What makes handmade jewelry so different from mass-produced? Learn about the different types and some of the techniques for each one.

Handmade Jewelry Techniques

Curious what makes handmade jewelry so different from mass-produced? Learn about the different handmade jewelry making techniques.

Have you ever had your solder just ball up and refuse to flow or not even ball up at all? Possibly your metal turned bright red, but that li

by Erica Stice

Top 5 Reasons Silver Solder Doesn't Flow

Solder not flowing? Find out the reasons why. Jewelry soldering can be frustrating at times, but with the right knowledge, you can quickly troubleshoot the problems.

Learn the tips and tricks to soldering copper and brass! Understand the material, soldering challenges and a few technical problems that may occur.

by Erica Stice

Soldering Copper & Brass Metals in the Jewelry Studio

Copper and brass are fun materials to work with in the jewelry studio. They are beautiful in their own right and they are perfect for learning new techniques. But, soldering these metals raises unique issues in design and technical execution. Learn more from our studio coordinator, Erica Stice.

Learn about metal alloys for jewelry making including the atomic structure and other properties that impact the material.

by Erica Stice

Metal Alloys Used in Jewelry

Learn how the structure of metal and the properties of different alloys impact common materials in jewelry creation. As a jeweler, there is nothing more rewarding than learning how to take your designs from paper to metal form.

Erica walks you through a variety of techniques to learn how to size a ring up or down, a great skill to have in your jewelry studio business.

by Erica Stice

How to Size a Ring in the Jewelry Studio

Having the skills to size rings can be very handy for your jewelry studio business, especially if you don't have the right size for a customer in stock. Learn sizing to capture more sales and offer superior service to your clients.

Learn how to solder pattern wire rings or stacking rings made from half round wire stock. Use basic soldering & forming techniques for rings you will love.

by Erica Stice

Soldering Half Round Wire & Pattern Wire to Make Rings - lock

We love to make silver rings in the Halstead Studio. These simple stackers are a low price-point crowd pleaser. If you're preparing for a show, a holiday is around the corner or you just want to bulk up inventory, ring bands can be a great addition to your collection.

New to making custom silver bezel settings? Learn how to measure and calculate exactly how much material you need and order at the right quantity.

by Erica Stice

How to Buy Bezel Strip Wire

If you make custom cabochon settings on a regular basis, it makes sense to buy basic bezel strip by the troy ounce coil so you always have material on hand. But, if you need just a little fancy gallery bezel for a special project or you rarely set custom...

Read our glossary of hammers used in jewelry making. This essential overview will explore types of hammers and how to completely outfit your studio.

by Erica Stice

Types of Hammers Used in Jewelry Making

Read all about the types of hammers used in the jewelry studio & check out our Facebook LIVE videos for tips, techniques & more!

Check out this guide to jewelry finishing and polishing. You’ll learn about the tools used and what finish they produce.

by Hilary Halstead Scott

Guide to Jewelry Finishing Sandpapers

This blog will talk about the various ways to finish and polish your jewelry. We’ll talk tumblers, bench-top polishers, and various attachments for your flex shaft.

A jeweler's flex shaft is a rotary tool with attachment heads that can perform many tasks. Learn all about this indispensable tool for your jeweler's bench.

by Hilary Halstead Scott

All About Flex Shaft Rotary Tools for Jewelers

Learn about the amazing jeweler's flex shaft and all the things it can do in your studio.

Halstead Jewelry Articles tagged with metalsmithing