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Well, as some of you may know, my silversmithing studio is set up and on the go!
It took me a few weeks after my course to finally get all the bits and pieces I needed – but here it is, finally!
Okay, it looks a mess – and is also surrounded by the garden stuff! Here are some close-ups…
Here is my soldering torch – with the small nozzle attached at the end.
Here is the soldering station – with ceramic heat block, my soldering tweezers, flux and brush…
And here is the pickle – the metal goes in here after being soldered to remove the flux and any fire-scale – I have the jar in the pot so I can pour hot water around it to heat the pickle – it makes it work better!
I sourced my tools and materials from Peppertown Gemworld, House of Jewellery, A & E Metals (get most of my metal from them – awesome service and usually next-day-delivery!), and Bunnings.
One lesson I learned straight away – don’t rely on a little hand-held torch to solder. I tried one, and while cute, it just didn’t have the heat.
I got my soldering torch head (a small and a medium, too), handle, and tube from Bunnings. I am using our little BBQ and camping gas tank at the moment, as I don’t yet have an adapter for our big gas tank.
I went mad making things this weekend past – here’s just a selection…
Circle Ring
Single Stacker Ring
Infinity Ring
Set of Stacker Rings
I’m hoping to do a how-to post soon to show you the process of making a ring, so you can find out all the steps involved.
I also made this – but not totally happy with how the soldering went – my most complex thing so far, as it involved multiple soldering steps – a three-metal circle pendant…
So, there’s the smithing journey so far!!
If you’ve got any questions, feel free to send them my way in the comments!
LOVE the look into your studio! Oh wow… I wish I could work with metal. No idea what I’d do, but I’d love to fool around and great a big chaos! 🙂
That looks like so much fun, I think i would be divorced if I started anything new though
Haha Carmel – mine is marrying me in September – but he knows what he’s letting himself in for…
And yes, I absolutely love it! And Kreativ – I feel the same about your bookmaking – looks so gorgeous! But I think I’d better stick to one thing at a time… lol…
lovely finished jewellery and gery to see your crafty space too!
There’ll be no stopping you now! Looks like a great set up – hope you have lots of fun in your new space!
ooooh so jealous jess! i miss my soldering – my iron got lost in the renovation… and i have no place to do it.. can’t wait for things to be finished so i can start again – in the meantime i intend to totally live vicariously through you!
Lovely work – especially the stacking rings!!
Wow! It’s fascinating to see what kind of tools you use in your smith-ing! 🙂
I love your infinity ring- and the initials necklaces in your etsy- gorgeous!
Thanks everyone – and Ange, live vicariously, by all means!
You seem to have found your niche there Jess!! They are great!
/WOW I love your studio. I am in the dreaming stages of my silver fusing area. Hopefully it will look as good as yours
Love your information on jewelry making. For the brass/copper/silver ring necklace did you buy brass wire? Thanks
Hi Nancy,
Yes, I used copper, brass, and sterling wire to make that necklace. I believe it was 1.5mm wire.
Thanks for your comment!