I am looking for some advice concerning an engagement ring with a rub-over setting, I hope this is an appropriate forum. As will quickly become apparent I know zip about jewelry, so apologies in advance. Background: 4 years ago I bought an engagement ring for my (now) wife. 3 months ago the...

Ah....... Peter Your monologue in your last post on using hammers says a lot more than the words. I suspect you really enjoy using the hammers you have perhaps more than the other work you do. I certainly use the hammer more than any other tool despite having just about every other metal working...

I sort of barfed up my first chain by pulling it through a too small hole in my draw plate. It is kinky, uneaven and not as pretty as it was. I am trying to open it up again and make it nice but not sure I am getting anywhere. For my next effort, I would like some opinions before I start another...

So I'm making a piece with FS pins in a Sterling body. What I'd like to do is darken the Sterling to make the pins stand out as shiney vs. dark. Would the chemicals for darkening silver(the scary stuff with HCL and Teleurium) do that, or will it all turn black? Aaron

Hi Everyone, I'm a goldsmith at the beginning of my way (just finished design studies). During my studies, I welded with soldering sheets and wires, silver & gold. I've heard there's another way of doing this-by using soldering paste. I'd like to know in what cases you use it and what are the...

Hi Heather I have just read you message, in the news group. I am a designer jeweller, and might be able to help with the things you are trying to do. You can melt silver and gold quite easily with a small crucible and a hand torch, as long as you don't try to melt too much at once. Put the...

Hi, I am just starting out, and I am most interested in making all sorts of sterling silver chains. I have practiced making links using copper wire and I have sterling silver wire and I'm ready to start on that. In the books I have read, they say to use an adjustable Jeweler's saw with #0 blades...

Hi, I'm a glassmaker, I make hand polished "stones" out of barium crystal and dichroics. I'm looking for a Thai or Bali company to fabricate silver settings for me in precise dimensions. If there is anyone out there who is associated with, or knows of such a company, please email me...

For those of you who are interested in Arts and Crafts in the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire, you might want to check out the new webpage for the Lebanon Art and Crafts Association at http://www.lebanonartandcrafts.org. Garry

Just became engaged with my sweety, and together we have collection of seven rings (mostly 14 carat) we want to convert using these as material for two new wedding rings. Is this something that can be done? And if so, how do I go about finding someone who can do? I live near downtown Los Angeles,...

I didn't get any answers last time, but I'll try again. Anyone doing polishing with small drum polishers, and what are the results like, and what polishing mediums do you use? -- William Black ------------------ Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of...

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New comer to this newsgroup. Good luck Balachandra Depetris Tel. +1 843 375 6928

I've been hand polishing brass and copper stampings for a particular line I am working on. The goal is to have some interesting design but to have it *very* affordable (in the $20-$30 range). The polishing is making the process take much too long for the price I'm aiming for. I'd like to...

I don't really know much about rings, but I suddenly had the urge to go out and get one, and I know exactly what I want. I'm male, and I thought it would be really cool to have a single, fairly thin deep blue band. It could be all one material or, better yet, metal inlaid with some glass or stone...

What a fun learning experience! Right up there with learning to fly. Today I produced 29 inches of 20 gage silver wire that is indistinguishable from what I received from Rio in the same shipment as the drawplate. I made some serious modifications to a JSP MALTMILL and with the helpful advice...

I'm trying to find commercial jewelry designers (even high-end ones) who go out of there way to use gems and metals that are mined in environmentally responsible ways. Does anyone know of any, or have a suggestion for where I can start looking? thanks.

When I cast sterling, I get this heavy copper oxide on top of the buttons and the ingot of left over metal. Should this be removed before reusing? Like grinding most of it off. js -- PHOTO OF THE WEEK: http://schmidling.netfirms.com/pow.htm Astronomy, Beer, Cheese, Gems, Sausage,...

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Is there something different or unusual about repaining rose gold rings? I have an old rose gold ring with a crack in it. I have taken it to several jewellers is my area but nobody is willing to do the repair. Can you help? Thanks, slawdog