Comments on: What Unofficial Jewelry Tools Do You Use? http://jewelry-business-blog.com/jewelry-making-tips/what-unofficial-jewelry-tools-do-you-use/ Jewelry Business Strategies by Jewelry Business Expert Rena Klingenberg Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:44:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jean http://jewelry-business-blog.com/jewelry-making-tips/what-unofficial-jewelry-tools-do-you-use/comment-page-1/#comment-20719 Jean Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:43:45 +0000 http://jewelry-business-blog.com/?p=232#comment-20719 Hey I just read the post on using an ice pick or awl to poke through jewelry cards. You can use a small drill bit in your fordom or dremel and drill a dozen or more cards at once. I bought 500 cards and in a few minutes my 12 year old granddaughter had them all drilled for me! Hey I just read the post on using an ice pick or awl to poke through jewelry cards. You can use a small drill bit in your fordom or dremel and drill a dozen or more cards at once. I bought 500 cards and in a few minutes my 12 year old granddaughter had them all drilled for me!

]]> By: Marnie Ehlers http://jewelry-business-blog.com/jewelry-making-tips/what-unofficial-jewelry-tools-do-you-use/comment-page-1/#comment-20673 Marnie Ehlers Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:46:41 +0000 http://jewelry-business-blog.com/?p=232#comment-20673 Wow, what great "tool" tips I have found on this post! Thanks Rena for the great topic. As a metal clay artist I use so many unofficial tools for texture and shaping. Cardboard, toys, just about anything. You can check out these things that I used and made a pair of fine silver earrings on my blog at: http://marnieismymuse.com/aliens-landed-in-my-studio-had-a-p-a-r-t-y/ Wow, what great “tool” tips I have found on this post! Thanks Rena for the great topic. As a metal clay artist I use so many unofficial tools for texture and shaping. Cardboard, toys, just about anything. You can check out these things that I used and made a pair of fine silver earrings on my blog at: http://marnieismymuse.com/aliens-landed-in-my-studio-had-a-p-a-r-t-y/

]]> By: Dita http://jewelry-business-blog.com/jewelry-making-tips/what-unofficial-jewelry-tools-do-you-use/comment-page-1/#comment-20554 Dita Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:48:30 +0000 http://jewelry-business-blog.com/?p=232#comment-20554 Some great ideas here, that I am going to mplement. I use medicine tube containers for bracelets, glue sticks ( instead of a mandrel) for making ear hooks, nail cutter for clipping wire - (this I learned from Rena's site, where she discussed what tools can be taken/substituted when you are air traveling). What else? Scotch tape to clean up small wire cuttings that can not be saved. A small magnet to do the same thing and be sure that those clippings are not silver! That's about all for now. Dita http://www.alankarshilpa.etsy.com http://www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com Some great ideas here, that I am going to mplement.

I use medicine tube containers for bracelets, glue sticks ( instead of a mandrel) for making ear hooks, nail cutter for clipping wire – (this I learned from Rena’s site, where she discussed what tools can be taken/substituted when you are air traveling). What else?
Scotch tape to clean up small wire cuttings that can not be saved. A small magnet to do the same thing and be sure that those clippings are not silver!
That’s about all for now.

Dita
http://www.alankarshilpa.etsy.com
http://www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com

]]> By: zoraida http://jewelry-business-blog.com/jewelry-making-tips/what-unofficial-jewelry-tools-do-you-use/comment-page-1/#comment-19855 zoraida Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:30:55 +0000 http://jewelry-business-blog.com/?p=232#comment-19855 So many great ideas here! I use empty Chinese food containers (the kind used for soups) for my beads. These are sorted by color. I have a marble rolling pin for a bracelet mandrel and sometimes for light hammering, metal crochet hooks in every size for making loops and jump rings, old toothbrushes for cleaning small spaces in jewelry, tiny paint brushes for applying Liver of Sulfur on links and for applying patinas. I'm sure I have a lot of other unconventional "tools" I haven't thought of. I repaired an iron patio table leg with brass wire where a screw had fallen off. Ah, we artists share so much ingenuity and resourcefulness! So many great ideas here! I use empty Chinese food containers (the kind used for soups) for my beads. These are sorted by color. I have a marble rolling pin for a bracelet mandrel and sometimes for light hammering, metal crochet hooks in every size for making loops and jump rings, old toothbrushes for cleaning small spaces in jewelry, tiny paint brushes for applying Liver of Sulfur on links and for applying patinas. I’m sure I have a lot of other unconventional “tools” I haven’t thought of. I repaired an iron patio table leg with brass wire where a screw had fallen off. Ah, we artists share so much ingenuity and resourcefulness!

]]> By: Lee http://jewelry-business-blog.com/jewelry-making-tips/what-unofficial-jewelry-tools-do-you-use/comment-page-1/#comment-9392 Lee Tue, 09 Nov 2010 22:34:15 +0000 http://jewelry-business-blog.com/?p=232#comment-9392 I am probably too late since my Internet has been out all day but loved the hints, esoecially the egg carton use for beads, etc. I have a cat who does strange things with my beads, findings, etc. and the other day, I found some beads in her little secret place, all in a neat little pile under my bed! Large prescription bottles make good mandrels for shaping bracelets, although I have learned to make the wire bracelet slightly oval when finished as it fits the hand better. Thanks for all. I am probably too late since my Internet has been out all day but loved the hints, esoecially the egg carton use for beads, etc. I have a cat who does strange things with my beads, findings, etc. and the other day, I found some beads in her little secret place, all in a neat little pile under my bed! Large prescription bottles make good mandrels for shaping bracelets, although I have learned to make the wire bracelet slightly oval when finished as it fits the hand better. Thanks for all.

]]> By: Cindi http://jewelry-business-blog.com/jewelry-making-tips/what-unofficial-jewelry-tools-do-you-use/comment-page-1/#comment-9378 Cindi Sun, 07 Nov 2010 12:17:02 +0000 http://jewelry-business-blog.com/?p=232#comment-9378 What a great topic! I appreciate the ideas. The main item I use is a worn out sewing machine needle. I have found that it is perfect for knotting between beads. It's very strong and won't bend when pulling the knot tight ( I work with glass pearls a lot) and I like the smaller size so that I can also use it as an awl if the bead hole needs to be widened. What a great topic! I appreciate the ideas. The main item I use is a worn out sewing machine needle. I have found that it is perfect for knotting between beads. It’s very strong and won’t bend when pulling the knot tight ( I work with glass pearls a lot) and I like the smaller size so that I can also use it as an awl if the bead hole needs to be widened.

]]> By: Karen http://jewelry-business-blog.com/jewelry-making-tips/what-unofficial-jewelry-tools-do-you-use/comment-page-1/#comment-9358 Karen Fri, 05 Nov 2010 02:40:50 +0000 http://jewelry-business-blog.com/?p=232#comment-9358 Thanks for the tips! I couldn't do anything without hemostats and alligator clips. Try those breakfast-in-bed trays for ergonomics (when sitting), with any kind of plastic tray, cork, pillow or hand towel on top. Use the cup holder for tools! Use old bulletin boards or pieces of cork board to pin each project in progress (they stack and protect!). Old ice cube trays to separate beads in. Old computer cable for copper wire. And I found it all in thrift shops or hardware stores! (And yes, fishing lures, especially flies, are so much like making jewelry it's funny. My brother ties flies, and the whole process is very similar! You should see the fancy boxes they have for those!) Thanks for the tips! I couldn’t do anything without hemostats and alligator clips. Try those breakfast-in-bed trays for ergonomics (when sitting), with any kind of plastic tray, cork, pillow or hand towel on top. Use the cup holder for tools! Use old bulletin boards or pieces of cork board to pin each project in progress (they stack and protect!). Old ice cube trays to separate beads in. Old computer cable for copper wire. And I found it all in thrift shops or hardware stores! (And yes, fishing lures, especially flies, are so much like making jewelry it’s funny. My brother ties flies, and the whole process is very similar! You should see the fancy boxes they have for those!)

]]> By: Angela Friesen http://jewelry-business-blog.com/jewelry-making-tips/what-unofficial-jewelry-tools-do-you-use/comment-page-1/#comment-9357 Angela Friesen Thu, 04 Nov 2010 23:56:35 +0000 http://jewelry-business-blog.com/?p=232#comment-9357 I use a pair of nail clippers to cut my tigertail. I've found that nothing else gets through the plastic cover or cuts as closely. I use a pair of nail clippers to cut my tigertail. I’ve found that nothing else gets through the plastic cover or cuts as closely.

]]> By: Lynn http://jewelry-business-blog.com/jewelry-making-tips/what-unofficial-jewelry-tools-do-you-use/comment-page-1/#comment-6526 Lynn Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:04:57 +0000 http://jewelry-business-blog.com/?p=232#comment-6526 Not exactly a tool, but I found the cheapest sectioned plastic "bead" boxes in the fishing dept of our local farm store - Big R. They're identical to what you pay big bucks for when labelled for craft projects. AND - the ones I buy even have a tarnish preventative incorporated in them. Fishing lures tarnish? How come this doesn't come from craft storage boxes? Not exactly a tool, but I found the cheapest sectioned plastic “bead” boxes in the fishing dept of our local farm store – Big R. They’re identical to what you pay big bucks for when labelled for craft projects. AND – the ones I buy even have a tarnish preventative incorporated in them. Fishing lures tarnish? How come this doesn’t come from craft storage boxes?

]]> By: Deborah Leon http://jewelry-business-blog.com/jewelry-making-tips/what-unofficial-jewelry-tools-do-you-use/comment-page-1/#comment-5990 Deborah Leon Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:28:49 +0000 http://jewelry-business-blog.com/?p=232#comment-5990 Well this topic is certainly hot!! It's fun and so a part of us all. I've use wood buttons and sponges to set my sea glass on while drilling in water. I've used pens, markers, pencils and barbecue scewers for shaping wire..I've even gone as far as taking down a rod iron plant holder for shaping. Very fun post! Fair Winds and Calm Seas, Deborah Leon www.mermaidspurseseaglass.com Well this topic is certainly hot!! It’s fun and so a part of us all. I’ve use wood buttons and sponges to set my sea glass on while drilling in water. I’ve used pens, markers, pencils and barbecue scewers for shaping wire..I’ve even gone as far as taking down a rod iron plant holder for shaping. Very fun post!
Fair Winds and Calm Seas, Deborah Leon
http://www.mermaidspurseseaglass.com

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