Surface Manipulation

Photoetching metal is simple AND FUN! Etching can be used for printing processes, as an artifact of art, or for...

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

Almost any metal or hard plastic item can be buffed to a high polish or a satin sheen with the...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Electroforming is the process of controlling the metal deposit from an anode metal, through electrolyte solution, onto an electroconductive surface....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

There is a major difference between durability and scratch resistance. Platinum is very durable. When scratched, the scratch actually displaces...

Niage is an important Japanese patina, and one of the most basic. It has been used as the base color...

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

Niello is a deep black metal mixture that is fused onto metal for decorative effect. Though worked on three-dimensional objects,...

To learn the art of inlay, its best to start with the basics. This project will walk you through the...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When burnishing very detailed pieces, use stainless pins in your mixed shot. Don’t use them any other time because the...

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

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

I have found through may research on metal etching that there is a plethora of information out there. I hope...

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

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

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

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

The size of the bath must correspond to the rectifier. You cannot have a huge bath and a small rectifier....

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

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

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

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

The rich history of Japanese patinas is the result of hundreds of years of experimentation, innovation and tradition. This article...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Historically, a wide range of techniques has been used to clad or coat silver or base metals with gold. These...

Trying to get a really high polish on the inside of a ring can be frustrating. Because inside ring buffs...

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

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

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

In working on jewelry there are many tasks that seem simple - you just do it and don't think about...

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

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

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

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

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

The natural beauty of this white, bright and light palladium ring is enhanced with hand engraving of initials done in...

This is a HIDI, (How I Do It). It is not the only way to make a piece like this,...

New patented Warrior Power Tool System kit provides a revolutionary proficiency advantage for bench jewelers and jewelry manufacturers for split-lap...

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

For polishing it is recommended to use primarily bristle brushes for most of the removal work and to follow up...

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

The annealed metal is placed in a sandwich between soft 'pusher' paper and a hard paper which will serve as...

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

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

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

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

3M XR wheels, formerly known as XK wheels are ideal for sprue removal and smooth deburring with minor surface reduction....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A bench jeweler typically uses a split mandrel to sand and finish the inside of a ring. Various grits of...

Extremely clean metal surfaces give better results. See the article on Cleaning metal Surfaces for more information on cleaning.

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

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

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

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

While the tide might seem to have been chosen to be catchy or thought to be frivolous in nature, it...

The English enameller, Alan Mudd, born in Lancashire, began his studies in the fine arts, and served an indentured apprenticeship...

Jurgen J Maerz of the Platinum Guild International USA outlines factors to consider when adding platinum to your line of...

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chemical and mechanical processing work together to treat the vibratory finishing wastewater at Aro-Sac, increasing production, making the water reusable...

In the last issue I wrote about safety issues concerning polishing platinum. In this issue we will continue the discussion...

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

Here are some patination sources on the internet. Remember that all patinas are toxic and irritant and should not be...

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

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

The revolutionary PolishPlus process with MiracleMedia is a new mass finishing technology developed by Peter Richardson of Aurum Plus Resource...