Jewelry Making

3 Responses

1. HOOK

   2010 Mar 07 1

   http://www.ehow.com/how_4689523_started-making-sterling-silver-jewelry.html

   Follow the above link, you should find answers there
   References :

2. Tinkerbell

   2010 Mar 08 2

   Heres what you need:
   Sterling silver jewelry findings
   Beads
   Precious metal clay (PMC) supplies/ sterling silver sheets
   Sterling silver wire, tubing, or sheet
   Jewelry making tools
   Jewelry making forms
   Jewelry supply organizers

   Heres how:
   http://www.ehow.com/how_2044320_make-silver-jewelry.html
   http://www.aaproducts.com/JewelrySterling.html
   http://crafts.suite101.com/article.cfm/make_fine_silver_jewelry_in_hours

   Helpful videos on jewellery making:
   http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_5073_make-own-jewelry.html
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YEI4p_a2Cs&feature=PlayList&p=711252D1F80B0ABF&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=35

   Hope i helped a bit,

   Thanks

   Tinks
   References :

3. Norm Jones

   2010 Mar 08 3

   Hello there,

   I started making handcrafted sterling jewelry to make money while I was in college many years ago. I no longer do the art show circuit, but I still make some pieces. Would be glad to answer any questions you have. I started working the kitchen in my apartment back at school.

   There are several basic techniques to making jewelry. You can cast the piece. You can construct it (soldering). You can forge the piece (hammering). I have done very little casting because I do not enjoy it. Most of the pieces I made and sold were either constructed or forged (or a combination of both). I especially enjoy doing forged pieces. I have always liked to hammer on things.

   For construction. The fundamental tools you need include:
   Wire cutting pliers
   Round nose pliers
   Flat billed pliers
   Some fine files
   A pair of metal shears
   A torch for soldering
   A pickle tank.

   The supplies you need include
   Flux
   Pickle
   Silver solder (easy medium and hard)
   Silver wire in various gauges
   Silver sheet
   Fine silver bezel wire
   A few cabochon cut gens

   A few notes, The pliers are not standard pliers in that the jaws are smooth. Common pliers have serrated jaws to grip. Those will mark the silver. The pickle process is to clean the fire scale from the silver after you solder it. Generally the pickle is an acid. Use only flux designed for silver work and the same goes for the solder. Any gas torch will work, but you need as fine a tip as possible. You do not have to have an oxygen torch. A simple butane torch like you find in hardware stores is good enough for most work. However, you will need to find a finer tip for the torch. The common soldering tip on those torches give too broad a flame.

   For forging you use a variety of hammers and an anvil. Those are the most basic tools. You take silver wire and hammer it into the shape you desire.

   I used to work mostly in turquoise back in the 70s. It was very popular back then. I like fire agates, but it is hard to find good quality cabs. I like the looks of opals, but they are fragile to work with.

   I have done a lot of small pieces, like earrings and necklaces using some beads or drilled turquoise nuggets. Other than the clasp for the necklace, those require no soldering. And you can always buy pre-made clasps if you want. I have also done some work with liquid silver and shell heishi. I have done some interesting designs in addition to the common string them on a thread necklace. Did a some interesting cuff bracelets that incorporated shell and turquoise heishi strands in the cuff.

   Not sure what else to say. As I said before, I would be glad to answer your questions if you have more. Either post additional information or feel free to contact me directly (link in profile).

   The of the more common places I have bought supplies for ,many years are Fire Mountain and Rio Grande Jewelry Supply.

   Fire Mountain

   http://www.firemountaingems.com/

   Rio Grande

   http://www.riogrande.com/default.aspx

   Later,
   References :