I've been silversmithing for a few years and have learned lots of tips in making things easier since I found your channel. Wished I had something like your tutorials when I first started, keep up the good work!
Thanks for that Chad. I have been using knife edge files, sandpaper and other handmade tools to get to the hard to reach places. Will be ordering these knife edge disks today!
The dremel style tool i use is the Bauer variable speed from harbor freight. It goes down to just 4,000 rpm to 20,000 rpm. I feel it gives more control when I'm going around the harder to reach places where I had problems with my dremel jumping and marking up the piece with the metal part of the bit. But I've never considered using the silicone bits to remove excess solder, I have been using a file and sandpaper, I think you have just saved me a ton of time, thank you! I love binge watching your videos. You are very good at what you do.
using the spindle for polishing the inside of rings,it's very handy to use a length of an old belt to wrap around the ring and squeese the ends together and hold tight,works like a charm,no heat.
I'm a beginner and just found your videos. Very great tutorial topics! I've watched a couple of your videos now and one suggestion I have as a beginner viewer would be to use the large amounts of silence in your recordings to dive a bit deeper into explanations of your techniques and why you choose certain tools to help beginners learn and consider different strategies. Thanks for sharing your skills!
I'll try to be a little chattier Michellesea:) That's a good idea anyway because it forces me to consider why exactly I do things a certain way. Occasionally I'll have a "duh" moment when I realize there is an easier/more effective path to accomplish what I'm trying to do. Thanks for the good comment!
Great video .ty for your time. Would love a video on different kinds of polishing compounds used after pre polishing.right now I use after doing all my clean up and sanding a Tripoli and then a red rouge.looking for a change. I buy all my stuff from rio.
I am still leaning proper clean up processes so thnx for the info. I struggle with cleaning the back of bezel cups. What did you use on the back of the large bezel cup in the center of that lovely cuff bracelet? Thnx
Generally I use coarse silicone abrasive wheels followed by felt with white diamond, and sometimes those small yellow wheels that look like the large polishing wheels on polishing machines. Hope this helps!
hi Chad! do the Rio Grande wheels you use fit most dremmels? i want to be certain before i buy a dremmel. i am afraid to buy one, and it not fit the wheels. thank you! new subscriber.
Hello Erin:). Most Dremels come with 4 different adapters called collets that allow you to use different sized shafts on your bits. These should allow you to use all common sized rotary tool bits. Hope this helps! Thanks for subscribing:)
Another comment: why a Dremel? That’s setting the tool bar very low, so many things the Dremel isn’t good for in jewelry making, a new Metalsmith may be misled to invest in a Dremel as a polishing tool. Perhaps an in-depth on pros and cons of polishing tools would be a good subject.
Good point! Dremel definitely doesn’t have the oomph to really polish things, but I wouldn’t promote it as a replacement for a polishing machine anyway. A Foredom has enough hp, but the price may be more than a beginner wants to shell out early on. I like the idea of a video on pros and cons of different polishing tools. Perhaps sometime in the future I can do something like that.
@@chadssilversmithing A crazy budget option (that I've been using happily for awhile) is the Wen rotary tool. I use the Wen 2305 (comes with a flex shaft) and it's only $20 on amazon right now. It's certainly no Foredom or Dremel, but it packs quite the torque, especially for the price! I added a universal keyless chuck to save time changing bits (about $7) and also a variable speed foot pedal for greater control and usability. There's one on Amazon for about $20 as of this comment. Overall, a beginner could get a totally usable "Foredom-lite" setup for about or under $50 which I think it pretty great! You can also just use the rotary tool without any of the attachments to save even more if one needs. Thanks as always!
