Thank you sir! So glad i found you at the beginning of my journey. I have been accumulating my tools and i just had my very first studio built. It's not even furnished yet! It is raw wood inside but i have purchased the cement board for the floors, gotten the tiles for the floors, gotten the rockwool for fire safety and sound reduction but that hasn't been installed yet. So glad you will be on this journey with me. Ive gotten stainless steel tables, have an old oak desk, eying a craftman drawer that has a solid wood tabletop for bolting, working on tool and polishing equipment, found a community college nearby to suppliment my progress and am full of hope, determination, discipline. You were a great find. Almost like an angel with sign directions! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!❤❤❤❤
Hello Warm, Thank you for your kind comments. I appreciate it. Sounds like you are well on your way to a great studio. Let me know if I can help in anyway. Greg Greenwood
I started many years ago with a garage sale desk and only a few tools. I added on over the years as I needed something and had the funds to buy it. I now have 4 different work stations, each with a specific purpose and the appropriate tools used. And what was once my one desk wherever it would fit is now a 2nd bedroom set up as my studio. It's been a long process. But it's worthy to
I watch a lot of videos on the topic of how to make jewelry and as I understand it, to do such a business or hobby you need many, many special tools 👌🙂
Hello AK, Yes, it takes many tools. But one can start out with just a few tools and do very well. Thanks for your comments and watching. Greg Greenwood
Happy New Year to you ! That is a very nice breakdown of the options one has for studio setup. Not only "the first", but also for enhancing an existing one. One thing that I am missing in your recommendations is lighting. Lighting is important. Nothing beats natural light, so a working area with a window in front or to the side is just brilliant. If you run a shop as well, you can also have potential customers watching you at your work. It might be just me, but I tend to think that this attracts people and also makes them understand the price of good quality jewelry. My own studio consists mainly of a makeshift workbench: 3 Ikea "Alex" drawer towers (1 left, 2 right) covered by an 18mm board underneath which I installed a self-made aluminum lined drawer for catching filings, saw dust and bits and pieces. On top, I placed a 40mm kitchen counter top on a couple of 14cm high furniture feet and bolted that to the wall for stability. That provides me with lots of storage for material and tools and the room between the thick counter top and the thinner board is ideal to keep all the tools I am currently working with (mostly files and saw frame etc). To keep the top safe from damaging, I added a 1mm stainless steel sheet, so I can even place some hot things there for cooling down. On the left side, I have a bench vise, on the right I bolted down my small rolling mill behind which my air pressure graver controller is located (the silent compressor sits at the very back of the foot room). Above the bench top I have a pegboard that also works as a mount for the outrigger for my pendant motor (very similar to what you have on your pegboard). The total height of the bench top is about 90cm which is quite nice for piercing and filing. My soldering area is just on the opposite, so I just have to turn 180° on my chair to access it. Again Ikea "Alex" drawer towers (2) topped with an 18mm board with a height for the working area of about 70cm which I find comfortable for soldering. A LED ring light is mounted in a way so that I can illuminate any important spot of my work area. I think this is a rather inexpensive setup with lots of storage and work area that everyone should be able to assemble. With a total surface of under 6m², it is also quite compact. My 3D printers have their own spot and the polishing/melting/casting area is in a different room that has a stone floor.
Hello Torsten, Very nice to hear from you! Your studio sounds perfect. The more hands on building of one's studio, the more it will fit the needs of the artist. Thank you very much for sharing. You always have good ideas. The very best to you in the New Year. Greg Greenwood
Hello Greg & HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I am always looking for ideas for my studio and bench - layout, storage, tool holders, lighting the lot. I’ve always examined your studio in your videos and have used some of your ideas. I do the same with other silversmiths on RU-vid. I’ve just finished remodelling my studio and am now tweaking it a bit but I know I will be constantly making adjustments. Thanks for this video. Keep them coming please.
Hello B, Glad to hear I can be of help to you. Yes, Our studios are always changing to match our new ideas and creativity. Thanks for watching and the best to you in the new year. Greg Greenwood
Hello Nick, Thank you for your comments. I don't do much engraving myself. I know there are very good videos out there on engraving. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to let me know. Greg Greenwood
Not ready to set up my studio yet, but really appreciate the advice. I'd never thought of using PVC pipes. Going to have to try that Thanks for all.your advice.
I'm finally getting my office turned into my jewelry studio. I have a decent amount of basic tools but no work bench (just our computer table). I've gotta say, it's really hurting my back to saw and solder while hunched over. So a proper work bench is on my radar! I'm thinking about ordering a sturdy work table with rubberwood top and adjustable metal legs. My question is, how do I add a drawer to catch my metal filings? Is there a proper or permanent way to fix a slide out drawer to a work table, that you know of? Thank you so much for this great video! It really breaks everything down and simplifies a fun but somewhat daunting task. 😊
Hello Christina, Thank you for sharing. You will love your new bench! If you would send me your email, mine is : greggreenwoodjewelry@gmail.com I will send you a pic of my drawer. It is an easy set up with common drawer slides. Talk to you soon. Greg Greenwood