If you have multiple shapes that all need to be the same size(see above hinge plates), but are a bit uneven upon cutting out, you can glue them together (I use crazy glue or rubber cement), allow to set, and file them all to the same size along the edges. After edges are filed to your desire, you can just heat them up to burn off the glue (DO NOT breathe in fumes), and stick them in the pickle to clean. Good luck!

I've been working on another charm necklace, and came across a problem with soldering prongs onto the setting for a stone. So, after scrapping the first setting, I turned to some books for inspiration. Carles Codina is a master metalsmith, as well as one of my favorite authors for technical books, and it was in his book "Goldsmithing & Silver Work" that I found a solution to my problem! I hope this helps any other metalsmiths out there who have battled with soldering wire onto pieces.

I will soon have a tutorial up on cuttlefish casting, I'm just waiting to get my images from a friend. Here is the end result of the recent cuttlefish casting I did--a sheet. I wanted to create a sheet of metal so that I could cut out shapes at will. I've already made a bracelet with part of it, for my mom's birthday, but I know she checks my blog so I haven't posted it yet (Hi Mom!) .

I have noticed that I tend to get a lot of traffic through my blog for "cuttlefish casting", so I thought I would post some helpful links to a tutorial and video for those who are interested (see below). I plan on doing my own tutorial of cuttlefish casting sometime in the next two weeks, so stay tuned!

Tutorial

Video

I have a little secret to share with you, which was shown to me by my stepmom over 10 years ago, when I was given my first (and favorite) camera. You know that threaded area in the bottom of the camera where it screws into the tripod? Go to the hardware store, take the camera too, and find an eye bolt (with a flat bottom, and a hole in the top) that fits it.


Then find some sturdy, but not too big chain....like the kind that has long flat links. Below is "jack chain" which will work. Get about 6 feet, maybe more if you're tall, of it.


Attach the chain to the eye screw (with wire, a jump ring, or something sturdy). Screw it into the bottom of the camera. Hold the camera up to nose level. Step on the chain, and pull the camera up to eye level. It will be very stable because of the tension. It acts as a portable tripod! This is easily collapsible and storable. No more heavy tripods to haul around :) Unless you're doing something that really requires it. Have fun! I'm off to the hardware store.