Goldsmithing is for everyone:
Free basics
Ready to start your goldsmithing journey? My free online tutorials for goldsmithing basics offer a unique opportunity to learn the basics of crafting jewellery, all while tapping into over 45 years of professional experience. These tutorials are designed to give you a solid foundation in the craft, focussing on essential tools and techniques. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, these free lessons are the perfect way to begin your creative journey in jewelry-making.
Annealing
In goldsmithing, annealing (or intermediate annealing) is used to restore the workability of precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum. Bending or forging hardens the material, making it difficult to continue working with. To fix this, the metal is heated with a flame until it glows red or orange, then quickly cooled in water. This process reduces hardness and makes the metal malleable again. Annealing is crucial for relieving internal stresses and ensuring precise processing of jewelry and other precious metal works.
Soldering
Soldering is the process of joining precious metals using solder and flux. It is commonly used to close rings, attach gemstone settings, or add decorative elements like gold pieces. The process involves heating the metals with an open flame until the solder melts and bonds the materials together. Soldering can also be done between different precious metals, such as silver and gold, making it versatile for various jewelry projects. This technique ensures strong, seamless connections while maintaining the integrity of the metals.
Welding
In goldsmithing, welding involves joining two precious metals without the use of solder, using flux instead. The metal pieces are placed together and heated until the surface becomes liquid, bonding them seamlessly. This process may cause some change in the shape of the workpieces. Welding is also possible between different metals, such as fine gold on fine silver, offering a versatile method for creating unique jewelry designs. While it can be more experimental, it results in a strong, direct fusion of the metals.
Melting
Melting metals like gold, silver, and platinum is a crucial step. Gold and silver have relatively low melting points, making them easy to melt with an inexpensive flame torch. During the melting process, flux is applied to remove impurities and prevent oxidation, ensuring a clean and smooth molten state. Platinum, however, has a higher melting point of about 1770°C, requiring a specialized oxy-acetylene flame.
Forging flat / thinner
Forging is a crucial technique, used to shape precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum into detailed jewelry designs. By applying controlled pressure, metals are thinned and strengthened, making them easier to work with. During this process, the metal hardens, and annealing softens it again, preventing brittleness. This cycle of forging and annealing continues until the desired thickness and form are achieved. High-purity metals are easier to forge, while lower-purity metals can be more challenging to work with. Forging not only shapes the metal but also strengthens it, ensuring the durability and high-quality of the final piece.
Separating / Cutting
A tin shear is perfect for cutting thin metal sheets, including gold, silver, and platinum, up to 0.8 mm thick, providing clean cuts with minimal effort. A side cutter is ideal for cutting small wire pieces and profiles up to 3 mm thick, ensuring precision and ease. The goldsmith’s saw is essential for making intricate, detailed cuts in precious metals, offering fine detail that other tools can’t match.
Forging structures
The hammered technique is a traditional method for texturing silver, gold, and platinum using a forging hammer or ball peen hammer. This process creates a unique hammered finish, ideal for adding decoration and texture to precious metals. By repeating the process with intermediate annealing, the texture can be refined or intensified. Varying the hammering force alters the grain size, resulting in different visual effects. This versatile technique is widely used in metalworking and jewelry making.