A tip from @a.maria.designs: patina jewelry by sealing it in a container with freshly boiled, still hot eggs.

A roundup of chains made for the March metalsmith challenge and the announcement of the April theme, Tribute.

A tip from @arreisdesigns: test stamp patterns on aluminum tape over a soft surface to plan the layout before stamping silver.

Learn how urethane Tuff Break Film cushions work while stamping, lines vise jaws and protects a wax ring on the bench pin.

@jonmryan compares Alex Tools, Starrett and Euro Tool dividers and explains why a solid joint matters for precise small measurements.

@moraghickman made a customized clothespeg to hold short rods while rounding them with a file, saving her hands during production work.

A tip from @vancraftedstudio: hold a chain for polishing by wrapping it around a wooden mandrel.

A tip from @goldandjayejewelry: solder two round rods together to make an oval mandrel for jump rings and bezels, with bent arms for grip.

Flatten a simple ring band or wavy stamped pieces by placing them between two steel blocks and striking with a rawhide hammer.

@meritmade fixed a ball that fell off by soldering a ball to wire, drilling a matching hole and riveting the ball back into place.

A tip from @hannah.lynn.jewelry: wrap alligator tape around detailed metalwork to protect it from burnisher slips while setting stones.

@alastaircallumjewellery winds jump ring coils by chucking a drill bit backwards in a power drill and trapping a bent wire tail.

2,368 Tips From The Community