Metalsmithing Basics

10 Variables in Chainmaking

There are so many processes and techniques when it comes to metalsmithing, but hands down, my favorite has got to be chainmaking. It’s something I’ve built my jewelry business on, and I even developed an entire class on it.

One of the things I love most about chainmaking is how much variation and distinct personality you can get from the process. Starting with a simple jump ring linked chain, you can create so many different forms just by playing with the variables.

And there are so many variables to work with! I first started developing this list when I taught chainmaking in a university metals class, then used it as the core of my chainmaking class on Creative Live, and now I’m sharing it with you to help get your creative juices flowing:

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When I taught my statement earrings class on Creative Live, one of the questions that I got (repeatedly) while demonstrating how to use a jeweler’s saw was, “Isn’t there something else we can use to cut out our metal faster?”

And while cutting with a jeweler’s saw can seem painfully slow (at least when you’re first starting out or demoing it in front of a room full of students and cameras), in reality, it’s actually a pretty quick process that’s hard to beat for it’s low cost and infinite range of shapes and patterns it allows you to create.

Still, I thought it would be helpful to compare using your jeweler’s saw to another tool that you might be tempted to use instead: tin snips. (Also called metal snips or metal shears.) Snips are pretty ubiquitous when it comes to DIY and home projects involving metal, but once you get the hang of your jeweler’s saw, you’ll be inclined to keep your snips in your tool box from here on out.

Why? Because a jeweler’s saw is just better for so many things! Here are just three of the reasons why:

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jewelry making metalsmithing tips: tricks for using a jeweler's saw

When it comes to metalsmithing, there are few tools that will open up as many possibilities as the jeweler’s saw. It lets you create a world of infinite shapes, but at the same time, it’s super low tech and accessible enough to use at home!

Which is why mastering the jeweler’s saw should be a key goal for any aspiring metalsmith.

And while once you get the hang of it, sawing can be quite relaxing (some might even call it zen), in the beginning, it can be quite frustrating. (All those broken saw blades and janky edges!) So if you haven’t quite become best friends with your jeweler’s saw, these five tips will help smooth out that relationship!

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9 inexpensive jewelry tools for getting started in metalsmithing at home

One of my goals for Modern Metalsmithing is to make metalsmithing more accessible and affordable for anyone looking to get started at home. Instead of metalsmithing being something big and scary that requires a torch or workshop, I want it to be something you can do at your kitchen counter at the end of a long day. (Think of it as sewing’s edgy older sister.)

Fortunately, you can get started with just a few simple tools. (These are the same tools that I recommend for my online class Foundations in Metalsmithing: Statement Earrings.) Best of all: they’re inexpensive and don’t take up a ton of space – meaning you can stash them in a box or drawer so they’re out of the way when you’re not using them!

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