Ways to keep pieces together in a tumbler from @genne_laakso, @lejewelrydesigns, @quiettimejewelry, @seaducedjewelry and @garrisjewelersllc.

@balancedcreations makes pickle from vinegar and salt and flux from borax and water. Includes vinegar and citric pickle recipes and a copper caution.

See how @susanfauman applies 24k gold keum boo accents to her jewelry using a hot plate.

A tip from @christynatsumi: polish small, hard to reach areas with a Q-tip loaded with any compound, adding or removing fluff as needed.

Learn how a Matt miter box and saw held in a vise cuts tube wax into even ring blanks in seconds, with less filing afterward.

A recipe to clean your tumbler with a vinegar and water run, then baking soda, plus how to rinse the barrel and store dry shot.

Learn to polish chain by pinning it to your bench pin and using 3M polishing papers, a cloth with compound or a Sunshine cloth.

@songan_jewelry shares a favorite flex shaft bur: an aggressive 2mm crosscut cylinder that textures metal and removes wax fast.

@facetsofmyself antiques chain with Black Max patina, a shot tumbler and a pink Sunshine cloth so it matches the pendant patina.

The monthly metalsmith challenge kicks off with a chain theme, with rules for joining in and examples from artists who played with scale and texture.

Why to save precious metal dust, collecting filings on clean black paper in a bench drawer, and a look at a precious metal collection box.

A tip from @fwatsondesigns: use champagne corks as file handles so your hand rests in a relaxed curve and tires less on long bench days.

2,368 Tips From The Community