10
votes
Accepted
How can I smoothly flatten select parts of a wire design?
The flat parts of the wire are achieved by using a curved face chasing hammer and a hammering block. The chasing hammer has a slightly convex surface that makes those nice smooth transitions from the ...
- 551
9
votes
Accepted
Permanent Bracelet At Home
Possible? Probably
If you have an a soldering iron and some fine wire, you can make a semi permanent bracelet - I say semi permanent rather than permanent because the kind of soldering you do on ...
- 2,325
8
votes
Accepted
How do I get my jewelry wire to be the right stiffness?
There are three grades of hardness in jewellery wire:
Full-hard, which is tempered wire that is very stiff. It's rarely used, because it's just too stiff for most jewellery.
Half-hard, which is ...
- 661
7
votes
Accepted
Eliminating or mending breakage when working with jeweler's wax
As I recall there are grades of microcrystalline wax available in different hardnesses and melting temperatures, so do try others.
I have always used a moldable base to support detailed work. Pitch ...
- 351
7
votes
Accepted
Making a jewellery box - protection and lining
The normal way to do this is to use something soft inside the box to provide impact protection (usually foam), and then a layer of something over the foam to provide a more durable, scratch free and ...
- 2,325
7
votes
Can nail polish be used on jewelry?
When considering the compatibilty of coating materials, the intended use (jewellery) is less important than the base material. Nail polish/paint sticks well to some materials and not others. Without ...
- 6,594
7
votes
Accepted
What is a chopin chain?
The chopin chain is a type of rope chain in which every slightly twisted link embraces two others:
(source. click to enlarge)
Depending on the thickness of the links, the character of the chain can ...
- 10.4k
7
votes
Accepted
What is the name for this type of chain?
I am in no way a jewelry maker, or jewelry specialist. Mostly good at looking up information. Since art is in my field(of enjoyment), spent some time researching the types of chain that was described ...
- 1,771
7
votes
Is there an odorless alternative to hemp cord?
Alternate fiber
There are endless fibers available. Since you're using hemp, I'll assume you want to stick with a natural fiber rather than man-made (correct me if that's a bad assumption).
Since you ...
- 11.5k
6
votes
How do I get my jewelry wire to be the right stiffness?
Most of the wire I see in the stores today is mostly copper or something bonded to copper and it's usually dead soft. Here are some tips and tricks I have learned over time:
Hammering: A regular ...
- 551
6
votes
Looking for a springy thin wire to make earrings with
The look of it strongly reminds me of christmas tree balls. They even work according to the same principle.
Maybe you have some old christmas tree balls you don't like anymore or one that's broken. ...
Elmy♦
- 12.6k
6
votes
Accepted
Differences between silver jewelry alloys
Stainless steel ( assuming 316 ) is more corrosion resistant than silver and would not darken in air. Silver darkens with exposure to hydrogen sulfide ; yes I know there is "no" H2S around the home. ...
- 1,245
6
votes
Accepted
Issues in mixing brass with concrete?
Different metals have different issues. For example, aluminum is highly reactive with the alkaline concrete (the reaction is used to create foamed concrete). Iron rusts and decomposes all the way ...
- 11.5k
6
votes
Accepted
Attaching Pearls to 18k Gold Jewelry: Professional Techniques
As far as I know, glue is never acceptable in professional jewelry making, regardless of the materials used (usually, none of them are cheap).
In your case, I see two slightly different solutions. ...
- 1,768
5
votes
How can I make this necklace longer?
If you want it to hang vertically you will need to do a fair amount of reworking of the setting, this is complicated by any soldering runs the risk of damaging the stone.
If you just want to extend ...
- 1,979
5
votes
At a minimum what would I need to repair a fracture in a gold pendant?
In my jewelry making course way back in 2000, heating metal for soldering required actual flame... a torch. You wouldn't want to do this with the equipment you have at all. It's a totally different ...
- 3,496
5
votes
Accepted
Polishing a scratched Ruby
If the scratch is small enough but has discolored edges (like a scratched or chipped glass) then you could rub some vaseline or silicone oil over it to even out the light refraction.
If the scratch ...
Elmy♦
- 12.6k
5
votes
Accepted
What is the cheap (copper color) metal underneath items plated to look like silver?
It is indeed copper, but a cheap alloy instead of the chemically pure copper that's needed for high quality cables and circuit boards.
I cannot say exactly of which different metals it consists, but ...
Elmy♦
- 12.6k
5
votes
Accepted
Determine kind of jewelry
Some more observations that didn't fit into a comment:
The stones are certainly no precious stones. The color indicates glass stones. If you're willing, you could try scratching the surface in an ...
Elmy♦
- 12.6k
5
votes
Accepted
What is considered the most durable concrete for jewelry?
Mainly a terminology thing, but "concrete" wouldn't be used for jewelry. That term refers to a mix that includes large aggregate that's held together with a cement binder. On something ...
- 11.5k
5
votes
How can I tell what a silver band on a gold ring is made of?
If there is a jeweler or dealer around you that specializes in buying old gold, they should have a touchstone. That is a black, smooth stone on which gold objects leave a line if you rub them on it ...
Elmy♦
- 12.6k
4
votes
Creating food-safe silicone beads
You can use food grade silicon for casting as well as for making molds. What you need to look for is chocolate casting silicon. They are pretty expensive and there are plenty of manufacturers, but you ...
- 2,812
4
votes
Accepted
What clasps are used for closing lockets?
I did a Google search which led me to a Pinterest page called "Jewelry : cold connections : clasps, bails, lockets, hinges, rivets." Looking at the pictures led me to some potential search terms and ...
- 1,576
4
votes
What clasps are used for closing lockets?
I know what you mean about terminology being the key. My quick pop of research shows me that you might want to use "friction clasp" as the search terms, especially as a number of sites which return ...
- 7,231
4
votes
How can I make this pendant vertical?
Just thinking out loud here.
Rotate the pendant 90 degrees.
Solder hooks on the opposite side mirroring the two on the other side.
Add the new chain.
Attach the chains together with loops.
Done.
- 2,956
4
votes
Accepted
Durability concerns with damascus steel and rose gold ring
Former goldsmith here. I used to work with gold, a lot, but not so much with steel, and I never did damascus or mokume gane. From your question I'm guessing it may be the opposite for you ?
Before ...
- 156
4
votes
Eliminating or mending breakage when working with jeweler's wax
Is this to make a pattern for investment casting? If so, any wax or plastic (with no filler like Fiberglass) can be used.
When I worked in the industry they made patterns of paraffin wax and used ...
- 1,245
4
votes
Do you need a buffer to get a shiny finish on jewelery?
You could repurpose a carpentry drill, Dremel rotary tool, or even a makeup nail buffer to serve as a small buffer. Specialty bits are available for carpentry drills and Dremel which have the buffing ...
- 3,235
4
votes
Accepted
Do you need a buffer to get a shiny finish on jewelery?
No, you definitely don't need a buffer
Image from Wikimedia Commons
This gold belt buckle dates from the 6th century - long before buffing machines were invented. Finishing jewellery by hand is the ...
- 2,325
4
votes
How to make chewable silicone beads?
I've used a food grade silicone in the past that has the consistency of pudding. It is rather soft and very weak and would not hold up in the example you provide. I have used a more expensive silicone,...
- 7,231
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