I started silversmithing in 1969 in high school. Started selling in the 70s but had to quit after I had kids. Went on to do custom leatherwork, but always missed working in my silver shop. Kept all my tools and bench and am now setting up my shop again. I love your videos because they are giving me a refresher course so I can jump back in! Thank you for your clear videos and explanations!
When I first started doing bench work, I did things the way I was taught. As I gained more experience and was exposed to the way other jewelers worked, I adopted techniques that worked better and quicker and developed my own style of working. I still love to see the techniques of other jewelers and learning how to do things better and more efficiently. You have a gift for teaching. I really enjoyed this video series.
As soon as I graduate from copper I will get some silver and try to make one. Now that you showed me how I feel confident I can do a good job. Great series.
Hi Mr. Berry I am your former student since you start the videos. I really love your professionalism and the way you emphasize your points while you teaching. I appreciate your videos very much.
Melting solder for the second time can take a slightly higher temperature. That is very useful. Lots of great tips and lessons in this film, as always. Thanks Andrew. Catch you on the next live Q&A.
Holy Moley! Whoa! Great as usual, super zoom speed, Wowza! Andrew, you Hercules, trying to answer all the questions in time! We worship/appreciate you!!
Thank you that was excellent ,am self tought and obviously have many issues with my work thankfully post and sites like your are so helpful , thanks very much 💎
I love your bloopers at the end. I love making jewelry, even though I'm fairly new to it and self taught. Your videos have made understanding certain aspects easier and I have made some decent pieces with the use of the knowledge. Honestly, I don't know how many times, while working on a piece, I drop a tool or the piece itself. So seeing someone else do it makes me feel better about my butter fingers some days. Thank you!
I’m a high schooler with no experience in this and none of these tools but I’m so interested in making quality jewelry and knowing I made it well, thank you so much for the detailed videos and instruction. I’ll be watching your videos to learn more.
Hi Andrew, I just wanted to mention something that you could have touched on in this video and that's the difference between a well cut and a poorly cut cabochon. A well cut cabochon should have a bevel cut into the edge between the bottom and the girdle of the stone. This allows room for the solder "meniscus" or excess. Also, if the girdle is uneven then the bezel height should be adjusted accordingly and it helps if the back of the stone is nicely polished, allowing it to be set in an open back bezel. I'm lucky that I can cut my own stones to my liking and specifically for each intended project. I take my time and usually spend between 4 to 6 hours on each stone. However, a lot of people buy cheap stones on Instagram and the like where the cutters don't necessarily spend the time required to produce a beautiful cabochon. A poorly cut cab can cause a lot of issues, including breakages when you are in the setting process. I love your videos Andrew and cheers from Australia.
This is great, I'm so glad your channel was recommended to me, I'm really enjoying working my way through your backlog of videos. You really would make a great teacher/mentor. 👍👍
i love your at the bench workshop i have learned a lot from you. l have watch many different video artist making their jewelry, but i find yours the best so please keeping making them. you explain things so well and in ways that i understand. And your videos you can actually see what you are doing with your tools.
I'm a hobby jeweller just starting my journey with silver and so grateful to have found your videos. Your method of teaching is so clear and it makes complicated processes things accessible. I'd also like to see the clear cabochon setting. Also be interested in silver wire forging. Thank you for your generous and brilliant teaching.
Your detailed instructions are really the best. Just made my very first oval bezel ring, following your instructions from these 4 videos. Once again, thanks to your teaching I got it perfect on the first try! Anytime I have a question or want to learn a new technique, I always look to you first. Many, many thanks for all your time and effort.
Hey Andrew I have an idea for a film. I had a stroke and was looking for a way to compensate for my week left hand when sawing on the bench pin. I found a clamping metal bench pin. It got me to wondering what else is out there for compensating for other handicaps that would allow Jewelers to keep working. Also my legs don't work well enough to work my flex shaft pedal so I put it on my bench and use my right forearm. Love watching you and have learned so much from you.
urbanminingco I’m so sorry to hear of your stroke. It’s wonderful that you’ve been able to continue with metalsmithing. I think that would be a wonderful idea for a film, if I do say so myself 😳 I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome which means I’m super hypermobile in all my joints, but especially my fingers and hands, and they pop out of joint ALL THE TIME, it’s very infuriating as well as painful. Which bench pin did you useful?
Wish we could share photos. I just got my first bezel done per instructions. So fun since taught by a great teacher. To the solder, I didnt have too much trouble on the inside cause I balled it up like you did Andrew. Just a little ramp. Plus plenty of borax flux. I couldn't get a bail soldered on though. I started with hard..worked down to soft like you said, but I could get it too stick...trouble placing in such a small area. Practice practice practice. Thank you Andrew!!!
5 років тому
Absolutely brilliant! I learned so much through this series of videos. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
Great series Andrew ... really enjoy the content and the humour... wish you lived at the end of the street. Great advice and spuring me on to make the idea of "I fancy a go at jewellery making" into a reality... looking forward to setting up a little workshop for retirement. Top marks for the teacher!
🙂 Im learning a lot from you. Watch all your videos. Ive bin collecting for a year now to get mostvof the tools together. Soon ill buy a rolling mill etc. Making my own jewelry bench from an old bed. I dream about making some disigns. Allsow drawing them on paper. It is sow hard to get everything together but i dont give it up. One day ill be a master like you. 🙏 Greets from Belgium.
Andrew what about the people who say to push down on the edge? Not only into the stone, but down. I wish we’d seen you complete the bezel pushing. Let the people who are board scan. There is all the time in the world for listening, but watching is equally important. You’re the best!
Really great tutorial as usual. You're now my go-to person for everything bench related. Maybe being a bench jeweler will become my 2nd Act. 🙂 Funny thing... I need better glasses or a bigger screen because at first "glance" I thought the thumbnail was a pic of a turtle pendant.🐢 LOL! 😂 And... shame on those who gave a thumbs-down. Here's some extra thumbs-ups 👍👍👍👍👍. Thanks for taking time to teach us. You are very much appreciated! Cheers! 🙂
Hello Andrew great video and demonstration. What kind of lens do you use when filming and showing when you solder into not sure of what kind of lens I need your lens shows every detail perfect zoom in
Thank you so much, your videos are gold! Never mind the thumbs down, a bit sad so many negative people . One question I have , why don’t you set a clear stone straight onto the backplate? You mentioned putting a ledge. Thanks again, looking forward to the next !
Here in Ireland, if the silver piece doesn't meet the 925 grade, the Assay office will chop it to pieces and return it to you as scrap. I once worked with a guy who spent a couple of months making bespoke pieces. He sent them all off to the Assay office in one package and had them returned chopped to bits. He was using easy solder which brought down the overall silver purity.
This series has been really enjoyable although I don't consider myself a beginner any longer, you never stop learning and I have picked up a few things ( I just wish I could find the little bag of bits that came with my Microblock the goblins appear to have stolen it)
Hi Andrew, great video!! I am wondering would you polish up the inside of the bezel setting before placing the stone inside, so more light bounces out of the stone when being worn, or do you generally just leave the inside of the setting as is ?
If you add peroxide to your vinegar, it will neutralize some of the acid because you are just mixing an acid and a base and then your peroxide breaks down to water which dilutes your acid even more.
There are amazing videos of the basics, even on Andrew's channel, also many others. It is challenging to try to reinvent the wheel every day! A great google/UA-cam search will bring the world to you.
Thank you for your explanations, they have really helped me get it right first time, especially with soldering the bezel to the back plate. And boy! I need to get me one of those mini vices... my poor, sore (and very hypermobile) fingers get soooo tired. Can you, or anybody else, suggest one that doesn’t cost the earth?
Hi Andrew. Your videos inspired me to try making something from silver. I have bought all of the equipment, amazingly I already had a lot of it from other things I do. I make leather products and make jewellery from wire (wire wrapping) but I now want to try making my own silver rings and pendants. But I am having problems soldering. I tried jump rings first and everything melted. I tried making a ring and it was beautiful until it was time to solder. I used my mandrel, cut the join again so the sides were perfect. I filed and got the gap so there was no visible gap, and then heated it up. I applied the flux and got my solder ready, then to my horror the ring opened up at the gap and started to melt. What am I doing wrong? I have tried again and again and have the same result, too little flame and it becomes a fire scaled monster, but still not soldered, too much flame and it melts. I cannot find that sweet spot. Please help.
hi Andrew thank you for answering my question about using silver with solder on it, three spot on videos as always, how is the engraving going or have you given up on it ?.
Have learned so much from your videos! I am only a 'hobby' jewellery maker and I have found that citric acid works well as a pickle when warmed. Have you any thoughts on this? I am rather nervous of the commercial pickle I bought when I first began!
Nice timing. I’m working on a band rebuild. Removed the stone. Removed old band. Cleaned up underside of base. I do not have the ring mandrel that is for the bezel ring. Flat area then rest of mandrel is round. For rings with stones I assume. Band size needs to be 7 or 7 1/4. Band is split to go under the bezel setting with base please that is decorated. Any tips welcome. Thanks.
Epic! You mentioned a sawdust backed stone. I’m working a repair on a ring just like that. The band is split like a Y under the bezel backplate. The stone was set nicely and it took me a long time to remove the stone. Sawdust backing will work well. Just make it fine but not a powder. 👍
@@Atthebench the base of the ring is a silver skeletal arm and hand. The fingers of the hand will be wrapped/bent around a 14k gold pistol. It is the gun and hand I was asking about..
I use .999 silver bullion that I mill myself. its actually more cost effective than buying over priced .925 silver plates. Not only do I save money but I can make my own solder by mixing in some tin, and I end up with a better product.
I started silversmithing in 1969 in high school. Started selling in the 70s but had to quit after I had kids. Went on to do custom leatherwork, but always missed working in my silver shop. Kept all my tools and bench and am now setting up my shop again. I love your videos because they are giving me a refresher course so I can jump back in! Thank you for your clear videos and explanations!
When I first started doing bench work, I did things the way I was taught. As I gained more experience and was exposed to the way other jewelers worked, I adopted techniques that worked better and quicker and developed my own style of working. I still love to see the techniques of other jewelers and learning how to do things better and more efficiently. You have a gift for teaching. I really enjoyed this video series.
I had to pause video for many times in order ro write down all that tips and points. This man is just the best🤦♀️🤦♀️
As soon as I graduate from copper I will get some silver and try to make one. Now that you showed me how I feel confident I can do a good job. Great series.
Bwahahahaaa! the sad face and the bloopers at the end is why this channel is so delightful to watch. I love learning new things. thank you so much!
Hi Mr. Berry I am your former student since you start the videos. I really love your professionalism and the way you emphasize your points while you teaching. I appreciate your videos very much.
Thank you Andrew for the tutorial,you are truly an excellent teacher ❤
Melting solder for the second time can take a slightly higher temperature. That is very useful. Lots of great tips and lessons in this film, as always. Thanks Andrew. Catch you on the next live Q&A.
I really enjoy the way you instruct with very good details and great reasoning when you answer questions.
following the every step in such a detail! you are brilliant, its like i took a full course of how to solder :D
Holy Moley! Whoa! Great as usual, super zoom speed, Wowza! Andrew, you Hercules, trying to answer all the questions in time! We worship/appreciate you!!
Thank you that was excellent ,am self tought and obviously have many issues with my work thankfully post and sites like your are so helpful , thanks very much 💎
Brilliant, all these videos with bezel setting and making them are very helpful!
I love your bloopers at the end. I love making jewelry, even though I'm fairly new to it and self taught. Your videos have made understanding certain aspects easier and I have made some decent pieces with the use of the knowledge. Honestly, I don't know how many times, while working on a piece, I drop a tool or the piece itself. So seeing someone else do it makes me feel better about my butter fingers some days.
Thank you!
I’m a high schooler with no experience in this and none of these tools but I’m so interested in making quality jewelry and knowing I made it well, thank you so much for the detailed videos and instruction. I’ll be watching your videos to learn more.
I love your videos I started learning how to make cabochons but never learned anything about making a bezel
Hi, Andrew. I love your tutorials. You’re a true master. ♥️. I always learn something from you! Thank you! Live the bloopers 🤣
Hi Andrew, I just wanted to mention something that you could have touched on in this video and that's the difference between a well cut and a poorly cut cabochon. A well cut cabochon should have a bevel cut into the edge between the bottom and the girdle of the stone. This allows room for the solder "meniscus" or excess. Also, if the girdle is uneven then the bezel height should be adjusted accordingly and it helps if the back of the stone is nicely polished, allowing it to be set in an open back bezel. I'm lucky that I can cut my own stones to my liking and specifically for each intended project. I take my time and usually spend between 4 to 6 hours on each stone. However, a lot of people buy cheap stones on Instagram and the like where the cutters don't necessarily spend the time required to produce a beautiful cabochon. A poorly cut cab can cause a lot of issues, including breakages when you are in the setting process. I love your videos Andrew and cheers from Australia.
how do people give you a thumbs down? i wish I could give you two thumbs up!
This is great, I'm so glad your channel was recommended to me, I'm really enjoying working my way through your backlog of videos.
You really would make a great teacher/mentor.
👍👍
i love your at the bench workshop i have learned a lot from you. l have watch many different video artist making their jewelry, but i find yours the best so please keeping making them. you explain things so well and in ways that i understand. And your videos you can actually see what you are doing with your tools.
Thank you, this series has been excellent and has helped me quite a bit, cheers
I've said this before, you are wonderful for sharing your skill and expertise. Thank You many times over with us.
I just love your videos I’ve learned a lot. Thank you and your enjoyable to watch
Love the bloopers. :-) Well, and I learn so much from your videos!
I'm a hobby jeweller just starting my journey with silver and so grateful to have found your videos. Your method of teaching is so clear and it makes complicated processes things accessible. I'd also like to see the clear cabochon setting. Also be interested in silver wire forging. Thank you for your generous and brilliant teaching.
Very tip heavy series! Thanks for always mentioning cheaper options for equipment and tools.
You are a saviour Andrew! I am so grateful you have a course on your website. I will do my very best once I get all my equipment in!
Hi Andrew I am about to bezel set my oval cabochon labradorite , thank you so much for your video and it give me more insight how to do it right.
Your detailed instructions are really the best. Just made my very first oval bezel ring, following your instructions from these 4 videos. Once again, thanks to your teaching I got it perfect on the first try! Anytime I have a question or want to learn a new technique, I always look to you first. Many, many thanks for all your time and effort.
I learned a lot. Thank you for taking the time to make this video 🙏🏻
I just started watching your videos and they are VERY helpful and detail oriented.
thank you, tons of details and alternative tools methods. i certsinly appreciate the thermoplastic suggestions!
love your video feeds..especially the blooper runs..puts a smile on our faces
I find Your instructive videos invaluable!!! Thank you so much !!
Hey Andrew I have an idea for a film. I had a stroke and was looking for a way to compensate for my week left hand when sawing on the bench pin. I found a clamping metal bench pin. It got me to wondering what else is out there for compensating for other handicaps that would allow Jewelers to keep working. Also my legs don't work well enough to work my flex shaft pedal so I put it on my bench and use my right forearm. Love watching you and have learned so much from you.
urbanminingco I’m so sorry to hear of your stroke. It’s wonderful that you’ve been able to continue with metalsmithing. I think that would be a wonderful idea for a film, if I do say so myself 😳 I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome which means I’m super hypermobile in all my joints, but especially my fingers and hands, and they pop out of joint ALL THE TIME, it’s very infuriating as well as painful. Which bench pin did you useful?
@@hanamoreton6543 it hasn't come yet I bought it on Etsy " smart vise steel bench pin with clamp".
urbanminingco thanks, I’ll have a look!
Great videos, Andrew! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I’m learning so much.🌼
The ending gets 👍👍.
Thanks!
Very good and easy to follow -- by the likes of me, who is a beginner. ~Will look up all your videos. Thank you.
Wish we could share photos. I just got my first bezel done per instructions. So fun since taught by a great teacher. To the solder, I didnt have too much trouble on the inside cause I balled it up like you did Andrew. Just a little ramp. Plus plenty of borax flux. I couldn't get a bail soldered on though. I started with hard..worked down to soft like you said, but I could get it too stick...trouble placing in such a small area. Practice practice practice. Thank you Andrew!!!
Absolutely brilliant! I learned so much through this series of videos. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
i really really love your videos and lessons. Thank you for your generosity of your knowledge.
Great series Andrew ... really enjoy the content and the humour... wish you lived at the end of the street. Great advice and spuring me on to make the idea of "I fancy a go at jewellery making" into a reality... looking forward to setting up a little workshop for retirement.
Top marks for the teacher!
You can get the pitch cup from GRS ready to heat and use ,just got one !
Thank you for your Tutorial oll time.
Terrific video...very very informative...thank you so much!💙
🙂 Im learning a lot from you. Watch all your videos. Ive bin collecting for a year now to get mostvof the tools together. Soon ill buy a rolling mill etc. Making my own jewelry bench from an old bed. I dream about making some disigns. Allsow drawing them on paper. It is sow hard to get everything together but i dont give it up. One day ill be a master like you. 🙏 Greets from Belgium.
Ich liebe Ihre Tutorials man lernt so viel danke
You are a master at your craft
You’re a great teacher!
I love your videos; you are my favorite teacher!! Really you rock!! Thank you so much for all your wonderful lessons! 😁🤩 keep up the epic work ! 👍🏼
I love your videos! A lot of good tips and very didactic! Hugs from a brazilian fan!
Thank you for sharing benefit of you experience.. is very helpful .. Greetings from New York..👌👌👌
Andrew what about the people who say to push down on the edge? Not only into the stone, but down. I wish we’d seen you complete the bezel pushing. Let the people who are board scan. There is all the time in the world for listening, but watching is equally important. You’re the best!
A big thank you for your videos! You’re a great teacher!
Thank you so very much. Appreciate you!
I'm learning so much from your vid's Andrew thanks, for pickle I use PH Decreaser from the pool shop (sodium bisulphate) warm.
Thanks very informative, well done.
Thanks for the great lessons!!
Great video!
Thank you Andrew! This video series was very helpful for me . Have subscribed and will be watching more soon!
Thank you Andrew, how do you make the edge touching the stone really smooth and even I've been struggling with this?😨
Very nice series of videos, I enjoyed it a lot. You are an amazing teacher, I learnt so much from you. Thank you for the knowledge!
Really great tutorial as usual. You're now my go-to person for everything bench related. Maybe being a bench jeweler will become my 2nd Act. 🙂 Funny thing... I need better glasses or a bigger screen because at first "glance" I thought the thumbnail was a pic of a turtle pendant.🐢 LOL! 😂 And... shame on those who gave a thumbs-down. Here's some extra thumbs-ups 👍👍👍👍👍. Thanks for taking time to teach us. You are very much appreciated! Cheers! 🙂
This is my homework for my jewelry class due to quarantine. Wish I could do hands on though.
Excellent series and timely for me. Cheers.
Very useful information and explained clearly. Great work Andrew! 👍
Great lesson. Thank you sooo much!
Love the bloopers too - you always make it look so easy!
Another brilliant series, loved every minute
I was taught to place a piece of the solder between the two pieces of bezel where they join.
Fantastic thank you
Another cushion idea is a piece cut from a plastic milk jug. Sawdust deteriorates in time and shifts as you set the stone.
Thank you, Andrew! Very useful video.
Hello Andrew great video and demonstration. What kind of lens do you use when filming and showing when you solder into not sure of what kind of lens I need your lens shows every detail perfect zoom in
Thanks for all the help. Great job!
Do you do a video on how to add decorative swirls to the outsisde of the bezel please
I appreciate what your doing, loved the Q&A
Thank you so much, your videos are gold! Never mind the thumbs down, a bit sad so many negative people . One question I have , why don’t you set a clear stone straight onto the backplate? You mentioned putting a ledge. Thanks again, looking forward to the next !
you are the best, thank you!
Here in Ireland, if the silver piece doesn't meet the 925 grade, the Assay office will chop it to pieces and return it to you as scrap. I once worked with a guy who spent a couple of months making bespoke pieces. He sent them all off to the Assay office in one package and had them returned chopped to bits. He was using easy solder which brought down the overall silver purity.
This series has been really enjoyable although I don't consider myself a beginner any longer, you never stop learning and I have picked up a few things ( I just wish I could find the little bag of bits that came with my Microblock the goblins appear to have stolen it)
Hi Andrew, great video!! I am wondering would you polish up the inside of the bezel setting before placing the stone inside, so more light bounces out of the stone when being worn, or do you generally just leave the inside of the setting as is ?
What is your recommendation for setting a sugarloaf trillion? Have you done a video for that?
If you add peroxide to your vinegar, it will neutralize some of the acid because you are just mixing an acid and a base and then your peroxide breaks down to water which dilutes your acid even more.
Are you using sterling or fine silver for making most of your jewelry and why.
Very nice
Sir i request to make basics video of jewellery making like earrings back butterfly. Lock.and many more
There are amazing videos of the basics, even on Andrew's channel, also many others. It is challenging to try to reinvent the wheel every day! A great google/UA-cam search will bring the world to you.
I would love a video on setting a cabochon on a bracelet...curved surface of bracelet vs. flat back of bezel set cabochon... Not sure how to proceed.
Thank you for your explanations, they have really helped me get it right first time, especially with soldering the bezel to the back plate. And boy! I need to get me one of those mini vices... my poor, sore (and very hypermobile) fingers get soooo tired. Can you, or anybody else, suggest one that doesn’t cost the earth?
Can someone please link me a tutorial for a pendant with no backplate, for a clear stone like he mentioned ?
Hi Andrew. Your videos inspired me to try making something from silver. I have bought all of the equipment, amazingly I already had a lot of it from other things I do. I make leather products and make jewellery from wire (wire wrapping) but I now want to try making my own silver rings and pendants. But I am having problems soldering. I tried jump rings first and everything melted. I tried making a ring and it was beautiful until it was time to solder. I used my mandrel, cut the join again so the sides were perfect. I filed and got the gap so there was no visible gap, and then heated it up. I applied the flux and got my solder ready, then to my horror the ring opened up at the gap and started to melt. What am I doing wrong? I have tried again and again and have the same result, too little flame and it becomes a fire scaled monster, but still not soldered, too much flame and it melts. I cannot find that sweet spot. Please help.
hi Andrew thank you for answering my question about using silver with solder on it, three spot on videos as always, how is the engraving going or have you given up on it ?.
thanks.
Andrew how thin or thick do you make the piece of metal that goes around the stone? Excellent videos.
Have learned so much from your videos! I am only a 'hobby' jewellery maker and I have found that citric acid works well as a pickle when warmed. Have you any thoughts on this? I am rather nervous of the commercial pickle I bought when I first began!
Nice timing.
I’m working on a band rebuild.
Removed the stone.
Removed old band.
Cleaned up underside of base.
I do not have the ring mandrel that is for the bezel ring. Flat area then rest of mandrel is round. For rings with stones I assume.
Band size needs to be 7 or 7 1/4.
Band is split to go under the bezel setting with base please that is decorated.
Any tips welcome.
Thanks.
Epic! You mentioned a sawdust backed stone. I’m working a repair on a ring just like that. The band is split like a Y under the bezel backplate. The stone was set nicely and it took me a long time to remove the stone. Sawdust backing will work well. Just make it fine but not a powder. 👍
I ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤it.thanks
Mr. Berry, I'm working on a silver and 14k yellow gold ring. What solder would you advise, yellow gold or silver?
Depends on the design and how these different metals are to be soldered together
@@Atthebench the base of the ring is a silver skeletal arm and hand. The fingers of the hand will be wrapped/bent around a 14k gold pistol. It is the gun and hand I was asking about..
still scared to load butane on solder gun :) how can I overcome that?
I use .999 silver bullion that I mill myself. its actually more cost effective than buying over priced .925 silver plates. Not only do I save money but I can make my own solder by mixing in some tin, and I end up with a better product.
I'm a rookie soldier, can I use a cheaper type of silver metal to practice, rather than wreck sterling silver?