Online Articles

On Guard! Stop the unintentional marring of jewelry metals in your vise By Helen I. Driggs It’s inevitable that every tool you own will eventually need to be modified. Pliers, anvils, blocks, dies, punches, and hammers—basically anything steel—will at some point produce unintended marks on jewelry metal that will need to be removed, and you’ll […]

Capturing the Glow A primer on drawing in lifted and classic perspective By Rémy Rotenier Born from a defense mechanism of oysters, pearls have been a favorite of jewelry lovers for a very long time. Unlike gemstones, which can display many optical phenomena, pearls just quietly glow, as if animated from their core. Pearl rings […]

Perfect Pinstems How to create your own pinstems for brooches By Helen I. Driggs I make my own pinstems for brooches using durable brass, nickel, or steel piano wire. The downside of working with a durable metal is that it’s time-consuming to bring it to a fine, symmetrical, and sharp point. I normally swear by […]

Toolmaking for Texture Adding custom-design surface interest to sheet metal By Helen I. Driggs (Originally published October 2022) Surface texture is a guaranteed way to create design appeal on an ordinary flat sheet of metal. I try to avoid using the manufactured hydraulic plates, pre-textured metal sheets, and rolling mill plates that everyone else uses […]

Around the Bench A step-by-step guide to creating a double loop-in-loop chain right at the bench By Tony DeLuca (Originally published October 2022) Originating in the Middle East during the Bronze Age, loop-in-loop chain making is an ancient technique that is still practiced today by many goldsmiths around the world. Although fairly simple to make, […]

Wire Minders Repurpose old pliers to create sturdy wire holders By Helen I. Driggs Gripping short sections of wire to file the sharp or deformed ends caused by nippers can be a real chore. I regularly use 12-, 14-, 16-, and 18-gauge wire and rod for hinge pins and rivets in my cold-connected work, so […]

Totally Tubular An alternative method for almost any tube setting situation By Joel McFadden Tube setting is a very modern looking setting style primarily used by hand fabricators. It’s a unique method because of the limited amount of metal wall with which you have to work. This means that traditional bezel setting techniques don’t usually […]

A Power Trip Exploring the electroforming process and its possibilities for use in jewelry making By Shawna Kulpa How often have you seen a leaf or a seashell and thought, “I’d like to turn that into a piece of jewelry”? Unfortunately, that’s often easier said than done. You could re-create the forms in wax or […]

What Jewelry Makers Need to Know About Mass Finishing with Judy Hoch Airdate: October 1, 2022 Judy Hoch of Marstal Smithy (author of Tumble Finishing for Handmade Jewelry) discusses the benefits of mass finishing, why it might be right for your shop, and why she considers it the safest most effective way to finish jewelry. Watch […]

A Riveting Finish Make this handy punch for perfectly hemispherical rivet heads By Helen I. Driggs I make a lot of wire rivets and I love the look of shiny and perfectly hemispherical rivet heads. However, achieving a perfectly shaped rivet head can be difficult with the cross peen of a standard riveting or goldsmith’s […]

Setting Helpers Discover new uses for two traditional burs By Joel McFadden Jewelers don’t often think about the smallest tools on their bench. However, those little tools make what we do possible. Two of my favorite tools are the Krause bur and the inverted cone bur. In addition to the traditional uses of these burs, […]

A Sticking Point Hold on to tiny parts with this waterproof, foolproof sanding solution By Helen I. Driggs How many times have you tried to hang on to a thin or tiny part to sand or file only to have that part fly across the studio or get lost forever in the dark, dusty wasteland […]

Need a Hand? A step-by-step guide to drawing an adjustable bracelet By Rémy Rotenier Every one of us has struggled at some point with putting on a bracelet.When I had a collection on Jewelry Television, I designed many bolo bracelets because of how versatile they were. The wearer would just slide the bracelet on and […]

Easy Bound How to combine joining techniques to achieve maximum holds By Fabio Penuela Soldering is an important part of what we do as bench jewelers. There are different degrees of difficulty when it comes to soldering, which is why some jewelers turn to laser welders. However, I’ve always found a laser weld to be […]

Details Matter Build a mini brass scratch brush for small-scale cleanups By Helen I. Driggs Sometimes, a commercial brass scratch brush is just too big, too clunky, or too work-hardened from repeated use to do an effective cleanup, especially in tiny spaces. When I noticed my old brass brush wasn’t getting my metal as clean […]

Smooth Sailing A guide to setting baguette stones into multidimensional curved surfaces By Joel McFadden Setting a baguette stone into a multidimensional curved surface such as a domed band can be a challenging process. How do you make the setting look smooth? Here I’ll demonstrate the technique I use that’s similar to channel setting in […]

Balancing Act Find a no-fail balance point on any pendant with this simple tweezer modification By Helen I. Driggs Sometimes I have a difficult time deciding exactly where on a pendant I want to solder on the mounting hardware, whether it’s a bail or jump ring. When it comes to heavy or asymmetrical pendants you […]

In a Tight Spot Create a DIY needle burnisher for finishing tiny spaces By Helen I. Driggs I love the shiny glint of burnished edges on my jewelry metals, but sometimes it’s quite difficult to fit a standard hand burnisher into sharp inner corners, complex fretwork, or in and around prongs, hinge knuckles, or clustered […]

In the Hot Seat How to minimize damage when unsetting a bezel-set gemstone By Jeanette K. Caines Unsetting a bezel-set gemstone is something that you might not do often, but it is more than likely to come up eventually. Potential reasons for unsetting are a cracked or damaged stone, correcting issues with an improperly set […]

In No Time Flat A solution to polishing small flat surfaces By Fabio Penuela Polishing is a crucial step in jewelry making. Here’s why: Let’s say that you have a custom design that calls for flat surfaces. You design it in CAD, print it, cast it, and clean it, respecting all the shapes and forms […]

Hold On Make these strips to secure your next join By Helen I. Driggs There is nothing worse than taking the time to set up an amazing feat of balance on your soldering block only to have it tumble down once the torch joins the act. I am not a huge fan of using third […]

Good As New A step-by-step guide to repairing a worn out prong By Joel McFadden Most often seen on rings, prong wear is probably one of the most common repairs bench jewelers will face. Bed sheets and other abrasives contact these high points on jewelry and wear the points until the gemstones become loose or […]

Sticky Solutions How to use sticky putty to build better bezels By Helen I. Driggs It’s not unusual for me to run into several common problems when fitting bezels for large or angular cabochons. Usually I have issues with holding a stone still as I struggle to fit the bezel stock tightly against the base […]

Better Bezels How to create a hand helper for fitting odd-shaped settings By Helen I. Driggs I often use as-found, recycled, or unconventional materials in my work, and it’s sometimes difficult to create a cleanly fabricated nonstandard bezel for them, especially when I use thick or hard stock such as sterling silver or if what […]

Looking Sharp How to make a bright-cut box around a bead-set stone By Joel McFadden Bright cutting is accomplished by making sharp, shiny, angled cuts with a graver in metal around set stones to further highlight the stones. This style of setting dates to the 1800s and was common before prongs or bezel settings. In […]

On the Ball Creating a handy measuring tool to guarantee same-size granules and shot By Helen I. Driggs It’s easy to create evenly sized granules or shot without the time-consuming hassle of measuring or weighing tiny pieces of metal. With a quick trip to the hardware store, you can create this handy measuring tool in […]

How the Welders Work The difference between pulse-arc and laser welding technologies Need help choosing between pulse-arc and laser welding technology? Click here for tips and advice on picking the best system to meet your needs. When deciding on the best type of welding system for your business, you should first get to know the […]

Beat the Heat How to protect gemstones when retipping prongs with a laser welder By Fabio Penuela Being a jeweler is a rewarding profession as we get to create jewels that people will wear and treasure for years to come. However, every piece we make will be exposed to wear and tear over those years, […]

Second Chances Ideas to help you reduce, reuse, and repurpose broken sawblades By Helen I. Driggs My parents grew up during the lean years following the Great Depression, so I learned not only Yankee ingenuity, but also their waste not, want not frugality and clever ways of using outdated, worn-out, or otherwise unwanted objects. These […]

The Passing of the Torch How to choose between pulse-arc welders and laser welders By Shawna Kulpa Tired of your torch? While torch soldering remains a great, low-cost and effective way to weld metals at the jeweler’s bench, you may be interested in upgrading to a faster method that requires less cleanup. As a jeweler, […]

Tips for Working with Gemstones with Joel McFadden Airdate: January 18, 2022 Breaking or damaging a gemstone is every stone setter’s worst nightmare. In this podcast, jeweler Joel McFadden, a renowned setter and frequent contributor to MJSA Journal, shares insights and techniques that can keep a gemstone intact and securely set—and a customer happy. Watch Video • Listen […]

No Pressure A guide to faux tension setting a colored gemstone By Joel McFadden (Originally published January 2022) Modern and eye-catching, tension settings are a popular choice among today’s consumers. While diamonds can usually be tension set without any problems, the same cannot be said for many colored gemstones as they simply cannot withstand the […]

De-Stressing Setting Expert advice on keeping cool when working with gems By Shawna Kulpa (Originally published January 2022) There’s an old saying in the jewelry industry that jewelers need to relax more—after all, even with the most nerve-wracking jobs, no one dies at the end of the day. It’s just jewelry, right? Well, kind of. […]

An Open and Shut Case How to create a jump ring vise for speedy chain making By Helen I. Driggs I’ve been making lots of chains of late, and this handy little portable jump ring vise makes opening and closing them a speedy snap, because you don’t have to put your pliers down to do […]

Bench Envy How Aaron Willoughby keeps things dry and nearby in his workspace By Aaron Willoughby Editor’s Note: Aaron Willoughby has been making, teaching, and designing jewelry and metal art for nearly 20 years. He relocated from San Diego to Sarasota, Florida, about a year before the COVID-19 pandemic, which gave him time to get […]

A Little Place for Your Stuff Jewelers share their favorite organizational aids By Shawna Kulpa To quote the late comedian George Carlin, “All you need in life is a little place for your stuff.” Of course, he used that line to kick off a five-minute routine about how people have too much stuff, but he […]

Dutiful Dowels How wooden dowels can help bench jewelers By Helen I. Driggs I always keep a decent supply of wooden dowels, chopsticks, and skewers on hand and in as many diameters as I can find. I hunt for them in hardware stores, craft stores, and woodworking suppliers, and it’s amazing how many times a […]

Tool Up Jewelers share details about their tool buying habits Sponsored by: By Shawna Kulpa There’s no denying it: Jewelers love tools. But the process of filling a workshop with the tools and equipment needed to make jewelry day-in, day-out can be intimidating. How do you learn about the tools out there and what they […]

Making an mini anvil with standard hardware supplies By Helen I. Driggs My dad was a machinist, so I’ve had an inordinate fondness for hardware stores since my childhood. I spent many happy hours in his shop tinkering with nuts, bolts, switches, and wires, and these days, I find myself passing many hours in my […]

Building a dream studio from the ground up Jean Menden of J. Menden Silver in Clinton, Minnesota, had a small home studio that she had long outgrown. When she and her husband sold their home and moved to a lake cabin in 2019, she took advantage of the situation to construct her dream workspace. She […]

A guide to mastering wheat pattern engraving By Joel McFadden With its vintage, handmade look, the running wheat pattern is one of the most common ornamental engraving styles in jewelry, especially on rings. In addition to being popular, the pattern is also a great place to start when you’re learning to do engraving. To practice […]

Old School Casting A step-by-step guide to cuttlebone casting for beginners By Tony Deluca Cuttlebone casting is an ancient casting technique that can create unique textures using the calcified remains of the cuttlefish. It can be used to create both simple and complicated designs, but most jewelers use the technique for the wonderful wood grain […]

Soft metal setting punches for flushmounts By Helen I. Driggs Back when I was learning to make jewelry, flush setting, also known as gypsy setting, was the style of setting I wanted to learn the most. It seemed like a magical type of setting, with the stone sitting below the surface of the metal. Plus, […]

Tom Okner’s spacious jewelry operating room By Tom Okner, M.D. Editor’s Note: Dr. Tom Okner, a retired ear, nose, and throat specialist, took up metalsmithing and jewelry fabrication as a hobby 25 years ago. His first workspace was a general-purpose work bench he set up in his home’s basement in St. Paul, Minnesota. Over the […]

Make a rake to revive a compound-caked polishing wheel By Helen I. Driggs Taking care of your textile polishing wheels will extend their life and also reduce scratching caused by hardened or dried-out polishing compounds that can cut deep ruts in your work. I made a rake, or mop dresser, out of some glued together […]

Creating an impromptu jump-ring jig By Helen I. Driggs It never fails: Students will always ask me to demo something that was not technically on the menu, and when I am far from home, I’ll inevitably need to scramble. I was recently asked about making a large quantity of jump rings and, of course, at […]

Waste Not, Want Not Recycling bench scraps to create ingots By Christine Dhein Clean filings and scrap can be recycled in the workshop rather than being sent to a refiner. This saves money by eliminating shipping costs and refining fees, and conserves the resources required by the refining process. Regularly brush the sweeps drawer and […]

Bench Envy Jim Grahl’s studio is a mix of old meets new By Jim Grahl Editor’s Note: While Jim Grahl of J. Grahl Design in Balboa Island, California, loves technological developments that have made certain tasks in jewelry making easier, he sees no need to replace the trusty older tools and equipment that fill his […]

The Little Things Findings hold the key to fully realizing a jewelry designer’s vision By Shawna Kulpa It’s the little things that matter in life…and in jewelry too. After all, the most beautiful earrings in the world are useless without some type of finding to secure them in the ear. And what good is a […]

Soldering block markups for precision placement By Helen I. Driggs It seems that no matter how exact you think you are (or used to be), the older your eyes get, the harder exactness becomes. I’ve always had issues lining up things on my soldering block due to a vision problem, and lately I have had […]

Building a custom four-prong head By Joel McFadden Although industry suppliers have made it easy to order pre-manufactured heads and have them delivered the next day, sometimes you can’t find the right shape or size for an uncalibrated gemstone. Luckily, creating your own custom head for the stone can be easily accomplished. 1. The first […]

Keeping clean while polishing under a microscope By Fabio Penuela One of the most important steps in making jewelry is polishing. After all, could you imagine handing a finished piece of jewelry to a customer without first polishing it? Every piece of jewelry needs to be polished, and nothing is better than polishing a piece […]

Shop Space Three designers explain their shop layouts Compiled by Shawna Kulpa When setting up your jewelry studio, it’s crucial to consider not just your current needs, but also what changes might come down the road as you grow and evolve your line. Your tools and equipment should be organized for efficiency and flexibility. In […]

Supra Cutters Made of high quality ball bearing steel at 63-65 Rockwell hardness, these 4.9 inch (125 mm) long cutters are available with semi-flush, flush, or full-flush blades. They feature a no-scratch/anti-glare satin finish, a hardened steel nut to resist high cutting load, and stainless steel dual leaf springs. The rounded ergonomic handles have a wide, […]

Repurpose a skewer for precise polishing By Helen I. Driggs Sometimes a commercial polishing wheel or attachment just won’t get where you need it to go. For those times, I use bamboo skewers from the kitchen gadget drawer to create instant polishing points and attachments for my flex-shaft. I’ve created a whole collection to use […]

A bench jeweler’s guide to glues and epoxies By Shawna Kulpa It’s that time of year when jewelers start updating their tool “wish lists” so they’re ready when their loved ones ask what they’d like for the holidays. Those lists are likely filled with laser welders, 3-D printers, diamond scanners, and maybe even a fancy […]

Jo Haemer’s bench combines the best of two worlds By Jo Haemer Editor’s Note: When jewelry maker Jo Haemer is asked about the most important tool she owns, she often says it’s her workbench, and it’s not hard to see why. She and her husband Timothy Green have three custom made workbenches in the home […]

Simple modifications for a new bench pin By Helen I. Driggs It’s nice to splurge on a new bench pin every couple of years, and after making some basic modifications to an off-the-shelf pin, it’s easy to quickly get busy working again on the pristine surface of a new one. Over the years, I have […]

Using a traditional approach and CAD to set a uniquely set stone Recently, third-generation jewelry store owner Lee Krombholz of Krombholz Jewelers (krombholzjewelers.com) in Cincinnati set out to compare the pros and cons of CAD/CAM and a traditional handmade wax approach. Here you’ll read a summary of his findings, as well as the approaches that […]

Before taking in a repair job, look for these potential problem signs Some repair jobs are simple, and some only seem simple: Many times, one repair is a signal that other problems lurk below the surface. In this video, learn how to identify some common “red flags” to help you uncover all of the problem […]

Giving a new purpose to old cross-lock tweezers By Helen I. Driggs At the end of every semester of my jewelry classes, I always thoroughly clean the student soldering station and often discover a supply of cross-lock tweezers that have become warped, annealed, rusted, bent, deformed, or otherwise ready to recycle. This is one of […]

Creating a homemade engraving table By Fabio Penuela Used to further enhance the beauty of finished jewelry, hand engraving has been around for ages. But thanks to today’s technology and some new techniques, engraving is a bit easier to accomplish these days. There are now specialized tools that not only will securely hold a piece […]

Can damaged gemstones be resurrected? By Nancy Attaway Editor’s Note: This article is excerpted from “Back From the Dead: How to Resurrect Dead Gemstones,” a paper by Nancy Attaway and Stephen W. Attaway, Ph.D., which was published in the proceedings of the 2018 Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology.  When faced with a chipped […]

Practical and unique ways to store tools and supplies By Shawna Kulpa It’s no wonder that most jewelers are tool junkies—it can take a lot of tools to create beautiful works of metal art. But all those tools and supplies can mean a lot of potential bench and shop clutter. Which is why most jewelers […]

A safe, secure way to drill oddly shaped parts By Helen I. Driggs Teachers are always on the lookout for safe ways to help their students accomplish potentially dangerous studio tasks involving power equipment, such as polishing, grinding, and drilling. This easy-to-make drilling block helps to hold small, sharp metal parts of any shape or […]

A useful tool repurposed from an old bur shaft By Helen I. Driggs I collect and save every piece of tool steel I find at garage sales and flea markets along with any other steel I generate in the studio with the purpose of finding a new use for it. For example, a mini burnisher […]

Repurposed plastic shop helpers By Helen I. Driggs I try to practice the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) daily, and I consider it my duty as a global citizen to repurpose and reuse everything I possibly can. Plastics are something I try to avoid purchasing or discarding, so when a recent kitchen remodel led to some […]

A tip for polishing jewelry on the go By Helen I. Driggs Because I travel a great deal to teach jewelry classes, I’ve created a travel toolbox that combines a light weight with TSA-friendliness while still enabling me to complete jewelry-making tasks on the fly. When I’m doing demos far from home or when power […]

Jewelers cook up their own tools By Shawna Kulpa For jewelers, making homemade tools is almost a rite of passage. Some do it because they have limited funds and resources (especially if they’re just starting out). Some need a tool they can’t find anywhere, to increase their functionality and speed. Others want something aesthetically pleasing […]

Tips for repurposing clothespins at the bench By Helen I. Driggs Simple wooden clothespins are great to have around the shop for random acts of holding, guiding, clamping, and bonding. The wood is easily modified, and a bag of pins can be had for a modest sum at your local dollar store. Here are my […]

  Hammer It Out Making A Romero fold brooch By Charles Lewton-Brain Foldforming is a system of working sheet metal using simple tools. It lets you make complex shapes, textures, and surfaces rapidly. There are 10 main types of foldforming techniques, each of which offers dozens to hundreds of variations. Here, I will demonstrate one […]

An easy method for straightening wire By Helen I. Driggs Coiled wire is easy to store and ship, but have you ever wasted time trying to sort out an interlocked and messy pile of unspooled 28-gauge wire only to inadvertently create bends or kinks in it? Once you unhook the end, most spooled wire has […]

A taping tip for ergonomic bench tools By Helen I. Driggs Using tools incorrectly or tools that are uncomfortable to hold not only makes working unpleasant, but also can lead to repetitive stress injury. To prevent tendon, bone, or nerve damage, it is important to choose tools to fit both the job and your hand. […]

At the Bench Securing curved stones for easy drilling By Helen I. Driggs I use recycled ceramic china, beach pebbles, sea and river glass, and pottery shards in many of my cold connected pieces, which means I need to drill holes—a lot of holes. Very often, pebbles, glass, and ceramic shards are curved, making it […]

Quick and efficient accessories for small part pickling By Helen I. Driggs Ever spent way too much time trying to retrieve tiny jump rings, links, or other small parts out of a hot acid bath using too-large copper tongs? If you make a lot of chain or work with a lot of findings, the time […]

Tackling chain and finding repairs head-on By Shawna Kulpa Ask most jewelers about repairing a chain or finding and they’re likely to offer you their best Charlie Brown impression: Good grief! And it’s an expression that’s somewhat warranted, given the risks involved in working on the tiny links of a delicate chain or applying a […]

Floating objects in a metal frame By Helen I. Driggs Bi-directional tabs are a decorative way to secure delicate objects that have very pronounced curves or are thick, round, or otherwise a challenge to mount securely on sheet metal. I like to create extra-long decorative tabs with my saw that will encircle the object much […]

Non-jeweler’s tools give fabrication a new twist By Helen I. Driggs My background is in graphic design, so I have spent lots of time in traditional artist’s supply stores. I have discovered quite a few tools that do double duty at my jewelry bench and in my painting studio that are especially suited to pattern […]

A step-by-step guide to fishtail settings By Joel McFadden SKILL LEVEL: ADVANCED One of the most popular setting styles today, fishtail settings are one of the few setting methods that show off melee really well. It gets its name from the fact that when viewed from the side, the prongs flare out into two sections […]

A step-by-step guide to knitting chain By Munya Avigail Upin Making your own chain is a great way of helping you distinguish your work from the competition. One of the easiest ways to make your own is to knit one. Although this style of chain is often referred to as being woven, there is no […]

A look at a few jewelers who refuse to use tools the way they were designed By Shawna Kulpa Jewelers love their tools. . . but they’re rarely content with using them without alteration or even for the original intended purpose. They file and grind and shape and cut until the tool will do what […]

At the Bench Creating hollow rivets, step by step By Helen I. Driggs All rivets have the same function—they are plugs of metal that are manipulated with tools to fill a hole or holes in other objects in order to hold them together. They’re a great way to attach materials that cannot be soldered or […]

Rendering emerald cuts and heart-shaped stones By Rémy Rotenier In previous issues, I’ve demonstrated how to render round gemstones. Now, I’d like to demonstrate how to use many of those same techniques to render two very distinct and popular gemstone shapes: the emerald and heart-shaped cuts. While seemingly simple shapes, they analyze the light in […]

A step-by-step guide to multi-row pavé setting By Joel McFadden Multi-row pavé is considered the ultimate in diamond setting as it involves completely covering a surface with small round stones secured with only small prongs left in the gaps between the stones. Good pavé relies greatly on the eye and skill of the setter because […]

An easy way to create equal divisions By Helen I. Driggs Dividing something into equal parts is something jewelers do all the time. For example, you may have to set stones equally around a ring band or a bangle, or position prongs around an already fabricated object or sawn shape. Or, maybe you need to […]

Tips from the Ultimate Repair Guide Compiled by Shawna Kulpa and Tina Wojtkielo Snyder Tip #1 When taking in a chain for repair, David Geller of JewelerProfit suggests laying the chain on a copy machine and making two copies. Staple one to the receipt that you give to the customer and put the other in […]

Supra Pliers Made of ball bearing steel hardened to 45 Rockwell, these Supra flat-nose pliers feature a no-scratch/anti-glare satin finish, a lap joint with a fine-pitched screw for ideal joint adjustment and symmetry, and stainless steel dual leaf springs. The rounded ergonomic handles have a wide, soft, comfortable gripping surface. Overall length is 5 1/8 inch. […]

Bonny Doon Urethane Heavy Forming Hammer Created from two hardnesses of urethane, the faces on this heavy forming hammer deliver the power of hydraulic force to shape metal. Each head conforms to the surface being struck, spreads out across the metal, and then bounces back to its original shape. It delivers the force to more […]

Cosima Buffs Developed to reduce by half the pressure needed while polishing, Cosima buffs are made with silicon-coated cotton fabric designed to produce nearly no dust during the polishing process. Suitable for polishing metals at low speeds (1,400 rpm), these 20-layer miniature buffs are available in diameters of 20, 22, and 24 mm. The buffs […]

How selected bench tools performed in three jewelers’ shops Compiled by Tina Wojtkielo Snyder (Originally published April 2014) Editor’s Note: Want to know how to make a bench jeweler’s day? Send him a box full of new tools and tell him that if he plays with those tools for a month, you’ll let him keep […]

Kitchen equipment that can be used in the shop. By Shawna Kulpa Like a kid in a candy shop, a jeweler gets giddy with goose bumps when walking the aisles of hardware stores and tool supply shops. But did you know that you can get just as much of a thrill poking around your own […]

Best practices for creating your own repair guidelines Compiled by Shawna Kulpa The key to taking in repairs is good communication. To help ensure that the information passed along the communication chain is accurate and clear, savvy jewelers advocate using an explicit set of guidelines that apply to every repair order, from inspection to documentation […]

By Jo Haemer Soldering is considered an art by most jewelers. And many would also agree that within that art, one of the trickier skills to master is soldering bezel settings. Try the following tips when working with bezels: • When you’re trying to solder a bezel closed, is there anything worse than having it […]

Equipment maintenance guidelines Compiled by Shawna Kulpa You pride yourself on your pristine shop. Your equipment is laid out for maximum efficiency, your tools are stored in a logical, user-friendly manner, and you can monitor workflow effectively because you are so organized. But when was the last time you replaced your flex-shaft’s motor brushes? Or […]

The Ultimate Repair Guide Compiled by Shawna Kulpa and Tina Wojtkielo Snyder Ask a seasoned bench jeweler how many rings he or she has sized and they’ll probably give you a figure in the quadruple digits. The following is a compilation of tips and tricks to help you perform this mundane task better and faster. […]

The Ultimate Repair Guide: Three Techniques for Retipping Compiled by Shawna Kulpa and Tina Wojtkielo Snyder Prongs get damaged or worn out regularly, providing a steady stream of setting repair work for most bench jewelers. Setting repair may entail retipping or repairing prongs, or replacing the entire stone setting. When possible, jewelers usually opt for […]

Crafting a custom pearl necklace By Gregory Crawford “Your mission, should you choose to accept it…” I often recall those words from “Mission Impossible” as I approach a design project. The pearl necklace “mission” shown here presented some interesting and subtle challenges. The following are the client’s specifications for this understated but highly symbolic piece […]

Tips for making thin metal designs safe and strong By Charles Lewton-Brain When precious metal prices are high, it’s natural for jewelers to turn to thinner metals to keep their costs down. However, there are two issues to consider when working with thin metal: designing for maximum strength with minimal material, and dealing with the […]

By Shawna Kulpa When you’re working on a last-minute project, there are few things more frustrating than getting ready to solder a joint and discovering that your bottle of flux has dried out. When a member of the Orchid e-mail forum was facing this problem, he turned to the forum for advice on how to […]

By Shawna Kulpa Every jeweler’s had it happen: You get a ring in for repair, fix it up nice, and drop it in the ultrasonic for a quick clean. Everything’s going along swimmingly—until, that is, you pull the piece out and discover that it’s now missing several small stones. You look in the ultrasonic and, […]