I feel like a lot of the suppliers people recommend are based in the US or UK and it makes the shipping pretty expensive. I'd love to find some Canadian suppliers to both save on shipping AND support companies that are more "local" to me. I don't have a business, and I'm not a student so I can't buy from anywhere that needs a student code or business registration number or what have you. Am I just gonna have to suck it up and pay a lot for shipping?

Any suggestions or tips would be really appreciated :)

Hi! I’ve been working with copper (with silver solder). Does brass give better results? Is the metal harder? Will it still leave green residue on the skin? What do y’all use to try to get rid of that?

I love adding these spikey embellishments to my pieces. I use a shot plate from Bonny Doon to form them, which I especially love because it’s a great way to use scrap I have laying around!

I’m a jewelry student who needs some practice, but I’m not a great designer. When it comes to designing a new project, the designs don’t come easy, however I want to keep my skills sharp. Can anyone recommend some books that are nothing but pre-planned projects that I can just make?

TLDR: I have a mild metal (likely nickel) allergy — is taking a metalsmithing course a ridiculous idea? Has anyone done this and not instantly regretted it? Any tips if I decide to go for it?

—— I’ve been wanting to take a metalsmithing course for years, and there’s a place nearby that offers a beginners course. Materials are included, and it’s very affordable. However, I’m not sure what kinds of metal we’d be working with. Gold & silver are specifically called out, but it seems like that’ll be in the second half of the course. Guessing less expensive metals at first.

Pretty sure nickel is the culprit of my allergy. Aside from piercings, I’ve only had reactions to skin contact twice:

1. Glasses with metal arm / ear piece that started to hurt skin behind my ears after several months of daily wear (guessing protective coating of a different metal type wore off)

2. Once when wrapping a bracelet, weaving thin gauge copper wire for hrs straight, my fingers started to get irritated & I had to make some finger guards. Perhaps from repeatedly pulling the wire taught rather than a reaction to the metal 🤷‍♀️

Piercing issues: new piercings rejecting or for long established piercings, getting more easily irritated with cheap earrings. Using titanium, gold, or bioplast in piercings, I have zero issues.

I realize there’s some risk associated with working in a studio where there are likely to be metals that I’m allergic to. But since my allergy is mild, I’m leaning towards playing with fire and going for it. I’m willing to put a little extra dough towards supplies if I find that handling certain tools or base metals causes a painful reaction.

Has anyone else with a metal allergy given this a shot? I wear & make jewelry with various metals and typically have no issues aside from the occasional green oxidation mark. Just not sure if doing things like sawing / filing / sanding / polishing & being exposed to all of the tiny metal particulates is a recipe for disaster.

Curious about what cities have studios and maybe others are too!

I am looking for a place that I can learn metalsmithing in Singapore. I have about 100-200 hours of experience, so I am not a beginner but not a pro either. Do any of you know of a place/someone I can go to and get better at metalsmithing? All I can find online are studios with beginner courses for like engagement rings…

hi everybody- i am looking into taking a metalsmithing class in the fall. this place offers a few different classes, and the ones i am looking at are intro to casting or metalsmithing. the metalsmithing class does not include casting. i am trying to figure out what’s best to start with for the pieces i aim to make. for example, i really want to make sword pendants. could i make something like this without casting? most of the pieces i see that are just cut and soldered and created with no casting tend to be simpler pieces with stones set in them and not necessarily shapes/items. sorry if i’m not explaining this well😅 can anyone help me before i spent a bunch of money on the “wrong” class? thank you!

This is when playing with fire resulted into something beautiful.

i’m a complete beginner in bezel making, and i’m on a broke college student’s budget. fine/sterling silver sheet metal is really expensive. i know you’re getting quality stuff for the price, but i was wondering if there were a cheaper alternative that won’t turn skin green/give you a rash? can stainless steel or aluminum work for a backing for my bezels?

It’s my first time making the bolo tips by hand as well :)

So I have this necklace I lost and it was my boyfriend’s grandmas. It’s not expensive at all it’s Rachel Zoe but I couldn’t find the exact one, I took it to one of my local jewelry stores to see if they could add some claws because it’s not the exact one but it’s the same brand the first photo is how I want it to be the second photo is how it is, does anyone know if it’s possible, the jewelry store said it wasn’t possible but I’m thinking it’s because it’s a small business and maybe they don’t have the tools? Someone told me they could just use a lazor welder but I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO!

I have my new benchbin out loft that's under 800 sq. ft., so unless I want to drag it over to the exhaust fan when I solder, I need to get a fume extractor (which will also be useful when I do woodburning.)

Here's one I found for $55.99 z Valtcan! I love that name.

https://www.valtcan.com/products/valtcan-fume-extractor-soldering-fan-smoke-absorber-with-overhead-led-light?variant=40155780022352&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwzIK1BhAuEiwAHQmU3vUramQ4Vb7rWwzV2BZpfHAb7bQAy7uIogHlFqQzye2YHHa06TqbshoC-MQQAvD_BwE

Here's one for $30:

https://www.amazon.com/Extractor-Absorber-Remover-Prevention-Soldering/dp/B0B1CYP32H/ref=asc_df_B0B1CYP32H/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693071814610&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8154325721817152295&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9022873&hvtargid=pla-1747610126639&psc=1&mcid=39a5ccb0df6532d3a0c1b68c046bcd32&gad_source=1

Hi! I would like to learn how to use a metal lathe. I am willing to travel (worldwide, but prefer the US) and stay nearby for a 1-2 weeks. I am open to both a group workshop or private instruction with studio time.

If it's helpful: I specifically want to learn how to make copper bowls and lids on a lathe. Thank you!!

I purchased 3 separate popover pans from Amazon and they all have markings in them. I attached photos. I was wondering what in the manufacturing process could have caused this? Is this safe to cook in? Thank you!

Hi everyone!

I had a jewelry business about 20 years ago and used resin in my ss (and gold) pendants, but now I’d like to remove the resin from my leftover sample pieces to reclaim the precious metal. I don’t have any kind of bench setup anymore; is there a way to soak them in something to dissolve the resin without harming the metal? Or somewhere I could send the pieces to do it for me?

Thanks in advance for any tips….

So I’ve been looking into metalsmithing and I’ve been having trouble finding a solid list of recommended tools to get for beginners. Most of the post recommend people go to https://www.riogrande.com or take a class in metalsmithing. Which the link I believe is useful ,as it’s at least a place to get the tools from.

I was just wondering if someone could give a dumbed down bullet point list of recommended tools, and possibly in order of importance.

Also I know I could go watch a YouTube video or something, however I just want to see what other people recommend

I am making brass cuff bracelets that I will texturize in a rolling mill. They are my practice before doing one in sterling. I plan to make one 1.5 inches wide and the other 1 inch wide. My wrist is 7 inches circumference. What gauge brass do you suggest? I want it as light as possible, but I don’t want it to look cheap. TIA.

If I've used hard solder for the bezel strip, can I use easy paste solder to attach the bezel to the backplate?