Bench Blocks and Small Anvils A solid steel work surface is essential for many metalworking tasks like texturing, hammering, punching or stamping. Because metal is so malleable, when you apply force to it without a sturdy backing, all metal will bend, dent or stretch. Sometimes,...
Return to previous page
Tag: Jewelry Making
I own piles of pliers, and whenever I go to a trade show, there’s always an unnerving array of sexy new jewelry making pliers in every style, quality and price, and then I tell myself that maybe having 30 sets of pliers is invaluable and...
There are many ways to texture jewelry metal, including using a hammer with a face that is specially designed to create patterns. Some brands of texture hammers are manufactured with fixed faces — meaning each of the two faces on the hammer is carved with...
Tool One: Your Ring Clamp A ring clamp is one of the most useful yet least-used tools. This simple and typically inexpensive tool is a powerhouse for working smart, and once you learn to use it, your ring clamp will help you with filing, sanding,...
The thing I am most known for writing about is tools. And, as a jeweler, the tool I use the most is not a saw, it’s not a torch, and not even a hammer or pair of pliers. You may not even remember it’s a...
You can use a flex shaft to sand and polish the metal sections of jewelry work – but for some occasions, hand sanding and polishing is more appropriate. If you’ve already made a set of Custom Polishing Sticks, it’s a good idea to also make...
Agate is a classic, sought-after stone, and always popular for use in jewelry, for carving, and for other artisan crafts. This durable stone is suitable for rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings, and will withstand most daily wear without scratching or dulling. Most agates are easily...
I use tumbled stones and slabs, cabochons, beach pebbles, raw crystals, sea glass and pottery shards in my jewelry making. Because I use cold connections to join much of my work, I have to layer different types of materials, so I drill lots of holes...