Learn to keep track of polishing bits by taping their chart at your bench or color coding them with nail polish.

A tip from @metalsmithsinflorence for annealing gold wire with a bushy flame at 45 degrees, and why the Sharpie trick is a myth.

An invitation to join my email list for promos and a free beginner download, so we can stay in touch beyond Instagram.

Learn why a craft heat gun is the quickest way to release a piece from Thermoloc, and when a warm ultrasonic is not a good idea.

A tip from @crazyhorseclassics for filing 90 degree corners with the metal held in a vise padded with cardboard or leather.

A tip from @millathegoldsmith for filing several pieces like tube settings to the same height by gluing drill bits beside them as stops.

Learn to add gold jump rings to an oxidized silver chain with a pulse arc welder without melting them, including the power setting I used.

Learn to cover a whole piece in thermoloc in a ball vise so a large bail or backplate is protected while you set and polish the bezel.

Learn to free a broken steel drill bit by soaking the piece overnight in pickle or alum, then neutralize and discard that contaminated pickle.

A tip from @margauxlangejewelry for holding a torch at the soldering station with a metal broom holder mount from the hardware store.

Learn ways to prep copper for a first enamel firing and deal with fire scale, using a tabletop kiln from @pmcsupplies.

A wax ring sizing tip from @thelittletansy, tested with safety cautions, plus why to leave the ring about a quarter size small.

2,368 Tips From The Community