Don’t forget freepost is now even easier, simply spend £50 or more and select ‘freepost’ in the delivery options menu – it’s as easy as that!

It's FREEPOST this weekend

Why not take full advantage of this weekends freepost and drop into our Hand Torch SALE with 10% OFF our 6 bestselling torches with prices starting at JUST £18. Click here  to enter the SALE NOW! 

10% OFF Hand Torches - ENDS Tuesday 3rd August

If your order doesn’t quite reach £50, click here for a few more suggestions which might just tempt you.

NEW Dremel Tools range at Cooksongold

We’re starting July with a bang with our spectacular 4 day freepost event. All UK orders over £50 will receive freepost – helping you save £££’s on everything especially our tools and machinery. Freepost expires on Sunday Midnight so what are you waiting for? Place your orders online NOW.

Claim FREE P & P this weekend

Claim FREEPOST this Easter

Don’t forget FREEPOST is now even easier, simply spend £50 or more and select ‘freepost’ in the delivery options menu – it’s as easy as that! We will then select the delivery method most suitable to your order. Click here for information on our couriers and their delivery times.

If your order doesn’t quite reach £50, here are a few more suggestions which might just tempt you!

Make sure you don’t miss out on these fantastic savings at Cooksongold. Click here to enter the Cooksongold SALE NOW! Click here now to receive further updates and information direct to your inbox including our latest freepost offers, new mini catalogue release as well as new product launches.   

Welcome to the Cooksongold January Sale

Click here if you have a question for the Cooksongold team, alternatively post your comments here

Friday 4th December – 35% OFF Starter Bench Pack
Saturday 5th December – 30% OFF Small Tool Box
Sunday 6th December – 10% OFF Disc Cutting Set
Monday 7th December – 25% OFF ALL Swarovski Crystal Bead Packs
Tuesday 8th December – 10% OFF ALL Pliers and Cutters
Wednesday 9th December – 10% OFF ALL Storage
Thursday 10th December – 10% OFF Barrelling Unit
Friday 11th Decmber – SURPRISE!!!
Saturday 12th – Christmas – Remember to keep checking back to the site to find out more!
(Please note the displayed offers expire 11/12 Midnight)

Cooksongold's Deal of the Day

If you missed Monday’s official Deal of the Day launch e-mail then click here to find out what fantastic offers we have in stall for you over these first 5 days. If you don’t already receive our weekly e-mails detailing all our daily offers, then click here to sign-up right away! Also, why not claim your FREE Christmas is Here mini catalogue packed with new products, perfect presents and stocking fillers!

FREE Mini Catalogue

Make sure you stay especially vigilant at the weekends as we will be hosting some suprise offers to make your Christmas online shopping that bit easier! Why not check out our first 5 days worth of daily deals below, but remember you’ll need to keep checking back to find out whats coming up for the remaining days before Christmas.

Fantastic Daily Offers

Monday 30th November  – 10-15% OFF Hobby Drill Kits
Tuesday 1st December – 15% OFF Starter Tool Kit
Wednesday 2nd December – 10% OFF ALL Gems
Thursday 3rd December – 10% OFF Art Clay & 5% OFF PMC
Friday 4th December – 35% OFF Starter Bench Pack
Saturday 5th – Christmas day – Remember, the offers just keep getting better in the build-up to the Big Day!
(Please notes these displayed offers will expire 04/12/2009)

In the meantime, why not check out our fantastic festive themed web pages full of incredible gift ideas including jewellery, kits, tools, clay, packaging and more…

Workshop Treats
Christmas Kits
Stocking Fillers Under a Tenner
Gifts Under £20
Top 10 Presents
Say it with Silver
Midas Touch
Finished Jewellery
Perfect Packaging
Creative Christmas
Christmas Reads
Tis the Season to be Red
They’ll be Green with Envy

FREEPOST is valid between Mon 21st – Wed 30th September! Don’t miss out, place your order online NOW! To help you reach that £50 limit here are a few suggestions on this weeks e-mail including our freepost favourite jewellery tools, jewellery making kits and machinery to maximise those P & P savings!

FREEPOST on ALL UK Orders Over £50

As well as the great savings available from our FREEPOST event, why not order yourself a copy of our latest ‘Student’ mini catalogue. This month’s catalogue features savings of up to 50% OFF selected best selling sterling silver findings, up to 25% OFF selected jewellery tools and up to 15% OFF our must-have kits. We also have a host of our rolling mills on special offer including our 80mm Durston Rolling Mills now ONLY £329.99! Why not take a look at this new catalogue in a convenient electronic flick book format.

Click here to share your thoughts on this post or ask the Cooksongold team a question

Thanks to everyone who took part, and keep your eyes peeled as there is another big competition in the horizon. Also, to further increase your chances of winning one of Cooksongold’s fantastic competition prizes sign-up today to receive our weekly e-mails including our top offers and promotions, great savings, new products and freepost events as well as those latest competitions!!!

Check out here what our extremely jealous forum members had to say on the news that Miss Tully had won our latest competition prize… Also, if your not already a forum member then what are you waiting for, register today and join over 400 jewellery professionals and enthusiasts online now for the latest industry news, information, hints and tips as well as the opportunity to make lots of new jewellery contacts as well as the chance to seek and share ideas and inspiration for your new pieces. If that wasn’t already enough, Cooksongold.com are giving away 20 mystery prizes to new forum members for simply posting comments on our NEW Jewellery Making forum, it’s as easy as that!

Filing is an essential technique in jewellery making, and although simple in concept following proven practices combined with the right equipment and tools, ensures the job becomes a breeze.

Filing precious metals
Filing is used in jewellery making to remove excess metal, even out surfaces, smooth or to shape, form and texture pieces.

The actual files come in a variety of shapes, grades/cuts and sizes. The shape of the file you choose will depend on the job you are completing i.e. flat files are used for straight edges or convex curves e.g. the outer edge of a disc, and curved files are used on concave curves – e.g. inside of rings.

The cut describes the arrangement of teeth and therefore the amount of material the file will remove and the surface finish it will leave. The most often used, and useful file is a medium cut 2 file, (cut 0 = course, Cut 4 = fine) this general purpose file removes material quickly, and leaves only light markings which can be easily removed. 

Common types of file types
In terms of types of file, both needle and hand files are the most commonly used in jewellers workshops.  The common shapes of file are Flat files – a general use file for use on flat surfaces and outside curves, Square files for use in grooves or inside angles, Three square files for tight angles and difficult to reach areas, Round files for inside curves, Half round files for inside curves, Knife files for limited access corners, Crossing files for inside curves, Safety back files ideal for tight angles as serrated edge are only on one side.

Hand files - Range of over 150 available

Fitting a file handle
Needle files have an integral handle; however hand files often require a handle to be fitted. To fit your handle place the file in a vise with the ‘tang’ (where the handle is fitted) pointed upwards, then heat the tang until red hot ensuring you direct the flame upwards. Push the file handle onto the hot tang allowing the it burn into the handle. Then tap the handle with a mallet until the handle is secure.

Filing techniques for a straight line
When filing ensure that the metal is secured, as an unstable bench peg/metal will lead to inaccuracies and mistakes.  When filing a straight line use long strokes, applying pressure on the forward stroke. Make sure that the file is level and that you watch the metal to ensure accuracy plus allowing the jeweller to continually assess the pressure/placement of your next stroke. When filing you should work at a steady pace, as an aggressive technique increases the chance of inaccuracy. Many jewellers mark there metal as a guideline to measure progress and to see where they need to file.

Filing techniques for curves (convex)
With a flat faced file place the file on the metal and push forward using a sweeping action that follows the curve, ensuring the file is level. Use marks to guide the filing process, and check the surface whilst filing.

Files – an essential jewellery tool
Skilled filing is a key technique that once mastered gives the jeweller great control over shaping metal and forming designs. However initially it takes practice, concentration plus a level of intuition to ensure accurate lines or curves are achieved.  A complete jewellery tool kit will include a full selection of files – both needle and hand, of all shapes and sizes and cuts, and become some of the most used tools at the bench.

FREEPOST is valid between Friday 26 June – Sunday 28 June, ends Midnight! Don’t miss out, place your order online NOW!

Click here to claim FREEPOST now