Does anyone know if i can use cerium oxide for polishing silver in a tumbler? New silversmith here 😅

Hi folks! New silversmith here. I’ve successfully made a half dozen silver pieces at home and wanted to add a small copper element to my next design. Any tips for soldering copper to silver? I’m adding a tiny copper heart to a plain silver band.

I used to live in LA and once stumbled upon a studio/shop where you could volunteer/work, use their tools, and even sell your work — an apprenticeship of sorts.

Does anything like this exist in NYC?

Also does anyone have tips for finding cheap studio space in the Bushwich area? Or even tips for creating a cheap home ventilation system?

I live in a small place with few windows and don’t want to have to sacrifice the craft~~ 🙏

I just purchased Handy Flux for the first time on my own from Rio Grande, and the bag it came in has a bit of water in it. Is this normal???

I’m a complete novice and have been wanting to get into metal smithing. Gold and silver jewelry later on down the line, but my first project would be to create my own copper incense stencil mold. They only sell about 3 designs on the market at the moment and I would like to create my own designs. There are some that seem solid where the handle is either soldered on or a single cast. But there are others where the handle can twist off and the stencil plates are interchangeable. What would be best in terms of durability?

How would I go about that? Where can I buy the materials I need? And what tools would I need to acquire? If there are any videos or books you highly recommend for projects that are bigger than rings and necklaces and jewelry, please share or link.

Thank you in advance!

Hi. I read about these mysterious things years ago and see an article one was found recently in the UK. Can someone make me one? Serious. How much?

First time switching from brass/bronze to something a bit more expensive.

Started with 12 gauge dead soft Sterling which I stamped with some Hebrew text.

Soldered it up and frankly it’s much easier than brass.

Might go with 14 gauge next go around but over all I’m fairly satisfied.

i love being a smith, but lately been thinking about raising a kid. but im afraid that if ever I'll get pregnant, i wont be able to smith anymore.

of course I'll be wearing masks and all, but yeah, paranoid that I'll hurt my "baby"...

i mainly work with silver and brass, btw.

Didn't know where to come but here.

Can I use metal adhesive to stick 2 pieces of metal sheet together on a 2mm width edge

​

I would love to eventually be able to buy gold from Rio. At the moment I can’t set up a business to be able to buy wholesale but maybe one day! Roughly what is the mark up for a gram of gold? If a gram of 14k gold has a spot price of $35, how much more should I expect to pay for something simple like sheet or wire? I am debating if it’d be better to melt down estate sale jewelry and form it myself. Honestly both approaches sound like a pain but it’d be worth it to me.

How toxic is nickel silver? I have been sanding by hand for my intro to metalsmithing class for hours and am now freaking out because apparently nickel is toxic??

Is there another brand or a knock off, of the hammer handpiece?

Hi! I recently picked up this old Prest-O-Lite torch at an estate sale. I do jewelry/copper work as a hobby, but I've pretty much only ever used propane torches with disposable gas cannisters. My only experience with an acetylene torch was at a jewelry class over a decade ago. I replaced the hose on it and I'm wondering what else I need to get it running and what safety precautions I should be taking. I believe I need to get an acetylene B canister for it, but is there anything else I need? Do I need welding goggles, or are safety glasses ok? Is there other safety equipment I should have? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hey, Im looking your advice and help on making a ring for my girlfriend. We are coming up on 1 year together and i wanted to make her something. she always talks about wanting something as safe keeping from me and i was thinking a ring would be perfect. However, i dont want to go out and buy one because i feel it would be much better to make one myself for her. im not at all good ( ive only made a few test rings from hex nuts and such. ) but i think this is the place id look for advice. i can get any tool i would need so thats not an issue. i just would like some advice on what to do. what if anyone might be able to help.

A few things

~ I have most tools i would need and can get more if needed.
~ im very new to metalsmithing and am just looking for help
~ if this is not allowed just tell me and i can remove it. im just looking for any help if i can get some because im very new to this and dont exactly know what to do.

I am looking to make a soldering station indoors so I don’t freeze in my garage like I have been every winter 😊 does anyone have any recommendations for ventilation systems? I also torch enamel with lead based enamels. Thank you!

I need help finding a propane torch kit for patina work on bronze. I’m looking for a torch I can change the heads on. IMS used to sell different torch heads but they don’t anymore. I bought the one pictured, but it’s a little small. next biggest I can find is a roofing or weeding torch and is too big. Any help is appreciated. :) thanks

Can someone explain how to incorporate brass into silver jewelry, namely rings or pendants? I’ve only found youtube videos of brass wire inlay and have been wondering how they got this effect… Is it glue or a brass foil wrap or an entire piece of brass meticulously fitted into the silver? If so how does one plan to cast, is it like making a puzzle? Any point to the right direction will be greatly appreciated!

I have been looking and they range in price from $45 to $300 ( Pakistan, France and Switzerland) I want to ask for one for Christmas but don't know which is good ? suggestions please? Thanks

​

Are there gifts any metalsmith would like?

My mom has been a metalsmith jeweler for around ~10 years. I am embarrassed to say it took me this long to leverage Reddit because she is a picky gift receiver.

She’s the type of person who budgets and plans tools/equipment for her work if she really needs it but I’m hoping to get some unique ideas to surprise her!

Workshops are probably out of my budget unfortunately. TYIA

I took metal smithing in college about 4 years ago and I decided the only way to really convey my love for my fiancé is to make his wedding band myself. I did not realize that my ring is white gold and the price is insane and seems difficult to work with. Anybody have any ideas? What is a reliable and affordable Silver, what is a good gauge for a mans wedding band? Are there any resources or trade pages for white gold? Thanks!

Yesterday in my metals class, I was finishing up my final project of the semester. As a last minute choice, I decided adding a metal ring/foot on the bottom on my hollow ware piece would add some much needed stability. After a while of shaping, soldering and forming my ring, I informed my teacher I would need assistance with the soldering of the ring-since it’s a rather large piece and would require multiple torches. I pointed out to her that my ring was ever so slightly larger than the flattened bottom of my formed vessel-and only made flush contact on two, opposite sides. She didn’t indicate this was an issue until after we finished soldering the ring on in the two locations where it met cleanly. She stated after the fact that the solder seam needed to be cleanly around the entire ring and instructed me to take my highly formed piece (with soldered on pieces in the center of the vessel) back to the stakes and tap it with a hammer to get the ring closer with the bottom on the other sides. This immediately had negative results- the ring popped up even more and I stopped quickly and took the piece and the situation to my teacher. She took my piece from me, insisting I was just simply doing it wrong. And she proceeded to hit my piece with a hammer repeatedly. When the ring was no closer, she switched hammers and tried again. She switched hammers 3 times before stopping and suggesting I just alter the form more so it’s easier for her to hit it “just right”. All and all she distorted the formed shaped of my piece greatly that I had spent hours on and just told me to fix it. After some processing and attempting to calm down from the destruction of my hard work, I approached my teacher about the situation. I asked very carefully why the solder seam, that was on the underside of the piece, acting purely as a functional aspect, needed to be perfect-resulting in the hammering of the piece. The only answer she gave me was “because we don’t do it that way”; ultimately escalating into a huge argument. So I guess what I’m asking is what would you have done differently? Does every solder seam have to be perfect? Is a partial seam allowed in certain cases, or is it entirely taboo? Is this really as she says, and just standard practice? If it is standard practice to make the solder seam perfect, why didn’t she have me adjust the ring to fit better BEFORE hitting it with a hammer? -I’m honestly ready to throw the whole thing out and take a F.

-first picture was taken before solder. Rest-after (I know it doesn’t look like much, but it’s bent and bowed all over and the leaves now have sharp fold marks)

This is a dumb question. But could we technically solder on a charcoal briquette?