Rings & Things Jewelry Blog

Created by: Mollie ValenteDesigner TipsThe Complete Metalsmith (#62-011) provides a useful chart for selecting saw blades. Or scroll down to the comments section of our "Tips for Sawing Sheet Metal with a Jewelers Saw" blog article.Use rubber cement to adhere a paper Scottie dog pattern to the brass. Saw the design out. File the metal to shape.Repeat process with patterned brass heart.Use a soldering iron to add soft solder to the backside of the rhinestone chain and heart. Turn over, and place …

Created by: Polly Nobbs-LaRue   Designer Tips  Unspool approximately 26" of copper wire. Pull it smooth with flat nylon-jaw pliers.Trim the end neatly (flush) with flush cutters.Use ring-bending pliers to make as many equal sized coils as you can easily fit on the pliers.Using good flush cutters, snip each coil apart so you have identically-sized links. Carefully trim ends so the ends of the links line up flush. If you have any gaps, your solder join will not look good and will not be …

Created by: Polly Nobbs-LaRueDesigner TipsUnspool approximately 20" of copper wire. Pull it smooth with flat nylon-jaw pliers.Trim the end neatly (flush) with flush cutters.Coil the wire around a 14-20mm round mandrel, looping pliers, or bail-making pliers.Using good flush cutters, snip each coil apart so you have identically-sized links. Trim carefully so the ends of the links line up flush. If you have gaps, your solder join will not look good and will not be secure. (See copper soldering blog …

Created by: Rita HutchinsonDesigner TipsClean both parts with alcohol and allow to dry. Apply flux to key points on the back of the scarab, and then apply small dots of solder to these points using soldering iron.Add flux to the flat side of the money clip. Set money clip in pumice, arranging so that the top of the clip is level. Set the scarab on top of the clip in desired location.Using butane torch, concentrate the flame on the ends and edges of the clip. You want the clip to heat up to allow …

Created by: Mollie ValenteDesigner TipsSelect and clean two matching glass pieces.Select an image and cut it to match the glass shape and size.Carefully wrap the glass with copper-foil tape. To create a tight seal, burnish the foil to the glass (a Sharpie pen handle makes a great burnishing tool).To form hanging loops attach the crimp ends to opposite sides of the pendant's top. Jump rings can also be substituted.Flux the copper foil, apply a thin layer of soft solder over the entire copper surf …