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Author: Helen Driggs

Helen is an experienced metalsmith, lapidary and studio jewelry instructor who has appeared in 6 instructional jewelry technique videos. Her latest book, Metal Jewelry Workshop, was published in 2017. Follow Helen for news, her teaching schedule, and other jewelry-related information.
Gesswein Tool Tips

So, Tell Me About Those Edges: Professionally Finished Surfaces Can Step Your Work Up a Notch

February 7, 2022 by Helen Driggs

When most jewelry makers start out in the craft, professional results and finishes are often just out of reach. But cut yourself some slack. It’s very difficult to achieve a perfect design, perfect fabrication, and…

Gesswein Tool Tips

Trick Out Your Jeweler’s Saw: An Old-School Tool Can Do Double Duty

January 24, 2022February 3, 2022 by Helen Driggs

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

January 10, 2022January 21, 2022 by Helen Driggs

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

December 27, 2021January 21, 2022 by Helen Driggs

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,…

Gesswein Tool Tips

Abrasive Papers: Smooth Jewelry Surfaces for Maximum Wearability

December 13, 2021January 21, 2022 by Helen Driggs

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

December 1, 2021January 21, 2022 by Helen Driggs

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

November 15, 2021January 21, 2022 by Helen Driggs

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

November 2, 2021January 21, 2022 by Helen Driggs

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

October 18, 2021January 21, 2022 by Helen Driggs

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

September 23, 2021January 21, 2022 by Helen Driggs

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…

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