Jewelry Making

5 Responses

1. Katherine Lynn A

   2010 Feb 21 1

   This depends on how far you you wish to take the craft. If you wish to create truly original work you will need to lay out a great deal of money on equipment, (a rolling mill alone costs in excess of £1,000). If you only wish to string a few beads together you will get away with a less outlay.
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2. metblondie222

   2010 Feb 21 2

   i have some pointed rounded pliers, they virtually do everything, twist bend and cut, bought them from a craft shop, saves on buying tons of tools
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3. crusha03

   2010 Feb 21 3

   not really sure Hun!
   But I’d start with…a small set of pliers for crimping clasps together,Needles for threading & maybe a small hob-biers vice so you’ll have a free hand!!

   Sorry can’t be more helplful but it might start you in the right direction.
   x
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4. the_happy_green_fish

   2010 Feb 21 4

   Not much really…you don’t say what type of jewellery you’re making, I assume it’s the wire and bead type?? Myself, I use a pair of long needle-nose pliers, another pair of thicker pliers, and a pair of wire cutters. With regards to pliers, make sure you get some without ridges on the inside, as these make big dents in the wire (I learned this the hard way!).

   Again depending on your jewellery, a soldering iron can be very useful, but if you won’t need to solder anything then there’s not much point.

   My most handy piece of jewellery-making kit is a flat piece of rectanguar wood with lots of sticks of metal hammered into it (nails with the tops cut off) at regular intervals. This can be used to make elaborate metal designs to use as pendants, or to make loops in the end of jewellery to finish it off. You twist the wire around the metal sticks, so you can get it as tight as you want, and then pull it up over the top. (Hence the no-headed nails.) It’s kinda hard o explain, you can buy them but I just made my own. Most big craft fairs have a stall with them if you go looking.

   And a large tray (preferrably non-slip) with lips on the sides so that all your wee bits don’t slide onto the floor! That’s all I use and it works for me! If you go to your nearest craft shop and ask they’ll have plenty of ideas and tools, but most of them are unnecessary and you can get on fine without them. Best of luck and I hope they sell well!
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   Been making jewellery for toooooo long!

5. Jojo

   2010 Feb 21 5

   If you’re looking at the acrylic and lucite, the best way to make these professionally is through a laser cutting company such as:

   http://www.LovebitesandBruises.com

   You can try cutting them DIY with a sharpie and a thin sheet of acrylic, but these will come out jagged and will bend/break easily.

   It seems a site like this would exactly what you are looking for as they laser cut and engrave your designs and mail them to you for a low price. You can then resell your designs through their website, Myspace, LiveJournal and ebay.

   A lot of the kids on Myspace etc. use them as well, and there is an entire community forum with tips and tricks to making and selling DIY jewelery, where you can get more help.

   Best of luck!
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