From a rank beginner with an extensive gem collection. TIA! :-) Friday PS: I have several hard-cover books, but still lacking in some basic knowledge. PPS: Any back issdue scans of Wire-Jewelry (sic?) magazine projects MUCH Appreciated.

Thank you Peter for your stating of the obvious. Having been in a business that is plagued with people who steel ideas without any remorse for more that 20 years I know what it is like to have an idea taken and receive no remuneration. That business was the graphics and printing. Now I am doing...

damaged chuck probably binding motor--i have no tools or manual that come with it how do i replace collet?--from nose piece is removable by hand tia peter

I'm looking for a source for cuff link backs. I've searched here of course, but didn't see any posts (which is not to say they arn't there, just that I didn't see them). I'd like to order from a site that has pictures and such, not just written descriptions. Does anyone have any ideas for...

I've read that the density of metal alloys is related to castability (the ability to completely fill a mold). So, gold alloys which are much denser than silver alloys are more "castable" and will do a better job filling thin molds completely. Does anyone have any experience with that? PW

What is going on? How many hidden agendas do we have flying about in the newsgroup? (How's that for a mixed metaphor!) A cursory glance would suggest that we are being bombarded by a torrent of comments, replies and counter replies because someone who made a necklace, was pleased that they had...

I do fused glass and need a supplier of larger sterling bails that can glue or clip onto 1/4 thick glass in some way. Although I use the internet to find the current ones I now order, I was wondering if anyone knew someone starting out who would be interested in making them, or had seen a source...

I'm new to this newsgroup, hello. I'm looking for a good rock tumbler to burnish fired silver clay pieces. There are quite a few on the market to choose from. Anyone have an opinion or advice about these little machines? Vibrating or tumbling? Stainless shot or polishing grit? Help!

We have just installed a sand blaster in our Jewelry Class. The instructions clearly state not to reuse the "sand". I understood that it could be used again. We are using beads at the moment. Is there any situation when we can or can not reuse the abrasives? Thank you for any help. Norma (Please...

Good evening to all, and I hope that you had a great Christmas. As a hobby, I'd been doing centrifugal casting for a while, but I left the hobby for a few years and I'm now trying to re-enter it. I used to use a polysulfide molding compound (Smooth-On FMC-200), but I've had a very difficult time...

Hi all, I was curious if anyone here had ever attempted and hopefully succeeded at making their own frames for eyeglasses. Thanks.

I'm busy making a sculpture out of coins and after posting on rec.crafts.metalworking and alt.sculpture they gave me the idea to use silver solder. I have 6 months experience as a jewler so i'm not a complete newbie but i am abit rusty....below is a description i posted on both forums. Now i'm...

I'm trying to take some pictures of diamonds, and am having problems with the pictures looking very dull. I'm seeing the same problem with most of the diamond pictures on teh web: they lack sparkle. Does anyone have any tips to take good pictures of diamonds? I found this thread, which was very...

Hello All! I'm new to the group and thought I would ponder a question. What is a good resource for sterling silver findings? Other than Rio G, of course. Thanks for the advice, Ted.

This instruction video is an absolute must for anyone using large DeWalt power drills, or any other power drill for that matter. If you don't, this may happen to you! http://www.abrasha.com/misc/dewalt_tool_safety.htm -- Abrasha http://www.abrasha.com

Hey everyone, I have a number of diamond and sapphire rings that I am pretty religious about cleaning. Last night, I had this wild idea and I want to hear the opinions of you all. I boiled some water in a pot and tied a few rings to a grill that straddled the top of the pot (the rings were not...

Hello, My January silversmithing class which meets between Loveland and Fort Collins, Colorado still has 5 spots open. This coming month's class will be starting on January 10th, and goes for 5 weeks, one night a week for 4 hours. Students finish 4 projects in this time frame, including two...

Greetings to all the Casters out there, It seems that all the ingredients required, except for de-bubblizer, are now assembled for my first lost wax casting in years. When I did this before all my castings came out well. This was because of the good instruction and equipment available at the time,...

This may not be the right place to post but I can't find any other jewelry groups. I got a locket for my wife for christmas. I'd like to put a picture of our daughter in it. I hace the picture cut out to the right size the problem I'm having is how do you put it in the locket so that it...

Hi, Does anyone know of a jeweler (or craftsperson) in Vancouver, BC, Canada (anywhere in the lower mainland), that can cast stainless steel for me? Thanks in advance, Leah