Trick Out Your Jeweler’s Saw: An Old-School Tool Can Do Double Duty
Out of all my hand tools, my jeweler’s saw is the one I have owned the longest and love the most. Sawing is one of those tasks that calm, center, and typically delight me –…
Gesswein Tool Tips
The Goldsmith’s Hammer: An Essential Bench Tool for Every Jewelry Maker
In addition to a good-quality chasing hammer, every jeweler’s bench should be equipped with yet another indispensable utility hammer: a goldsmith’s hammer. This classic, all-purpose tool is designed for fabrication and general jewelry-making tasks, and…
Gesswein Tool Tips
Abrasive Cords and Tapes: “Old School” Tools that Changed My Life
When I first discovered Mitchell’s Abrasive Cords and Tapes (1020999) from the Gesswein Tool Catalog, I felt as if I’d stumbled upon a stunning hidden treasure that no jewelry maker I knew had ever seen,…
Company News
In Remembrance: Americo Modesto Rebelo
September 14, 1962 – December 13, 2021 It is with great sadness that we announce our beloved Expert Technician, Americo Modesto Rebelo, recently passed away in his home on Monday, December 13th at age 59.…
Gesswein Tool Tips
Abrasive Papers: Smooth Jewelry Surfaces for Maximum Wearability
In my Intro to Jewelry and Metals course more than two decades ago, the first tools I ever made were a complete set of handmade sanding sticks. I’ve used that set ever since and changed…
Gesswein Tool Tips
Hand Files: When Your Jewelry Deserves a Fine Finish
Early on in my jewelry making career, I primarily wanted to visualize an idea and work hard to make it real, so I rarely brought anything I’d fabricated to a final finish. When I got…
Gesswein Tool Tips
Drill Bits: A Fabrication Necessity for Many Tasks
Up until recently, nearly every piece of jewelry I made featured a rivet somewhere. Drilling holes in metal, glass, stone and other jewelry materials is a way of life for me, so I consider myself…
Gesswein Tool Tips
Plier Basics: Four Types of Pliers You Can’t Work Without
Every year, dozens of new jewelry-making plier styles hit the market and much like seasonal fashions, it’s always so tempting to buy a few new trendy or different pieces to hopefully augment the classics you’ve…
Gesswein Tool Tips
The Chasing Hammer: An Essential Tool You’ll Use Every Single Day
When performing those everyday jewelry making tasks like tapping, riveting, texturing, stamping, and . . . um . . . chasing, a really good utility hammer quickly becomes one of those often-reached-for and most-used hand…
Gesswein Tool Tips
The Jeweler’s Saw: An Everyday Essential for Every Jewelry Maker
By Helen I. Driggs It’s no secret that a jeweler’s saw is one of the most – if not the most – important tools you’ll use over the course of your jewelry making career. Choosing…