Use a Blowtorch to Make Jewelry? Yes You Can!
I remember when I first decided to learn metalwork. I'd been making jewelry for a while. I'd even cut copper sheets with metal shears and soldered it with a soldering iron and added wire accents.
My pieces sold well, but I knew true metalwork would require a few skills I didn't have --sawing with a jeweler's saw and using a blowtorch.
Why metalwork?
- You can make an item of jewelry from "scratch" --no manufactured parts.
- You can put your own ideas to work instead of using someone else's.
- Your jewelry offerings will be unique --different from anyone else.
- Metalwork brings out the inner creative spirit that was there all along.
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You can do a lot with a simple soldering operation. |
It has nothing to do with bravery
I was raised with a ton of siblings. I've been a mother for over 40 years. I've been divorced twice, and I rose up the corporate ladder --at least a few rungs-- during a time when ambitious women and minorities were treated like Kryptonite. Those were the things that required bravery. Using a blowtorch just takes being stubborn enough to keep trying until you get it right.
So, take a class
I eventually found a class in my area, so perhaps you can too. Check local jewelry stores and adult evening enrichment programs. If you see a metalsmith at an art show, ask if she can give you private lessons.
You can learn to use a blowtorch too. So just do it. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Now Cut That Out!: Creating Jewelry With A Jeweler's Saw
Adding Textures, Letters, and Cut-Outs
Working With Your Blowtorch: 10 Safety Tips Jewelry Designers Ought to Know
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