals prices continue to be sky high, it's no surprise that plating companies' phones are ringing off the hook....
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Patination for Small Scale Studio Use

Patination for Small Scale Studio Use

In recent years there has been an increased interest in patination and metal coloring. This may be seen as a...
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Making a 950 Palladium Signet Ring

Making a 950 Palladium Signet Ring

The natural beauty of this white, bright and light palladium ring is enhanced with hand engraving of initials done in...
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How to Make a Plique a Jour Fairy

How to Make a Plique a Jour Fairy

This is a HIDI, (How I Do It). It is not the only way to make a piece like this,...
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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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Helen Shirk: Patterns of Growth

Helen Shirk: Patterns of Growth

Last fall, the National Ornamental Metal Museum in Memphis, Tennessee hosted a retrospective of the work of Helen Shirk. Nearly...
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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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Enameling on Electroformed Vessels

Enameling on Electroformed Vessels

June Schwarcz (b.1918) in Denver, CO. She is a Fellow of the American Craft Council and received their Gold Medal....
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How to Do Paper Die Embossing

How to Do Paper Die Embossing

The annealed metal is placed in a sandwich between soft 'pusher' paper and a hard paper which will serve as...
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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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Architectural Portraits of Vicki Ambery-Smith

Architectural Portraits of Vicki Ambery-Smith

For nearly 30 years, Ambery-Smith has been using architecture as an inspiration for her work. Her name has become synonymous...
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Design Applications for Laser Engraving

Design Applications for Laser Engraving

Laser engravers can do wonders for a jewelry manufacturer's hallmarking process, making it more efficient and leaving a crisp, clear...
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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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Fine Matte on Metal Surfaces

Fine Matte on Metal Surfaces

A micro-waterjet device can be used to achieve fine matt finishes on precious metal surfaces. Parts required for this are:...
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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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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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Patinating Brass Alloys Using Contact Plating

This procedure should be undertaken with appropriate precautions; goggles, gloves, protective clothing, adequate ventilation. Recently I have been presented with...
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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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Methods for Applying Patination Solutions

Extremely clean metal surfaces give better results. See the article on Cleaning metal Surfaces for more information on cleaning.
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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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Chromatec: Producing Photographic Images on Refractory Metals

Chromatec: Producing Photographic Images on Refractory Metals

In response to Marilyn Shaw's article "Photographic Images on Refractory Metals" (Metalsmith, Summer '84, page 32), we have researched the...
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Photographic Images on Refractory Metals

Photographic Images on Refractory Metals

The following article explains photo techniques used to transfer images onto refractory metals. These findings were developed during my graduate...
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Layered Metal on Enamel Coats

Layered Metal on Enamel Coats

While the tide might seem to have been chosen to be catchy or thought to be frivolous in nature, it...
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The Enamelware of Alan Mudd

The Enamelware of Alan Mudd

The English enameller, Alan Mudd, born in Lancashire, began his studies in the fine arts, and served an indentured apprenticeship...
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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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Full eBook: Modern Letter Engraving

Full eBook: Modern Letter Engraving

Full eBook.186 Pages: Modern Letter Engraving in Theory and Practice - A Manual for the Use of Watchmakers, Jewelers and...
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Small Scale Double Making Procedures

Double is a German word of french origin meaning rolled gold or gold fill material. I use it for the...
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The Work of June Schwarcz

The Work of June Schwarcz

There are few artists who can subtly control the relationship between what they perceive and the manner in which this...
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Gorham Masterpieces in Metal Exhibition

Gorham Masterpieces in Metal Exhibition

Gorham Company was 45 years old when its 2,000-ounce "Century Vase" celebrating the nation's centennial won great acclaim at the...
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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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A Method of Steel Patination

As part of a large scale patination project in which I patinated a steel roof surface 24 by 48 feet...
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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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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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Master Metalsmith Dorothy Sturm

Master Metalsmith Dorothy Sturm

Entering the enameling studio, one is struck by its openness. Light fills the space. Shelves are lined with organic vessel...
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Patination Sources from the Internet

Here are some patination sources on the internet. Remember that all patinas are toxic and irritant and should not...
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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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Martha Glowacki & Fields of Reference

Martha Glowacki & Fields of Reference

Martha Glowacki's works are sculptural abstractions on the theme of landscape. They demonstrate her interest in the imposition of order...
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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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