Working with precious metals is an exciting and rewarding process, but it can also be daunting if you’re just starting out. One of the most step is choosing the right tools. With so many options available, understanding what’s essential and what’s optional can save you both time and money. Here’s a guide to help you […]
Do you frequently use polymer clay in your jewellery making? And find that you’re a little tired of the moulds you re-use time and time again? For a fresh take on your polymer clay pieces, consider learning how to make your own silicone moulds for polymer clay pieces at home. This will give you a […]
Successful silver soldering can be the key to a wealth of creative opportunity once mastered, and there’s a range of different methods that can be used to create a strong join. Regardless of which particular soldering techniques you favour, the basics of good soldering remain the same. So here is a quick reference list for […]
In this article we cover the best tips and information on how to use a barrelling machine for polishing jewellery and precious metals. What is a tumble polisher/barrelling machine? Barrelling machines (regardless of size) consist of a container with a removable lid. This is then filled with a mixture of steel shot and water plus […]
Whether you regularly work with sheet metal or are you just discovering different metal forming techniques, this guide to using metal working hammers will give you all the details you need to start taking advantage of metal working hammers available for forming and forging metals such as sheet, wire and rod. Metal Shaping Techniques Before […]
Making precious metal jewellery? Silver is a popular choice – but now, so is Argentium. They may look similar in colour, but what is the difference between Argentium and sterling silver? Argentium silver vs. sterling silver What is Argentium silver? So what is Argentium, and why was it created? Argentium is one of a new generation […]
Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Welding process enables a wide variety of welding processes to be carried out easily and reproducibly. It enables you to weld noticeably better and faster, freeing up more time for you to be able to dedicate to creative design ideas. Here’s how investing and using a TIG welder could help improve […]
Enamelling is the technique of coating a metal surface with enamel. The enamel is a layer of melted glass that, once heated, will fuse to the metal surface, leaving you with a professional finish in a colour and effect of your choice. Most enamels come in powder form and, when heated and fused to the […]
Using headpins and eyepins for jewellery making is an essential skill that, once mastered, will help you create a number of designs with minimal effort. Forming wire loops using headpins and eyepins is primarily to secure beads into place, but they don’t just have to be functional. A simple method can be used to make […]
by Nicky Moxey If you spend any time playing with wire, you’ve almost certainly got a favourite wire cutter. I had three – one of which I admit was stolen from my husband’s toolbox! Then along came the Xuron Jewellers Cutter Kit. I also acquired the Xuron Four-in-one Crimper with Chain Nose Pliers at the […]
In our final installment of this beginner jewellery making tools series of blogs, we walk you through the tools of the trade you’ll need to refine and finish your latest precious metal projects. There’s nothing quite like coming to the end of a long jewellery making project and reaching that rewarding stage of There’s nothing […]
Build out your workbench step by step… In this series of blogs for beginner jewellers, we’ve been helping you piece together the tools you need to be fully equipped to become a professional, from basic workbench essentials to filing tools and polishing techniques. We hope you find this latest instalment useful – it’s all about how to […]
Build out your metalworking bench step by step… Welcome back to our series of blogs exploring beginner jewellery making tools and the techniques you need to develop in order to become a pro-jewellery maker. In the last installment we looked at the 12 metal forming tools you need as a beginner. This instalment is all about popular […]