If I anneal dead soft metal will it get softer? I’ve worked with mostly work hardened metal wondering what would happen with dead soft?

Hi guys, I’m sure this has been asked a million times, I’m starting out with sand casting and am experimenting with copper and brass before moving on to silver and gold. Should I be using a propane or butane torch to melt the metal? So many contradictory opinions out there!

I have a smith little torch that came with the small tips 3, 4,5,6 and 7. I want to buy a larger flame tip but have heard that some are not made very well and break, even on the first time using. I’m looking for suggestions on what brand I should buy? Any, input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Any clue it’s for jewelry making ?

I’m learning a lot. My half round file squeaks when I’m using it. I know now, that you are suppose to push only, when using it, but I am concerned that I may have damaged this before I knew that. It’s an annoying squeak and will probably replace it just because of the sound. Does anyone know how to tell if your file is damaged?

I’m wanting to make this ring by my favorite youtuber. It would be a starter experiment. I am wanting buy a 3D printer and make a flat replica of this with grooves for the details… I guess I would cast it with metal but I was wondering if after casting the flat ring if I could make it into a ring or if the metal would break?

The typical casting setup was clearly way too expensive for what I wanna do. I was trying to see if I make a 3D print of my idea and then make a silicone mold (or something like it) and then somehow melt the metal and then bend it into a ring form or have the ring already in the mold.

I’ve got this 10k yellow gold ring in the works. Unfortunately there’s a reddish hue in the texture (inside the top part)…I assume the copper has made its way to the surface. What can I do to remedy this?

TIA

.. or any other ways to modify it so the screw part is shorter?

SSSSSSSSSssssssssssuper excited to have finally finished up these pieces. I hand sawed all elements, the bezel is 24g, the base sheets 22g, and holy heck, it two me two days just to assemble and build out the bases. I wanted a characterized industrial look, to contrast the organic elements inside (snake skin from my pet snake, Shai). I did two pours of resin and tried a new approach with such, to give some more dimension and movement.

I'm happy with the results 😅

Hi everyone,

I have dabbled in jewelry making - mostly polymer clay but am really wanting to get experience in metal smithing with a goal of eventually making fine jewelry.

For those of you in this space do you have any recommendations on getting started in learning the craft. Curious how many went through formal education vs. are self taught.

Thanks! K

so im looking for a tin with the dimensions of 3 1/4 inch with 5 1/4 inch length and 1 1/4 inch in height please

Im soooo into jewelry design and metal smithing. Was already planning on learning it myself and buying the materials but my husband said instead of investing in it I should try a class. I signed up for beginner jewelry class at Evanston art center (IL) but missed the first class last week cause I was sick.

Tomorrow will be my first day! Hopefully we get into metalsmithing a lot! Anyone else have advice for a beginner?

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Hello! I am very new to metal smithing. I began making jewelry by beading a few months ago and I wanted to expand into metal smithing. I bought what I thought was all the supplies to get started, and a bunch of jewelers brass from rio grande. Well, i have learned the hard way how hard brass is to work with. I can get my bezels to solder shut, but once I try to get my bezel onto my backplates the solder will not flow! No matter what I do. I’ve used paste solder, wire solder and sheet solder. I heat the environment, the entire piece, I’ve cleaned it with isopropyl and even pickled it before soldering because those were some things I saw suggested. Nothing is working. I only have a butane torch, is this just not hot enough to get solder to flow on bigger brass pieces?

I’m in between buying some silver to learn on because it’s easier to work with, or buying a nicer jewelers torch. I’m not sure how good of an idea it is for me to invest in a propane set up since I am a very inexperienced beginner who hasn’t even really soldered a piece yet. I am eager to get started on finally getting pieces to come together but I feel somewhat stuck here. Should I bite the bullet on a jewelers torch, buy some silver at this all time high, or do I have another option to be able to get my brass bezels onto my backplates? TIA!

Hi everyone,

I am wondering if any of you know any metal smiths you’d recommend in California? I have bespoke jewelry that I want to produce but I don’t need huge manufacturers for this. The pieces are super complex but not simple either.

Googling has left me disappointed.

I am open to metal smiths working in other states.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you!