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…
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 –…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
We could not be more excited to announce our new Gesswein Tool Tips series with metalsmith, teaching artist, and author Helen Driggs. It’s easier to list what Helen hasn’t done. She was the Senior Editor…